Womens Scottevest Products vs. Pacsafe

Traveling in countries like Germany, Austria and Switzerland with a pacsafe bag with the wires, etc. and other security features is overkill and extra weight for you to schlepp around. These are not countries where the risk of having your bag straps cut is something one needs to worry about. Ever. Wear a small messenger bag, cross body, and you will be fine. Find something that is comfortable for you, with a closing flap, preferably one with a flap that folds over the entire top.

Hi Jo, Thank you, I was wondering that. Regards, Paige

paige, second jos post, slash proof purse are overkill in my opinion I have never used one, and if I did, it sure wouldn't be in Switzerland , Austria or Germany.

If just a messenger bag doesn't feel quite secure enough for you, you can do what I do, 365 days of the year. I carry a small, thin men's wallet, and I tuck it into my bra. It's actually carried pretty high up, before the strap gets thinner. Women's pants pockets are often too small, and I dislike carrying a purse. Since you have a brace, that may not work for you for your wallet. It may be a good place to keep your passport on non-travel days. By the way, I work retail, and I'd say that at least 10% of women have the same "purse" that I do.

I have a similar vest (maybe Columbia) and it has many pockets, both zippered and velcroed. I often wear it as a "money-belt" and have never had a problem. I do make a point of being consistent about what goes in each pocket so I don't have to do a big search everytime I want to find something. I don't think any purse is as convenient or safe as the vest. Purses can be left behind or taken from you. The downside of the vest is that it can feel too warm in the warmer months. I travel spring and fall, so that is almost never a problem. If you get a vest, buy one extra large for your frame so that all those items will fit and you can still close it. I also travel with a light-weight raincoat that has numerous pockets. When passing through security I usually have my passport and plane ticket in the breast pocket of the coat for easy access. I've seen many people in airports wearing a neck-belt outside their clothes, containing these important docs.

Since you may not get responses from people who ACTUALLY HAVE a Scottevest or other product, it is good that other people are answering. I agree that a Pacsafe with cut-proof strap is overkill for these countries. ( I will say, however, that the only person I know who was a theft victim in Europe had her wallet stolen in Switzerland. She had it in a top-zipper waist pack,worn right in front, and someone got into it in a crowded train station). Since you are used to carrying things in pockets the vest might work well for you, but what will you do on hot days? Also, will you be happy wearing that same vest every day? If you decide to buy one, all the things are 20% off today. There is a promotion code on the website.

paige I hate purses, but some times they are necessary for all our odds and ends, lipstick, glasses, etc.; but only for things you can replace. These can be stored safely in a vest pocket. I sometimes will carry a small purse, across my body, then wear a vest, jacket or light weight blouse, when it is warm, over the purse. Any thing to discourage the pick pocket. I found a neat vest at TravelSmith. It is light weight, but has a ton of pockets. The only thing I hated about it, I was always losing stuff,(which pocket did I put the metro tickets in?) I tried to find the vest in my catalog, but couldn't find it, but it is item # 7750, if you wanted to check it out and they still carry it. I,also, some times wear a money belt that fastens around the front of my bra. Money, passport, credit cards go inside your clothes. In years of travel, my husband was pick pocketed once. In a hurry after giving a coin to a busker, he slipped his daily wallet in his front pocket. In half a second, it was gone. Luckily, they did not get much, but a good lesson for our teenage granddaughter that was traveling with us.
Jana

paige, I currently have a ScottEVest "Essential Travel Jacket & Vest", which I used on only one trip. Shortly after the jacket was delivered, I noticed a problem with the zipper, and that has now failed completely. The Jacket is now useless and hanging in a closet. I'll try and get it down to my Tailor for repairs when I get a few spare minutes. I contacted them and the reply seemed to be basically, "you bought it so that's your problem". It appears that particular product has now been discontinued, so perhaps others also had issues with it? They don't appear to stand behind their products, so it's not likely I'll ever buy another product from them. I've used a Tilley Travel Vest for many years, and it's perhaps my most valuable piece of travel gear (one of those "don't leave home without it" items). I "work" it hard with photo gear and it's never failed me! Magellan's also has Travel Vests, but I've never used them. Cheers!

We almost always travel overseas and domestic in Spring and Fall so I wear a lot of vests anyway. I recently bought a Scottevest and am looking forward to not carrying a purse on our upcoming trip. The pockets are so varied that they won't have to be crammed full. The vest itself is lightweight and comfy. You can't tell by looking at it that it has all of these pockets. I bought one size up and it fits and gives me room to use the pockets. I'm happy with it. My husband just ordered a jacket with removable sleeves from Scottevest. I think the vest might be a good option for you. Spreads the weight out instead of having to carry a bag.

Based on my daughter's experience, I would not get a wired up travel purse. Within a very short time, the wires started poking out of hers. Ouch! And it certainly got heavy with all the stuff even her small one accumulated. Personally, I can't wear cross-body purses of any kind because they strangle me. I do have a TravelSmith vest with lots of pockets. I had to get a men's vest because the women's had very few pockets and wasn't large enough to accomodate my body inside with the pockets actually being used. Women's Scottevests don't work for me for the same reason. I did notice that in the online pictures, it looks like it nips in nicely at the waist, but when you see it on actual women, it is very short, very square and often not zipped up. If you are a small person, the women's Scottevest might be okay as far as allowing for your brace and all the stuff you want to carry in the pockets. It will be cold where you are going when you are going to be there, so if you are likely to have a little extra thickness under it, you need to allow for that, too.

