Safety is something we always have in the back of our minds when we travel – safety for our persons, of course, but safety for our luggage and belongings.
That’s why I make sure I invest in the best anti theft backpack (as well as the best anti-theft travel bags and purses).
There is fantastic anti-theft luggage on the market and here I’ll be concentrating on my top four recommendations.
Don’t want to look any further? My top pick for the Best Anti-Theft Travel Backpack is the 45L Pacsafe Venturesafe. More on this one and plenty of other great backpacks below!
BEST ANTI-THEFT BACKPACKS: A COMPARISON CHART
| Title | Image | Weight | Size | Details | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 35L Backpack |  | 3.19 lb / 1.4 kg | 17.32 x 10.07 x 6.85 in / 43.9 x 25.6 x 17.4 cm | Carry-on size and fits 17″ laptop | Two thick handles for easy carry | Durable materials with rain cover | Dual zipper design for anti-theft protection | Buy Now! |
| Pacsafe Metrosafe |  | 1.46 lb / 0.6 kg | 16.5 x 11.8 x 5.1 in / 42 x 30 x 13 cm | Lockable zippers and slash-proof materials (lightweight steel mesh) | 2 lockable exterior pockets, pockets for water bottles, zippered inside pockets (1 RFID safe) and a key clip | Padded laptop sleeve for 13″ laptop, shoulder straps and back | Water resistant and easy to clean | More of a daypack than a backpack | 5-year Pacsafe guarantee | Buy Now! |
| Mancro Laptop Backpack |  | 1.56 lb / 0.7 kg | 11.8 x 7.1 x 17.7 in / 30 x 18 x 45 cm | Fits a 15″ laptop in separate compartment that is hidden from view | External USB port with inner cable to charge small devices (requires power source) | Anti-puncture zipper | No visible zippers makes this highly dissuasive for thieves | Padded shoulder straps and back | Buy Now! |
If you’re looking for great theft protection in a handbag, check out these excellent anti-theft travel purses.
WHAT IS AN ANTI THEFT WOMEN’S BACKPACK?
Having an anti theft proof backpack is becoming more important than ever as thieves become increasingly ingenious at separating us from our stuff.
A secure backpack provides peace of mind (more reasons you should use an anti theft travel backpack below) from thieves but also from natural elements, like water damage.
In the world of thievery, women － especially those of us who travel solo － are seen as particularly vulnerable. While this can be far from the truth, it won’t stop thieves from going after our personal belongings, identifications, passports or valuables in our bag.
Having an anti theft backpack can help keep you from becoming a victim to pickpockets, or worse.
WHAT WILL THE BEST ANTI THEFT TRAVEL BAGS HELP PROTECT YOU FROM?
Pickpockets
Many pickpockets target people they consider ‘low-hanging fruit’, or more vulnerable. Having a pickpocket proof bag could well be enough to discourage potential pickpockets and convince them you’re not worth robbing.
Some anti pickpocket bags have special locks while others are difficult to access from the outside. Thieves are good at what they do and when they see certain styles of bags, they often move on to something more accessible and worth a try.
This alone would make a pickpocket proof bag a worthwhile investment!
RFID theft
Unfortunately, pickpockets are becoming increasingly savvy about traditional methods of keeping valuables safe, such as money belts or money bras.
Having developed the know-how, they now can steal your credit card information by simply standing next to you and applying a well-known scam called “electronic pickpocketing”. What’s scary is that you may not even know it has happened…. at least not until you receive your next credit card statement or your one and only card suddenly gets declined abroad when you need it the most.
Here’s how it works: if you have an RFID chip in your credit card (some passports and IDs have them now as well), it is activated by a reader and then transmits private information, such as your credit card number.
RFID travel bags block the technology that allows this virtual pickpocketing.
Knives and having a slashproof bag
While nobody likes to think about getting robbed, especially while on a trip, it’s important for women to be prepared. This is why having something like an anti-theft purse for daily use is such a good idea.
One of the features of an anti theft purse － one you can also find in a slash proof backpack － is the ability to repel a knife. Anyone trying to cut open your bag or slash its strap will be foiled, preventing anyone from running off with all your belongings.
WHO NEEDS AN ANTI THEFT TRAVEL BACKPACK?
Quite honestly, I think that having travel safe bags is something ANY traveler should consider. For some people, an anti theft bag should be essential rather than an option.
Solo female travelers
Those of us who travel solo know just how important it is to keep ourselves and our belongings safe. Having theft proof luggage is just one added layer of protection
Travelers who use public transportation often
Since petty theft is often a crime of opportunity, removing that opportunity is a sensible way of preventing your things from being stolen. Simply using a theft proof travel bag will prevent this kind of robbery.
I remember witnessing a subway theft in Barcelona – the thief dipped into an open tote bag so quickly no one realized what had happened until exiting the metro. This would not have happened with a good anti theft backpack or purse.
Travelers in less reputable areas
Sometimes, travel takes you to places that aren’t as safe as you might hope. Maybe it is the destination itself, or maybe it is just a neighborhood in which you end up accidentally after getting off at the wrong subway stop. Either way, having a secure travel backpack can be the difference between making it home safely and getting pickpocketed.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN ANTI THEFT LUGGAGE
There are many different options when choosing the best anti theft bags. Some may have all the features below, others may only have a few. Just make sure that the bag you eventually choose fits well with your specific travel style.
Hidden or secret pockets
Many anti theft backpacks have “hidden” pockets that are extremely hard to get into from the outside. This is the perfect place to stash valuables, extra credit cards, passports, or anything else that would be an absolute headache to get stolen.
RFID protection
We talked above about RFID pickpockets, but what are RFID travel bags? Typically, they are made of materials (often a metal, like nickel or copper) that essentially block any electromagnetic fields from being transmitted.
