Day pack with uncuttable straps for Italy trip

I don't think thats needed at all, thousands of tourists and locals use daypacks without such weight and expense. The important factor is YOU! In other words, its how you watch your stuff, don't put it down beside you at cafes etc,, , and on buses and metro you wear it IN FRONT of you so no one can pickpocket it. I have used a "normal" purse( no metal lined straps or body) for years and years in Europe, including Italy, and other then comfort( wide long straps so I can wear it cross body rather then hooked over on shoulder) and a zippered top with a flap that covers and clicks shut over the zipper I have had needed no other protection ,, other then common sense and wariness. Remember ,, if someone is in your "bubble" ( which is the area around your body your whole arms reach out from ) then they can get your stuff, so in those situations( crowds and transport situations usually) be alert and hold onto your stuff where you can see it,, other then that just don't get sloppy and you will be fine. Rick uses his bag and as noted, its not metal lined either.

It is just marketing hype. The probability of a strap being cut falls into the range of a lightning strike. You thwart theft by not having anything to steal.

Doug, I don't always use a Daypack when I'm touring around cities, but when I do take one I also use a Civita bag. I've never been too concerned about the straps being cut. I tend to watch it fairly closely, and if walking along a sidewalk I keep it on the side closest to the buildings. If you'd prefer to take a theft resistant Daypack, have a look at This Website. Happy travels!

What Frank said. If you have nothing valuable (except daily money) in your daybag, you don't have to worry about being pickpocketed. Like Pat, I use a regular cross-body purse as a daybag for every trip and haven't had a problem. I might have been a pickpocket target; if so, they didn't take anything because I don't keep anything important in my bag.

Thank you for your help. I will be taking a camera with me that I don't want stolen. I have airport locks on the bag, that I think will make me comfortable enough not to get another bag.

They want your cash not your camera. Those pac safe bags are marketing hype playing on our paranoia.

You just have to be proactive in your personal security. Beware that a pack of little gypsy girls are often a bunch of little pickpockets. Pickpockets often travel in pairs. One will bump into you, while the other has his hands in your pockets. They're just after cash, as possession of any credit cards can get them into trouble. They'll quickly pass your billfold off to another person, who'll rifle through it before throwing the billfold on the ground. They'll get you at the top of an escalator, or where a bunch of tourists funnel into a small space. Or outside a train door. They're looking for "nice people", who they propose will not make a scene. My suggestion is NOT TO BE NICE TO ANYONE IN A CROWDED PLACE THAT'S IN YOUR SPACE. And, don't carry a purse or billfold too be lifted.

I agree that the "uncuttable" feature is unnecessary, but what I really do like about the pacsafe bags are the easy locking clips that allow you to secure the zippered pockets easily. It keeps someone from slipping their hand into your bag without your knowing it.

I took a pacsafe bag last summer and it was security overkill. Any cross-body or messenger type bag will do. The Civita pack is fine but using it as a backpack in crowds is not the best idea - keep it over your shoulder so most of the bag is in front of you or beside you.

We travel with a shoulder bag that can be worn cross body for security. Having a daypack on in crowded situations is not always advised. The straps won't help you if someone gets into the zippers or cuts the fabric of the bag. you shouldnt' be that concerned about someone cutting your bag as you getting pick pocketed in the Metro, on a bus, or in a crowd at one of the sites you are visiting. If you are concerned, then PacSafe bags are the ones you would want. They have really great safety features, locking zippers, straps with metal inside that can't be cut, and daypacks with mesh fabric that also can't be cut. All this being said, just make sure when you stop somewhere that you don't leave the bag on the ground by your feet, or on a chair next to you (like in a cafe) you will be surprised how fast your items can just disappear! (I've been reading this board for a long time, and read about this all the time) I always keep my shoulder bag on my body, strap across my shoulder and the bag sitting on my lap when we are eating, or sitting on a train, etc.

If you plan to keep valuable items in a daypack, I think a Pacsafe daypack would be a good idea. I've got this model:
http://www.pacsafe.com/www/index.php?_room=3&_action=detail&id=59 It has slash- resistant straps and a steel mesh under the bottom and rear fabric to resist cutting. I secure the zipper pulls with small locks.

We spent a month traveling through Europe in September/October. Hubby and I both had travel jackets with all the little hidden pockets, zippers, velcro closures, etc. The jackets had removable sleeves and were water resistant, which came in handy in Brugge. When we were in the warmer areas in Italy we just wore the vests and had no problem, and both hands are free. Ours were TEC apparel but sure there are many out there. Enjoy....
Rachel

I like my pacsafe bags. They might be overkill but I don't need to be vigilant every second of the day when using one. I can rely on the internal security system to protect my items when I might be distracted such as when I'm taking photos or reading some information on the sites I'm visiting. They don't weigh any more than a normal bag so why not take one if it'll make you feel safer? Donna

And FWIW, another feature of the pacsafe bag that I really like is all the little compartments. It helps me keep things organized. There are probably others that are similar but cost less since they don't have the anti-cutting feature. But it was the little locking zippers that really attracted me.

My personal opinion is that the anti-cut feature is added weight and marketing hype. I think the critical issue is how you handle the bag in a crowded area. Now, if you are going to wear it on your back as a backpack and your are sticking in other people faces and hitting others as your swing it around. About the second time you hit me you will not have enough anti-cut features to save it. I think it is very impolite if not totally rude to wear a backpack of any size into a crowd area. It deserves to be cut open. We carry a decent size backpack style day bag especially when there was four of us. When we were in very crowded areas - subway tunnels, train cars, buses, etc. - the pack of off and carried low at my side or maybe on one shoulder where it is easy to control. If standing in a packed car, it went to the floor in front of me, stood on one strap and held the other strap. Going to have to be pretty short to get to that bag. So handle the bag appropriately for the situation.

As far as anti- slash features being marketing hype, I can recount a personal experience that indicates otherwise. On my second trip to London some years back, I was exiting the Notting Hill Gate tube station on the way back to my hotel, and happened to feel for my wallet, which was in my back pocket. It was still there, but something just didn't feel right.
Up in the room I took off my pants, and found the reason- someone had slashed my jeans pocket with a razor, hoping the wallet would fall out. It was still hanging by a few threads. Of course, I don't wear a wallet in my back pocket any more, and a wallet isn't the same as a daypack, but I don't suspect Pacsafe of adding a useless features just to sell product.

Well carrying a wallet in a back pocket is never a good idea,, ever. And a broken clock is still right twice a day, lol , meaning, slashing may happen, but it is rare ,, pickpockets mostly,, pick , pockets,, ( or your purse with its gaping opening, or exposed zipper) i personally do find the metal in the bags a marketing gimmick, it plays on the fear that slashing is a common theft technique, but its probably the most rare type of theft.

I bought the PakSafe for our first trip to Italy 3 yrs ago and now I use everytime we travel. I love it. We call it the safe. Very roomy I have the one that looks like a purse but I can carry a tour book and camera couple of other items needed for the day. Awesome! Bev

Have a pacsafe metrosafe 300 - great daybag for guidebooks/camera/water/snacks/money/id...after hearing of a friend who had his cargo pants pockets slashed in Spain (not a bag, I know) and losing his passport, thus spending an extra 5 days waiting for a new one to continue his trip (he didn't even realise until about 3hrs after it happened on a subway train). I just like the added peace of mind...used for last three trips...good size