Tips for Keeping your Backpack Safe

Every year a small percentage of budget travelers fall victim and have their trip memories damaged by loosing their backpacks.

Unfortunately we do draw a lot of attention to ourselves in poor and developing countries.  That camera you are holding may be worth a year’s salary or more for a local.  The threat is intensified in heavily touristed places where locals have become jaded at the way some budget travelers act when abroad.

While an overwhelming majority of travelers never have to worry about theft, the key is not to present yourself as an easy target. Here are some simple tips for keeping your backpack safe:

1) Keep your bag close.  Sounds simple, but in those few minutes of nodding off at a bus stop or sitting your bag down to check a map, you may be presenting an opportunity for someone to grab your bag.

2) Carry less!  A fat backpack presents a fat target and you will be more likely to leave a heavy bag on the ground more often.

3) Don’t present an image of wealth.  Wearing expensive jewelery, sunglasses, and watches can attract too much attention.

4) Be conscious of labels and tags on your bag.  A logo such as “IBM” or “LowePro” declares there there is probably some expensive electronic gadget inside.  Be mindful before you saw flag patches on your backpack that may make a thief choose your bag over other nationalities.

5) When packing, put valuables deep in the bag and pad them with laundry.  If a thief “slashes” your bag with a razor while you are wearing it in a busy place, hopefully they will only get a handful of dirty clothes.

6) When riding in tuk-tuks, motorcycle taxis, or in other open-air transportation, keep the straps to your backpack wrapped around an arm or leg.  It is common practice in some countries for a thief on a passing motorbike to grab a bag and speed off.

7) Make sure your name, address, and email are labeled on your backpack in case it falls out of a bus or cargo hold and is recovered.

8)  When riding long buses, try to sit on the same side as your backpack so you can keep an eye on it out the window during stops.

9) Get travel insurance that covers your bag.  For just a few extra dollars, the peace of mind is worth it!

All these tips may seem like common sense, but it only takes seconds for the most important belonging on your trip (maybe aside from your passport) to disappear!