Hanging On to your Belongings:
The Neck Wallet and its Friends

There are many ways to carry your money and papers with you on the road - and a neck wallet or leg wallet are among the more popular ones.

By using neck or leg wallets, you literally 'hang' on to your precious belongings on the road. But unlike a travel money belt, none of these is worn around your waist - they are worn on other parts of the body.

A neck wallet is self-explanatory - it hangs around your neck, under your clothes.

A leg wallet doesn't really hang - it grasps your lower calf with a wide elastic band.

The ankle stash is usually wrapped around your ankle or part of a sock.

And last but not least, the bra pouch goes - inside your bra.

Lets look at each of these in detail - and you can decide which you like best before you make up your mind!

Protecting your valuables with a neck wallet

The neck wallet, also called a neck pouch, is a very popular way to carry your most important papers. (Remember: just keep your passport, travelers checks, tickets, credit cards, cash and favorite photo on you. Anything else should have been left at home!)

The typical neck wallet is made up of two parts: a cord-like length that hangs around your neck, and a pocket or pouch, which you wear under your blouse or T-shirt.

One advantage is easy access - it's much easier to dip into your neck wallet than into the travel money belt around your waist! On the other hand, it's easier to spot - and to steal.

Street thieves often target women wearing neck wallets. The cord can be seen around your neck and sends a signal you are carrying valuables in a relatively accessible place. It's not uncommon to hear of pickpockets slicing the cord, giving it a tug and running off with the pouch.

There are ways around this. Several manufacturers offer a slash-proof cord, which remains lightweight but is a combination of wire and cotton or polyester.

The neck wallet itself tends to be large enough to carry your passports and precious papers, as well as a few other valuables, such as a ring. (I don't recommend taking the ring - unless you are psychologically prepared to lose it during your trip.)

The neck pouch is usually made of polyester or nylon lightweight material, with zippers or velcro to seal the pouch or pouches, as some have several.

It you have a large chest, the neck wallet might not be the ideal model for you. It can stick out as it hangs, and can be slightly uncomfortable. I don't personally like it because it tends to swing around under my clothes. But many women backpackers swear by it!

The leg wallet: when you don't like things that hang

A good alternative if you don't want to wear your valuables around your waist or neck is the leg wallet, or leg pouch.

The basic model has one wide or two thinner stretchy bands that close with velcro around your lower leg, above the ankle. It has a pocket or two, with zippers or velcro, and is backed by material that is often waterproof, like neoprene.

If you choose this option, make sure you test the fit first. We aren't accustomed to wearing things around our calves and this might take a bit of getting used to.

If you wear skirts, this isn't the option for you - unless you wear long skirts and make sure you don't hike them up to cross your legs, leaving your leg wallet visible to prying eyes.

The leg wallet also won't work if you wear shorts, or if your trousers are too tight at the bottom, preventing you from reaching your money.

And remember - getting to your stash means you'll have to bend down a lot. For the older backpacker this isn't as easy - and even for the younger traveler, leaning forward with a full backpack on your back can propel you face down onto the road, as I've found out to my regret!

That said, most thieves won't think of looking around your lower leg for your money. If you carry some cash in your pocket and get mugged, you'll have a better chance of saving the bulk of it if it's around your ankle.

Speaking of ankles...

Just a bit lower and you can wrap your belongings around your ankle.

Many people like this option, which has mostly the same advantages and disadvantages as the leg wallet.

There are two key differences, however.

If you choose the ankle wallet or ankle stash option, make sure you look at the size. Often, because of their location, the ankle stash or ankle wallet won't hold a passport - it may only be large enough to carry cash and cards.

And second, they are usually made for men, who tend to be larger than we are. So make sure you try it out first, as I've found some models to be uncomfortable.

If you don't need it to hold your passports - some women prefer to carry both a money belt around the waist and a second stash for cash elsewhere - this could be a good solution for you.

And it doesn't work if you're wearing sandals or lightweight shoes - or if you plan to get your feet wet regularly, like crossing back and forth across streams...

One model looks like a sock - it has a zipper along the top hem - so you're actually wearing a sock rather than a separate item. Again, these are small and only useful if used in tandem with another money belt combination.

The same goes for the arm band wallet - great for keeping a credit card and a few bills on you while you play tennis but not useful for heavy duty travel.

And finally, for the greatest privacy

You can keep your valuables in a bra money pouch.

A bra money pouch is usually a small fabric pouch that you attach to your bra strap with a piece of velcro. This is the most discreet of hiding places and by far the safest.

The disadvantage of this hiding place is obvious - you'll need to go somewhere private to access your money.

That said, you shouldn't be delving into your pouch or belt during the day anyway - your daily cash flow is something you should keep in an accessible place, such as your pocket.

If you should be attacked, your daily stash is all the money you'll hand over. With any luck, this will satisfy most petty thieves, for whom speed is essential. The remainder will stay safe - and absolutely out of sight.