This article is a part of CNN Underscored’s?Summer Travel Week, a weeklong focus on how to travel smarter and save money during one of the busiest travel seasons of the year.
Anti-theft bags should be a priority in your travel plans. As you begin to think about the next steps to ensure a joyful and triumphant trip, safety might not always be at the top of your list. But it should be. And it’s not all that difficult to make it so.
Wherever you’re going and whatever you’re doing on vacation, making sure you have travel gear that will keep your belongings safe should be your next step in getting ready for your adventure. And while the anti-theft travel bag market has dwindled quite a bit over the years, according to travel skills trainer Kevin Coffey, there’s still a decent selection out there if you look in the right places. From belt and sling bags to crossbody bags and travel purses to travel backpacks, all the anti-theft bags we’ve chosen come with at least one security feature.
We’ve also gathered some of the best tips from Coffey, a retired detective with the Los Angeles Police Department for 35 years, where he founded the Crime Investigation Detail for airport and travel-related victims and has spent the past 28 years speaking at corporate events and for various media on how to make travelers street-smart and savvy so they can enjoy their time away from home.
“The number one issue that’s going to be faced in this vertical of traveler loss theft is going to be pickpocketing,” Coffey says. “And it’s going to be one of two ways: one, it comes out of your pocket itself, and the other is going to be coming out of a bag that you’re carrying. [The second feature to look for when buying a bag] is having the ability to detach a strap and secure it to a secondary device. The third is going to be anti-slashing features, and the last one is going to be RFID blocking.”
Let’s start by discussing some of the features you want your anti-theft bag to have, from picking the right fabric to reinforced straps that prevent strap-cutting attempts.
This is an important one. Slash-resistant fabric is designed to withstand knife attacks and prevent thieves from slashing the bag open.?This fabric is typically reinforced with steel or carbon fiber wires woven into the material, which makes it difficult to cut through.
Hidden, lockable zippers and compartments
A proper anti-theft bag often has hidden zippers and lockable compartments to deter pickpockets and make it harder for thieves to access the contents.?Some bags have zippers that can be secured with small locks or clips, while others have zippers tucked away in discreet locations or covered by flaps.
If you need to add your own lock to a travel backpack, consult our list of best TSA-approved locks to start your search for the perfect lock.
Look for bags with reinforced straps that are difficult to cut through.?Some bags have straps reinforced with steel cables or Dyneema wire to prevent strap-cutting theft attempts.
Anti-theft bags often have secure attachment points like locking clips that allow you to anchor the bag to a fixed object. That makes it harder for thieves to snatch and run with your belongings.
Naturally, no bag is completely theft-proof, but these features can deter thieves and provide an added layer of security for your valuables while traveling.
Anti-theft travel belt bags, sling bags and passport holders
The Lewis N. Clark Travel Pouch is an excellent choice for functionality and protection against travel security threats. The waist belt has an ultra-slim design that fits discreetly underneath your clothing and is constructed with RFID-blocking technology and durable rip-stop nylon. It’s even got self-repairing zippers. The multiple compartments keep your currency, electronics, passports, travel documents and more organized and ready for easy access when needed.
The Travelon Anti-Theft Active Waist Pack has a slew of security features, including RFID-blocking card slots, a slash-resistant body and straps and locking compartments. These features can help provide an additional level of convenient security against theft.
At a higher price point than the Sling Pack, the Pacsafe Vibe 100 Anti-Theft Pack comes with all the same anti-theft features plus some, like a Roobar locking system. It can hold more too, such as a 7-inch tablet along with the usual suspects — keys, phone and wallet. Keep your valuables safe while on the go with lockable zips and cut-resistant materials all made in a hip pack made from recycled PET for optimal sustainability.
It’s all about the sleek design with the Monos Metro Sling. A single-strap bag that can be worn around your waist, over your shoulder or across your body allows you to pack all your essential on-the-go items and still know they’re safe with cleverly designed interior pockets and an integrated keychain carabiner to keep keys close. It’s also got a full-length back pocket to hold wallets, phones or passports securely yet accessibly. Eco-bonus is that it’s designed with only vegan materials and available in nine great color choices.
Also from Pacsafe, this passport holder has RFID-blocking material to protect against unauthorized scans of your credit cards and IDs, with six card slots, a zippered mesh window slot for an ID card, a mesh passport holder, a boarding pass slip pocket, a zippered pocket and a pen loop. There's a detachable strap that is reinforced with a hard-to-cut wire, and you can wear it around the wrist or secure it to a belt loop to deter pickpockets.
“As an avid beachgoer, I absolutely love the Aqua Vault Flexsafe anti-theft bags,” says travel blogger and consultant Marla Cimini. “It’s really a portable safe that offers peace of mind. You can fit a lot of things in this small bag that attaches to your beach chair or umbrella (or a fixed object), and it has a combination lock that you set yourself."
Expect to fit all of the usual suspects you might want to bring on a beach day: phone, keys, wallet and any other small valuables. "It also features mesh pockets on the outside and a sturdy belt loop and a handle on top so you can carry it with you and use it as a purse or a bike bag if you need to," Cimini says. "The material is tough, splash-proof, anti-theft and features RFID-blocking material. I highly recommend this bag for travel and especially peace of mind at the beach!”
