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espo
Joined: 20 Aug 2006
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 Posted: Mon Jul 06, 2009 5:02 pm Post subject: Backpack locks? |
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I bought a nice backpack but there is no way to lock or secure it. I make sure that the rain cover is on it whenever I am in transit. Does anyone have any ideas as to how to secure it when I am travelling?
Thanks! |
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gangwonbound
Joined: 27 Apr 2009
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| Posted: Mon Jul 06, 2009 5:06 pm Post subject: Re: Backpack locks? |
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| espo wrote: |
I bought a nice backpack but there is no way to lock or secure it. I make sure that the rain cover is on it whenever I am in transit. Does anyone have any ideas as to how to secure it when I am travelling?
Thanks! |
Duct tape but too be fair if someone wants to steal something from your backpack they are more than likely to use a knife to get into it |
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oskinny1
Joined: 10 Nov 2006
Location: Right behind you!
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RufusW
Joined: 14 Jun 2008
Location: Busan
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| Posted: Tue Jul 07, 2009 9:14 pm Post subject: |
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I'm amazed things like this are necessary.
Firstly, when you're going anywhere you're wearing your rucksack. The odds of someone slicing it when you're out and about is surely negligible. They're also unlikely to get anything other than stinking clothes. Secondly, If you're not with your bag, they can just nick the whole thing.
I never felt at all in danger in China, but it wasn't summer and it wasn't in any dodgy places. I'd be far more likely to take such precautions in S.America. And even then, if they fancy it they're just going to pull out a knife and you're going to hand over whatever you have.
Keep your valuables on you, don't leave your bag alone and I don't think much can go wrong. If you're going to leave it in a guesthouse etc there's not much you can do about it getting stolen anyway.
The key is probably just not looking rich. |
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oskinny1
Joined: 10 Nov 2006
Location: Right behind you!
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| Posted: Wed Jul 08, 2009 3:45 am Post subject: |
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| RufusW wrote: |
I'm amazed things like this are necessary.
Firstly, when you're going anywhere you're wearing your rucksack. The odds of someone slicing it when you're out and about is surely negligible. They're also unlikely to get anything other than stinking clothes. Secondly, If you're not with your bag, they can just nick the whole thing.
I never felt at all in danger in China, but it wasn't summer and it wasn't in any dodgy places. I'd be far more likely to take such precautions in S.America. And even then, if they fancy it they're just going to pull out a knife and you're going to hand over whatever you have.
Keep your valuables on you, don't leave your bag alone and I don't think much can go wrong. If you're going to leave it in a guesthouse etc there's not much you can do about it getting stolen anyway.
The key is probably just not looking rich. |
While in Xi'an someone decided that they were going to unzip my bag while I was wearing it. It wasn't summer and it was in a VERY public place. If the zipper didn't catch, I wouldn't have known until it was too late.
When people slice bags, they slice them while people are wearing them (that's the whole reason for the slice and not just opening it up).
Are you going to carry your big bag and all of your things around with you everywhere you go?
This net has a wire that you can wrap around anything so it makes it that much harder to steal. If someone wants to take it they'll find a way, but it is enough of a deterrent for them just to take the neighbor's bag which isn't locked up. |
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RufusW
Joined: 14 Jun 2008
Location: Busan
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| Posted: Wed Jul 08, 2009 4:01 pm Post subject: |
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Yea, I understand when/why they slice it, it's just amazing people'd do it in a public place. It also requires someone walking closely behind you for 10 steps, which I'm sure I'd notice. (Also, big bags don't usually have a zip down them, they're also usually quite rugged material).
I leave my rucksack at my hostel and take around a small bag for the day. When moving between cities my bag is always in eye-sight.
But yea, I understand it can improve security. It just seemed to me it was a lot of hassle, especially if you've always got your valuables on you.
Also, you might be a little worried about looking like you've got lots of expensive stuff in the bag. It'd only matter if you thought people would actually rob you to your face.
Anyway, on Indian trains I did lock the frame of my bag to my bed with a chain so I could wander around. |
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gangwonbound
Joined: 27 Apr 2009
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| Posted: Wed Jul 08, 2009 4:21 pm Post subject: |
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| RufusW wrote: |
Yea, I understand when/why they slice it, it's just amazing people'd do it in a public place. It also requires someone walking closely behind you for 10 steps, which I'm sure I'd notice. (Also, big bags don't usually have a zip down them, they're also usually quite rugged material).
I leave my rucksack at my hostel and take around a small bag for the day. When moving between cities my bag is always in eye-sight.
But yea, I understand it can improve security. It just seemed to me it was a lot of hassle, especially if you've always got your valuables on you.
Also, you might be a little worried about looking like you've got lots of expensive stuff in the bag. It'd only matter if you thought people would actually rob you to your face.
Anyway, on Indian trains I did lock the frame of my bag to my bed with a chain so I could wander around. |
It's not so much when you are walking but say you are in a crowded bus...Easy to slice a bag without someone noticing there |
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RufusW
Joined: 14 Jun 2008
Location: Busan
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| Posted: Wed Jul 08, 2009 4:29 pm Post subject: |
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| gangwonbound wrote: |
| It's not so much when you are walking but say you are in a crowded bus...Easy to slice a bag without someone noticing there |
Yea, true. I usually put my bag on the floor/my lap for convenience and safety. |
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gangwonbound
Joined: 27 Apr 2009
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| Posted: Wed Jul 08, 2009 4:33 pm Post subject: |
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| RufusW wrote: |
| gangwonbound wrote: |
| It's not so much when you are walking but say you are in a crowded bus...Easy to slice a bag without someone noticing there |
Yea, true. I usually put my bag on the floor/my lap for convenience and safety. |
Then you got to watch out for those midget wrestling thieves from Mexico |
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RufusW
Joined: 14 Jun 2008
Location: Busan
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| Posted: Wed Jul 08, 2009 6:02 pm Post subject: |
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| Yea, but then I turn the tables on them, give them a little push in the back - through the slit they've cut in my bag - and quickly tie it up. Hey presto! big bucks on the midget wrestler black market.... |
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oldfatfarang
Joined: 19 May 2005
Location: On the road to somewhere.
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| Posted: Thu Jul 09, 2009 8:18 pm Post subject: |
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I used this pack net backpacking all over South America. It was great (although too dam heavy). I could just stop anywhere (bus station, airport, on public ferries, outside restaurants, and just use the wire to secure my pack. I could then doze off or concentrate of people watching.
The wire also stops people slashing your pack while you're walking in crowds etc.
The wire loop also lets you lock your pack in the underfloor baggage compartments of buses etc. You won't get your bag stolen at the first bus stop then.
HINT: It's best to cover the wire cage with something (I used big black rubbish bags). That wire cage attracted a lot of attention in South America. (I suppose they thought I had valuables in my pack.) Really, I was just securing my emergency medicine - they could have had the raggidy old clothes.
But in the end, I ditched the cage, it was just too darn heavy for hiking.
HINT: Use combination locks. Any self-respecting kid in a developing country can open your key-padlock in 1 nanosecond. (I've found that out so many times (sob).) |
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