I like it -- it's the Club philosophy. It's probably not going to prevent a really determined, resourceful thief, but the real goal is just to convince them to move on to an easier target.

I'm up, pull up the rope.

Yeah I dunno. I think that having a pac safe, a shiny new backpack or a million locks on your pack is just the same as having a big sign on the pack saying "Please rob me, there's lots of valuables in here"

My backpack is at least ten years old it has no zips only ties. I triple knot the main pouch and draw the straps tightly. In the outer side pockets I keep my dirty laundry and any bits of crap which aren't valuable.

I have NEVER had anything stolen from it. People have tried because sometimes I can tell that the side straps have been loosened but one whiff of my laundry and that's it, they're not interested.

I treat my backpack quite poorly, I've only washed it once, I always throw it on the ground, shove it in luggage compartments and sit on it!

When I went travelling with my (ex) boyfriend it was so bloody annoying waiting for him to arse around with his pac safe. Taking the pac safe off, unlocking the locks, getting something out, putting the locks back on ,putitng the pac safe back on, oops need something else, take the pac safe off start again.

This links to another thread but I think it all depends on the attitude you walk around with. If you act like you've got precious gems in your backpack and make a big drama of locking it up then this is going to alert others into thinking that you have something really valuable there.

I do agree though that pac safes can be good for securing your backpack to roofs etc

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Sky Annie:
Hey Tickles,

I've left my pack in hostels, but I make sure I only have stuff in it that has no value.

Can you tell me where do you put you airplane ticket to go back home??
I'm going to go to a hostel and what if I want to go to the beach??!!
is there any security box for valuables?
should I leave the tickets in a locker in the dorm??
should I leave my money there??

...yes! this is my first trip and I'm learning from all of you =) any advice will be appreciated

thanks

Ga

So-Rai,
Some hostels have small lockers for guests, but you have to supply your own padlock; Some will take a few (small) objects from you to keep safe, if you ask nicely; Some don't offer any security. If you do have to leave something valuable in your pack, leave it so completely buried beneath stuff that any thief will have to spend time finding it - time is the one thing most thieves don't want to spend! Also, if you've said hello to the people around you, then they'll know whether the person rooting around in your stuff is you or a thief.

In general, your stuff doesn't have to be thief proof, just less attractive to thieves than what's around them.

MANY THANKS!!

my only worry is my air ticket, where to keep it safe.
Even though I will have my own paddlock if they dont offer to keep it for me

thanks again


Ga

I’m vaulting this topic to the top in the hopes of rekindling the discussion. I have read and considered all of the pros/cons of the Pac-Safe and I’m still conflicted. Attention-getting versus another layer of security; It’s a dizzying Catch-22!

I travel with achingly expensive equipment for work (laptop, digital camera, peripheral hardware/media). Theft would not only obviously bring productivity to a screeching halt, but even the best travel insurance (within reason) will only reimburse a fraction of the cost that it would take to replace this equipment if the worst were to happen. Although I got through seven months in Western Europe last year with this encumbrance without a scratch, I’m newly paranoid for my next trip (Oz, NZ, SE Asia, Pacific Islands).

I’d appreciate more thoughts and first-person experiences with the Pac-Safe. Or, even better, alternative suggestions/products for better peace-of-over-packed-mind.

Thanks!

I've always been of the opinion that the best pack security is travelling with nothing of value, if you can get away with it. I won't always have my pack within eyesight, but I will always have my airline tickets/ money/ passport on me at all times (even in the shower).

Your situation is different, Leif, so I'd say get the pac safe. I wouldn't take a chance, if I was you.

I've got a similar question to Lief. Say you're taking just your clothes, maybe a journal or something to write in, a few sentimental things (pictures, letters etc) but you also have a fairly expensive camera or something. Where do you draw the line between locking it up and making it look unattractive. I can understand the not awnting the pac-safe because it is just a huge sign begging for stealing, but I also don't like the idea of having no locks whatsoever on my bag.

Check out this guy's site... he did an ATW trip and took some pretty expensive gear and also used the pacsafe.

http://www.vagabonding.com

I'm sure you could send him an email too..

Neil

I purchased a Pacsafe net before I left for my Alaska-bound bike trip. I used it only once and since I was on a motorcycle the extra weight was not an issue. If you don't mind the extra weight, go for it, take it with you. Otherwise carry a backpack that is well-worn and unattractive to sticky fingers. Also don't keep expensive, hard-to-replace items in it. I switched from digital cameras to disposables because it won't hurt me to loose it.

Namaste.

Johannes "The Peaceful Road Warrior"

I know this thread is getting a bit old, but I figured I'd put in my bit.

Most people I know just travel with a small cable lock and a mini padlock for the zipper. Master makes a cable lock the size of an MP3player which has a cable that winds into itself.

I've seen a few people layer chicken wire inside their pack when travelling through the 'slash' zones - Italy and others, but I'm not so sure about Pac Safe - I looked at the site after reading this thread, and the picture of the girl with a big smile, wearing her Pac Safe just screams to me - "Rich college girl on holiday with expensive camera, CD player and $1000 in her pack".

I'd stick to a dirty old pack, and some cheap travel insurance if that laptop is too important to leave behind. (Bring a USB backup for your documents/data though.)

I saw people travelling with a Pacsafe in Peru, and they looked like idiots (no offense!). I mean, it was screaming...I'm a target, I have valuable stuff!