Why does every tourist have a backpack

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maybe I am wearing the wrong kind of pants but if I load my pockets too full things tend to fall out when I sit or use the bathroom.

And carrying all that pepto, they probably are on the toilet a lot.

I posted above 4 chewable tablets for emergencies, it isn’t a bottle.

This keeps getting more funny. A pepto emergency? Hahaha

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Or large sling?

I understand for hiking. But in 2023, in an urban settings what in the world are people carrying around that requires the need for a full backpack.

We travel all of the world and have never had the need for any type of bag to go sightseeing, walking, exploring in a city.

I carry medication in my pocket, my Apple Watch, small wallet and nothing else. DH brings his phone, slim battery back up, small wallet, glasses wipe, tiny flashlight, pepto, small tiny foldable bag which are all in front pants pockets. Slim battery goes in back pocket.

Sounds like your DH could use a backpack to carry everything around for you.

The "Pepto" detail has really made this thread come alive.

OP if you are a troll, bravo!

I am not a troll.

He doesn’t wear, never has worn cargo shorts. The items I listed aren’t big. I don’t know why everyone makes it out to be a pile of stuff. The back up charger is about the size of credit card. The glasses wipes are two little packets equivalent to hand wipes you get at a bbq restaurant. The flashlight is tiny, about the size of my pinky, only a couple of inches long and has come in handy a few times. The wallets holds three cards. The pepto is four chewable tablets. We are both adventurous eaters.
The bag that he brings is a collapsible shopping bag it is about 4”x3” and less than1/2” thick.

If you need pepto with you at all time, you are NOT an adventurous eater.

Some people - like me - have a food intolerance and if we inadvertently eat the wrong food that Pepto is a necessity.

Then by definition, you are not an adventurous eater.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Op, don’t you hydrate? Or you one of those constantly buying plastic bottles?

I always carry my backpack— even when out in the US. I have water bottles, snacks, books, wallet, chargers, sanitizer, first aid, and whatever else we need. I have 3 kids but used to carry the backpack while traveling in my 20s!

I mean, I do think this concept of constant "hydration" is pretty new. When I was growing up, kids did not carry around reusable water bottles all the time, and I don't recall an epidemic of dehydration. We just went to the water fountain if we were thirsty.

As an adult, I do not carry a water bottle around NYC, where I live, or around the urban metropolises that I visit, unless it is extremely warm. I will bring water to national parks and rural areas, where there's no guarantee of a cafe for me to get a drink. So while I do not support OP's anti-backpack stance, I also don't buy into the hydration hysteria that has gripped so many.

OP here and this how I view it also. I think the water bottle obsession is a bit much. As I said in my original post I am talking about urban settings.

There are plenty of opportunities to have water/fluids throughout the day.

We get it. You don’t travel outside your little comfort zone where you can access a toilet and get more pepto if needed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Or large sling?

I understand for hiking. But in 2023, in an urban settings what in the world are people carrying around that requires the need for a full backpack.

We travel all of the world and have never had the need for any type of bag to go sightseeing, walking, exploring in a city.

I carry medication in my pocket, my Apple Watch, small wallet and nothing else. DH brings his phone, slim battery back up, small wallet, glasses wipe, tiny flashlight, pepto, small tiny foldable bag which are all in front pants pockets. Slim battery goes in back pocket.

Sounds like your DH could use a backpack to carry everything around for you.

The "Pepto" detail has really made this thread come alive.

OP if you are a troll, bravo!

I am not a troll.

He doesn’t wear, never has worn cargo shorts. The items I listed aren’t big. I don’t know why everyone makes it out to be a pile of stuff. The back up charger is about the size of credit card. The glasses wipes are two little packets equivalent to hand wipes you get at a bbq restaurant. The flashlight is tiny, about the size of my pinky, only a couple of inches long and has come in handy a few times. The wallets holds three cards. The pepto is four chewable tablets. We are both adventurous eaters.
The bag that he brings is a collapsible shopping bag it is about 4”x3” and less than1/2” thick.

If you need pepto with you at all time, you are NOT an adventurous eater.

Some people - like me - have a food intolerance and if we inadvertently eat the wrong food that Pepto is a necessity.

Then by definition, you are not an adventurous eater.

So an adventurous eater has to eat the food and digest it properly or it doesn’t count?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Op, don’t you hydrate? Or you one of those constantly buying plastic bottles?

I always carry my backpack— even when out in the US. I have water bottles, snacks, books, wallet, chargers, sanitizer, first aid, and whatever else we need. I have 3 kids but used to carry the backpack while traveling in my 20s!

I mean, I do think this concept of constant "hydration" is pretty new. When I was growing up, kids did not carry around reusable water bottles all the time, and I don't recall an epidemic of dehydration. We just went to the water fountain if we were thirsty.

