money belt vs under arm belt

By under arm do you mean the neck wallets? If so, they are just as effective as money belts, just a matter of personal preference. The wedgie maneuver you describe wouldn't be very practical for a pickpocket. In the time it took for them to give you said wedgie they can rob ten other suckers:)

But Stan, how could a pickpocket even know to try the "wedgie maneuver"? If we're wearing our moneybelts the correct way, no one would see the belt strap around the back of you waist (or hip, depending on how low or high you wear it). It's totally under your clothes, touching your skin (can I be any more specific?)!!!!

If a thief tries the wedgie maneuver on you, respond with the double eye poke followed by a noogie to the noggin. Nyuk nyuk nyuk.

Karen, will you travel with me???

I prefer a neck wallet when touring around in a rental car - I find it more comfortable for me with long periods of sitting and getting in and out of the car. I usually wear a money belt in warmer weather when I am wearing lighter clothing - a neck wallet (worn on the chest) would be noticeable. Don't personally like the feeling of a neck wallet worn on either side. I usually wear a money belt for a few days at home previous to our trip - after that I don't feel ready to go out unless it's on. It's all personal preference, just like wheels or no wheels on a bag.

It's just personal preference and comfort. I personally prefer a money belt looped through my belt. It hangs externally and therefore is easy to access but a pickpocket can't open it without my knowing.

Stan, oh my gosh....thank you for the great laugh......I am dying laughing seeing the mental image of a pickpocket giving some guy the wedgie!!!!!! Thanks for the LOL. Seriously, here's what we do: Husband wears a neckwallet (RS model) on which I have shortened the strap to fit holster style under his arm......light, soft..........that is used for the really deep storage.....passports on days we don't need 'em/large cash storage/his credit/ATM cards. Then I wear a money belt (waist style) for the less deep storage cash, the credit card/ATM card/the house key, etc. I hate it, because I have to wear shirts that fit over skirts/slacks so as to avoid "bulge." I wear it higher, right under bra, vs. at waist....it works. For airports, husband wears an addition neck wallet that hangs down in front under his shirt (to easy access passports) 4 customs, etc. Consolidate later. Husband keeps daily cash (E30) in shirt pocket...kind with one button on pocket, and I keep (E50) daily cash and about E5-10 in various coins, etc. in an easy-to-access zip pocket in my travel purse.........4 restrooms, tips, small purchases, etc. If summer, take a second money belt, as especially the holster style one can get eww gross. We use little zip lock bags to keep passports dry, even though the RS style has a plastic liner. If I'm somewhere that I feel particularly secure, I'll just toss my money belt into a zip compartment of my travel purse..... places like in-hotel breakfast/dinner, etc. If you wear the money belt through certain airport screeners, expect the pat down, as they can see you have something under your shirt/trousers but can't tell "what." So, best to send thru screener with your stuff, then put on after...keeping an eye on it....or just request pat down in lieu of body scan. Watch those wedgies!!!!

I truly prefer a true money belt for cash...eagle creek webbed belt...see my favorites list review at http://ofmyheart.net. I also use either neck or waist "safe" for credit cards & passport depending on the style of clothes I am wearing.

My wife uses a waistbest and I also use one and in addition I use a neck belt. I put items I might use that day in the neck wallet and the rest in the waist. I only go into the waistbelt at night in my room.

I go back and forth between a moneybelt and neck wallet. Last time I used a leg wallet but probably won't use it again. There's also a wallet that hooks on your belt but hangs inside your pants. Fortunately, even if there's a way to get at them, there are plenty of other easier pickings walking around crowded tourist areas (lady's with purses, men with wallets in their back pockets). You don't have to be impenetrable, just harder to steal from than other people in the area.

