Carrying passport, etc. in small attachable bag at bottom of Civita day pack?

I was thinking of carrying passports in that bag when in walking about mode and on subways (London, Paris, etc.). Do you think this is secure?

In my opinion, no, but I’m a devoted money belt user for my passport and ‘deep storage’. I think your concealed belt pocket or your wife’s crossbody bag would be much more secure than a backpack. To me, backpacks are more of a target for pickpockets and sometimes you might also be asked to check them in museums. Then you’d have to leave your passport in the bag check room or scramble around quickly removing it before handing your bag over. But it depends on your own risk tolerance, and I’m sure you’ll get varied responses about this😀.

Passport should be concealed on your person, not in a backpack.

I use a neck wallet, worn under my shirt.

Good point about the bag check in problem. Thanks Barbara

I just carry mine in my crossbody bag, and that works fine for me.

I use a neck wallet (inside my clothes) and my husband uses a money belt slipped under the waistband of his pants. I do not carry a crossbody bag, purse or backpack. We travel in the shoulder season spring or fall so I wear a Scottevest vest with inside zipper pockets for phone and other things usually carried in a purse. I am more comfortable traveling hands free especially on and off of buses and trains, except when pulling my carryon suitcase. By the way we carry a copy of each others passport page just to make replacement quicker if needed.

The small attached bag is not safe from the razor-blade artists who can slice through the bottom of your Day Pack on your back and remove the small attached bag without you even knowing it happened.

Security is a matter of degrees. Certainly more secure than a hip pocket or a front pocket but not as secure as a properly worn money belt. Only you can decide the degree of risk you are willing to assume. There is nothing magic about one system or the other. Personally I would not view it as secure but you may.

Probably we will go with this after the comments:

1. Me: light thin pouch that goes down the leg and has loop through
the belt. Basically a different kind of money belt.
Good for extra CC's and such. Cannot buy this pouch
anymore I think. Main Visa card is in small zippered pouch
down right leg in pants pocket. So thin you cannot see that anything is
there. These have worked on past long European trips.

2. Wife: passports in well made secure cross body bag.

On Iphone: copies of passports, medical ID, licenses in Lastpass secure notes.
Also main CC in Apple Pay for tap and pay.

P.S. Will try to get in the habit of taking pictures using the camera function on the front of the iPhone. This is so if the phone is ever grabbed it is still locked. Unlikely but it has happened to some.

Eagle Creek sells two hidden pockets that slip onto your belt: https://www.eaglecreek.com/collections/money-belts-neck-wallets

thin pouch that goes down the leg and has loop through
the belt. Basically a different kind of money belt.
Good for extra CC's and such. Cannot buy this pouch
anymore I think.

Actually, they’re sold in the RS Online store. They call it a ‘hidden pocket’.

Good choice!

The Hidden Pocket could be a good choice. I bought one like that about 30 years ago and still use it. The one I bought is very thin which makes it very comfortable. Passports are a bit bulky and so I give mine to my wife to put in her secure cross-body purse.

Mimi, I'm also a fan of Scottevest and the hands free mode- no purse for me. Safe travels,

It really comes down to what you are comfortable with. The odds of theft in most places is probably less than 1 in 500,000, and with any sort of bag or pouch, 1 in 10 million.

I have a 15 year old pacsafe bag, that is no longer made but it's similar to this https://pacsafe.com/collections/bag/products/daysafe-anti-theft-tech-crossbody-bag

I generally only use it in transit or in higher risk areas. In transit its nice because I can cram my phone and wallet and pocket change in it before airport security.

Clean, simple, easy to access.

Mister E., thanks for the Pacsafe thought. I forgot that I too have one from some years ago. I want to carry sketch material so that would be convenient. I can string a light fleece through the straps if needed. This might be better then the Civita Daypack since it gets bulky and sticks out a lot. Hmmm.....