As an adult, I do not carry a water bottle around NYC, where I live, or around the urban metropolises that I visit, unless it is extremely warm. I will bring water to national parks and rural areas, where there's no guarantee of a cafe for me to get a drink. So while I do not support OP's anti-backpack stance, I also don't buy into the hydration hysteria that has gripped so many.

OP here and this how I view it also. I think the water bottle obsession is a bit much. As I said in my original post I am talking about urban settings.

There are plenty of opportunities to have water/fluids throughout the day.

We get it. You don’t travel outside your little comfort zone where you can access a toilet and get more pepto if needed.

OP probably sits at cafes all day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m not OP but I have a personal pet peeve about people wearing backpacks in public transport and other crowded areas because they turn around and hit short people in the face. You have to front it, or carry it by your side in crowded areas.

We always used a backpack when the kids were little because there were so many little things we needed. Now that they are teens I only use the backpack if we are taking a day trip on a train or something and want to bring books, an umbrella, etc. I use a cross body that will fit my glasses and small sunscreen etc. for our last trip I also bought a couple of the shopping bags that fold down to a little square that I hitched onto my bag. They were great to have to throw in little extras we might pick up through the day.

I have a pet peeve of people who stand to close to me in the metro.

Ha! The idea that you are entitled to any personal space on a subway is laughable. Never been to Tokyo, huh? You are just lucky if you get on. Your face *will* be in someone else's armpit, and someone else's leg will be shoved up against your ass. Please spare yourself the embarrassment of trying to assert a 1.5 foot bubble of space around yourself.

The difference is that most people in Tokyo are clean so being so close isn’t a problem. Most people everywhere else aren’t clean so being close is disgusting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Op, don’t you hydrate? Or you one of those constantly buying plastic bottles?

I always carry my backpack— even when out in the US. I have water bottles, snacks, books, wallet, chargers, sanitizer, first aid, and whatever else we need. I have 3 kids but used to carry the backpack while traveling in my 20s!

I mean, I do think this concept of constant "hydration" is pretty new. When I was growing up, kids did not carry around reusable water bottles all the time, and I don't recall an epidemic of dehydration. We just went to the water fountain if we were thirsty.

As an adult, I do not carry a water bottle around NYC, where I live, or around the urban metropolises that I visit, unless it is extremely warm. I will bring water to national parks and rural areas, where there's no guarantee of a cafe for me to get a drink. So while I do not support OP's anti-backpack stance, I also don't buy into the hydration hysteria that has gripped so many.

This is not 1982. There are no more water fountains. They went the way of phone booths. Plus, unlike the 80s, we now know how important hydration is to our health and well-being, and that soda does not serve as a form of hydration. We also know how terrible it is for the environment to be purchasing endless amounts of plastic water bottles. We're a family of 5. I'm not going to buy 5 water bottles every time we need to drink something.

I bet OP is also one of those people who complains about parents and families. Guess what? The parents traveling with those backpacks are getting ahead of their kids and anticipating the meltdown downs by packing food, water, clothes, sunscreen, and everything else that we can think of. I like preparation and having things on hand so that I don't have to go to a CVS when I travel - which is just so wasteful.
Plus, what a waste of travel time to go shopping when I could just take goods with me? I'd rather be out walking and touring than spend my days in line buying supplies that I already have.

Plan better, OP.

That was my first thought too- they will find a way to complain one way or another lol.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Op, don’t you hydrate? Or you one of those constantly buying plastic bottles?

I always carry my backpack— even when out in the US. I have water bottles, snacks, books, wallet, chargers, sanitizer, first aid, and whatever else we need. I have 3 kids but used to carry the backpack while traveling in my 20s!

I mean, I do think this concept of constant "hydration" is pretty new. When I was growing up, kids did not carry around reusable water bottles all the time, and I don't recall an epidemic of dehydration. We just went to the water fountain if we were thirsty.

As an adult, I do not carry a water bottle around NYC, where I live, or around the urban metropolises that I visit, unless it is extremely warm. I will bring water to national parks and rural areas, where there's no guarantee of a cafe for me to get a drink. So while I do not support OP's anti-backpack stance, I also don't buy into the hydration hysteria that has gripped so many.

OP here and this how I view it also. I think the water bottle obsession is a bit much. As I said in my original post I am talking about urban settings.

There are plenty of opportunities to have water/fluids throughout the day.

I disagree. Water fountains just aren't that prevalent anymore, and often don't work if you do see them. The other alternative is buying throw-away plastic bottles. Why would I want to buy water with single use plastic when I can just carry a water bottle that I filled for free? You're wasteful, all so you can brag that you don't carry a backpack or bag of some sort? That just doesn't make sense.

