I just purchased one of his neck wallets for my trip this September. After purchasing it I have read a couple reviews saying that there are issues with the string/cords connecting to the pouch. First off, has RS corrected the design to prevent these past issues? Secondly, how secure will this pouch be under my shirt if someone decides to use a razor and swipe it off me?
Once it arrives inspect the stitching where the cord connects to the wallet. You'll be able to figure out in a couple of seconds if you unit is defective.
The odds that someone will use a razor to cut toff the cord are astronomical. Thieves will go after easier targets.
Hi Aaron, I'm not trying to be funny but how does one get a neck wallet "out"? Do you have to unbutton your shirt to pay for something? This would make for a good SNL skit. Just a general dumb question - why is there a need for a new storage system when traveling to Europe? I swear Rick Steves has created an empire based on fear of petty crime (yes, of course it happens but do we need all these contraptions?). Maybe because all my stuff goes in a purse - no matter where I am - I don't really think of stuffing anything under my clothes.
Yeaaaahhh, Agnes! Sweetheart, if you ever loose your purse, I'll loan you a hip pocket.
Agnes, for me the difference is that when I'm overseas, I've got everything important on me including the one document i need to get home. If I lose my license in the US, it's an annoyance, but not THAT big a deal. If I lose my passport in Europe, total royal pain in the ass. I also don't want to spend an entire day of my vacation at an embassy and canceling all my credit cards. It's not that the stuff overseas is more valuable than here, it's that it's vacation and I don't want to have to deal with it while i'm having a good time and have limited time to have it. So I take more precautions to avoid a problem.
A neck wallet is a version of money belt. It is not meant to be taken out in public. Your walking around money should be in another place. If you need to access the pouch, do it in a private area, like a restroom.
"why is there a need for a new storage system when traveling to Europe?" My travel is mostly in Germany, and I don't think there is a greater chance, probably much less, of having things stolen, but it's not the chance, it's the consequences. As someone above mentioned, at home it would be an inconvenience - you'd have to go home, call your bank, cancel some cards, etc. If it happens in Europe, you have to make international calls to cancel the cards and until you get new ones, how do you get money for food, housing, etc. And, as long as you are wearing the neck wallet under your shirt, if they cut the string, it will fall inside your shirt. Anyway, the string should be hidden under the collar. The main thing is not to wear it on the outside - kinda defeats the purpose.
I'm worried because I'm a big guy which means I won't be tucking in my shirt which means if they cut the strings then it will fall to the ground.
Sew Velcro to you shirt and the wallet. Then it will stay in your shirt, even without the cord. Or safety pin it. Or get a longer shirt, and learn to tuck it in. Or wear a bra. Seriously, I've considered making kind of a shoulder holster for the wallet. But, if you don't access it in public, no one will know it's there to cut the
Aaron, seriously, if someone gets close enough to your neck with a razor knife that they could effectively slice the cord of the neck wallet, I think you will have bigger, more serious problems than losing whatever it was you were carrying in that wallet. Put these thoughts out of your mind, finish planning your trip, get on the plane and go, be aware of your surroundings and take reasonable precautions, and just have fun. If you're a 'big' guy, and you don't act like a jerk, no one will likely bother you. Do you think millions of people from around the world would go on their holidays to European cities every summer if they were being threatened with razor knives?
I have always considered a neck wallet to be like the moneybelt. DEEP STORAGE , you don't need to access it during the day normally as you would carry one days spending money somewhere more accessible.. I just like Agnes, do not wear a moneybelt during day while sightseeing. I only wear one when actually travelling. My passport is safe in hotel safe or apartment. I find too many fearful people on this forum sometimes.
I suppose people do what they are comfortable doing though. Aaron, if someone is coming around your neck with a razor you have way more to worry about then your money. lol Seriously , never heard of it happening ..
This is funny because I shave with straight razors and razors are differnt then knives, knives can do alot of damage, razors not so much because of their narrow edge, but they are super sharp, they work by splitting atomic bonds vs tearing/shearing as a knife would.
I'm going to run out and get my Google Glasses - Europe Edition. Outfitted with 360 degree views and IBM "smart" analytics that predict and prevent petty crime before it starts...forget this old school hanging "neck wallet" business. Rick is behind the times. Ed - are your hip pockets big enough to fit the contents of my purse ??? LOL :-)
Nobody was making fun of Aaron.
