When I started traveling years ago, one of my main concerns was keeping myself and my belongings safe. Luckily, nowadays there are several ways to keep your most important belongings secure, apart from keeping yourself safe (this should always be your priority, no matter what), and some of these methods include using anti theft travel gear.
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Tourists make tempting targets for thieves. As a stranger in the location and potentially carrying valuables, travelers can be at increased risk of pickpocketing or other theft.ย And I get it: you don’t look like you belong, and you’re distracted by your map or sightseeing, in other words: you’re an easy target and everyone knows it.
Table of Contents
1. Money pouch
A hidden money pouch is often the first thing that comes to mind to protect your cash, passport, and other important items. Typically worn around your waist and underneath your clothes, it may seem like the perfect solution.

Personally, Iโm not much of a fan. Before my first big trip, I thought this was surely the best thing since sliced bread, but in 10 months of travel (and more than 30 countries visited) I honestly rarely wore it. I know some people swear by these money pouches, but there are a couple of reasons why I donโt like them:
- Firstly, picture yourself digging for something somewhere under your shirtโฆ you just end up drawing attention to yourself.
- Personally, I think they are not truly comfortable. Iโm always aware of wearing it, especially if Iโm in a summer destination and only wearing a T-shirt on top. It makes me feel like a police informant wearing a wire.
- While useful against opportunistic theft, it wonโt work against outright robbery.
Still, I think a money pouch or money belt can be a decent solution, especially for securing things while in transit.
Iโve been on a number of night buses and trains in developing countries and it made me feel more assured that even if someone were to snatch my bag, I would still have my passport and money safely with me.ย
Where to buy: check out this money belt by Eagle Creek or this RFID-blocking wallet.
2. Security padlock
A simple padlock can be a surprisingly handy piece of anti-theft travel gear. This is especially so if you plan to travel to developing countries, where local guesthouses and B&Bs typically do not have rooms with a safe but may offer a security box.ย
If you plan to stay in backpacker hostels anywhere in the world, then a padlock is absolutely essential. Hostels typically only have lockers for you to store your important belongings โ and itโs up to you to have a lock!ย

Your place of accommodation is usually a safe place to keep your valuables โ at least if you can secure them there. When I go out for sightseeing, I only bring some cash I need for the day, and I prefer to keep my passport, bank cards, and remaining cash at my hotel or hostel.ย This way, if I do get robbed, I’ll lose just a tiny portion of my belongings.
Tip: get a number padlock so you donโt have to worry about losing the key!ย Better yet, get a TSA-approved one, so you can use it for checked bags as well.
Some backpacks also have main compartment zippers that you can lock with a padlock (including my favorite ones from Samsonite). Some suitcases also let you use a padlock to secure them, including my favorite rolling suitcase. This adds one extra measure of security against opportunistic theft, and it’s one easy way to keep your valuables safe while traveling.
Buy it here:ย TSA-approved Travel Padlock
3. Wire lock or wire mesh
Wire locks can be useful for anchoring your bags to a pole or other fixed object so they canโt be stolen as easily, for example when dining out or traveling by train for a longer time, unable to watch your bag every moment. The wire is usually quite thin, however, so anyone with the right tools can easily break them, but they are mainly intended to prevent opportunistic theft.

The normal wire lock is basically a combination padlock but with a metal string that you can pull out and wrap around a pole or other fixed object. Iโve used this to connect my luggage to a rack or pole on longer overland journeys, and you can use it to secure your backpack or purse to a chair as well when eating out.
You also have wire mesh locks that allow you to wrap your entire luggage in metal wires and attach this to a fixed point. I havenโt used one of these yet but they seem like they could be a good deterrent.ย ย
Buy it here:ย PacSafe cable lockย or Pacsafe wire security mesh
4. Secret luggage compartment
Some types of luggage come designed with a secret compartment. For example, this travel backpack has a small invisible zipped compartment on the back, just big enough to fit a passport, some money, and a bank card or two.
Of course, this does not prevent someone from stealing your full bag, but it does prevent someone rifling through your luggage from quickly finding your most important items. While you are carrying the backpack, these items are also in the most hard-to-reach place, preventing anyone from just unzipping a pocket and picking stuff from it.

Although I probably wouldnโt buy new luggage just for this feature, itโs good to keep an eye out for a secret compartment like this if youโre purchasing a new backpack or suitcase.
5. Anti-theft money belt
Want to know my favorite anti-theft travel gear? Itโs this.
A money belt is simply a belt containing a secret compartment. It may not be spacious enough for an ID or bank card, but it does let you stuff some small bills inside without anyone noticing.

I like this solution because, in my experience, it has passed the test! I once got robbed in Rio de Janeiro and while the thieves got away with a small coin purse I kept in my pocket (containing just a few dollars worth of reais) they never found the $100 worth of bills stashed in my belt. (Muahahahah!)
Unlike a money pouch, itโs not awkward to wear, it’s not making me heat up in a hot climate and it doesn’t draw attention, so Iโm a big fan of using a money belt for storing some emergency cash.
Buy it here: Anti-theft money belt or check out the bra antitheft money belt as well!
Anti Theft Travel Gear – The Takeaway
There you have it, the top travel gear to use so you can keep your money safe while traveling. While nothing will keep you safer than being aware of your surroundings, having the best gear can go a long way as well.
If you’re wondering what else you need to be aware of, check out the next resources, perfect for your next trip:
- How to keep your valuables safe while traveling
- How to plan your first trip
- Top free travel apps to ease your trips
- Buy nice or cry twice – what travel items to invest in, and what to get on a budget
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- What to do in case your flight gets delayed or canceled
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