Safety is always a concern when traveling, and using a secure travel bag should always be a priority. Theft-proof bags are especially important when visiting touristy cities like Paris, usually pickpockets’ favorite ground play.
In our personal experience as global travelers and new city explorers of many years, we find that crossbody bags (always wearing the strap across the body) are the most travel safe bags and foil pickpockets better than over-the-shoulder purses or backpacks.
Also, they don’t immediately mark you as a tourist. These bags can be positioned towards the front so you never lose eye contact, and they can be held close when in crowded places or public transportation.
The choice of crossbody bags for travel is very large and there are a variety of styles available, depending on the kind of travel you are planning. You also want to consider an anti-theft bag – a secure travel bag with anti-theft features –, designed to keep your passport, cash, and other small valuables attached to you until the end of your trip.
READ MORE – Best anti-theft backpacks.
What are Anti-theft Travel Bags?
Anti-theft travel bags, also known as pickpockets or theft-proof travel bags, are secure bags for travel, with additional features such as slash-resistant construction, lockdown hardware, locking zippers, or RFID protected passport and card slots. These safe travel bags are designed to prevent, or at least delay theft and they are very popular among women travelers.
We’ve chosen for you the best anti-theft crossbody bags for travel, described here below. These anti-theft shoulder bags are specially designed for exploration trips anywhere in the world or weekend getaways. However, all of these travel safe bags work just as well for daily use, and sometimes an evening out.
READ MORE: Is Paris safe to visit?
Compare the Best Anti-theft Crossbody Bags for Travel
These anti-theft crossbody bags for travel are mostly aimed at women, but some work just as well for men. The links below point to the model in black color but most of the bags come in multiple colors – click-through on each item to check the range.
MODEL | PICTURE | SIZE | WATER-RESISTANT? | ANTI-THEFT FEATURES | PRICE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | 2 x 7 x 11″ /5 x 18x 28 cm | YES | Slash resistant construction, locking zippers, RFID protected passport and card slots | ||
 | 2.5 x 9.8 x 10″ /6.35 x 24.9 x 25.4cm | YES | Slash resistant construction, lockdown hardware, locking zippers, RFID protected passport and card slots | ||
 | 10.5” x 8.5” x 2.5” /26.7x 22 x 6.35cm | YES | Slash resistant construction, lockdown hardware, locking zippers, RFID protected passport and card slots | ||
 | 13.8 x 10.2 x 4.3″ /35 x 26 x 11cm | YES | Slash resistant construction, lockdown hardware, locking zippers, RFID protected passport and card slots | ||
 | 1.5 x 10 x 10.5″ /3.81 x 25.4 x 26.7cm | YES | RFID protected passport and card slots | ||
 | 9.5 x 11 x 3″ /24.15 x 27.95 x 7.2cm | YES | Locking swivel hardware, anti-slash adjustable shoulder strap, RFID protected card pockets, main locking zip compartment | ||
 | 8 x 2 x 6″ /20.32 x 5.08 x 15.24cm | YES | Locking swivel hardware, anti-slash adjustable shoulder strap, RFID protected card pockets, main locking zip compartment |
Find the Best Anti-theft Shoulder Bags for Travel
1. Travelon Anti-Theft Signature Quilted Slim Bag
This is a very feminine anti-theft shoulder bag, perfect for your day explorations but also for going out at night as a tourist in a foreign country.
This anti-theft crossbody travel bag is roomy, with plenty of pockets to keep your items organized, but also comfortable, with an easily adjustable handle.
The main compartment is large enough for an iPad Mini whilst the front slash pocket is perfect for your smartphone.
Main features:
- Material: made of durable water & stain resistant nylon, and accented in stylish antique brass finished hardware
- Size: 2.5 x 10 x 14″ (6.35 x 25.4 x 10.15 cm)
- Color: black, ocean, smoke
- Pockets: main padded pocket for iPad or tablet with RFID blocking card and passport slots
- Front slash pocket, and rear zippered pocket
- Full anti-theft features: slash-resistant construction, lockdown hardware, locking zippers, RFID protected passport and card slots
- Tethered key clip with LED light
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2. Travelon Anti-Theft Classic Essential Messenger Bag
This anti-theft travel bag is the perfect size for people who want to carry more than just walled, passports, and keys but without being overloaded. There is also space for items like a small bottle of water, a camera, or a kindle.
Its stylish design does not immediately mark you as a tourist, and hopefully as a target for pickpockets. We love its variety of colors and the light inside, which is perfect when you are trying to find something, especially at night!
Main features:
- Material: polyester lining
- Size: 2.5 x 9.8 x 10″ (6.35 x 24.9 x 25.4cm)
- Color: many colors available
- Pockets: main pocket (not padded) which can fit an iPad or tablet. Interior pockets and card slots provide organization.
- Front zippered pocket.
- Full anti-theft features: slash-resistant construction, lockdown hardware, locking zippers, RFID protected passport and card slots
- Removable LED light
- Water-resistant
Buy it Now!
3. Travelon Anti-Theft Classic Small Bag
This slash-proof bag is a not too big – not too small travel bag, perfect for carrying your essential items.
Plain and simple, this travel bag is perfect for anyone who doesn’t want to lug a big bag all day but is large enough to carry what you need.
Thanks to its stylish design, it can be used also at night as an anti-theft purse or on days without doing a lot of touristy things.
