The new RS Crossbody travel bag

I'm glad you are happy Barbara! If a sleeve for a water bottle is an essential, than travelon bags might be another option.

At least some Baggallini bags have (or had) pockets for water bottles.

Carol, I have a Travelon Crossbody with the outer mesh pocket for a water bottle.

I love that bag especially because the two main zippers have a hook and clasp security to stop pickpockets. When I was in Paris last autumn and using that bag for the first time, that hook and clasp zipper security prevented me from being robbed. 👍👍👍

My work-around is one of the collapsible water bottles with a little carabiner built in. Will just hook it to the shoulder strap.

I like the Travelon and PacSafe purses, because of the zipper latches (or whatever they are called). I was disappointed that the RS Crossbody bag doesn't include that feature.

Water bottle sleeves are tricky. The capacity varies with brand. If you have a reusable, I'd check with the company's customer service, if that's even possible (it is at least with e-bags, although I wasn't looking for an answer to this question). I've given up finding a day bag that fits my reusable bottles. Instead, when we get to a place, I find a bottle that fits and just hang onto it. I may need to replace it a couple of times, but at least I know I'll have it when I need it.

Well I just looked at the RS bag and it’s a definite no from me - the top and side zippers are completely exposed , no thanks .

I love my cross body Derek Alexander bag - similar but with a full flap that covers the zippers and clicks closed ( and the latch to I click it takes two hands )

In all, I like it. But it looks like it doesn’t have a way to secure the zippers.
I don’t need a water bottle pocket as I just put the bottle in the purse section.

Personally, I like a messenger bag that has a flap that goes over the zipped top. It is just an extra thing that will keep people out of your bag but still is easy for me to get into it. My bag zips across the top, then the flap goes over. If desired, this also clips at the bottom for more security. This is my everyday bag for work, travel, flying, and sightseeing, worn cross-body of course.

I try not to carry a water bottle, but instead stop at a cafe, sit down and have a drink.

In all, I like it. But it looks like it doesn’t have a way to secure the zippers.

The current zipper pulls RS uses do not have holes to let you attach a fasterner however, where the pull attaches to the zipper itself there is some room for a small lock or cord.

Perhaps the people at the RS store are worried that if people could securely attach the zippers they wouldn't buy as many moneybelts. :)

The current zipper pulls RS uses do not have holes to let you attach a fasterner however, where the pull attaches to the zipper itself there is some room for a small lock or cord.

That’s half of it - but you still need an attachment point. Many purses have hardware where the strap joins the purse. You can attach an s-biner at that point. But the RS purse is all cloth where the straps and purse join. You’d need to sew on a ring or some other attachment point if you wanted to lock the zippers.

Like this.

Not to start a forum war, but why are you so concerned about locking zippers? Do the people who live in Europe all have purses that have locking zippers? Maybe we're concerned because when we're on vacation we're distracted by all the sights that we're not paying attention? I usually just keep my arm across my crossbody bag so someone won't snatch something. Maybe if I used lots of buses I'd be more concerned. But I just think of all the women in these countries that just have regular purses. I'm just looking for features like pockets and size and functionality. I keep all my valuable stuff in my money belt. Just have a coin purse with a bit of money for the day. I put my phone on a tether, so that keeps it attached to me.

Not to start a forum war, but why are you so concerned about locking zippers? Do the people who live in Europe all have purses that have locking zippers?

Well, pickpockets are a bigger problem in Europe than in the US so it’s reasonable to mitigate that risk. And just as a data point, I live in a major US city and yes, I use locking zippers here too. It’s especially important when I use public transit or walk.

There is also the distracted aspect. Tourists are by nature distracted so have a greater risk.

But the main reason is the inconvenience of a theft. I’m on vacation so my time is precious. I don’t want to spend that precious time filing a police report or replacing stolen items. In short, the impact that a theft has on me is far higher than a local woman. So your argument equating local women with tourists is a logical fallacy known as a false equivalency.

In short, mitigating the situation with an easy-peasy solution seems wise. I can relax a bit more and focus on the sites instead of my purse.

And let’s not forget the most important argument of all: the purse is being sold on the Rick Steves site as a travel purse! This is the biggest argument that it should include locking zippers.

Very true, Cindy, thanks! And as you say, it’s being sold as a travel purse. Maybe this bag will be going on sale so they can create one with different zippers!

Has anyone tried to drill a hole in the zipper to put a snap on it, hooking the snap to the zipper by a metal loop or small chain? I've sewed D-rings and snaps onto bags that didn't have them where I wanted and it worked fine.

@horsewoofie - it looks like the zippers already have a hole in them that could accept a locking s-biner. One could sew on a small closed jump ring for the other half of the “lock”. I had posted a picture of something like that in my posting on 12/05/19. I modified my Patagonia Travel Tote that way.

Still, it’s disappointing that a travel purse doesn’t already have them. I’ve found the the locking mechanisms on the commercial purses to be nicer looking.

I am a native New Yorker and have never been pickpocketed in the city including all forms of public transport. I have never been pickpocketed in any of my travels in the US or Japan.

There were two attempts to pickpocket me in Paris and one attempt in Vienna. I now take my Travelon purse with me in Europe. I will say that on my many visits to England, I have never been pickpocketed.

I have never been pickpocketed in New York. But a crazy man threatened to stab me in broad daylight near Carnegie Hall. I ran half a block and he chased me. Fortunately I right into two police officers.

Husband was pickpocketed twice in Italy but they didn’t get anything because we carry Pacsafe slings. One guy thought a water bottle in my husband’s cargo shorts was a fat wallet. He got his hand stuck in my husband’s pocket when he tried to pull it out.

What I really miss is the RS Civita Tote. It had two generous water bottle pockets on the outside.

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