I use my neck wallet when traveling from one location to another. I shorten the strap and wear it over one shoulder and under the arm. There is no strap showing, so no one would know it was there to cut. I have to shorten it up quite a bit because I'm vertically challenged. Adjust it to whatever length you need. It wouldn't matter if you don't tuck in your shirt because you make sure it won't show. As mentioned before, it is for deep storage only. Anything you need for the day needs to be more accessible. I pin the strap to my bra strap for extra security. You could pin it to the shoulder of your shirt to do the same thing.
Leslie, I'm not sure who your post was directed at, but I assure you I was certainly not making fun of Aaron. I was trying to coax him to relax and put his fears and concerns aside so he can go to Europe and have a great holiday, as we all do. The motto of the Royal Order of the Garter - visible all around the grounds at Windsor Castle - is: "Honi soi qui mal y pense." Google it.
Aaron, actually a straight blade razor can do a lot of damage if applied with any pressure in certain areas of neck,, I will not elaborate as I am sure it will horrify some sensitive soul, but what I really mean is, if someone has a blade of any sort anywhere near my neck I am way more concerned about injury and death then my money... I also have never PERSONALLY heard any FIRST HAND accounts of that sort of attack happening ( neck wallets being cut off necks) , not saying it has never happened, just saying that I think its 99% rumor as in " I heard from a girl at work that her sisters boyfriends cousin had this happen to him" ..
I'm not offended in the least bit, lol. What about hidden pockets for day to day cash storage and credit/debit card storage?
Agnes, here is a neck wallet (you may need to click on the various photos to see it around 'his' neck); you access it by pulling it straight up from the front neckline of the shirt. Aaron, will you be wearing collared shirts? If not, please look at the photo in the link above - that string around your neck will be screaming, 'Cut me! Here I am!'. And yes, they do get cut...and you'll probably never realize it. Not only have I heard 'reformed' pickpockets and personal safety experts say so, I've witnessed an attempt on the Paris metro...until we made eye contact. My husband has worn one, and thought it was very comfortable. I would pin it to something...depending on how it's constructed, run a safety pin through the string then pin to the front/side collar of your shirt or something. Just something so that if it gets cut (not terribly likely) or simply has a malfunction, it'll still be hanging by your pinned collar. Also, pin the pouch to the string - you don't want to get to the room with a string pinned to your shirt :-( You can always pin a neck wallet to your waistband...the same way I pin my waistbelt to mine...those buckles do come undone, and that elastic strap can break... Bottom line - wear the one that's comfortable enough that you'll wear it.
"Stop! Think of the visual of fishing around in your drawers in public." Wards off pickpockets. Maybe. May invite something entirely unexpected/unwanted. Cultural experience. PacSafe is too overkill; I have spent many a day wearing a Hidden Pocket. I don't wear it on a belt loop though. I use the included safety pin, aka diaper pin, (buy diaper pins at Target, etc., if necessary) to attach it to my waistband or the pocket lining of my pants (thinner fabric for the pin, but strong enough). (I hold the HP upside-down with the straps hanging down, then pin one of the straps to the inside of my pants, then 'flip' the HP inside my pants (so the pin is hidden). Then it's easy to flip it out when needed or just maneuver it horizontally so you can use it while still hidden). I can wear it vertically or horizontally, higher or lower. If I'm going to spend hours on a train, it goes higher. You can pin it to one side, or smack dab in the middle. Definitely try both. Wear one to work for a week or so, then wear the other one. Sometimes it takes a few days to figure out what works for you. Worst case - you end up with both. I often wear one and carry the other style with me; I can wear what I want and that's also handy if they need washing out while there (put your passport, and any important paper, in a small Ziploc and put that in your moneybelt).
What about hidden pockets I use both the hidden wallet and the neck wallet. I only use the neck wallet when I'm in transit between cities and I may have to produce my passport, rail-pass, or credit card. When out sightseeing the hidden wallet works best; I barely notice it. If my hotel room happens to have a in-room safe I use that instead. Another consideration about the money belt family of devices, not only do they protect you from thieves, they also protect you from simply loosing things. I actually think that's a more likely thing to happen, but the consequences are the same.
