How to keep your backpacks secure?

[foreverlost]

This might sound slightly dumb, but I have a Baggalini backpack that I am planning to wear at Disney. I am very paranoid of someone walking up behind me and unzipping it and stealing my stuff out of it.

Anyone have any tips on how to keep my backpack secure? My mom things I should cut a buttonhole in it, and secure a small suitcase padlock through it and the hole in the zipper pull. I'm not so sure.

Thank you guys in advance!!

 

[Khazid]

Carabiner clips. You can get them at sport shops, and normally in a range of sizes that will fit the application you need.

I use them on my backpack when there are "valuables" in the various pockets that I don't want prying eyes to get too quickly.

They are quick to undo, but not easy enough for a pick-pocket to attempt while you are walking/standing etc. Too much of a chance for them to get caught.

Hope this helps!

 

[Tao Of The Dive]

I just use luggage locks if the stuff in the backpack is uber valuable. If not, I go with carabiners. But do not simply go with the d-ring clip style you can get at a convenience store, get the ones that have the safety slider on them, takes far more dexterity to open, and aren't a simple matter of unclipping.

 

[SuperBet]

I use the luggage locks, even at home!!

And I have a carabiner with a security pin, the other day I used to lock my backpack to a chair when I was having lunch.

I use the locks even if I don't have any valuable inside the bag. It's not nice to discover that somebody opened your bag...

 

[peytonsmomie]

I'm a student, and we carry our backpacks with us everywhere, and more, 98% of our student body brings laptops to class. Because our building is open to the public (has one of only 2 law libraries in the state), there have been some occasions of theft.

I've taken to using a slender cable style lock to keep my stuff locked up. They're not very heavy, and they do a great job of securing things.

When we go to WDW in 2 months, I'll be carrying a camelback, and my plan is to put anything valuable in the same part of the backpack that holds the water bladder. That way the only access in is through a zipper that lays against the wearer's back.

For your purposes, the buttonhole with either a locking carabiner or a small padlock would be a good idea.

 

[daisyduck123]

I'd like to chime in here & state that, IMO, this is why "messenger bags" are so wonderful! You wear it over your shoulder, across your body, & it hangs down kind of on your side, but in front of you. This way, it's in your sight at all times.

 

[akersten]

I used to use a safety pin to clip the zippers together on my daypack when traveling. It's not very secure but enough of a deterrent that your pack can't just be unzipped. They'll move on to an easier target.

 

[Danauk]

I use my suitcase lock that I had on my case when we flew in.

 

[pezheadmeg]

I use a messenger at Disney, so the lock is not an issue.

However, when I haul my laptop back and forth to school, I use the MasterLock carabiner to hold the zippers together. You can get it with the MasterLocks in either Wal-Mart or Target. I've actually used it in hotel rooms to keep my laptop locked up inside the suitcase. It's bulkier than a regular carabiner but for security it's worth it.

 

[nathan_nick_kate]

I was just going to use a zip tie, does anyone have a pic of the type of lock they are using? Ive never heard of a carabiner (prob didnt spell that right lol)

Kary

 

[WalkingintheFog]

I alternated between a fanny pack and messenger bag. I figured, style-wise they were no worse than a backpack, but because I could wear them in front, not only did I feel more secure, but also had quicker access to contents.
AND! because they were smaller than knapsack I was forced to travel lighter! And they both had internal zippered pockets that I used for the Cash or KTTW card.

Any of the 3 were better than a handbag or over 1 shoulder bag!

 

[pezheadmeg]

That's the master combo.

http://www.masterlock.com/cgi-bin/product_detail.pl?top_id=B5&sub_cat_id=D1547&template=app

I do use zip-ties if I'm going to be leaving my bags with bell services or for an extended period of time. I just make sure to always pack a pair of scissors in my checked luggage.

 

[foreverlost]

Thanks for all the info! I hate messenger bags, though, I don't like anything slug across my chest (I'm pretty um, well endowed and that's a pain in the butt..or chest).

I noticed while looking at my bag there is a zipper on the back of it, where you'd wear it against your body. I'll be keeping my really important money related stuff there. I'm going to get one of those things suggested in a previous post today on my way home from work. THANKS!!

 

[Twitterpated Dad]

I was just going to use a zip tie, does anyone have a pic of the type of lock they are using? Ive never heard of a carabiner (prob didnt spell that right lol)

Kary

check out http://www.rei.com/category/4500079

These are the real deal. They will support a person's weight for mountaineering. Unless you want the locking feature, you can get them at Wal-mart for about a dollar.

(The most common locking feature is a little barrel that spins to lock and unlock. You then open the lever normally.)

 

[Robindianne]

key rings, lighter weight than caribiners and locks. The round rings easily slide through the holes in metal zipper pulls

This might sound slightly dumb, but I have a Baggalini backpack that I am planning to wear at Disney. I am very paranoid of someone walking up behind me and unzipping it and stealing my stuff out of it.

Anyone have any tips on how to keep my backpack secure? My mom things I should cut a buttonhole in it, and secure a small suitcase padlock through it and the hole in the zipper pull. I'm not so sure.

Thank you guys in advance!!

 

[natentab]

Unless it's crazy crowded, it shouldn't be a problem. We carry backpacks every year and have never felt like something would go missing. We do keep the more important things closer to our body like you said...

 

[suzydisney971]

If I'm walking through a big crowd or a lot of people are around me, I put the backpack in the front and slip my arms through the loops. This way the backpack is on my chest instead of my back and I'm able to keep my hands on it. Then once we get through the crowd or no one is around, I'll switch it to my back.

 

[ZoZo]

I keep a small wallet at the very bottom of my backpack, and have never worried too much about someone taking it. They'd have to really rummage around with their arm completely buried inside to find it!

But one thing that you could do as a deterrant is to get something like a pipe cleaner and loop it through the zippers. My zippers don't have big enough "holes" for a carabiner, so that wouldn't work for me - but a pipe cleaner, twisted a few times, would be easy for you to get on and off, but enough of a deterrant for someone else not to mess with.