PacSafe Bag Keeps Valuables Safe for Travelers
Product Review of Camera Carrying Case from PacSafe
Jun 20, 2009
It’s a toss-up to know which kind of traveler is more at risk for petty theft. Is it the visitor to a major European capital? Or a traveler far off the beaten path in a developing country? In both cases, independent travelers need to keep a sharp eye and a firm hand on belongings, especially cameras, wallets, and travel documents..
In the main streets and tourist areas of major European capitals, gangs of thieves sometimes lie in wait for unsuspecting foreigners who are obviously, and obliviously, fumbling with unfamiliar money, travel documents, cameras, and directions in a language they can't read. Tourist attractions such as the courtyards in front of churches and museums, rail stations, and subway stations are places where thieves with sharp eyes and quick hands can run off with a traveler's passport while the tourist is concentrating on the perfect picture of the Eiffel Tower or the Duomo.
In less developed nations, property such as an expensive camera quickly catches the eyes of thieves who know that the value of a Nikon, a Minolta, or a Canon might feed a family for a month or more,
While most travelers return safely from their voyages, person and belongings intact, petty theft is enough of a problem that most veteran travelers have fended it off, been a victim, or know someone who has. PacSafe is a Hong-Kong based company that has been dealing with this issue for 12 years. They specialize in travel security products, including the predictable (money belts) and the unpredictable (a steel mesh net that can wrap around a backpack).
Pac Safe's Camsafe Shoulder Bag Protects Valuables for Travelers
The ingenious Camsafe camera shoulder bag was designed to carry and protect an SLR camera – but it's small enough, clever enough, and versatile enough that it actually solves a wide range of traveler security problems, even for travelers who don't happen to be carrying an SLR.
The basic idea of this well-designed travel accessory is that the SLR camera goes in the main, padded compartment, which is divided to hold and protect an SLR body and lens, and which can be locked . A second compartment, also lockable, has enough room for a wallet and passport, meaning that a photographer can concentrate on taking pictures without worrying about passports, money, and prying fingers. The camera case can even be strapped to a fixed object such as a utility pole while a photographer is working, because the strap is slashproof.
However, the bag's size and design also make it flexible and useful for adventure travelers, even those without cameras.
Features of Pac Safe's Camsafe Shoulder Bag
- The case is made of slash-proof fabric, reinforced with invisible steel netting.
- The strap (worn around the neck) is reinforced with a slash proof cable, making a cut-and-run theft almost impossible (the thieves would have to take the owner along with the bag).
- The main central compartment (for the camera) and a second, smaller compartment (good for wallets and travel documents) are each secured with a pair of zippers. All the zippers have metal zipper-pulls with holes in them. Thread a steel cable (which is attached to the case and a small combination padlock) through the zipper pulls, and voila, the bag is locked tight.
- Three outer compartments can be used for daily spending money, sunscreen, and other casual necessities, and there are little pockets ideal for batteries and memory cards.
- The bag can be worn comfortably over one shoulder, so that the main body sits right over the hipbone. It’s not only easy to reach; it's also easy to keep an eye – and hand – on it.
The only downside to this camera bag is that the numbers on the combination lock are virtually impossible to read in bright light. In fact, they aren't all that easy to read in any light, which could cause problems if access to documents is suddenly and quickly needed.
Product verdict: It's hard to think of an adventure travel situation where this case wouldn't come in handy. Adventure travelers using an SLR will appreciate the dedicated design that protects bodies and lenses. And any traveler will appreciate the added peace of mind, while walking through a crowded market, of knowing that valuables such as a smaller digi cam, cell phone, Blackberry, wallet, and passport are protected by a steel net, a slashproof strap, and locks..
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