The 7 Best Anti-theft Backpacks, Tested and Reviewed

As a frequent traveler who has filed more insurance claims than I care to think about — for camera equipment stolen from a sleeper train in Spain, for a bag slashed at Johannesburg airport, and a backpack swiped from a bus in Nicaragua, to name but a few — I’m a big advocate for making every effort to keep your belongings safe on vacation. One of my favorite pieces of equipment is an anti-theft backpack. Features vary but can include anything from slashproof straps and fabrics to lockable zippers and cables that allow you to secure your bag to a fixed object. If only I’d had that in Nicaragua.

To help prevent other travelers from becoming a crime statistic, we tested a total of 24 anti-theft backpacks. We slashed them with box cutters, we fastened them to chairs and then simulated an attempted theft, and we tried to access hidden pockets without being detected. We determined our favorites based on design, capacity, comfort, protection, durability, and value, and we will continue testing each backpack over the course of six months to see how it feels to travel with them.

Pacsafe Exp45 Anti-theft Carry-on Travel Pack

Credit: Pacsafe

Why We Love It

This carry-on bag is defined by a convenient clamshell opening; abundant organization features; and comfortable shoulder, chest, and hip straps.

Designed to comply with most international airlines’ carry-on size requirements, the Pacsafe EXP45 Anti-theft Carry-on Travel Pack is made from recycled polyester with a water-repellent coating. You can wear it as a backpack or carry it briefcase style, and it features puncture-resistant zippers with lockable pulls. We found that the locking mechanism required a little getting used to, but we appreciated the added security of the built-in padlock. Taking a box cutter to the bag’s cut-resistant straps resulted in superficial markings, and while we were able to slice through the outer layers of fabric, the wire-reinforced inner layer remained intact.

Travel +Leisure editor Taylor Fox particularly likes that “the laptop sleeve is on the inner side of the front pocket, which means that even if someone was able to cut through the full outer layer, they would still have to open the bag to access your laptop.” The bag also features a stainless steel cable for anchoring it to a fixed object should you take it off in transit.

Site Loop: The Travel + Leisure Team Tests the Pacsafe EXP45 Anti-Theft Carry-on Travel Pack

The huge, clamshell-style main compartment fit everything on our packing list — a jacket, a toiletry bag, headphones, a water bottle, keys, a laptop, a phone, a passport, a wallet, and chargers — with space left over. Organization features include a spacious front pocket with a padded laptop sleeve, an organizer section for cables and chargers, an RFID-blocking pocket big enough for a passport, and a side water bottle pocket. The large size and heavy weight (4.3 pounds) may make it uncomfortable for people with a smaller frame. After six months of testing, we’ve noticed that the shoulder straps don’t offer much cushion, and it can be uncomfortable to wear the backpack for prolonged periods of time.

Credit: Baggallini

Available in a variety of colors from black to portobello, the Baggallini Securtex Anti-theft Vacation Backpack is made from a lightweight, water-resistant material reinforced with slash-resistant panels. Our box cutter test caused visible damage, but we weren’t able to cut through to the interior, and we were impressed with how many slashes the backpack took while remaining intact. It also offers double-cable, cut-resistant straps and RFID protection on several pockets. Our favorite feature is the locking zippers on the main and back pockets.

Site Loop: The Travel + Leisure Team Tests the Baggallini Securtex Anti-Theft Vacation Backpack

Using them adds a good five seconds to opening and closing the backpack, which we believe would be enough to dissuade any thief from attempting to do so. There’s even an anti-theft zipper pull hoop on the most easily accessible of the bag’s two front pockets, so it’s a great option if you’re traveling in crowded places. In terms of capacity, this is a relatively small bag, and not all laptops will be able to fit inside; however, we were surprised by how much we were able to fit and attribute this to its superior organization. This includes a rear wallet section with two zippered pockets and six credit card slots, a padded sleeve big enough for a tablet, two side water bottle pockets, and a port for your headphones.

Credit: Arden Cove

The Arden Cove Carmel Convertible Backpack and Crossbody comes in a variety of colors and strap styles. It’s compact, lightweight, and ideally sized for a day’s sightseeing in an urban setting where looks are important. Versatility is a highlight — with a detachable top handle and straps, you can wear it as a backpack, a handbag, a shoulder bag, or a crossbody. “The fabric and zippers are waterproof with a tight seal, so I’d feel confident wearing this even in a downpour,” says T+L associate editorial director Morgan Ashley Park.

