backpack security

[Faby]

hello everyone

I'm interrailing around europe this summer for about 1 month and I've been reading about securing backpacks chaining them up to a seat or whatever so no one can take it while i sleep. I've been looking everywhere for a chain, with a lock (not very keen on combination locks, very easy to open!) and only found thiscgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=98967&item=6528254334&rd=1 i was thinking of buying it, but then i think it might be pretty easy to cut or burn...I've seen the pacsafe net, but it's expensive and a bit too obvious....

does anyone have any suggestions?

[MuvverRussia]

You can buy these lightweight cables designed for bike seat posts etc. Check out tinyurl.com/a4nkn. Combined with a padlock, that should be enough to keep any pack secure.

[megamay]

I feel, when you are going for backpack security, you dont really need to aim for fort knox. Just locking up the zippers and securing your pack to a post or something so someone can't run off with it should be enough. If they have bolt cutters or time to try to burn through something, there really isnt much you can do, packsafe probably wouldnt help against that either (although I dont know how you would burn through metal but I guess they could burn through your pack straps or cut them or whatever) Anyway the point is, that if you reasonably secure your pack, would be theives *should* move onto easier prey (people who didnt bother locking at all)

And if they REALLY REALLY want it for some reason, there isnt much you can do. And really there shouldnt be anything in there that you would risk your health or life to save.

What we did was had a cable similar to the one you suggested, that we locked our packs together and/or onto some fixed object to prevent a thief from just grabbing it and running off. And we also had little padlocks for each zipper. The little padlocks were cheap, and I am sure a decent pair of bolt cutters would have made short work of them, but they did keep out the more common sneaky fingered theives.

Meg

[Libby]

What I'm taking with me is really easy to do.

I bought a regular combination lock for the lockers at the hostel and then I picked up a small chain used for a dog collar. The loops at the end of the chain fit the lock fine and it's big enough to secure my bag to most anything.

[me]

all these things tend to draw attention to your bag: "wow, look at how that bag is locked up! there must be something valuable in there!" is what the thief is thinking.

that said, i tend to use a bike lock on my pack.

- d

[peterW]

Also might be worth remebering to take copies of essential documents. Have even heard of people e-mailing scanned images to themselves that they can download and print out if needed (though this could raise issues of internet security!)

Using a saddle-type chain sounds good. Once you have a room it should be more secure. The other question is - how many people have actually had problems on the trains, and if so then where?

[me]

essential docs, plane tix, credit & atm cards, stay in my money belt. which stays with me at all times. (i take plastic bags so it can even go in the shower w/ me)

i also keep copies in my pack, but just copies.

if traveling with a partner, another copy of all this stuff should be in his/her bag. [copies make it easier to replace them. also write important phone numbers on the copies]

- d

petroscanine said:

Also might be worth remebering to take copies of essential documents.

[LHR02]

Have to agree with most of the responses thus far.....overly 'secure' packs just cry out for attention. A few simply key locks on zippers are normally enough...there are always so many other much easier packs to get into if yours is even moderately secure. At the end of the day, no matter what locks you use, your pack is 'material' and a quick slash of a knife will have it open no matter what locks you have on it. I took a simple bike cable and lock along and never used it...never felt I had to. I did keep my day pack locked with tiny keylock just for a feeling of 'security'. When on a train I tried to kep my pack behind my seat, or barring that made sure to be in a se4at facing the area where my pack was stowed. No problems ever. Nowadays I think most 'crooks' relaize that anything of imprtance is not in the big pack....it's in the money belt (where it should be) or in the day pack. Why bother trying t rip off a huge heavy pack to get dirty clothes? ;D I do agree with making copies of anything of importance and leaving with family or friends at home who could easily send to you...or emailing it to yourself f you feel comfortable with your server. I had everything scanned to a disc and left it with my daughter...if I needed anything she could email it to me in a jiffy. Pack security is an overrated worry.....IMHO.