Rick's Secure Moneybelt VS Pickpocket Proof Pants

Here's another option: I know Rick recommends the money belt but those money belts drive me nuts and I feel like I've got a doughnut around my waist all day. I use a neck pouch, which goes under my shirts. It's easier for me to access...although I only go into it if I'm in a safe place....not standing around on a street corner. I always have 20 Euros in my pocket as well, for quick purchases.

I've never used the P^cubed® pants as Clothing Arts doesn't manufacture products for "portly" travellers (their largest waist size is 42" AFAIK). I have used Tilley clothing quite extensively, and many models of pants they supply also have pickpocket-resistant features. I think there's some value in this approach, when used in conjunction with a Money Belt.

er.. doesn't wife carry a purse? Just stick small amount of money ( for dinner etc) in her purse.. I stick mine inside an inner zippered pocket.

Men don't have to carry all the money all the time..

I used a money holder that looped around my belt and hung down inside my pants. Worked just fine. Kept small amounts of dinero in my pockets.

Dockers used to make some of their pants with zipper compartments.

Not a fan of the pants mentioned with too many pockets and some models with fabric that's heavy. Travel light...travel fast. Nylon, Anywhere pants by TravelSmith work very well for me and include two hidden pockets. See also the great advice from pat.

A pity Dockers do not make those pants with a zipped pocket anymore, that was back in the late 1990s. If you're willing to spend to have a tailor put in the extra security pockets, all the better. The tailor can put in a "watch pocket" (used to be called that in suit pants), deep and snug enough to fit a debit or credit card, or loose coins for the WC. You don't put all the plastic in one place, I disperse them. The bad guys aren't going to see that "watch pocket" slit/opening and that it is carrying a credit card.

I'll confess I have a pair of their shorts. If what you're looking for is a way to carry a day's cash, etc., there are less conspicuous options with hidden zippered pockets from other places. But if you want to carry passport and other valuables in pockets, they are certainly more secure than regular slacks - kind of a "belt & suspenders" security. I don't think they look any worse than regular cargo pants/shorts. Money belt is for deep storage, not daily access so it depends on the situation.

I've used the pants from Clothing Arts over the last two years while traveling in Europe and I have found them to be excellent. They have a nice system of zippers and button down flaps to make it very difficult for anyone to get into you pockets. I was wearing them in Barcelona on the metro and never had a concern. They are made from nylon and can be washed in the sink and they dry in 4-5 hours. I'll be going to Italy in May and I will be taking 2 pairs of their pants and a pair of their shorts and that will work for the entire 2 wks, along with 4-5 shirts.

There are a number of companies that make shirts with a hidden, zippered pocket under the shirt pocket flap. One can use that very secure pocket to carry a small wallet with a credit card or two and ample money for the activities of the day. The rest of your credit cards, money, passports, and such can go into the money belt which is "deep storage" and rarely (if ever) accessed during the day -- only at night to replenish the day money or change to another credit card. Pants with zippered pockets are fairly secure, but not infallible and nowhere as secure as the zippered shirt pocket. P.S. There are also similar shirts available for the ladies.

The Safari shirt from REI is a shirt with the small hidden zipper pocket in the front. I used mine last summer and found it very convenient. I could put money, passport and cell phone in there with no difficulties. A plus is that it washes and dries extremely easily.

My husband often uses these pants http://www.travelsmith.com/men-27s-craghoppers-kiwi-pants/men/pants/casual-pants/547501 and puts his daily wallet in the zippered pocket inside the side pocket, and includes his CC, actually. Although, if you are just walking around with 20Euro in any pocket, that's no great loss should you be pick pocketed. He also wears these http://www.travelsmith.com/men-27s-ultimate-great-escapes-long-sleeved-shirt/men/shirts/541012 and puts his passport, extra CC, and money in the long hidden zippered pocket. He does not wear a money belt. He also brings normal clothes and has not been pickpocketed. Personally, I don't think it is as big a worry if you are not traveling alone. Traveling solo, I wore my money belt all the time as I had no one to fall back on, but that probably wasn't necessary either, as the CC and money in my purse was never in jeopardy.