I always suspected that the feature in RS bags of having a ring in the bottom and a slim black zipper pocket to clip to that ring was more intended as a way to stash your recreational substances than your precious papers. I felt the same about camera bags that had built-in rain covers -- the cover slot/pouch was where to stash your stash.

I wear pants and shorts with secure zippered pockets (not like a zip cargo pocket) also a button up shirt with a hidden zippered pocket on the side/back. Passport stays on my person, effectively as good as a money belt and more comfortable.

Backpack seems like a no to me for the passport.

Hank, I love my nylon cargo pants. For weight in packing 5 pairs = the weight of 1 pair of jeans and they dry in 30 min, and one of the zippered pockets is where you will find my passport and most of my cash. The pacsafe bag is generally for the flights and more interesting destinations. .

I never even knew what a money belt was until I started on this forum. I had no problem before I joined this forum. When traveling solo, after reading this forum years ago, I did start wearing a leg wallet, but I have stopped due to it not conforming to my present wardrobe and with all the security zippers, etc now on purses it seems unnecessary, if it was necessary before. If I were traveling to some S. American countries, I would likely use one. In Europe, I find I don't anymore, again. I am aware of my belongings and have my important documents attached to me in a purse. I would say if you are good keeping your backpack attached to you while out, then I don't see a problem.

1. If you need to check your bag in a museum, just unsnap the RS pouch and put it in a pocket or your wife's purse.
2. Cutting the bottom of your pack is possible, but extremely unlikely. Plus, if they cut it, they would also have to cut accurately and unsnap the pouch. All this before you or your wife notice? Traveling with another person is so much easier for security. You won't lose all your stuff at the same time.
3. You are going to be in major cities by the sounds of it. If near an embassy, replacing your passport is easier than replacing charge cards or your phone.
4. I would never recommend letting someone else carry your passport.

I am the least concerned with my passport, except for the day or so before travel as replacement might hold up my flight. I don't know why people are not more concerned with losing their phone as everything is on it, but yet they are waved around, out all the time for photos where easily grabbed, placed on dining tables, not attached to their bodies, etc. I am very protective of my phone when I travel. I do divide and conquer once at my locations by leaving back up items in my hotel room...but never my passport or phone, Use what you have, but just keep it attached to your body, as you indicate you do.

I would be curious as to what the rate of pickpocketing actually is in Europe. However, this figure would not be able to separate those who are neglectful or careless by the owner versus artistic pickpocketing. So it would not really be accurate anyway...

PS, I use the same bag as Mr E often. It had most of my items plus my phone in it on my Camino. A back up CC and Debit in my backpack.

Wray, some of our concerns can be put down to travel anxiety. Leaving the nest can be a bit overwhelming but fun nevertheless. That said, it can be a relief to batten down the hatches. :)

About ten years ago or so I read an article that claimed that Interpol statistics on pickpocketing was estimated at about 1 in 4.. The big issue is that it is believed that the majority of the pickpocket thefts go unreported. So at best it is a guess. We have know several people who have been hit. I have also privately contacted several posters on this site who were hit for their complete story. Hate to say it. ----- but in each case --- the individuals involved contributed greatly to their situation either by tipping off what they had or making it easy to get to the valuables. Pickpockets do not randomly hit ten people hoping to get lucky. And they tend to work in pairs and know how to find good marks.

My personal belief is that IF you take reasonable precautions you should be close to zero. We have travel extensively since 72 and have never had a problem or been close. BUT -- at 6-2 I see far better over the crowd than my 5-4 wife. And more importantly, eons ago in another life, I received some government training on how to be aware of your surroundings and to move efficiently through crowds. But there is always the trip and we could be hit. SO --- exercise some caution, and you will be fine.

1 in 4 what? You mean 1 in 4 tourists get pickpocketed? That's not anywhere close to reality.

A quick check, Paris Metro 1 5 BILLION passengers. 7,500 reported thefts (all theft) 1 in 200,000. And that is one of the worst places in the world.