Main features:
- Material: polyester lining
- Size: 10.5” x 8.5” x 2.5” (26.7x 22 x 6.35cm)
- Color: many colors available
- Pockets: spacious main compartment (not padded) with RFID blocking card and passport slots, open top pocket, zippered wall pocket
- Front and back zippered pockets
- Full anti-theft features: slash-resistant construction, lockdown hardware, locking zippers, RFID protected passport, and card slots
- Removable LED light
- Water-resistant
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4. Pacsafe Metrosafe Ls250 Anti Theft Shoulder Bag
Designed to suit men and women, this anti-theft crossbody bag is ideal for adventures abroad or your daily commute.
Despite its sturdy design and generous size, this theft-proof travel bag is surprisingly light in weight.
The padding in the strap makes it very comfortable and the straps feel strong and balanced. The padded carry handle is a plus.
Main features:
- Material: durable nylon
- Size: 13.8 x 10.2 x 4.3″ (35 x 26 x 11cm)
- Color: many colors available
- Pockets: main padded pocket which can fit an iPad or tablet. Interior pockets and card slots provide organization.
- Zippered front and back pockets. Side pockets to carry a bottle of water or an umbrella.
- Padded carry handle
- Full anti-theft features: turn and lock security hooks, slash guard straps, smart zipper security, RFID protected passport and card slots
- Water-resistant
Buy it Now!
5. Baggallini Horizon Crossbody Bag with Removable Wristlet
Baggallini is the brand proposing less anti-theft features (only RFID-protected passport and card slots) but its designs are so beautiful and stylish that we could not help choosing at least one for this list!
Baggallini Horizon Crossbody Bag is the perfect anti-theft shoulder bag for the everyday traveler. It is a very well-organized bag, with a perfect pockets layout. There’s a convenient front pocket area for the phone that has a magnetic button to get to the phone easily while all the other compartments have zippers.
The size and dimensions of this slash-proof bag are perfect. It’s not bulky yet you can put all your day-tripping things in there, including a small bottle of water.
Baggallini Horizon Crossbody Bag comes with a removable wristlet, in the same color as the bag, which can be used as an evening clutch.
Main features:
- Material: durable nylon
- Size: 1.5 x 10 x 10.5″ (3.81 x 25.4 x 26.7cm)
- Color: many colors available
- Pockets: main compartment with dedicated places for your passport and hotel room key. Zippered exterior pockets
- Anti-theft features: RFID protected passport and card slots
- Water-resistant
- Removable wristlet, in the same color than the bag
Buy it Now!
6. Lewis N. Clark Anti-theft Cross Body Bag
This model by Lewis N.Clark is one of the best anti-theft crossbody bags for travel. It has the perfect size for people who want to carry more than just walled, passports, and keys but without being overloaded.
Its stylish and versatile design makes it great for women and men and has all the anti-theft features for safe travels.
Main features:
- Material: durable nylon
- Size: 9.5 x 11 x 3″ ( 24.15 x 27.95 x 7.2cm)
- Color: many colors available
- Pockets: main compartment with dedicated places for your passport and hotel room key. Zippered exterior pockets
- Anti-theft features: locking swivel hardware, anti-slash adjustable shoulder strap, RFID protected card pockets, main locking zip compartment
- Water-resistant PU coating
Buy it Now!
7. Lewis N. Clark Anti-theft Commuter Bag
This travel shoulder bag by Lewis N. Clark has all the anti-theft features you are looking for. With a stylish design, the outside is made of a water-resistant PU coating to protect your items even in the rain.
This small anti-theft crossbody bag is great for shopping, errands, and vacations. This theft-proof bag is also ideal for weekend getaways in a city, carrying the minimum belongings for sightseeing during the day and using it as a theft-proof purse at night.
Main features:
- Material: durable nylon
- Size: 8 x 2 x 6″ (20.32 x 5.08 x 15.24cm)
- Color: many colors available
- Pockets: main compartment with dedicated places for your passport and hotel room key. Zippered exterior pockets
- Anti-theft features: locking swivel hardware, anti-slash adjustable shoulder strap, RFID protected card pockets, main locking zip compartment
- Water-resistant PU coating
Buy it Now!
Things to Consider before Buying Anti-Theft Shoulder Bags for Travel
Use and Size
Do you want a travel bag for exploring exotic countries or for your weekend getaways in a new city? These shoulder bags for travel are so beautiful that perhaps you may want to use them also for your daily use, and (some models) for an evening out.
The size of your bag will also depend on the use. Make a list of all the items that you would like to carry inside the bag during your trips and choose the bag which can fit them all. Also, check the layout of the pockets and how could you use them.
Design
For most of us, design is also very important. You may probably want a beautiful design, in your favorite color, that does not immediately mark you as a tourist.
Anti-theft Features
Look out for features such as:
- anti-slash fabric
- locking pockets
- RFID blocking
- steel enforced shoulder straps
- locking hardware for securing to immovable objects
Anti-theft bags brands like Travelon and Pacsafe always propose models with full anti-theft features while other brands only come with anti-slash features and RFID blocking.
Credit cards, identity cards, and all passports contain RFID chips with your valuable information on them. RFID safe blocking material blocks out virtually all transmissions between 10 MHz – 3 GHz, which covers the radio frequency used in e-passports, credit cards / smart cards, and key cards.
Anti-slash straps are straps with stainless steel cables that run the full length of them and protect against slash-n-grab thieves.
Price
All the theft-proof bags for travel proposed on this list are definitely more expensive than normal travel bags. However, the anti-theft features are worth the extra money and you will travel with peace of mind.
Click here for more Paris Packing Lists
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