A few months ago someone, on this board, posted about Bluffworks Pants. I purchased a pair for the husband. He loves them. Bluffworks come in two styles: dressier slacks--look nice with a dress shirt and tie, and the more casual chino. They have the following security features: Side cell phone pocket. Hidden zippered security pockets in both front and back, large enough for a passport or a travel wallet. The back pockets are extra deep with zips. They are ultra light weight, so they dry fast. An added bonus is they don't wrinkle. And another plus is, they don't scream travel pant.

He likes them so much, he has requested another pair for his birthday.

Another vote for BluffWorks. I bought two pair of the Originals (the dressier version) on sale a couple of months ago and really like them. The Originals come in Standard and Relaxed cuts (in my opinion, the Relaxed is more of a regular cut, and the Standard is slim) while the Chino verion appears to be quite trim. An added bonus is that they sell them in one inch increments for the waist, and if they don't have your length, just order them in the 40"/unfinished inseam and have them altered.

At least you guys can get pants with decent pockets, unless you're a plus size man like my husband. I'd love to be able to buy some pants with the bells and whistles described in my size, but most women's pants want to make us look slimmer rather than being practical. If there are any pockets, they are minimal so as not to spoil the "line". Heaven forbid we should want to put anything in those pockets.

I've tried the other options and the only thing that doesn't drive me nuts is a money belt. Having little that resembles a waist these days, that extra 1/4 inch is well worth the security it brings.

You might also enjoy using my trick of buying a $3 wallet before I leave and then putting it in the traditional wallet pocket. Imagine the pickpocket's delight when he opens his prize to find a dollar bill.

I loved my moneybelt when I was single. But now we are a family of 4 and trying shove 4 passports down my pants plus credit cards and cash just doesn't work.

www.pacsafe.com/venturesafe-150-gii-cross-body-pack-4.html

I got this Pacsafe bag for both my husband and myself. It works great. We love it.

I posted about some other options last year, I think. Search the Internet for police tactical pants and you will find a bunch of companies that sell pants designed with hidden pockets. The ones I like (5.11 covert khaki 2.0) are a polyester and cotton blend with side seam zipper pockets similar to the ones you could find on the discontinued Dockers style. The fabric is Teflon coated to resist stains. The pants are designed for officers in plain clothes who do not want to stand out, which works for travelers, too.

Mr Bob, I know this doesn't answer your question but . . . I now us an Eagle Creek Hidden Pocket instead of a money belt.

Just a note to thank you all for the helpful information. After looking at all the options suggested, I decided to give the P^cubed pants from Clothing Arts a trial run at home, then see if I want to return them. If they pass the trial run, these "pick pocket proof pants" will certainly get to prove their claim, as we are heading for Paris this summer, aka Land of the Pick Pockets. The goal is to replace the money belt and store all those "deep items" (ie, passport, cards, etc), and my cell phone, in the pant pockets. I plan to use travel shirts, with a zippered pocket hidden under a flap, for pocket cash, etc. Hopefully this covers it (pun intended). Then again, maybe I'll come home grumbling about the hassle of constantly dipping in and out of several pockets, trying to remember where I put things. :-) Time will tell. (Oh, and yes, the wifey does carry her own pocket cash, card & passport, in case we get separated somehow.) - Merci beaucoup! - Robert

First trip to Europe AR (after Rick) I bought a money belt and tried it before I left. It was very uncomfortable for me, so I picked up a neck pouch at REI. I left on the trip using the money belt and the neck pouch was in my bag. By the time I landed in Europe I was using the neck pouch. I still have the money belt in a drawer, somewhere. It never goes with me.

Most things (cash stash, passport, ATM cards) go in the neck pouch; I carry a small amount of cash and my drivers license, for ID, in an old wallet.

I bought my husband a pair of the Clothing Arts pickpocket proof pants when we travelled 8 countries in sept/October with our backpacks. He found them handy from a pocket perspective but the material is too heavy and hot and they pilled on the insides of the thighs and he's not a fat guy. He's never travelling with them again he said so a pretty expensive experiment. May wear them camping because of their weight. Money belts for us this next time.

I like the looks of the TravelSmith pick pocket proof pants but they only have Olive Green, and only in 38, 40 and 42 waists. I need 36.