Opinions please- Moneybelt vs. Pacsafe purse

The main thing to think about is what you would do if your purse were stolen or if you lost it. What would you lose? How inconvenient would it be for you to replace what you lost? The main reason to wear a moneybelt is to reduce risk. A moneybelt is not the only way to reduce risk. You need to think about what the risks are and how to reduce the risk.

I had my wallet stolen when I lived in London. I was coming out of a very crowded tube station and when I got to the top of the stairs, I noticed the purse was unclasped. It was annoying and I was mostly mad at myself for being so careless. It was not a crisis. I cancelled my cards and had a replacement for one card within two days. I could have gotten the replacement sooner if I had asked for emergency service. I went home to my flat where I had some extra cash, food in my fridge, and all my belongings. My passport was also in my flat.

The main lesson that I learned from that was not to carry everything on me when I don't need to. I still don't wear a moneybelt when I visit London. I put my passport and a spare credit card in the hotel safe. I put things like my key and ATM card in an inside pocket of my purse so they cannot easily be lifted. When I'm in a crowded place, I hold my purse close to me. I do the same thing in other places in Europe. I still use the moneybelt when I have no alternative.

When you have a homebase, carrying everything in a moneybelt is not so crucial. You have low-risk alternatives.

In Germany, I doubt if you will really need to worry about pick-pockets. It is not a problem here at all. Switzerland is also not a problem.

I have traveled most of the world for a long time. My wife and I now spend about three months a year in europe; and have for a number of years. We spend another three months on other continents. When traveling, I carry a thinner wallet just to avoid all the junk I haul around at home. My wife does essentially the same.

We have never owned a money belt, special purse, etc.

We have never been pick-pocketed. We have never known anyone who has.

I'v never seen any sense in making safari-like preparations to go on a trip. I've often wondered if there's a big european travel forum where folks discuss which moneybelt to buy or what type of pacsafe product is best for use in the USA.

It's good to see some sense of proportion from the replies to this question. How much care you need to take, and how worried you should be, depends on a number of factors. Where you will be travelling is one, and you are at much higher risk on a crowded metro train than wandering round a country house garden. Time of year affects things. In the summer, you will have fewer pockets and lighter clothing, while at other times you can distribute your valuables in the pockets of coats, trousers, etc.

Personally, I try to buy clothing with zipped pockets. That seems to make everything more secure from simple loss to deliberate theft. So far, it has worked for me.

I disagree about Switzerland. In fact, it's the only place in Europe I've actually seen people get robbed. In just one day in Bern, I witnessed two women get their purses snatched in broad daylight on the main shopping street. At all the popular tourist sites there are signs warning people to beware of pickpockets. Those signs are there for a reason. Anywhere in the world you go, where there tourists carrying lots of cash and expensive toys, there will be thieves at work. Also let's not loose sight of the other function of money belts. They not only protect against pickpockets, they also prevent you from accidentally loosing valuables. For me that's just as important.

My sister lives in Germany and she was robbed, so don't go to Germany or Switzerland and think you are 100% safe from pickpockets. Some places may have more than others, but it can happen anywhere.

I love my Pacsafe purse, but hubby carries a moneybelt. I personally cannot stand having the moneybelt on my body.

Thank you all for your replies. You gave me a lot to think about.

Ed - When you put it that way, it does seem kind of silly, doesn't it? I lived in Detroit and have visited most major US cities, and never gave carrying a purse a second thought. It is all about perspective, I suppose.

Thanks again!

As someone who has worked in the tourist industry, I've had to deal with my fair share of tourists who have been personally robbed.

It happens everywhere. I even had one young woman have her passport stolen at the border crossing in San Diego (U.S. side.)

I've seen pickpockets in the NYC Subway, the London Tube and the Paris Metro. I've seen pickpockets in Rome, Paris, London, NY, San Francisco, Los Angeles and the Grand Canyon just to name a few.