Site Loop: The Travel + Leisure Team Tests the Arden Cove Carmel Convertible Backpack and Crossbody

True waterproofing isn’t the bag’s only protective feature: it also offers cut-resistant straps and a slash-resistant lining so effective that it took considerable effort to cut through the outer layer of the bag. A casual swipe with a box cutter only left scratches, and we were not able to cut through to the inside. There are also locking zippers on the main and front compartment. The former fits a 10-inch tablet and has three pockets and a connection point for a key leash. The latter acts as a built-in wallet with RFID-blocking fabric, card slots, and a section for bills. After three months of testing, we continue to love the look of the backpack and think it’s well suited to travelers who tend to travel a little lighter.

XDDesign Bobby Bizz 3-in-1 Anti-Theft Backpack & Briefcase

Credit: Amazon

The perfect choice for busy businessmen and women, the XDDesign Bobby Bizz comes with detachable straps that you can store internally whenever you want to switch from a backpack to a briefcase. It also includes a separate messenger-style strap. The bag is made from quality polyester with a reflective print for after-dark safety, while the integrated metal frame and anti-shock padding protects contents from unexpected impact. The fabric is slash-resistant; however, we were able to cut through the straps with the box cutter.

Site Loop: The Travel + Leisure Team Tests the XDDesign Bobby Bizz 3-in-1 Anti-Theft Backpack & Briefcase

After six months of real-world testing, we continue to love the thoughtfulness of it’s additional safety features, including a locking chair strap and a hidden pocket with an integrated USB port — we were even able to lock the backpack to a chair at the airport while we went to use the bathroom. Though there are no lockable zippers, we love that the spacious main compartment unzips completely to allow easy packing and unpacking, and that there are separate padded compartments for a 15.6-inch laptop and a 10-inch tablet. There are also many smaller organization pockets. In terms of comfort, Fox says, “The backpack fits well and has plenty of adjustability. The straps and back panel are padded, and I had no problems wearing this for the duration of the test period even when fully packed.” However, over time, we noticed the zippers seem flimsy and don’t work as well as they did at first.

Credit: Amazon

Retailing for just over half the price of our overall winner, the Shrradoo Anti-theft Laptop Backpack is the ideal choice for those on a budget. Though this backpack does not have slashproof fabric, we were pleasantly surprised by the quality of the exterior fabrics and hardware, though the inner lining didn’t feel as strong. We liked that the bag felt relatively lightweight despite its large size. It offers a padded compartment for laptops of up to 16.3 inches. We were able to fit a laptop and a tablet but worried that there was still enough space leftover for them to jostle around. On the upside, this compartment is protected by an integrated combination lock.

Site Loop: The Travel + Leisure Team Tests the SHRRADOO Anti Theft Laptop Backpack

The main compartment is very spacious (we were able to fit multiple jackets and toiletry bags), and the front compartment includes a wealth of pockets, pen loops, and a fob hook for keeping your smaller items organized. If you’re worried about pickpockets, store your passport, phone and wallet in the hidden pocket on the back of the bag. Other highlights include a luggage strap, an external USB port for on-the-go charging (you’ll need a separate power bank), and a stabilizing chest strap. The shoulder straps and back panels are padded for all-day comfort. Good to know: we came to find after six months of real-world testing that this backpack’s larger size is great for traveling, but might be a bit cumbersome for everyday purposes. And although there are many anti-theft features, we don’t feel the security is robust enough to transport high-value items.

Pacsafe Metrosafe LS350 15L Anti-Theft Daypack

Credit: Amazon

Why We Love It

Despite its compact size, this backpack offers abundant organization features, including a padded laptop sleeve.

Available in black or teal, the Pacsafe Metrosafe LS350 Daypack is ideally sized for fitting under an airplane seat as your personal item and for day trips once you reach your destination. It ticks sustainability boxes with its regenerated nylon fiber and recycled polyester construction, while a water-repellent coating protects your belongings should you get caught out in the rain. When it comes to protecting your valuables from thieves, lockable zips on the main and front compartments make it impossible for anyone to get into the bag undetected.