For common sense, gentlemen put everything in a front pocket and I suspect the odds become infintesable; but if it makes the trip more comfortable do what ever else makes you feel better.

I also dislike money belts. I have been using a cross body purse, but now am thinking of switching to a belt bag, which is sorta like a fanny pack, but not really. They are back in style, small, and can be worn across the waist or across the body and cinched down. Been seeing them a lot with the young folks (men and women) and I have been trying it out. I'm really liking it and think I will use it for my next trip instead of my purse. The one I have has the buckle in the front and a couple of zippers that accommodate my credit cards, and phone. Very small, but perfect for carrying essentials on a trip. After reading about someone having their purse grabbed from their body, I thought, now this will be something that really can't be easily grabbed and me dragged. And everything will be easy to access and I really can't see anyone getting to the contents without me knowing.

I have been using a cross body purse, but now am thinking of switching to a belt bag, which is sorta like a fanny pack, but not really...And everything will be easy to access and I really can't see anyone getting to the contents without me knowing.

Don't be too sure about that. I can't find it, but a woman on another thread recently told the story of how she had her wallet or money stolen from a bag like that, on a train, where she got sandwiched between a couple of "official looking" people on the train who were in the aisle, acting like they were searching for someone or something...and when she next checked, her bag with security zippers had been opened without her realizing it.

I repeat my belief that your passport should be on your person, not in a bag, or backpack, or a fanny like pack, or a cross body bag. I carry my phone in my front pocket, along with a small amount of cash and any passes (like Pass Navigo), but I keep my passport and my credit cards in my neck wallet, under my shirt. I rely on Apple Pay on my phone to pay for stuff, and on the occasions where I need a physical CC, I go into a restroom or equivalent private space to retrieve one from my neck wallet.

And to guys: never carry your wallet "American-style" in your back hip pants pocket. I personally know multiple friends and family who have been pickpocketed in Paris that way...that marks you as easy prey, and it really does happen...

Well, not much is 100% and I do keep a copy of my passport at my hotel. If one isn't into money belts etc. then I don't think a belt bag is too bad of an idea. And, I have heard about money belts and neck wallets having their buckles break and lost passports too. So, those are not even 100%.

Regarding the belt bag, there are two zippers, one that's on inside against my body and not really accessible unless it's removed. Or I suppose someone could wedge their hands between the bag and my body and perhaps access it. But along that note, I suppose they could also place their hands under someone's shirt and get to the money belt if they are professional enough. I just figured if they have to work harder, then I would think they would pick a different tourist who is easier pickings.

*I use the hidden pocket and put it down my pants when not in use. I use a rubber band to "lock" in the loop of the hidden pocket so it doesn't slip off the belt when using the bathroom. It happen once!

*I have my cell phone in my pants pocket and use a baby safety pin to secure my pants pocket.

*I have my passport in a regular money belt under my shirt. It also has major cash and extra CC.

I now use the hidden pocket daily in the US, freeing up my pants pocket for my phone. I still use the baby pin to secure my phone.

Regarding shirts with zippered pockets, I've worn this little beauty to travel in Europe. Passport-sized zippered chest and hidden side pockets. My wife and teens called it the "magic shirt" - whenever I wore it people in the service industry were inexplicably nice me. Perhaps they felt pity ;)

https://www.competitivecyclist.com/backcountry-button-up-mtb-jersey-mens-bccz2hb

These too all have one or two zippered pockets. The Detour model is silky soft and very light, dries in a snap. Detour in Wood Rose Plaid will be in my bag in Europe this summer.

https://www.clubrideapparel.com/collections/mens-bike-shirts?gclid=Cj0KCQjwkqSlBhDaARIsAFJANkjJNMQ2nG0MqrR5hzPbfkgWak1sZ77-ld0GGeA9l5iyyfYkfYSQhxwaAkI0EALw_wcB