As stated, they congregate where tourists hang out or where people might be off their guard.

Some people are lucky and never get themselves pickpocketed...ever. But that doesn't mean it will never happen to you.

When I travel, I wear a moneybelt. I also take extra security with my possessions since I'm usually walking around with some type of electronic device--cell phone, ipod, camera, etc. (Once you've had to deal with the process of trying to replace a passport and other forms of id's and credit cards, you think twice the next time.)

I'm also aware of my surroundings. Am I paranoid about it...no. Just aware.

There are many types of moneybelts with the most common being the types you wear around your waist, your neck, your leg, or connect to a belt and hangs down inside your pant leg or skirt. (My personal favorite as it's hardly felt. )

I'm agreeing with Frank II here -- getting pickpocketed is like kids falling off their bikes; either it's happened to you, or it hasn't -- yet.

I always wear a moneybelt while traveling. I don't find it inconvenient or uncomfortable at all. What's more inconvenient is having to replace credit cards or passports when you're in a foreign country. Not only is that difficult, it takes away time from your vacation.

I've never been to Wolfsburg, so I can't speak for there, whether it's really a threat to be pickpocketed.

The pickpockets in touristed areas are professionals, meaning this is how they make their living, so they're good at it. They're much better than you will probably be at fending them off. The best you can do is cut your losses by keeping your valuables in a place where they can't get them.

My husband was pickpocketed by a group of men in the subway in Prague. I had seen one of them around us, thought he looked shady and figured I should keep my eye on him. Looking back, I wish I had grabbed my husband and taken another train. These men pushed him on the train, grabbed his wallet (he knew exactly when they got it, but not which one), and passed it out of the train before the doors closed.

My husband wears a neck pouch now when we travel.

Most of the time that we will be out, we will be with our German friends who live in Wolfsburg, so I am not so worried about any turning down the wrong alley after dark type scenarios. I think my biggest concern is when I am in Paris, Berlin, Munich, etc. I have been to Wolfsburg and have to say I never felt unsafe, even walking around town at night. Of course, I am probably naive and too trusting.

Thanks again for taking the time to answer my questions. This will be my 18 year old sons first trip to Europe and I want to make sure it is a nice and safe one.

If you want to spend a day of your vacation putting things "right" then don't use the money belt.

However, if you would rather not do that, use the money belt.

Took a group to Europe a few years ago. Day ONE the other chaperone sat down the purse and lost her wallet, travelers checks etc. Fail to see how it being a "pacsafe" would help... but there you go. She spent a day at the London Police office etc.... getting everything sorted out.

I don't want to waste my vacation time dealing with it. (I have done it in the US, it takes forever to cancel cards etc...) I strap it to my body and don't worry about it!

I've taken my PacSafe purse (the metro 200 model) to all of the countries you've listed.
Anecdotal evidence ahoy!-- no incidents here.

I just happen to really like the PacSafe purse a lot, and use it for my everyday bag. Whether or not the purse works for you is going to be a matter of personal preference so I'd recommend if you buy it, to try it out around town for a week or so and see if it suits you.

I bought a money belt too, but I've only busted it out for the markets in Morocco because a coworker told me I'd need it there. I didn't like wearing it.

DEFINITELY wear a moneybelt in bigger cities, like Paris, Berlin, or Munich.

I don't put anything that I wouldn't want to lose in my Pacsafe. What I like about the PS is that it is a little more difficult for someone to get into on a train or while you're in touristy areas. There is the extra safety clip. When we sit down to eat, or when I go to the bathroom, I seriously keep the PS on my body, so there is no fear of putting it down and someone taking off with my bag.

On the Moneybelt vs. Pacsafe purse issue one question occurs to me: what do you plan to carry in them?

The moneybelt is only good for flat things that you don't need easy access to, so basically spare cash or your passport - not your daily 'spends'. Do you want to carry lots of spare cash or your passport daily? If so the the belt seems the way to go.