I use a hidden pocket too, and sometimes a neck wallet if I'm carrying a wad of cash. Our neck wallets have been modified thusly. Take off the toggle because is annoying to have behind your neck. Cut the neck strap, woven cord, or whatever off one side of the wallet right where it begins to become sewn to the wallet. Hold it around your neck to determine the correct length you want the wallet to hang down. Resew the woven cord down the lenght of the wallet. Cut off the remaining. Then you have a customized neck wallet that fits your stature without the annoying toggle.
Another consideration about the money belt family of devices, not only do they protect you from thieves, they also protect you from simply loosing things. I actually think that's a more likely thing to happen, but the consequences are the same. I like Michael's thought. As someone with rusty international travel skills, I did find using the money belt as a help for the organization part of things. I knew that was where my passport, the extra cash and the spare debit/credit cards were.
If you are really nervous about this happening, you could put some valuables in this underwear (from Scotte Vest) with pockets: http://www.scottevest.com/v3_store/Travel-Boxers.shtml It's a really good idea for people who want deep storage for passports, large amounts of cash, things you will not be getting out except in the privacy of your hotel room or a restroom.
Hidden pocket: Eagle Creek or Pac-Safe Coversafety 125?
Stop! Think of the visual of fishing around in your drawers in public.
Aaron, To answer your original question, it's like other people here said. 99 per cent of the time, you will have no problem. That one percent of the time, if it does happen, most likely on the underground or tube (London) or a crowded bus (Rome). Just keep an eye open anywhere you are mashed up, elbow to elbow with people in a crowd anywhere. But I'm going to bet you twenty bucks you have no problem whatsoever on your trip. Have a great time!
How about this? Instead of a neck pocket, I use one hidden pocket for passport, rail tickets/passes, and debit card and another hidden pocket on the other side for my cash and coins or credit cards?
Not a good idea because it's a pain in the butt to access the hidden wallet...which is the point. Just keep a days spending money in you regular wallet and perhaps a credit card if you have more than one. Everything else in a hotel room safe or money belt type device and you're good to go.
Aaron, I'm not totally sure what you mean by a hidden pocket, but I have a number of travel shirts (mostly men's) that have double chest pockets - a regular pocket, with a velcro flap, but inside that regular pocket is a zippered pocket where I keep ATM/credit cards and cash withdrawn from the ATM machine, till I can stash most of it in my moneybelt. It's also handy for passports etc. when flying. We just got back from 2+ weeks in Sicily and France; I had a very small purse that I wore across my body, and kept daily cash in there. I also had pants with a zippered pocket on the leg, but didn't use that at all - way too easy for someone other than me to access in a crowded location. have a great trip!
Hidden pockets as in the ones you put your belt through and tuck into your pants.
Kathleen, this is a Hidden Wallet-style of 'moneybelt' ('moneybelt' used very generically here). Aaron, I would recommend that you just keep your daily spending money wherever you normally keep it - a money clip in your front pocket, or wherever. This is the money that if it disappeared, it would be a big bummer, but not a major problem. How much depends on you - 20€, 50€ - and you can always replenish it during toilet trips, or at some other private moment. Each day, you'll potentially be paying for meals, snacks/drinks, museum entrance fees, souvenirs...Each morning, you can figure up how much money that might be then start with that and maybe a bit extra. All of those 'pouches' are really meant for deep-storage, like your vault. Anything that would STOP your trip, but that you probably don't need to access during the day, goes in there (passport, tickets, credit/ATM cards, Big Money from the ATM). Back in the day when we had actual airline tickets to carry around (!), my husband used a neck pouch and a hidden wallet because he carried the Eurail pass for us, too...Ah, the Good Ol' Days...;-)
Aaron, are you saying you are no longer pleased with the neck wallet? I'm sure the RS Travel Store would exchange it for this; Civita Money Belt. It's the exact same price as neck wallet, so even exchange: http://travelstore.ricksteves.com/catalog/index.cfm?fuseaction=product&theParentId=124&id=32 As others have said, do not access this in public. It's you safe secret place for passports, large amounts of money. Money for a sandwich should be kept in your pants or shirt pocket.