RFID chips are extremely handy when used properly. In credit cards, they can contain your credit card number and PIN. In RFID IDs, they can even have your social security or ID number. However, someone with the right kind of scanner can pick up those numbers just by turning on their device!
An RFID-protected bag blocks the signal and won’t allow for the information to be sent.
Travel bag locks
A good anti theft backpack is going to have high-end locking features, such as a combination lock, that locks the zippers so that no one can sneakily slide it open and reach into your pack undetected.
Also, look for bags that lock up the straps. That way, if you’re sitting someplace, you can easily lock the straps to something, like the pole of a bus station or the chair at an outdoor café.
Cut proof backpack material
Again, while we’ve already mentioned the importance of a slash proof travel backpack, this is another major feature. A cut proof bag will delay or prevent an all-too-common robbery method: discreetly slashing a bag in a crowded spot (like a packed subway) to get to your belongings. Some thieves will even try to quickly cut through an entire strap and run off with your bag into the street.
Look for bags with outer materials made from military grade cut-resistant materials. While it is more common to find steel reinforced straps on purses, you’ll also find some backpacks with this feature as well.
Anti theft zippers
We’ve all had a bag with zippers so flimsy and poorly made that fall apart after only a few uses. A quality security bag will have zippers that are exceptionally made and that will hold up to not only your personal wear and tear, but also to thieves. Look for zippers that have very small gaps between them and that are well reinforced into the bag itself so that they don’t easily tear.
Overall durability
If you’re checking off all the items above, you’re already getting a durable bag (I mean, how flimsy can steel reinforcements be?) However, it still doesn’t hurt to check consumer reviews to make sure that the bag is actually holding up over time.
Big-picture durability includes such features as wide straps, waterproofing, and even extended warranties.
Comfort
You shouldn’t have to sacrifice safety for comfort. Be sure to look for a bag that has proper support and that includes some of these great features:
- Wide straps
- Mesh
- Breathable back
- Lumbar support
- Chest and waist straps to relieve the weight load
- Padded waist
Size
Do you prefer a small anti theft backpack that you can also use for day trips or do you need a backpacking bag that you’ll mostly use as luggage?
Functionality
What exactly do you plan to use your backpack for? There are some phenomenal bags that keep high-priced items safe, like this anti theft camera bag, or this anti theft laptop backpack. But you won’t need these if all you’re carrying are a bunch of clothes and a book or two.
Alternatively, you may need luggage that also converts into an anti theft daypack so that you aren’t lugging around anything too large while out sightseeing for a few hours.
Style
Just because we want to be safe doesn’t mean we don’t also want to look nice. Maybe you love a feminine design or perhaps you favor neutral colors to avoid standing out. Whatever your personal fashion and travel style, be authentic and true to yourself, consider your comfort level and above all, keep safety in mind.
BEST ANTI THEFT TRAVEL BAG REVIEWS
- If you’re looking for a great carry-on anti theft backpack, the 35L Backback is a great option with plenty of really nice features. This bag is perfect for short or weekend trips, but if you are a real “packing light pro” then you could even make do with this one for longer trips. However, I don’t like that it lacks a hip belt, but even when packed full and heavy, it is still much easier to carry than an over-the-shoulder bag.
- Comes with Waterproof PVC material which makes it internally waterproof too, to protect your internal goods from water.
- It has compression straps that clip together, making it even harder for someone to unzip your bag without your knowing
- There are actually two laptop/ electronic sleeves. However, the one in the front is not contained well, which seems silly for an anti-theft bag! Therefore, I would use the front sleeve for things like maps or itineraries, or other thin items that are not very valuable
- This pack has several other handy compartments for easy packing, such as a toiletries bag, water bottle holder and more
- Includes a 1 year warranty
- Great price for an anti theft backpack
- There are several different kinds of Pacsafe bags in the “Metrosafe” line, all featuring high-quality day bag anti-theft protection.
- This LS350 15-liter backpack is perfect for day outings and still has space for a small laptop. The shoulder pads are padded and adjustable and the back is well padded too, so it is quite comfortable to wear while out for the day.
- It’s the ideal daypack if you want to make sure you don’t have to check your belongings every few minutes!
- The anti-theft designs in this bag are Zippers that can lock together, Steel mesh materials, RFID blocking pocket inside. You can detach one of the back straps, loop it around an object, and connect it back to the bag so that you don’t need additional cables to lock it to permanent structures.
- The crossbody is actually made of a Nylon material made from recycled ocean waste (like fishing nets). Even though it is recycled plastics, it’s extremely durable AND has had a positive impact on our environment
- Comes with the Pacsafe 5 year warranty
- This anti theft laptop bag is perfect for anyone wanting a backpack that can hold several belongings, carry their computer, and still have some nice anti-theft features. The Kopack can hold up to a 15.6 inch laptop and has a ton of handy organizational pockets for things like passports, boarding passes, a phone and more.
- This makes for a great commuter backpack or one to stow below an airplane seat while traveling. And you can charge your phone with it!
- It is made from quality thick material, which claims to be “tear proof” but is not going to be “slash proof.” However, one of the biggest complaints about this bag is that the bottom is not padded. So if you’re using it strictly as a laptop bag, be gentle when setting it down.
- The anti-theft designs in this bag are Anti-slash zippers, Lockable zipper tabs and Tear-proof (not slash-proof) material
- You can connect your electronics to a power bank (not included) inside and still use the device easily
As you can see, there are several great options for those of you looking for a theft proof travel backpack.
Things happen, but sometimes, simply having a theft proof backpack is enough to deter any would-be thief who might want to consider you a target.
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