Hobo Traveler Sew-in Pockets?

those look very interesting!

it looks like you sew them to the inside waistband. if that's the case, would it be awkward to fish around inside your skirt for your lip balm?

if you just need some pockets, and you have basic sewing skills, you can easily add pockets to any skirt with a side seam.

Good point mom2eandb! Well, my sewing skills are VERY basic--sewing those pockets in my waistband would be as much as I could do! From what I understand, if you sew them in "backwards" so the velcro or zipper is facing the fabric of your pants/skirt and not facing your body, you can then flip the pocket out of your clothing to use it. So it would be outside of your clothing while you are using it. I guess that is what I would probably do...

You can buy a pocket like this and attach to the inside of your waistband with a large safety pin, easier.

I ditched the purse when I switched to the Exofficio and Scottevest clothing items, which have inside pockets built into their clothes, [pants, jackets, and tops.]. My favorite is the light-weight vest, which has about a dozen inside pockets, many with zippers. Safe travels!

I'm with Pat! I wear Scottevest jacket with zip off sleeves or my original Scottevest vest. Since we travel in fall the temperature is no problem and I don't carry a purse at all.

Another advantage to the Scottevest jackets and vests are going through security in the airports. Everything is in them and I don't have to move phones and such around.

Whatever you decide, I hope you have a Great Trip!
Mimi

I used one on a 2 week trip to Italy, sewn at the just below the waistband, behind the right front pocket, in combination with a decoy wallet in a back pocket. I only carried my US ID or license, a credit card and cash: anything else will create an unsightly bulge.
I had to work to get my hand down there, but it was not a deal-breaker, and definitely more secure. I chose the zipper because I thought it would be easier to open. It held up quite well.

I made my own pocket which I button onto the inside waistband of my pants. (Yes, I have to sew two buttons into each pair of pants/skirt I'm taking.) I do keep my passport and big money in there and I don't flip the pocket out to access it - I just slightly pull the waistband away from my body and slip my fingers down inside to pull out what is needed. After looking at the Hobo Traveler pockets online, it looks to me like you could access your cash the same way and not have to flip them outside of your clothing. If you'd like to see photos of my homemade one, send me your e-mail address by private message and I'll explain further! I feel very secure with this system.

Thank you prendo65 and Janet for sharing your experience! I appreciate the idea of only having one pocket to move from skirt to skirt on a daily basis. And thanks prendo65 for sharing how much you were able to put in the pocket.

I stole the idea from David Hume in his book Towns of the Renaissance: Travellers in Northern Italy (1995 - he also wrote a couple of other Italy books): "I had a tailor make four-by-eight-inch vertical pockets that could be secured to the inside of my trouser waistband with three buttons. My passport case with credit cards, large denomination bills and air line tickets go down inside the belt, inside the trousers, into the deep pocket where they can be gotten at by me alone, with some difficulty at that. I carry some ready cash in a smaller billfold in my inside jacket pocket. So far we have never been robbed of anything while in Italy..."

I see this thread has been resurrected.

I don't understand why a person would want to carry a 'decoy' wallet. It serves no purpose. If a pickpocket gets that one, then what do you do? - Carry enough decoy wallets for the duration of your trip? No need to carry anything in the back pockets or things of significant value in the front pockets. The perps are practiced. In some cases, as stated on this forum, you may not feel anything.

Just practice common sense security with money and other valuables. Keep it simple.