Travel on Anti-Theft Travel Bag

I'm afraid not too many of us are going to agree that this was a good purchase, but at least it wasn't that expensive.

An example
Read the last few posts on this thread:
https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/france/disaster-has-struck-lost-all-money-and-credit-cards#bottom

I have a Travelon with anti theft/RFID features. I must admit the anti theft and RFID features are not the reason I bought it. I bought because it was 1) small 2) had good use of space, including an outside pocket for my cell phone and 3) the purse could be washed.

And cheap! I bought it at TJ Maxx.

After watching a motorcycle grab in Naples, I’ve decided these things are actually potentially dangerous to your life. If somebody grabs your purse from something like that motorcycle and the strap doesn’t break, you’re going to be drug into traffic. But when the bus hit you, you have your purse That’s great because you need your insurance card in the emergency department. Sorry, but I’m giving up my purse - it’s not worth my life.

As for RFID. The most useless antitheft measure ever, but I’ve got to admire these people that are making a lot of money off of it.

I use a Travelon purse ( I have several different types) in conjunction with putting some cash, an extra credit card and my passport in a money belt and having another small amount of cash and an additional credit card in my carry- on bag back at my hotel. Nothing is 100% theft-proof but I like my system and my Travelon bags.

Not sure I would say 13 trips without the safety features is living dangerously, but if you like the Travelon, then who doesn't enjoy a new purse?

Sherry, Most of my bags are travelon or pacsafe. I love them! I've used them for years at home and when traveling. They are so nicely organized, IMO. Plus, the lockable zippers have always given me peace of mind whether commuting on public transportation or traveling. They keep me organized so I don't lose something, which is much more likely to happen than being stolen. Nonetheless, I appreciate the antitheft straps.

As with anything there are those who love to hate these bags. As far as people being dragged away due to the straps being grabbed by a motorcyclist...so small a risk and an easy resolution if it did happen, arm up over head and twist out and it can be pulled right off. In other words, you let it go like you give it up if you were being mugged. it's like anything else, a small bit of planning alleviates the little risk there is: have your purse opposite the roadway or walk against traffic or keep the bag in front of you or wear a scarf covering the straps or a jacket...there are many options, which you should think of with any crossbody purse.

Besides, it's just nice buying a new bag. Enjoy!

Hi fellow Sherry! I really like the “locking” zipper compartments on the Travelon bag. The closest I’ve come to being pickpocketed (in 13 trips to Europe including a ride on the “wallet eater” bus in Rome) was years ago on the Rome Metro. A child (!) tried to unzip an outer compartment of my purse. The zipper only went open as far as where I had my hand over it. I didn’t even realize the zipper had been opened until after the entire episode. The kid’s mother had put her hand in my husband’s front pocket where he had his hand on his wallet. He felt her hand, looked down at her, and said pickpocket very loudly. Needless to say the Romans on the Metro car surrounded them and hustled them off at the next stop. The kid wouldn’t have gotten anything as that pocket of my purse was empty. And I had little more than a few euros and a metro pass in my purse anyway.

Hi, Sherry! I looked on Amazon and found the purse that you purchased. That was actually the same one as the first Travelon purse I purchased for my first trip to Italy in 2015. It is a great bag and holds a lot, although it can be a bit heavy. Enjoy it - you got a great deal!

I just bought a new Travelon Heritage bag for our Switzerland trip this year. I started traveling with a very small Sherpani crossbody 11 years ago, used a small Fjallraven back pack for a couple of years and now I’m on to a Travelon crossbody. The older I get, the less I want to carry but there’s still stuff I need like eyeglass cases and a water bottle. If someone wants my purse that badly, I will not hold on for dear life. On our RS trips we’ve had a number of people have their bags taken when sitting them by their chairs at outdoor restaurants.

And I might include that I was more interested in the size, look of the bag, pockets, price and most importantly width of the strap than anti theft features.

I use an extra small Travelon crossbody purse. It holds all my daily needs. It’s also light enough that it doesn’t hurt my neck. I bought it because it has snaps for the zippers, it was cheap on sale and it is red.

Some people think Travelon or PakSafe purses aren’t safe because a motorcyclist can grab it. Any crossbody purse is not going to fall off your body when grabbed. Don’t carry your purse on the street side of your body. Carry it on the shop side so it’s almost impossible to grab. Everyone is entitled to their opinion and preference.

A little story about nylon vs “security” straps I posted on Janet’s thread: I had horses for years and used nylon halters. My 1200 lb horse sat back until the force broke his halter. He back flipped in a barn aisle when the halter broke. The hardware will break first. After than I only used leather because the halter will break with enough pressure.

So if you want to safely carry a crossbody purse, there really isn’t a nylon handle that will break before you get hurt. Probably not a leather one either.

I’m the “some people”. and I can tell you what I saw. I saw a woman with a leather purse, have a snatch and grab from a motorcycle, and that purse strap broke. But my counter argument to this is if my regular strap isn’t going to break, why do I need to spend all this money on a special metal Strap.

Of course, the only friend I’ve ever had who actually lost her purse in Europe carried the safe. And the rest of us didn’t. Guess which friend left her bag sitting on the back of a café chair?

Sherry, thanks for the heads up about the sale! I only buy bags with anti-theft features, and I could use a new one for our upcoming trip. It looks like I have some good options to choose from.