But I mean, that's fine. You do your thing. I can't fathom getting worked up to the point of posting that someone else chooses to carry water and a bag. What people complain about here is sort of mind boggling at times. WhoTF actually cares.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Op, don’t you hydrate? Or you one of those constantly buying plastic bottles?

I always carry my backpack— even when out in the US. I have water bottles, snacks, books, wallet, chargers, sanitizer, first aid, and whatever else we need. I have 3 kids but used to carry the backpack while traveling in my 20s!

I mean, I do think this concept of constant "hydration" is pretty new. When I was growing up, kids did not carry around reusable water bottles all the time, and I don't recall an epidemic of dehydration. We just went to the water fountain if we were thirsty.

As an adult, I do not carry a water bottle around NYC, where I live, or around the urban metropolises that I visit, unless it is extremely warm. I will bring water to national parks and rural areas, where there's no guarantee of a cafe for me to get a drink. So while I do not support OP's anti-backpack stance, I also don't buy into the hydration hysteria that has gripped so many.

Well, carrying water with you is new, but hydration is not. When we were kids, many people had hoses and kids just drank from water hoses whenever they could. There were many moms who told kids when they ran off for several hours to rememeber to drink water (on hot days). We didn't carry water around, but we definitely were warned to stay hydrated. Maybe not as militantly as we are now, but it was definitely mentioned back then (I'm 58, so I was a kid of the 70's)

As another PP mentioned, water fountains used to be much more available and maintained. Nowadays, they aren't always maintained, so water is not nearly as available as it used to be. I've found lots of times that water fountains are out of order. Facilities don't repair these as quickly or often as they used to.

Additionally, many places now charge for cups or water, so carrying water with you is cheaper. It's also more environmentally sensitive as you don't waste cups, especially non-recyclable cups (styrofoam, waxed paper, non-recyclable plastic cups, etc). Also, many places have a "facilities are for patrons only" so if you are not a patron, then you can't use rest rooms and since the water fountains are by the rest rooms, you often can't get to water fountains unless you are patronizing that establishment.

There are lots of good reasons to carry water with you now, if you aren't going to a specific place where you know there are working water fountains.

[Anonymous]

I carry a backpack with water/snacks so we don't have to stop and buy something every time somebody in my family gets hungry or thirsty between sitting down for meals. Also sunscreen, an umbrella, layers. Weird thread.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Op, don’t you hydrate? Or you one of those constantly buying plastic bottles?

I always carry my backpack— even when out in the US. I have water bottles, snacks, books, wallet, chargers, sanitizer, first aid, and whatever else we need. I have 3 kids but used to carry the backpack while traveling in my 20s!

I mean, I do think this concept of constant "hydration" is pretty new. When I was growing up, kids did not carry around reusable water bottles all the time, and I don't recall an epidemic of dehydration. We just went to the water fountain if we were thirsty.

As an adult, I do not carry a water bottle around NYC, where I live, or around the urban metropolises that I visit, unless it is extremely warm. I will bring water to national parks and rural areas, where there's no guarantee of a cafe for me to get a drink. So while I do not support OP's anti-backpack stance, I also don't buy into the hydration hysteria that has gripped so many.

OP here and this how I view it also. I think the water bottle obsession is a bit much. As I said in my original post I am talking about urban settings.

There are plenty of opportunities to have water/fluids throughout the day.

I disagree. Water fountains just aren't that prevalent anymore, and often don't work if you do see them. The other alternative is buying throw-away plastic bottles. Why would I want to buy water with single use plastic when I can just carry a water bottle that I filled for free? You're wasteful, all so you can brag that you don't carry a backpack or bag of some sort? That just doesn't make sense.

But I mean, that's fine. You do your thing. I can't fathom getting worked up to the point of posting that someone else chooses to carry water and a bag. What people complain about here is sort of mind boggling at times. WhoTF actually cares.

I mean, why can't you just stop in a restaurant/cafe and get a glass of water?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Op, don’t you hydrate? Or you one of those constantly buying plastic bottles?

I always carry my backpack— even when out in the US. I have water bottles, snacks, books, wallet, chargers, sanitizer, first aid, and whatever else we need. I have 3 kids but used to carry the backpack while traveling in my 20s!

I mean, I do think this concept of constant "hydration" is pretty new. When I was growing up, kids did not carry around reusable water bottles all the time, and I don't recall an epidemic of dehydration. We just went to the water fountain if we were thirsty.

As an adult, I do not carry a water bottle around NYC, where I live, or around the urban metropolises that I visit, unless it is extremely warm. I will bring water to national parks and rural areas, where there's no guarantee of a cafe for me to get a drink. So while I do not support OP's anti-backpack stance, I also don't buy into the hydration hysteria that has gripped so many.

