Rucksack Travel Security!

Four of a kind

has anyone any experience with the "pacsafe eXomesh" security systems available for backpackers?

How good are they and are they easy to carry around?

Meathlass

Four of a kind wrote:

has anyone any experience with the "pacsafe eXomesh" security systems available for backpackers?

How good are they and are they easy to carry around?

I personally think they just advertise that you have something worth stealing! It's not going to stop someone taking it from you, if they realise later they can't open the pacsafe thing they'll just dump it and you still won't have your rucksack back. You should never keep anything important in your rucksack anyway, keep cards, money and passport on your person.

clansman

dont get the pacsafe eXomesh, your just saying "look at my important bag full of rich things that you cant have" When i was travelling and when i was ppl with these "security systems" going my direction i was relieved, cos that was the bag to get fecked first.... do was Meathlass said and you'll never go wrong.

Glowing

Don't go there. The Pacsafe is incredibly heavy and just advertises a rucksack full of expensive things. Get yourself a lightweight twisted cable with loops at either end (the type they use in sailing) - then if necessary you can lock your back to other bags, or to your seat etc when travelling.

Trust me, you'll dump that pack safe after carrying it around for a week!

Four of a kind

ok...point taken regarding the pacsafe. So how do I secure my rucksafe in hostel room when im out? one of them cable ties would certainly work..but they would'nt prevent the thief from zipping open the many pockets and helping themselves?

Glowing

Four of a kind wrote:

ok...point taken regarding the pacsafe. So how do I secure my rucksafe in hostel room when im out? one of them cable ties would certainly work..but they would'nt prevent the thief from zipping open the many pockets and helping themselves?

Well you don't leave valuable stuff in your rucksack! Take your tickets and passport with you at all times. Use the hostel safe if necessary. Most hostels have loops on the doors so you can use your own padlocks on them anyway but I still wouldn't leave anything valuable in the room.

I don't mean those plastic cable ties, but a twisted wire cable, very strong but lightweight, maybe about a metre long. It just means that nobody can cut through it easily with a pliers even .... cable ties are useful when you're out and about, to prevent opportunists grabbing what they like!

Four of a kind

The only thing is i've 2k worth of camera gear that i'll be bringing. and when i go out at night time i really don't want to be bringing all that gear with me. Of course i'll have passports/travel documents on me at all times all the gear would be really limiting. So what options do you think I have?

Sorry for the constant nark but I'd like as much help from ye that know this stuff inside out.

Regards,

Glowing

We had a digital SLR with us and had to carry it about like a baby. Put it as a listed item on your travel insurance and keep CF cards seperate ... other than that, there is only so much you can do.

We got one of those backpacks with the seperate camara compartment down the bottom, this made lugging it around a lot easier ... occasionally we left it behind when we felt the room was secure .. but if you're planning to stay in beach huts etc, be prepared to carry it everywhere!

Meathlass

Where are you travelling to? Do as the locals do as much as possible. When I was in south america I got a canvas fertiliser bag and put my rucksac into it and tied a knot in the top. Looked exactly the same as all the local's stuff. I would not want to have camera equipement that expensive though. Most hostels give you lockers and you provide the padlock. I'm always suspicious of the hotel looking after your stuff for you unless it's a big chain, hilton, marriott etc. You'll have to be prepared to carry it around with you alot i'd say.

Four of a kind

surly a pacsafe mesh system would be ideal for when we'r out of the hostel? Wrap it around the rucksack and then secure it to a solid stationary object in the luggage room?

I don't see how carrying camera gear around with me in pubs/clubs will be any more safe than leaving it secured in hostels luggage room etc...

Theres 10 of us going on this trip to Budapest, vienna, bratislava, prague, berlin and amsterdam.

Dave!

hmmm, well if you're bringing all that camera equipment, maybe the best bet would be to ring ahead to any hostel you're planning on staying in, and make sure that they have lockers available for you. If they don't then ask if they have a safe at reception (and make sure it's big enough for all your equipment).

I don't know anything about the pacsafe mesh, so can't comment on that really.