Pacsafe Pickpocket Thunderstorm



    For twenty years, Pacsafe has been creating backpacks and bags for travelers. Not simple, but sheltered: from autopsy, from theft, from attempts to carry them out from under the nose of the scattered owner. It is clear that it is impossible to cover all two decades of creativity of the company's designers in one text. Therefore, we will talk about Pacsafe technologies using seven actual bags and backpacks as examples.

    From what and for whom?


    When it comes to backpacks and bags with anti-theft protection, one often hears angry rebuffs that all this protection of yours is “rubbish and stewed fruit”. How can an anti-thief backpack save you from a soldering iron, a saw, a crowd of gopniks with bats (and saws)? Honest answer: no way. Just like your favorite knitted hat and down jacket will not protect against frostbite in Antarctica. But they perfectly protect against frost in the winter in the middle lane.

    Most protected backpacks are designed for pickpockets who do not engage in robbery. It is such crimes that are common in the civilized world, and violence is on the decline. Including state violence. For example, Barcelona, ​​which is known as the “European capital of pickpockets,” owes much of its status to the Spanish authorities. According to local laws, all thefts of less than 400 € are considered administrative offenses and are punishable by a fine of 50 €. Repeated violations do not add up. Therefore, local pickpockets consider 50 euros "tax on the profession."



    There is little pleasant in this. Imagine that you are in a foreign country whose language you do not know. Documents, money, cards and a smartphone were stolen from you, and they even pulled out a laptop, on the hard drive of which are the results of several months of work (not to mention a collection of photos of your beloved cat). How comforting is the fact that this was done by a non-aggressive idler with dexterous hands? And that petty theft is almost a rite of passage for a traveler in Spain?

    Pacsafe was founded in 1998 by two traveling friends, Rob Shlipper and Magnus Maglashan. Together they traveled half the world, and at one time they even worked as security guards on yachts in the Mediterranean. During one of the trips, a couple found a hiding place on the ship with beer and emptied it during night circuits; they thought of sharing with the rest of the team when three banks remained from the “treasure”.



    Not all trips were so fun, some turned out to be failures and nerves fluttered. Shlipper first thought that he would not have been hurt by a protected backpack during a trip to Morocco. He spent a sleepless night on the train, as he had to guard his property from thieves.

    It was this incident that prompted future entrepreneurs to think of starting to invent and produce thief-protected bags. The accumulated practical experience was embodied in various Pacsafe security systems:

    • Protection against openings and cuts with a knife. This is the oldest technology of the company, which is that the fabric is reinforced with eXomesh special steel mesh. The net can cover the bag on all sides, or only specific parts. According to a similar principle, “veins” are inserted into the straps - Carrysafe steel slings.



    • Lightning protection. YKK zippers are not pierced by a pen or screwdriver. Their runners in some cases are connected to the reeds - there are two grooves. Then these same tongues are fixed in place with a lock or carbine. If desired, a lock ... another lock is hung. Every paranoid knows that there aren’t many castles.



    • Protection against theft of the entire bag. It consists of a webbing reinforced with steel slings and a lock on it. With this strap you can fasten your backpack to some fixed object: to the fence, to the leg of furniture, to the pillar, to the tree. The strap cannot be cut; the lock cannot be opened so easily. This means that the property can be left unattended for a couple of minutes.



    • RFID protection. Actually, this is shielded fabric. We know, we know. Massive "wireless" exist only in theory. When there is a serious reason to steal data in this way, a tool will also appear. In any case, Pacsafe decided to keep up with the trends and added a popular measure of protection to its arsenal.



    The specific type of protection depends on the purpose of the bag, on its price and size. The series indicates its destination: Venturesafe and Vibe - suitable for travelers and tourists, Metrosafe, Stylesafe - “city” bags and accessories (which are suitable even for office workers with a strict dress code).



    The Pacsafe logo is a sea turtle. This is no accident: the company not only hints that its backpacks are durable, like the carapace of these brave animal travelers, but also is engaged in environmental projects. Pacsafe has its own Turtle Fund, which provides grants by environmentalists to conserve sea turtles. Funding was received by organizations such as The Olive Ridley Project and Fauna & Flora International. Their volunteers and employees patrol the beaches, pull tangled turtles out of the net, fight poachers and train the coastal population to be more careful about endangered species.

    Waistpack Pacsafe Venturesafe X Waist Bag




    Tourists often use waist bags, so there are many in the Pacsafe catalog. Venturesafe X Waistpack is a great example of how brand designers see the perfect bag of this type. It is compact, it sits comfortably on the body and it is impossible to open it on the owner who has become gapeous or lost in the crowd.



