A pickpocket in Berlin changed how one seasoned traveller — 65 countries and counting — packs her bags. Now she's tested everything from slash-resistant fabric to fingerprint locks, and her verdict is refreshingly practical: you don't always need maximum security, but when you do, it helps to know which bags earn their keep.
Her top pick is the Rachel Bloom Smart Crossbody, which she used in Paris and London. Instead of relying purely on locking clips and cut-proof panels, it opens only with the owner's fingerprint and adds GPS tracking plus separation alerts if you walk off without it. The upside is that it looks like an ordinary stylish crossbody rather than obvious travel gear — though you pay a premium, and it needs charging like any smart device.
If you want the classic approach, Pacsafe's Citysafe CX remains the benchmark. It packs locking zippers, slash-resistant straps and body panels, and an RFID-blocking pocket into a durable crossbody that has survived Southeast Asia, Europe and South America. One honest caveat from the review: a Pacsafe bag didn't stop her Berlin pickpocket because she hadn't engaged the zipper lock. The gear only works if you use it.
For lighter needs, the Baggallini Triple Zip Crossbody is the budget-friendly all-rounder — water-resistant nylon, a stack of zippered compartments, and no security hardware, just smart organisation. The Kipling belt bag gets a nod for hands-free days in lower-risk destinations, especially worn across the chest. Minimalist packers might prefer the Norace Siena, a compact crossbody with RFID blocking and a clean look that doesn't flag you as a tourist.
The habits matter as much as the hardware. Her routine: wear the bag crossbody, keep it in front of you on packed transit, never drape it over a chair back, leave the passport in the hotel safe, carry one card and limited cash, and stay alert when someone engineers a distraction around you. Most theft is opportunistic, so simply being slightly harder to target is enough.
Who is this for? Anyone heading to pickpocket-heavy territory — Paris Metro rides, Rome's crowded buses, Barcelona's Las Ramblas, European Christmas markets. Match the bag to the destination: a cute crossbody is fine in Tokyo, but a locking zipper earns its place on the Rome-to-Naples train. And the best anti-theft purse, as the review puts it, is the one you'll actually wear every day.