Lo, Thank you for the information, that definately helps. I think I'll go for the mens version of the Scottevest as I do tend to wear jackets/sweatshirts etc a size larger in womens or just go with the mens version. I wasn't aware of the weight difference in the purses but it makes sense and the wire poking out sounds rather unpleasant as well. Thanks Again, Paige

...... Germany, Austria and ...... These are not countries where the risk of having your bag straps cut is something one needs to worry about. Ever. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/09/17/us-germany-berlin-tourists-idUSBRE88C0ZT20120917 http://www.virtualtourist.com/travel/Europe/Germany/Land_Berlin/Berlin-75302/Warnings_or_Dangers-Berlin-Pickpockets-BR-1.html

James those links said nothing about "bag slashing" one article mentioned pickpockets ( which is not as violent as having someone slash a knife at your person or at something hanging off your person) and the quote you posted was specifically about bag slashing, and the other article was just some nonsense and if you read it is says these issues were only by a "small minority ". and there are nutters everywhere. Why be negative, we all know and warn people to be careful of pickpockets, but bag slashing is not generally a problem anywhere but some southern countries ( I have heard Italy and Spain) but I have never personally read a first hand account of it, but I am sure it has happened .

Pat, I appreciate the note. You are right. And I should have bit my tongue. I travel pretty relaxed, people are people everywhere you go and in dozens of trips I've never had an attitude changing experience. The closest I ever came was a pick pocket in NYC and a gypsy trying to clean out my back pack (while I was wearing it) in Paris. I just took a little issue with the comment and was suppressed that there was zero crime in Switzerland and Germany. Hey, did you know that Switzerland has the one of the highest murder rates in Western Europe?.

I have a Scottevest Chloe hoodie that I wore on a month long trip in France, Belgium, a Rhine cruise and Germany. Absolutely loved it. Warm for plane travel. The cuff sleeves are almost a mitten on cool days. I do use a packsafe wallet type of purse that I wear under my outer jacket, i have used it for years, only big enough for cash and cards. When I go out for the day the purse never comes off. I used the hoodie with a rain jacket over it, worked great. I have the black color for many reasons. I also have a jacket that the sleeves zip off, it is not waterproof, so was not best, it faded a lot when I washed it. I have the ladies trench coat, I like it, but the length was not great for using the toilet with my coat on, which happens more in travel. On the trip I used the trench, I did not wear it on the flight home, the pockets were full of my breakfast and a pair of shoes, easily rolled up in the overhead bin. Have a great trip.

Well James I actually find that very interesting, as Switzerland is one Eurpeon country where I believe all citizens are or at least were until recent times required that each household own a gun , with every male over 18 to serve a year in service and be trained to use the gun, the idea of course that while Switerland is neutral, they are not going to let anyone walk in and take them.. Heck the only time I had my ATM compromised was here in my own hometown! I agree there is not Utopian crime free country( but some are worse then others) .

Most of Europe has a very low crime rate; even the less developed countries in Europe. So you would think that if you used the same care there that one would use in the US or Canada that one would have no worries. True, except that a lot of folks are on that once in a lifetime or at least once in a year vacation and there is a lot of planning and investment at stake; and maybe for that reason alone a little extra care is in order. (Sorry to be getting so far off topic) I do things like splitting the assets with my wife, carrying multiple Debit and Credit Cards (again split), and each of us carry the credit card numbers and phone numbers for the credit cards and passport numbers (this all fits on a small piece of paper); and yes, I carry a small pack safe bag. Why? It's my man purse. I don't lose things that way; and I have a real tendency to lose things. Why the wired Pacsafe? I tried a few different ones over the years and this one was the right size and shape. The wire adds a little peace of mind but its more about the size and shape. In Budapest where I am more comfortable I just carry a front pocket wallet; nothing else, but I am at home there so its different (probably not). A few simple precautions, some common sense and then I never give any of it, crime or otherwise a second thought.

@June - I'm curious what the benefit of a PacSafe wallet is. I understand, but don't feel the need to get one, the function of having a purse that can't be slashed or cut off. Why a wallet? Paige, I do not have a travel vest, though I did consider getting one at one point. I do have a 'travel' jacket with many pockets. As it turned out I really didn't use the pockets as I imagined I would. I was too worried about taking it off to eat or whatever, then accidentally leaving it behind with all my important things. Don't underestimate how easy it is to get distracted while traveling. I use a purse that has zippers and a flap that clips closed over them. I wear it cross body and NEVER take it off except in my room. I also use a neck wallet type money belt, wearing it over one shoulder. It fits right under my arm and I never feel it. I safety pin the strap to my bra strap for extra security.

@Andrea, the wallet is better described as a purse, a little laeger than a business sized envelope, 3 pockets in the outside front, where my passport does for air travel days. The outside back is sized for boarding passes and a zipper inside has 4 zippered places, a bill spot and place for cards. There is an adjustable thin strap that I use cross body. I have travelled with it for about 5 years and I love it. I got it long before my Scottevests.

@ June, that makes more sense to me that it is actually a little purse. I was envisioning an actual small wallet that would only go inside a purse. Thanks for the explanation.