Theft Issues with Ultralight Backpack in Italy, Czech, Germany, France

I think a heavy backpack is actually at greater risk. At the end of a long day of sight-seeing when you're tired, you're likely to put a heavier bag down for a minute and have someone snatch it away when you aren't looking. Much easier and more common than trying to cut something open with a knife.

Don't put anything valuable in your bag--money, credit cards, etc. should be in a money belt worn on your person (and not tossed carelessly into the backpack). If you're really concerned, look into PacSafe products, which are reinforced although I don't know how heavy they are.

How you manage to wear something out depends on how you use it.

I can't imagine a thief following you down the street picking up stuff dribbeling from your rucksack.

I've been wandering europe off and on for more than fifty years, and probably have averaged maybe ninety days there each year for the last twenty. Guess what? I've never seen a thief, pickpocket, etc. And, at one time or another have been in and out of some rather colorful spots. Nope, no robbers there either.

I know somewhere there must be a French foreign travel website where folks sit around and type along about security precautions/safe-pacs/neck-wallets because they're thinking about coming to Topeka or someplace.

Quit worrying about stuff like that. Go have fun.

Most Eurocities are much safer than say, Atlanta or Dallas. What pickpockets there are in them are interested in CASH and CCs and things that are visible and seemingly of high value. All thieves, wherever they may be, are the same. They work by stealth, not openly.
It is too easy to be caught otherwise.

Pac Safe does sell a steel mesh web that fully surrounds a backpack making it impossible for anyone to slice open your pack, and it also permits you to lock your pack to a secure object (like an overhead rack on a train). These cost about $75-$100 and you can buy it online or at a store like REI. Unless your staying in hostel dorms with no available lockers, or taking lots of night trains in shared sleeper cars that are unsecured, it's highly unlikely anyone would cut or steal things from your backpack.

As for the ultra light packs pros vs cons, sometimes a heavier pack is better able to withstand being tossed around by you, the airlines, taxi drivers , etc. Your bag may only weigh 30lbs loaded, but if you are taking a discount airline within Europe, 30lbs may well exceed their carry-on requirement forcing you to check the bag. Eagle Creek makes some travel packs that are extremely sturdy, yet still lightweight.

Except that the steel mesh adds a LOT of weight. It is often reported that bags are slashed but it was a generally a friend of friend who heard from her cousin whose uncle talked with the women whose brother had had a bag slashed. In all of our travels I have never seen it. However, I think it is very important how you handle the bag in crowded situations. For example I never wear a bag on my back in subways, buses, or other very crowed locations.

But the other, more important question maybe, Why do you need to carry 30 to 35 lbs? That is a lot of gear even if you are camping. Most can get by at about half of that weight.

The PacSafe weighs as much as the backpack iteself. Also a review on REI.COM trashed it saying that it could be cut with a pair of dime-store wirecutters. I am sure it would encourafe a would-be thief to move onto easier prey.

I need to find a good packing list with weights to get my weight down. I'll search the postings or make a new posting to get a sample list

Thanks all for the responses. I think I'll not worry too much about the slashing and concentrate on keeping the bag close and in front in crowded situations.

I have never heard of someone having their bag slashed in Europe. Usually the pickpocket simply opens the bag and removes the items. They are trying to be discreet.

I had my wallet nicked once ... when I lived in London coming out of the Notting Hill tube station. It was in my purse and I was being rather careless (it was a shoulder bag and it was behind me as I came out of a very crowded tube station). I'm more cautious now when I am in a crowded place. But I've never worried about having anything slashed.

There was a guy in charge of the warranty department at The North Face for 10 years who said he'd never seen a slashed bag, the whole bag just disappears. Ultralight bags are great for what they're meant for but traveling isn't it. I suggest you start reading on Bootsnall.com.

I think your idea about keeping your bag close and in front of you in crowded situations is a good idea. Don't put anything valuable in it, like credit cards, and be careful with it in places like subway stations and heavily touristed spots, like the Eiffel Tower, places like that. Also if you see someone shady following you in any of these areas, get out. These folks are professionals and know more ways of getting in your bag than you know about keeping them out.

I also think the key is not keeping valuables in it.

Above all, don't let people see you putting something valuable in your pack (like putting Christmas presents in your car at the mall).

If you assume your pack isn't completely secure and be careful, you probably won't have any problem.

Go to the Pacsafe web site they may have what you are looking for. They have a mesh cover for backpacks that protects them from slashing.

Slicing happens around the world, but I don't think it should be a big worry if you keep your money and passport on your body. Everybody has cameras these days so I am hardly worried about mine getting stolen out of a day bag especially if I am aware of my surroundings.

My sister had one of those pacsafe bags and it was more hassle than it was worth.

Think comfort!

Pacsafe has redesigned many of their most popular bags to make it easier for the user to get in, but still difficult for a thief.

If you go to their website, you'll see their new offerings.