The pacsafe obviously allows you to carry bigger stuff, its main advantage over a normal bag seems to be that it's knife proof? Not sure how necessary that is but hey... The one thing that jumps out with these is the price; at $70-$100 the bag would probably be more valuable than anything I'd put in it for a days touristing. I'd be much more worried about someone stealing my $100 bag rather than my motley collection of guide books, maps and cheap camera. On the other hand, if you plan to tote a laptop or something else valuable then one would make sense.

We've made many trips all over Europe with friends and/or family. We've had one wallet pickpocketed - by a group of gypsy children. Also one camera pilfered - from a backpack while exiting a bus in Rome.

My "rules" are: never bring any valuables on a trip. Leave the jewelry, watches, rings at home. You can live without them on a vacation. Never carry money or credit cards in a pants pocket. Use a money belt or neck wallet under your shirt for these. If you're in a hotel, always leave your passport in your room safe or the hotel safe. Keep a copy with you (always bring passport copies). If you have to have your passport with you, obviously it goes in the money belt too. If you use a backpack or purse, don't put anything in it you wouldn't want stolen. Before you leave, email a copy of your passport to yourself, so you can retrieve it if necessary overseas.

Some great advice so far. I can't recall who said what precisely... so I'll summarize my own opinions.

First, do whatever you can to kick Murphy's Law to the curb. While it is true that a negative incident is unlikely, it is also true that a negative incident is more annoying while trying to vacation, so better to be safe than sorry.

1) Secure and hidden beats 'thief resistant' every time. The surest way to protect something is to keep its location secret. That means Moneybelt beats Pacsafe.

2) While Germany and Switzerland are not notorious for pickpockets, do you really want to be the one in a million? Kick Murphy to the curb -- wear the belt.

3) When working from a home base you can leave much of your stash at that home base. Only take the part of your stash you might need for that part of your trip.

4) To avoid the inconvenience of digging in your money belt (which you should NEVER do where people can see you! ...that's the point...), consider supplementing it with a front-pocket wallet. I carry one that has 1 credit card and about 100 Euro in it. Front pockets are much harder to pick than rear pockets, and it lets me interact in a more natural fashion (I've adopted front-pocket wallet carry all the time -- even in the US -- due to my many trips out of country). Your parallel might be to use the Pacsafe for 1 credit card and 100 Euros, but wearing the money belt with the other items that should be more jealously guarded.

That's my $0.02.

I think I have decided to use both a money belt and a Pacsafe purse.

I will use the moneybelt for deep storage of copies of my passport, ATM cards, drivers license, etc.

I am looking at the Slingsafe 100 for my camera, spending money for the day, guide books, etc.

They can be pricey, but I have found some discounts and even some on ebay. I even found a bright, bright blue one on clearance for $15, but like my son said, it is so bright that it just screams "Come and take me!"

Remember though it's still just a purse.

So don't get too complacent with it. It will still be easy to pick up if you set it down or hang it from your chair.

Wearing the strap cross body style will be the most secure, not draped from one shoulder. If you get into a crowded situation then keep the bag in front of your body not across your back or side.

I wear mine across the body, and have used it three times in 2 years to Europe. This may be a costly bag compared to stuff you could pick elsewhere, but after three uses (each a month's stay), and packing it full of stuff daily, the bag looks like news.

Do a search online for Pacsafe bags and you'll find an assortment of prices. I got mine at Ebags I believe, and they matched another retailer's price, plus gave an extra 10%.

I think you are spot on correct using the moneybelt or neck pouch while traveling and using the PacSafe purse for your home base. I like PacSafe products, but you still should not be complacent. Drape the strap across your body while on the street and keep it zipped. I have found that a moneybelt is a little inconvenient to access sometimes, so in order to keep from having to dig around in your pants all the time, you might want to keep a little cash in your pocket for easy access. Anything that you can't afford to lose, keep in the moneybelt. I prefer a neck pouch because it is easier to access (and a little less embarrassing).

