TheLostGlobe

I’ve been wondering myself lately what to do about the security of my backpack when traveling and what to do when you can’t keep an eye or your gear, so I’ve done a bit of research and here is some of the info I found useful.

The best option for locks are TSA approved locks, these can be unlocked if need be by airport staff which saves you some money so you don’t find that at your destination the powers that be have decided that your bag needed to be checked and the only option to do so was a pair of bolt cutters and now you need a new lock. But be aware not all countries have TSA agents and you could find that your special TSA lock cut anyway.

Three dial combination locks which are the most common type can be cracked in as little as 10 minutes, if you can find them four dial locks take much longer to crack. But remember most baggage is made from fairly standard materials that someone could take a knife to in seconds.

Mesh pack covers make it more difficult for bad guys using a knife but they are expensive and not exactly lightweight if your trying to keep your pack weight down, for anyone preying on travelers they are still not a great deterrent and that is where your problem lies. They scream “I have valuable items inside”.

Locks and mesh covers are no problem for a determined thief, at best they prevent crimes of opportunity and deter some criminals who can’t be bothered with circumventing them, “Locks only keep honest people out”. The best way to keep your valuables safe is to keep them on you, if you can’t do that make sure they are properly insured and see if your accommodation has lockers or a storage room where you can leave things behind. If you have to leave a camera behind take the film or memory card out, the camera can be replaced the photos can’t, same goes for other similar electronics

For more on TSA locks which are a useful thing to have handy even if you don’t make a habit of locking your bag take a look at this article from The Travel Insider. There is some more very useful information about baggage security there. Everyone should think about how they will keep their things secure while on the road but everyone will be different in what they decide to do, the secret is to make sure that if you were to have something stolen or damaged you know in yourself that you have taken all the measures you were prepared to prevent it.

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