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Getting out of your comfort zone and exploring a new place can be one of life’s greatest pleasures, but it can also cost a pretty penny. According to a Chime analysis, the average cost of a week-long vacation is $1,991 per person, and that’s for trips within the United States. When you’re shelling out that much cash for your annual vacation, you don’t want to waste time going back and forth to the hotel or Airbnb for a change of clothes or to grab a charger for your dwindling smartphone battery.
Carrying a backpack with all your travel essentials can help you make the most of your precious free time. You could go for a basic drawstring bag or sling pack, but an anti-theft backpack is a superior choice for those wanting to keep themselves extra protected during any upcoming travels.
What is an anti-theft backpack?
An anti-theft backpack offers the same look and style as a traditional version, but it’s an upgraded accessory with enhanced security features. These features vary from brand to brand, but the accessories commonly include straps with slash-resistant materials, lockable zippers, and hidden compartments to tuck away your valuable documents. Not only do these backpacks better protect your belongings, but they also provide much-needed peace of mind in an unfamiliar place.
Because of these upgrades, anti-theft backpacks typically cost a bit more than your average bookbag, but there are still affordable options available, with our highlighted picks starting at $27.
Baggallini Securtex Anti-Theft Vacation Travel Backpack
PacSafe Citysafe CX 17L Anti-Theft Backpack
Enhanced security features of an anti-theft backpack
Anti-theft backpacks don’t come with a specific set of security enhancements, but most will come with cut-resistant fabric, RFID-blocking, and lockable zippers. Understanding the different anti-theft features available allows you to choose the ultimate bag for your needs.
Slash-resistant materials are a key feature of anti-theft backpacks, as they prevent slash-and-run thefts. In crowded areas, rather than grabbing a bag out of your hands, it’s common for potential pickpockets to cut the strap off a backpack or sling pack to quickly remove it and slip away out of sight. Some backpacks will have an entire shell designed with these slash-proof fabrics, which could be a high-density material like Kevlar, or a tightly woven nylon or polyester with a durable steel mesh layer inside. Other backpacks will focus solely on the straps.
Pickpocketing and petty theft aren’t common everywhere, but there are popular travel locations with a higher prevalence of pickpocketing, where this would be helpful, including the Las Ramblas in Barcelona, the Eiffel Tower in Paris, and the Trevi Fountain in Rome.
Travelon Anti-Theft Roam Convertible Backpack Sling
RFID-blockingis a common capability of anti-theft backpacks, but let’s explain what RFID, or Radio Frequency Identification, is first. RFID chips are found in credit cards, debit cards, and even your passport. These chips store data and prevent forgeries, but they’re also the technology that allows for contactless payment.
While originally designed to deter criminals and prevent fraud, this RFID technology could theoretically grant access to your accounts through what’s called skimming attacks. You’ll notice I used the word theoretically. Security researchers have found that even if criminals had a machine that made it possible to scan this data, it would be difficult to use, since online purchases would be blocked without the proper billing information, like a CVV code or home address. Additionally, there are almost no documented cases of RFID skimming.
That being said, nearly every anti-theft backpack has an RFID-blocking compartment or pocket. RFID-blocking uses special materials that interrupt the magnetic field, so if anyone did have a machine to scan the information, it would prevent the transmission. You’ll see this RFID-blocking technology commonly utilized in wallets and billfolds for added protection.
Opack RFID-Safe Extra-Large Travel Backpack
SwissGear Travel Backpack with RFID Blocking Pocket
Lockable zippers and hidden compartments are a simple way to deter would-be pickpockets. If a thief wanted to unzip your backpack quietly while you were distracted, a lock adds another layer of security. With a hidden compartment, a thief won’t know where your valuables are located and can’t quickly grab them and go.
Tzowla Lockable Travel Laptop Backpack
Shrradoo Anti-Theft Laptop Backpack
Anchor straps aren’t always standard for anti-theft backpacks, but it’s a really smart design feature. You can have all kinds of protection built into your backpack, but if you’re not actively wearing it, it only takes a second for someone to grab it and run away with all your belongings. An anchor strap, which is usually one of the backpack’s regular straps, has a detachable clip, so you can wrap the strap around a leg of a chair or the base of a table, and lock it back onto the backpack. This anchors your bag to a fixed object, so no one can dash off with it.
Pacsafe GO Anti-Theft Backpack
Do you need an anti-theft backpack for safer travels?
The best way to deter pickpocketing and petty theft on your travels starts with awareness of your surroundings. Criminals go for an easy target, like those not paying attention to their surroundings or who have their eyes glued to an iPhone screen. Traveling in groups, staying in public places, and making eye contact are all ways to prevent crime from ever starting — no matter where you’re located.
An anti-theft backpack is another layer of protection in your personal safety toolbox. By taking advantage of the enhanced safety features of an anti-theft backpack and staying alert when you’re travelling to a new place, you’ll be better equipped to set out on a safe and successful journey.
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