BootsnAll Travel Community

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!