Like most other bags on this list, the backpack’s cut-resistant fabric prevents access to the interior, although we were able to slice away the first few layers easily. We particularly like the bag’s cut-resistant anchor strap, which secures around a chair or table leg so that you can relax before your flight without worrying about your bag being swiped. Organization features include an RFID-blocking pocket for your credit cards and passport, a padded sleeve for 13-inch laptops, and an attachment point for your wallet or keys. We found the padded shoulder straps and ventilated mesh back panel sufficiently comfortable for all day use, but the side slip pocket was too small to fit a standard reusable water bottle.

Credit: REI

Designed with serious outdoor adventurers in mind, the Peak Design Travel Backpack 45L is made from weatherproof, 100 percent recycled nylon canvas with a reinforced bottom liner for extra ruggedness. It can expand from a 35-liter capacity to a spacious 45 liters and is therefore a versatile pick for one-bag travel. We love that the roomy main compartment opens fully for suitcase-style packing and that it can be divided into two sections using the zippered mesh divider. Designed for on-the-go convenience, it offers top, side, front, and rear access.

The backpack also features padded laptop and tablet sleeves, a quick-access pocket for your sunglasses, and hidden side pockets big enough for a passport or wallet. The water bottle pockets are extra expandable, making them ideal for stashing everything from rolled up layers to camera equipment. The bag’s UltraZips are extra durable with interlocking pulls. We did find these a little too time-consuming to operate but can’t deny their effectiveness in deterring thieves. Finally, the bag’s padded shoulder straps and hip belt tuck neatly away when not in use.

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Other Anti-theft Backpacks We Liked

The following backpacks just missed out on making our main list due to a few issues encountered during testing. However, they may still be a worthwhile option for some.

Sherpani Soleil Convertible Travel Backpack: We loved this bag’s style, generous capacity, and thoughtful organization features. It lost points for only having slashproof fabric on the bottom section and for the chair lock strap, which broke when we tested it.

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Solgaard Lifepack Backpack: This is a durable, professional-looking bag with abundant organization features and an integrated, solar-powered power bank. However, it’s expensive for what it is, considering that the anti-theft features are not particularly advanced and don’t include slashproof fabric.

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Ambor Travel Anti-theft Laptop Backpack: Another budget-friendly option, this backpack performed well for its comfort, capacity, and organization. It lost points for flimsy materials and a headphone jack that didn’t fit our headphones.

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Our Testing Process

For this article, we conducted two separate sessions, testing a total of 24 anti-theft backpacks. The process for each one was the same. First, we familiarized ourselves with the backpack’s anti-theft features. Then we examined it carefully, assessing the quality of its materials and construction and the weight of the bag when empty. We filled the bag with a set list of items (including a simulation laptop, phone, passport, jacket, headphones, and toiletry bag, among other things) and made notes on its capacity, ease of packing, and organization features.

We adjusted the straps to fit and walked around with the backpack to assess how comfortable it was to wear. In the case of convertible backpacks, we also tried switching between the different carrying modes and evaluated the functionality of each one. Backpacks with anti-slash fabric were exposed first to a discreet swipe with a box cutter (meant to mimic a thief in a crowded area) and then to a more concentrated effort to cut into the material. We also used the box cutter on cut-resistant straps.

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Next, we fastened the backpacks with a chair lock to a chair leg. We then tested the strap’s effectiveness by trying to snatch the bag while a second tester was sitting on the chair. We also tested locking zippers, evaluating how easy it was to lock and unlock them and how effective these measures would be against thieves. If the backpack had a hidden pocket, we tested how easy it was for a person to access this pocket while the bag was on someone else’s back. The most important attributes of each backpack were design, capacity, comfort, protection, durability, and value. Testing is ongoing, and we will update these results after we continue to test and evaluate those backpacks over the course of six months during our real-world travels.

Tips for Buying Anti-theft Backpacks

Decide which anti-theft features are most important to you

There are a wide range of specialist features to consider when shopping for an anti-theft backpack. Some models have them all, while others have only a few. Obviously, the more features your backpack has, the more expensive it’s likely to be. It makes sense therefore to think carefully about which are most important for your particular needs.

