Pacsafe or something similar

[love2cruisedcl]

Hi all! We are doing the ABD/DCL trip in August and can not wait! I'm wondering if anyone has any experience with Pacsafe bags. I'm looking at a few and was wondering if anyone has ever used them and what they would recommend. I'll be carrying a sunglass case, a wallet and an SLR camera. I'm looking at the Venture safe 300. My concern is the camera. I need something big enough but don't want something too big.

Thanks!

 

[beachbunny]

For its size, my Pacsafe bag was very heavy. I think it was all the steel in the strap and bag. It was a cross body and my shoulder got sore after a few hours.

I've traveled a lot and been to several countries where security was an issue. Generally, I was looking to protect my belongings against: (1) the person who comes up to me and grabs my bag off my shoulder; or (2) the person who holds me up at gun point. I don't know how well a Pacsafe bag would help in either situation. I'd recommend going with a lighter bag with a good solid strap and also using a money belt and the hotel/ship room safe. I think the Pacsafe bag just waives the red tourist flag and says look at me, I'm carrying an expensive camera and lots of cash.

You don't say where you're going. I've never felt the need to carry a Pacsafe in Europe. Just be aware of your surroundings like you would in any other big city.

 

[sayhello]

I just did the ABD/DCL Med cruise in May, and I carried the Pacsafe VentureSafe 200. It was a little on the small size, but it kept me from carrying the world on my shoulder. Which kind of countered the extra weight from the mesh. I carried it the entire trip, including all over Rome, and never felt it dig in at all. I absolutely LOVED it. I locked all the zippers, and felt safe from the wandering fingers I'd been warned about. I was able to walk up and down Las Ramblas in Barcelona without feeling totally paranoid. (I was still aware & cautious, but not paranoid). Since I'd heard a lot of the problems are slash & grabs, I felt safer knowing the strap & the base were metal re-inforced. Maybe it was overkill, but it was totally worth it for the peace of mind. I would carry sunglasses, a small wallet, my ebook, my camera, and a few other things. I'm not sure if a full-sized SLR would fit in it; probably not. My camera is not tiny, but it's no SLR.

I thought the VentureSafe 300 was too big for me, but that's mostly because I'm the kind of person who will fill a purse to it's capacity, whatever that is. So having a smaller purse forced me to carry less.

I'll find a pic of me carrying the 200, so you can see the size.

Sayhello

ETA: Here you go:

 

[Forever a Princess]

Hi there!

We have the Camsafe 200 bag and shoulder strap.

Both are quite comfortable. We barely notice the wire in the camera strap.

Both give us peace of mind. Mind you we always watch and are aware of our surroundings. It would just be so much harder for someone to steal the camera from us.

 

[kristilew]

I have the CitySafe100 and the Metrosafe100. Both are great bags that hold more than the look like they would. I didn't find either one too heavy, and I'm a small person. I've carried them both in Europe and South America, and felt safer for it.

Even if it was "all in my head," I'm one of those people who worry about something in the back of my mind unless I've done all I can to close that window, so it was worth it to me. I especially liked that you can clip the zipper closed on all their bags. That's always my biggest worry in any city or touring spot, that while I'm distracted someone will reach into my bag.