OP here and this how I view it also. I think the water bottle obsession is a bit much. As I said in my original post I am talking about urban settings.

There are plenty of opportunities to have water/fluids throughout the day.

I disagree. Water fountains just aren't that prevalent anymore, and often don't work if you do see them. The other alternative is buying throw-away plastic bottles. Why would I want to buy water with single use plastic when I can just carry a water bottle that I filled for free? You're wasteful, all so you can brag that you don't carry a backpack or bag of some sort? That just doesn't make sense.

But I mean, that's fine. You do your thing. I can't fathom getting worked up to the point of posting that someone else chooses to carry water and a bag. What people complain about here is sort of mind boggling at times. WhoTF actually cares.

I mean, why can't you just stop in a restaurant/cafe and get a glass of water?

Because most places won’t give you one? Unless you’re buying it, in which case, why wouldn’t you just carry a water bottle instead of constantly paying for cups of water?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Op, don’t you hydrate? Or you one of those constantly buying plastic bottles?

I always carry my backpack— even when out in the US. I have water bottles, snacks, books, wallet, chargers, sanitizer, first aid, and whatever else we need. I have 3 kids but used to carry the backpack while traveling in my 20s!

I mean, I do think this concept of constant "hydration" is pretty new. When I was growing up, kids did not carry around reusable water bottles all the time, and I don't recall an epidemic of dehydration. We just went to the water fountain if we were thirsty.

As an adult, I do not carry a water bottle around NYC, where I live, or around the urban metropolises that I visit, unless it is extremely warm. I will bring water to national parks and rural areas, where there's no guarantee of a cafe for me to get a drink. So while I do not support OP's anti-backpack stance, I also don't buy into the hydration hysteria that has gripped so many.

OP here and this how I view it also. I think the water bottle obsession is a bit much. As I said in my original post I am talking about urban settings.

There are plenty of opportunities to have water/fluids throughout the day.

I disagree. Water fountains just aren't that prevalent anymore, and often don't work if you do see them. The other alternative is buying throw-away plastic bottles. Why would I want to buy water with single use plastic when I can just carry a water bottle that I filled for free? You're wasteful, all so you can brag that you don't carry a backpack or bag of some sort? That just doesn't make sense.

But I mean, that's fine. You do your thing. I can't fathom getting worked up to the point of posting that someone else chooses to carry water and a bag. What people complain about here is sort of mind boggling at times. WhoTF actually cares.

I mean, why can't you just stop in a restaurant/cafe and get a glass of water?

Because most places won’t give you one? Unless you’re buying it, in which case, why wouldn’t you just carry a water bottle instead of constantly paying for cups of water?

Which brings us back to the original question- how could you possibly care if someone else is carrying a bottle of water, or how they are carrying it? If they aren't emptying it on your head suddenly, what does it possibly matter to you?

[Anonymous]

Agree backpacks are best - but do they invite pickpockets? Do you keep your important items separately?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Op, don’t you hydrate? Or you one of those constantly buying plastic bottles?

I always carry my backpack— even when out in the US. I have water bottles, snacks, books, wallet, chargers, sanitizer, first aid, and whatever else we need. I have 3 kids but used to carry the backpack while traveling in my 20s!

I mean, I do think this concept of constant "hydration" is pretty new. When I was growing up, kids did not carry around reusable water bottles all the time, and I don't recall an epidemic of dehydration. We just went to the water fountain if we were thirsty.

As an adult, I do not carry a water bottle around NYC, where I live, or around the urban metropolises that I visit, unless it is extremely warm. I will bring water to national parks and rural areas, where there's no guarantee of a cafe for me to get a drink. So while I do not support OP's anti-backpack stance, I also don't buy into the hydration hysteria that has gripped so many.

OP here and this how I view it also. I think the water bottle obsession is a bit much. As I said in my original post I am talking about urban settings.

There are plenty of opportunities to have water/fluids throughout the day.

I disagree. Water fountains just aren't that prevalent anymore, and often don't work if you do see them. The other alternative is buying throw-away plastic bottles. Why would I want to buy water with single use plastic when I can just carry a water bottle that I filled for free? You're wasteful, all so you can brag that you don't carry a backpack or bag of some sort? That just doesn't make sense.

But I mean, that's fine. You do your thing. I can't fathom getting worked up to the point of posting that someone else chooses to carry water and a bag. What people complain about here is sort of mind boggling at times. WhoTF actually cares.

I mean, why can't you just stop in a restaurant/cafe and get a glass of water?

You obviously don't have kids. I don't generally carry a water bottle but this is a ridiculous suggestion.