Anti-theft travel purses and crossbody bags
“There are bags that pickpockets and opportunists will specialize in and love to go after and the easiest one is an open tote bag,” Coffey says. “That’s easy to get your hand into. So, you’ll want to look for a product that’s going to be zippered and, better yet, has some type of locking mechanism. A purse that’s easy to get into — it’s easy to zip, easy to open a flap — they can get their hand in there and remove your wallet, remove your cell phone.”
“If [a thief] is not getting into the purse or bag, they’re physically stealing it,” Coffey says. “How many times have you seen someone put their purse on the back of the chair when they’re in a restaurant, right? Someone can just come by and steal that or put a jacket over a purse when someone’s not paying attention. So, you’ll want to able to detach one of the straps to secure it through some type of hole or the chair itself, so it can’t be easily removed.”
The Travelon Anti-Theft Essential Messenger Bag offers this protection. Its 5-Point Anti-Theft Security System includes slash-resistant mesh inner lining throughout all panels, a slash-resistant strap, locking compartments and an RFID-blocking organizer.
This bag has a 5-Point Anti-Theft Security System, which includes RFID-blocking pockets, a slash-resistant body and straps and locking compartments. These features help ensure your belongings are well protected while not compromising on style.
“I really love my Baggallini,” says travel journalist Elizabeth Heath. “It has RFID-blocking [technology] and a detachable strap, and for its modest size, it really does fit a lot." You'll find plenty of compartments and pockets inside to store all of your smaller items.
We also love the options on offer, with more than 30 colors and designs available. "I bought the bag in a neutral/unisex color so that my spouse can carry it, too. That way, we can get by with one ‘purse’ when we travel, and I’m not left holding the bag and the phones, wallets, tickets, et cetera!”
This 15-liter Peak Design Everyday Tote really lives up to its name. It’s great for an adventure or your photo equipment, but it also works for everyday trips because it combines sleek aesthetics with functionality that protects, organizes and gives quick access to your gear. The extra-wide opening has a weatherproof UltraZip, seals with a magnetic clasp and folds over to provide extra pickpocketing protection.
With the same 5-Point Anti-Theft Security System, including a lockdown strap, the Travelon Urban Anti-Theft Messenger Bag updates the Essential Messenger Bag with a sleek, squared design and a main compartment with two padded sleeves that can hold up to a 14-inch laptop along with an iPad or tablet. Buckles secure the flap over the main compartment, while front and rear pockets have zippers, offering excellent security. It can be worn as a crossbody or over the shoulder.
The Pacsafe CitySafe Convertible Backpack is a great design with a two-in-one option — it can be worn as a travel backpack or folded down as a handbag or crossbody bag. Any way you wear it, you'll get all the anti-theft features standard for Pacsafe bags. There’s smart zipper security, cut-resistant fabric and a cut-resistant anchor strap that stores away neatly or secures to a fixed object, along with RFID-blocking pockets.
Travelon’s Signature Anti-Theft Backpack is a great choice for travelers looking for anti-theft features alongside a clean and functional design. The main compartment has an RFID-blocking slot that holds credit cards and passports. There's also an inner zippered wall pocket?with an attached key clip with an LED light. The hidden anti-slash pocket under the flap is perfect for your cell or sunglasses.
Ultimately, you want to find an anti-theft bag that's easy to operate. “Find one that fits your dexterity level,” Coffey says. “If the features are difficult to use and quickly secure, you’re probably not going to be using it all the time and then [the anti-theft features become] pointless.”
Away’s Everywhere Zip Backpack is constructed with water-resistant nylon with a breathable mesh back panel for extra comfort and a full wraparound zip opening for access to its spacious main compartment. Its anti-theft features include a padded 15-inch laptop pocket with a magnetic locking zipper, an external secure front zip pocket and a hidden easy-access slip pocket for your phone or passport.
The Shrradoo Anti-Theft Laptop Backpack is a great value at well under $30. It has a built-in lockable compartment for securing a laptop and other valuables, which provides an extra layer of security against theft. Additionally, its durable build, spacious compartments and multiple pockets, including a USB charging port and expandable water bottle sleeves, make it a practical and versatile option for travelers.
“Being professional photographers, anti-theft features in backpacks are incredibly important to us, as we often travel with huge amounts of expensive equipment in unusual locations,” says Jarryd Salem, one half of adventure duo Nomadasaurus. “We tend to carry our camera gear in backpacks, and our go-to now are the Everyday Backpack and Travel Backpack from Peak Design.
"Besides being excellent quality gear, they come with solid anti-theft features such as lots of hidden pockets and lockable zippers. But the biggest anti-theft feature for us is that these camera backpacks don’t really look like camera backpacks at all. While other brands and packs we’ve used (and admittedly love) scream out, ‘I’m full of camera gear!’ the Peak Design bags are more subtle, meaning they’re less likely to draw attention. What better way to avoid theft than not attracting thieves in the first place?”
The Travelon Anti-Theft Packable Backpack is all about optimal security and convenience for travelers. Its standout feature is the 5-Point Anti-Theft Security System, which includes several key elements like slash-resistant mesh barriers and stainless steel wire embedded in the straps. Locking compartments also help prevent pickpockets from accessing the contents of your bag.
Ultimately, it pays off to keep security in mind. “I know plenty of smart travelers who’ve let their guard down for half a minute and had either their bags stolen or something lifted from their purse or backpack,” Heath says. “Those moments when you’re fumbling for your wallet or ID, frazzled over a missed train or juggling multiple bags, those are the times when you’re most vulnerable. I don’t think anyone should travel with a sense of fear, but a healthy sense of caution is a necessity anywhere in the world.”
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