One of the things I like about the Slingsafe 100 was the long strap. I like to wear my regular purse in front, with the strap going across my chest, so I think this will be perfect. I also like the fact that you can use the strap to secure it to anything that is anchored down. I would never strap it to a table and walk away, but it is nice to have that extra bit of peace of mind.

I also used a Pacsafe purse and a moneybelt while I was in Europe a few weeks ago. Using both worked perfectly for me.

moneybelt AND crossbody bag

Throwing in my 2 cents...I use both. I got the Pacsafe 100 in black and have used it on 3 trips to Europe, Disney World and NYC and plan on using it for my next trip this Spring. My little point-n-shoot hangs off it in a neoprene bag via a carabiner clip. I paid full price but don't care at this point - it was so worth it. I carry it across my body and not too low and actually adjust it up and closer to my body while going through train stations, etc.

The downside to the Pacsafe purse, for me, is the weight and stiffness of the purse itself. When I travel in Italy I do like to carry my purse cross body but it is just a regular purse - one that is very lightweight (at least before I put all the "stuff" in it). In terms of actual pickpockets getting something while you are not looking it serves the purpose. I believe the only advantage to the Pacsafe is that the "steel cable" or whatever cannot be easily sliced. I did order a Pacsafe one time a few years ago and I didn't like the feel - perhaps it is better now, but I returned mine and have stuck with my regular purse.

I haven't held a Pacsafe, and the stiffness never crossed my mind. Thanks for pointing it out.

Now I am wondering if my regular purse - which is just about the same thing as the Pacsafe I picked out, but without the safety features - is a better option. It will only hold my camera, guidebooks, etc.

Decisions, decisions!

Much as I love being in Paris, I am much more on mental alert, en garde there, especially in crowds, tourist areas, and the Metro than I am in similar situations in Germany, where common sense precautions are enough. The last few trips I didn't even wear a money belt in Germany, and I don't think you really need it in the big cities, such as Kiel, Berlin, Leipzig, Munich, Dresden, Frankfurt, Dortmund. Hamburg. Certainly in the smaller cities you would not need it. But, I would definitely wear a money belt in Prague, Italy, Budapest. Can't say about Switzerland...haven't been there.

I go into Philadelphia every day for work and I know people who have had wallets taken from their handbags on the train and while sitting in a restaurant. Handbags have been snatched and cut off pedestrians and stolen while hanging on the back of a chair in a restaurant. You have to be careful EVERYWHERE. If the Europeans aren't discussing security precautions in the U.S., they should be.

I carry a Pacsafe bag daily on my commute. I'm still careful, but it's some additional peace of mind. I am always cautious with my pockets and handbags in a crowded and/or urban setting, whether in the U.S. or overseas.

When I am out of the country, my passport at minimum and often my credit card as well are in a moneybelt, because why go through the hassle of having to replace these things when I'm supposed to be having fun on vacation? When you're living there, and have a home base, you can probably get away with less stringent precautions, but you should still be cautious and aware. Note that doesn't mean frightened and paranoid--just aware and prepared.

I finally heard back from my friend in Wolfsburg and he suggested both the moneybely and Pacsafe. In fact, he has a neck wallet that he uses when he travels.

I have traveled pretty extensively throughout the US and Canada and have luckily never been pick pocketed. I don't even want to have to deal with the headache of having it happen in Europe! Like Maggie said, I think my best course of action is to be aware and prepared.

Thanks for all of the replies!

Pacsafe or regular backpack (I use Ricks Civitas bag) be careful when you set it down. I think the risk of the strap being cut is less than of it simply being picked up when you set it beside you in a restaurant or cafe. I carry maps, my travel guide, etc. in the backpack, stuff that I can survive without. My passport, credit cards, and cash are in my money belt.