Pacsafe versus other bags?

I always just bring my favorite cross-body purse - no need for a special "travel" purse, especially if it looks "industrial"! :-)

I doubt if there is any advantage to the additional weight and cost of the Pacsafe. My personal opinion is that it is terrific solution for a minor problem. While bags being cut open or off someone is frequently discussed, I have never read on this site or other travel sites any first hand experience with that problem. My first recommendation is to avoid carrying a purse but recognize that is a hard addiction to overcome. Second select a bag that has good lockable zippers or flaps, don't put anything of great value in the purse, and handle it carefully.

I bought a PacSafe "Citysafe 100" bag for our recent trip to Spain, as I had heard such frightening stories about Barcelona in particular. It is a bit larger than my nice leather cross-body bag that I usually take to Europe (including Italy). Mainly I wanted the cut-proof strap. The PacSafe bag did feel a bit "industrial" and was heavier than my usual bag. In retrospect, I did not need to worry about strap curtting thieves (or any other kind), and I would have been fine with my regular (and nicer-looking) bag.

I also see no need for Pacsafe bags. I've been using a variety of regular cross-body purses/daybags for international travel for 10 years and haven't had a problem.

I agree with the above. We are just back from two weeks carrying a City Safe (wife) and metro safe (me) in Parma, Bologna, Tuscany, and Rome. Total overkill. I kept telling myself that we would be glad we had them when we got to Rome, but no, the pacsafe bags were not necessary there either. No hordes of gypsy thieves. No motorcycle grabbers. No purse slashers. But, if you are paranoid like we were before the trip, I can make you a great deal on some lightly used gear....

Pacsafe bags are too heavy for me; I noticed the extra weight after walking around the store for a few minutes. I just focus my attention on keeping the bag zipped shut at all times, putting a small lock on anything I think needs it, and just keeping a close watch on it.

I tried a Pac Safe at a local store, and found the strap to be quite stiff and uncomfortable. I think "wearing" it for long periods of time would be a problem for me. I've been looking at an Eagle Creek cross body bag at REI, maybe still a bit "industrial" looking, but much more comfortable; and roomy enough. You might check on-line @ REI to have a look their Eagle Creek bags.

Traveling's a great time to break the purse habit - especially for those of us who used to carry everything but the kitchen sink. I used a recent trip to NYC experiment for our trip to Italy. I tried my ebags computer backpack one day, my leather cross-body purse for a couple, no purse & then settled on what will probably be my solution. I have smallish Italian soft leather open-mouth purse that fits up under my arm. It's just the right size to carry a map, travel book, wipes, notes & my small crochet project. BUT it's no place for money, credit cards, passports, subway tokens or ID. Fumbling with a purse to get out a ticket or pay for a purchase is just an opportunity to be robbed. So, I carry my purse, but don't worry about it - there's nothing important there! In NYC, I kept my subway & train passes, ID & credit card in an inside pocket of a zipped coat. In Europe, everything except $ for the day will be under our clothes & I can have my trendy, non-"I'm a tourist" purse (that I bought at the Goodwill...).

@Diana: Did you find the PacSafe's at REI or elsewhere in Boise? Headed down there in a couple of weeks and will check them out. Thanks!

PamThe Pacsafe bags are sold at Shapiro's (a luggage store) in Boise Town Square. It's upstairs, near the food court and JC Penneys. They have many styles of Pacsafe bags, as well as other brands of travel bags. I've also found Pacsafe bags at the AAA storethat's off of Cole St, across the street (to the East) from the mall. The Eagle Creek Bag I'm considering was at REI, which is also near the mall, on Milwaukee and Executive. Good Luck!

PamThe Pacsafe bags are sold at Shapiro's (a luggage store) in Boise Town Square. It's upstairs, near the food court and JC Penneys. They have many styles of Pacsafe bags, as well as other brands of travel bags. I've also found Pacsafe bags at the AAA storethat's off of Cole St, across the street (to the East) from the mall. The Eagle Creek Bag I'm considering was at REI, which is also near the mall, on Milwaukee and Executive. Good Luck!

I like traveling with the Citysafe 100 bag and thought the tamperproof zippers were helpful. It was also convenient to occasionally attach the purse to a chair with the locking strap. The configuration of zipper pockets (one with a hook which I used to attach a small wallet so that it was impossible to take my wallet out and set it down and forget it) and velcro pocket inside the purse were just right for my cell phone and all the stuff I like to have when I travel.

Thanks Diana, I had never noticed the luggage store, but last time I was down I didn't have overseas travel on my mind! I've looked at the AAA store in Lewiston but they don't have PacSafe altho they do carry a lot of RS things. I do know where that AAA store is tho, so I will stop there as well. The REI is familiar, but will probably go the the one in Spokane as it is a lot bigger. I appreciate the comments to the OP about the heaviness of the PacSafe. I would like to try one to see what it feels like.

Thanks for all your thoughts. Has anyone checked out the Overland bags? They are incredibly light weight and also have a side pocket for a water bottle, which is really helpful in July!

I just purchased the Overland "Donner" bag for my RS Village Italy trip next month. It is very lightweight and looks kinda like a cross between a purse and a messenger bag. It fits a good sized water bottle in an outside pouch. I also would like to know if anyone out there has used it. I think it will be perfect, but I'm keeping the receipt just in case I change my mind. BTW-I purchased it at REI.

FWIW, we have one of the Pacsafe backpacks with us right now in Italy and it has felt like overkill virtually the whole time. But there have been a few times where we've entered what Rick refers to as pickpocket heaven (#64 bus in Rome, Juliet's balcony in Verona), where it has been comforting to activate all the security locks and not have to worry about it so much. But it's true that we haven't seen any signs of the hordes of gypsy children that you hear about. Next time we might get the smaller size since my partner detests cross-shoulder bags.

Thanks Karen. Yes the Donner seems great. It is so lightweight. All their bags seem that way. My partner has the backpack which is amazingly light and very roomy.

I have a cross body purse that is small that I use sometimes and I also have the Metro 200 by pacsafe. What I love about it is that it is a bit bigger for a day trip AND my husband is ok carrying it because it doesn't look like a purse. So we trade off. It looks more like a mini messenger bag. I am not sure I would have paid the extra for the purse looking one. The cross body purse I have I bought in Paris on my first trip to Europe because I didn't take a purse as is suggested by the RS books. I was not there 24hrs and had to buy something to use as a purse. It is cute and leather and when I put it cross my body I can wrap my hand under the bottom so if anyone is going to cut it, I will know it. Now I am moving to Italy and will be carrying my purse like I do daily here in the US. I am sure when I go to Paris or London I will carry my mini messenger bag more because it is easy than because of the safety features, they are just a bonus.

Sarah, I went to Italy with my mom a year ago (Milan, Venice, Bologna, Florence, Siena, Vernazza, Rome) and we just brought regular cross-body bags. Hers was Coach and mine was a non-brand name that I purchased online. As long as you make sure that there is a zipper closure at the top (and a flap over the zipper closure is good too if you can find it), you should be fine. We didn't see or experience any unusual behavior. To be fair, we are of Italian lineage, and while I am very fair skinned and blonde because my father's family is from Northern Italy (basically Switzerland), my mother is Sicilian - darker skinned and brunette - and truly looked like a native, so that may have been in our favor. I also speak and understand a decent amount of Italian and I used it often. Still we were two women traveling alone, sometimes with our maps out, and we had absolutely no issues. Don't buy an expensive bag that you don't even like just for this trip. Take one that you already have (or go out and buy one that either is cheap or that you like and wouldn't mind using when you get home). Have fun!

Thanks Jen-useful information from all.