Lockable zippers are probably the most universally relevant feature for preventing petty theft, and they don’t have to cost a lot. Although some high-end backpacks use an integrated combination lock to secure their zippers, others use a simple clip system or have a loop through which you must thread the zipper pull to open and close it. These designs are inexpensive but can make all the difference in terms of protecting your belongings.

Other features, like slashproof straps and fabric, are an upgraded option probably only necessary if you plan on traveling to an area where this type of crime is common. Similarly, a chair lock is great for those that frequently spend hours in an airport or train station or have an itinerary with an overnight journey on public transport, but if you’re likely to be wearing your bag at all times, this feature may not be necessary.

Look for durable materials

Durable materials are advisable for any travel bag or backpack — there’s nothing worse than your luggage coming apart at the seams when you’re in a hurry to reach your destination or stranded without access to a replacement. A sturdy, well-built backpack is especially important when theft is a concern. After all, there’s no point in investing in slashproof fabrics if your bag is liable to fall apart on its own anyway. Look for high-denier polyester, nylon, or canvas with reinforced stitching and padding on high-wear areas.

Think about what size you’ll need

Backpacks come in all shapes, styles, and sizes, from mini versions suitable for a half-day sightseeing tour to stylish convertible totes to heavy-duty gear haulers designed for round-the-world backpacking expeditions. Choosing the right size for your needs is key, because a bag that’s too small will leave you juggling all the items you can’t fit in — while one that’s too big takes up unnecessary space and can be cumbersome to carry. The most versatile backpacks are those with an expansion feature or ones that can be compressed (either with straps or a roll-top) when not filled to the brim.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Do all backpacks have locking zippers?

When it comes to zippers, backpacks can generally be divided into three categories: those with a single zipper pull that cannot be secured at all, those with a double zipper that may be secured with the addition of a separately purchased clip or padlock, and those with an integrated locking feature. The latter are generally marketed especially as anti-theft backpacks, although locking mechanisms can vary greatly. Some have an integrated combination lock, others have double zipper pulls with a connecting clip, and some have a single zipper pull that you must feed through a D-ring or loop to prevent it from being pulled open easily.

How do you wash or clean an anti-theft backpack?

Cleaning instructions for anti-theft backpacks differ according to the materials used, and you should always consult the manufacturer’s instructions carefully before washing. This is especially true if your backpack includes any electronic components, such as a USB port or power bank, or if it’s made from a fabric like leather or suede that requires specialist care. You can generally spot clean polyester, nylon, and canvas backpacks, either with a soft-bristled brush for dried dirt or with warm, soapy water and a lint-free cloth for stains.

Is it important to look for RFID-blocking materials?

Anti-theft backpacks often include a pocket lined with RFID-blocking fabric. This feature is meant to prevent anyone with an RFID-reading device from stealing sensitive electronic data from items that use radio-frequency identification (like electronic passports or contactless-enabled credit cards). However, the latest research suggests that this feature is somewhat redundant, for several reasons.

First, a thief would need to be within 6 inches of your passport or credit card to be able to read information from it — making it unlikely that they could do so without detection. And even if they did, the amount of data emitted by your cards and passports is so limited that thieves would have little use for it. Finally, if several RFID-enabled items are stored in close proximity to each other (i.e., in a backpack pocket), the signals are likely to become scrambled and therefore difficult to read when scanned simultaneously.

Nevertheless, if the possibility of credit card fraud or identity theft is a particular concern for you, a backpack with RFID-blocking fabric is worth buying simply for your peace of mind.

What other anti-theft travel devices are worth buying?

There are many anti-theft devices out there for the safety-conscious traveler. One of my favorites is a portable lock to attach to the door of your hotel room (considering that most hotel doors can be opened using a master key or as a precaution against flimsy or broken locks). You could also invest in a luggage tracker to make it easier to find your bag should it go missing (either due to theft or an airline mishap), a concealed money belt for keeping valuables close, or a travel safe for when your accommodation doesn’t provide one. Finally, if you opt for a regular backpack without in-built safety features, an after-market zipper lock or chair tether is always a good idea.

Why Trust Travel + Leisure

After living in South Africa for eight years and taking extended backpacking trips around South America and South East Asia, writer Jessica Macdonald has had her fair share of experience with bag tampering and theft. She now travels with lockable luggage and prioritizes slashproof straps and fabric when choosing her backpacks. Products in this article were chosen according to the results of tests carried out by the T+L team.

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