PacSafe purses, etc

For piece of mind, we were worried about the pickpocket issue because of everything we read. We encountered no problems whatsoever. Be on guard, use a money belt (more comfortable in the heat than a neck pouch), use the safe in the hotel room to keep the passports safe, bring photocopies of your passport and carry that instead, leave a photocopy behind at home in case the originals are lost. If you take some easy precautions, you'll be fine.

As for PacSafe, I found that the "string" on the neck pouch is very cumbersome and not easy to wear. I abandoned it immediately and used the money belt instead.

I ordered and subsequently returned a PacSafe purse. I believe the biggest difference between this and other multi zippered, etc. purses is that it has a steel cable so it can't be "slashed". This steel cable was, to me, very stiff and made the bag feel heavy and cumbersome.

Yes, I suppose there is a VERY slight chance that my bag will be slashed. The majority of purse pickpocketing though is sticking their hand inside your purse. I carry a regular zippered top purse with a separate multi zippered pouch inside that has my cash, etc. It is attached to my purse so it cannot be lifted and the pickpocket has to get past my hand & two zippers. I've had experience with a child getting his hand partway into the first zipper but unable to get to the rest without everyone (including me) noticing.

Note - all the advice you get from this board, including mine, is from personal experience and this will differ depending on your own personality. So you'll get lots of advice about taking a moneybelt (which I never do) and certainly, if it makes you feel less anxious to go the extra step toward protecting your cash, or - if you are like my husband and inclined to putting things down and forgetting them - you might feel better with money belts, locked purses, etc.

I carried a Pacsafe Metro 200 as our day bag during our two weeks in Italy last month. I thought it was a terrific bag and I recommend it. I seriously doubt that a pickpocket would be able to open the zippers without being noticed. It just takes too much effort and usually takes two hands -- they'll just move on to an easier target.

I wore it messenger-style and used it to carry my camera, iPod, GPS, guidebook, maps, tickets, bug repellent, etc. (I carried my cash and credit cards in a money belt). I felt very secure even in thick crowds.

I also highly recommend PacSafe products. I carried an Eagle Creek guide bag for several trips, but now carry my PacSafe metro 200. My daughter used the CitySafe 100 - it looks more like a purse. I like the fact that the zippers lock, that's a big factor in my purchase. That is also offers "slash" proofing, doesn't really matter, I can't imagine that happening where we travel. I'm mostly worried about pickpockets, the locking zippers are the best feature.

As far is it being heavy, or stiff, or uncomfortable, I didn't find that to be the case at all. I carried my wallet, camera, water and other daily necessities in my bag last fall on a trip to Rome, rode the Metro every day, and was in crowds in the street, in the Vatican and on the Spanish Steps, didn't loose a thing. (and no, didn't use a money belt, my PacSafe bag kept my money safe) When we were on the Metro, I kept one hand on the zipper top of the bag, just to plan it extra careful from prying hands)

If you purchase a PacSafe bag, you will not be sorry. The peace of mind is worth the price!

Thanks; it sounds like a "mixed bag" (haha) of advice. I am a dental hygienist and, having a captive audience every day, talk a lot about my upcoming trip. I've had numerous people tell me about being pickpocketed, having their purse or backpack slashed, etc in Italy so I am concerned about it. I will be taking a money belt, but I just don't want anyone taking ANYTHING, no matter what the value, from my person. I'd heard about the PacSafe line and wondered what the opinions were out there about it.
Thanks, and any more observations are welcome! I don't leave till mid September.

I have the Roam Safe 100. It's a small back pack and I LOVE IT! I bought it months ago for my upcoming trip to Italy. I have a dSLR that I'm bringing with me and this backpack gives me peace of mind. I use it now for my everyday commute bag on the train. It's lightweight, smaller than a normal sized student backpack and the material is smooth and soft! (Go figure for a pack that has steel mesh in it) I can fit all the stuff I will need for day trips. For the most part, I didnt have to worry about pickpockets or thieves in England or France - but I did deal with them in Italy (over 10 years ago) so that's why I bougt the PacSafe. What I also love about it is that you can take one of the straps and loop it around the leg of a table or your chair and "lock it" back into place. Just more peace of mind. (dont leave the purse/backpack unattended or out of your site!)
http://www.pacsafe.com/www/index.php?_room=3&_action=detail&id=59

Robyn
I am nearly at the end of a 17 day trip that has taken me from Paris to Nice then to Venice, Florence and now Rome. I have the Metro 200 and I have really felt it served my needs well. There is a compartment for everything and yet I felt very secure with it. It does tend to get a little heavy what with Rick Steve's translator book, maps, etc. but I am glad that I purchased for this trip!
Linda

I bought my pacsafe daypack from Basegear.com. They had, by far, the cheapest prices. Their service was very good. Anything over $50.00 ships free.

Betty
Fort Worth, TX

My purse is impossible to get into ,, it zips, then has a flap that covers top and clicks firmly to bottom of bag, when worn messenger style with hand on bag in metros or crowds I felt very safe, and know that a pick pocket would just look for an easier target . The plus was my bag was fairly lightwieght, you would be surprised how heavy a bag can be if you lug it around all day with your camera etc and stuff in it, It was made from thick nylon weave / canvas type material with a thick adjustable neck strap. I loved it. It was only about 40 dollars from a department store.
It was a Derek Alexander.
I looked at the Pacsafe bags at a few stores, and they looked similar in design to mine( some models) but felt significantly heavier empty.

I have a pac safe 16 pocket purse. It is heavy!!! And the snap on pocket has come off - it is a year old. Not sure I'd get it again even though it is the best purse I've ever had!!!

Thought I would weigh in here....
After many years of traveling all over the world - mostly as a single woman.
I don't carry a purse at all.
I wear my Rick Steves money belt and carry a very small coin purse with my daily money in it.
The coin purse goes into an interior pocket that I have sewn inside my jacket.
I also carry a small daypack with my umbrella, poncho, picnic utensils, small comb and chapstick.
I have a very small camera - canon elph that I wear on a lanyard and the lanyard is long enough that the camera goes into my front pants pocket.
I pare down what I carry each trip and I'm trying to talk myself out of the camera - but I do love to take photos.

Robyn it sound like "you know the drill". I had a Pac Safe 100 and it was too small. I wish I had bought the 200. Just be aware of your soundings. Don't leave stuff laying on the table or the back of a chair when you go out to eat. If you are in crowds hold your bag close to you.

Frances , you do carry a purse, you just call it a back pack..LOL

I can carry most of that in my " purse" mini umbrella , sunglasses, lip stick , metro schedules etc, advantage over back pack is in some museums they ask you to check back packs, they have never asked me to check my purse!