Hey thanks everyone for taking my question semi-seriously. I have used a neck wallet before, but also the kind of security wallet that you wear over your shoulder (like a shoulder holster). under your shirt. It keeps your valuables under you arm (OK - in the armpit) versus under your pants. Slightly less embarassing to pull something out of your shirt than your pants. I just was curious as to if there was a reason the under-the-pants money belt was preferred. Heck, I will probably use all three on my next trip.

Stan, when using money belts (in all the different varieties), you're not supposed to access it in public ay any time; doing so defeats the purpose it. The idea is to keep passports, and extra cash/cards hidden in the belt-away from thieves, and just a day's spending money in your wallet, and perhaps one credit card if you have more than one. This way if you are robbed you just cutting your losses to just 50 euros or so. If you must access your money belt do so in private like at a restroom.

Stan - you will get two opinions here about accessing money belts. Both are valid. The first above is one that treats a money belt as a bank safe accessed only in private. The other is the idea that a money belt is protection against a pickpocket that cannot access it without you knowing even if they know it's there. Both are very secure though the first is technically (albiet minutely) more secure. There have been a few reported "grab-and-run" incidents while accessing it with the latter method, but those would be extremely rare. And always use discretion and be aware of surroundings when accessing your money belt. In both cases you should carry daily cash in an easily accessible place (wallet or purse) and only access the money belt for credit cards, ATM cards and ID. I would strongly discourage carrying an credit or ATM cards or ID in a non-secure wallet. Which method you choose is your choice based on preference and how easily accessible your money belt is (some belts almost require privacy to access them modestly).

I've never seen the under the armpit money belt, but just the thought of it makes it sound uncomfortable. If it has anything much in it and bulges out just a bit I would imagine that would probably be a bit of a nuisance, that is irritating. The normal money belt I've used and at first it is obviously there until you get used to it which doesn't take too long.

Stan, I use a neck wallet, beneath the shirt, right in front. Don't even feel it after a short while, Any money belt or neck wallet worn OUTSIDE the clothing pretty much effectively defeats the purpose of wearing one in the first place. And I often will get my ATM card from my neck wallet IN PUBLIC. (I just don't like digging around in my jeans for a money belt). Europe is NOT full of criminals just waiting for you to show your money belt so they can jump you. Rather, the pickpockets there are looking for the easy marks. The purse slung over the restaurant chair or the fat wallet sticking out of the back pocket of the tourist gawking at the Eiffel Tower. If you aren't an easy mark they quickly move onto greener pastures...literally. Ross in Denver
ross@bluemusemusic.com

hello there,
My wife and I swear by the shoulder holster type. We wear one each - contents are 1 x passport, 2 x credit/debit cards. Very light weight and no bulge under your clothes. I'm sure these would be available in the US of A, if not contact the supplier - http://intranet.tatonka.com/infosys/php/artinfoe.php?2859_Skin_Chest_Holster As they are worn close to the skin make sure your passport is inside a ziplock bag to prevent moisture problems. We carry our cash in a travel money belt - it looks like a normal belt - but conceals a secret zippered compartment to hide your money. Just fold your notes length wise and store them here. Bon voyage

Ross - you are very correct about there being nothing wrong with accessing your moneybelt (generic term) in public. Short of a grab and run or you leaving the moneybelt open and unattended as you distractedly pay or use the ATM, there is no way for a potential thief to take advantage. You are incorrect, however, about certain moneybelts that can be worn outside of the clothing. I use a pouch that loops over a belt. It folds over on itself with velcro, and has a zipper to access the goodies inside. A thief would have to unfold the wallet, making a noise and using force to undo the velcro, then unzip the wallet to remove the contents all while holding the flap up. All while doing so right in front of me (it hangs at my front pocket). You can also reverse it so that the flap opens into your body. The whole point of an effective moneybelt (generic term), is that a thief cannot access it without you knowing. It should be secured to your body and placed such that any attempt to access it would force them to make body contact with you in places you would feel. They have nimble enough hands to remove wallets from pockets, but not to dig around in your pant waist, shirt or rip open secured items.