    The dimensions of the Venturesafe X Waistpack are 18 x 38 x 12 centimeters. Not much, but inside there is enough space to accommodate the most necessary things: documents, a wallet, small gadgets like a camera and a bank. In the main compartment there is a fortified compartment for a 7-inch tablet or e-book, as well as a pair of shielded pockets for small items and cards. The front pocket also has small pockets for organizing small items and a key lock. The wall of the bag adjacent to the body is made of soft, breathable material, and there is another secret pocket in it.



    The small bag is sewn from durable nylon ripstop fabric and reinforced with steel mesh in front, and a steel sling is sewn into the belt. The length of the belt is adjustable and on the person it clicks on a buckle with a small rotary latch. The latch opens simply: you need to turn and press its upper part. Nevertheless, from the outside the mechanism does not betray itself, and it is more convenient to open it on yourself, and not on another person. The “dogs” of the zippers of the main compartment and the front pocket are securely fixed to the lock, which is sewn to the bag on top.



    All these protective tricks are not striking, so that the appearance of Venturesafe X Waistpack is not much different from other sports waist bags. Unless the seams are neat, and from the ornaments - the alternation of matte patches of fabric and shiny.

    Pacsafe Venturesafe X22 Travel Backpack


    The next backpack, the Pacsafe Venturesafe X22, was invented for those travelers who prefer outdoor activities: fishing, hiking and such. The design is appropriate: a tall and narrow backpack can be opened only from above, there are ties on the sides, and the straps are supplemented with chest and waist belts - to sit more comfortably on the back. In addition, the backpack has its own rain cover.



    The total volume of the backpack is 22 liters. The main compartment is deep, it houses a 13-inch laptop, which has its own compartment. A small external compartment is divided between many pockets for little things (there is where to put a spoon or a bank). There is a vertical external pocket on the front. Another fit on the valve closing the main compartment.



    The main material of the backpack is a durable nylon ripstop fabric. The front of the backpack is reinforced with steel mesh, steel slings are sewn into the straps. The right shoulder strap is equipped with the same buckle as the Venturesafe X Waistpack, so that the backpack can be mounted on a fence, furniture leg, lamppost or thin birch. Slider zipper pockets lock in place with textile loops. For runners of lightning compartments, the system is more complicated - they can be fixed with special carbines.



    Appearance Venturesafe X22 is very sporty, even in the black version. Blue looks bright, such a juicy backpack will be impossible to lose in nature.

    Pacsafe Metrosafe LS450 City Backpack


    When Pacsafe bags and backpacks became famous among travelers, the company began to create products for use in the city. Pacsafe Metrosafe LS450 is a typical and one of the best representatives of the "urban" direction of the brand. In it, you can safely carry expensive gadgets in a crowded metropolis without worrying about their safety, which is provided by a thick layer of lining and thoughtful protection.



    The total volume of Metrosafe LS450 is 25 liters. In the main compartment there is a laptop compartment, which fits a 15-inch laptop. The screened front compartment organizer is equipped with pockets and mounts for small items. It can carry fragile smartphones or sunglasses, the lining will protect them from damage. A large external pocket is located at the front from the bottom, it closes with a zipper. A pair of elastic bottle holders protrude from the sides of the backpack.



    Metrosafe LS450 is stitched from thick polyester fabric. The backpack is reinforced with a steel mesh, steel slings are passed through the straps. The right shoulder strap is equipped with a lock, which fastens the backpack to stationary objects of the urban environment. The “dogs” of the zipper of the main compartment are locked in place by a lock, and for the zipper of the organizer pocket, a carbine is sewn to the side, like the Venturesafe X22.



    In addition, the Metrosafe LS450 features soft and comfortable sitting straps. This backpack can be stuffed with things to the eyeballs, and it still will not cut the shoulders.

    Pacsafe Vibe 28 City Backpack


    When you first see the Pacsafe Vibe 28, it's easy to confuse it with a small suitcase. This is not an accidental association: one of the main purposes of a backpack is to serve as hand luggage on airplanes. That is why it has the characteristic shape of a “brick” so that its owner can fully use the “free” space allocated to him.



    The dimensions of the Vibe 28 are 47 x 31 x 21 centimeters and the weight is 1 kilogram, which is less than the restrictions of most carriers. Volume - 28 liters, in the main compartment there is a reinforced pocket for a 15-inch laptop, pockets for small items and ties for clothes, like in a suitcase. Outside in front there is one large and deep pocket, as well as a hidden shielded pocket at the top of the backpack. In addition to comfortable and soft handles with a chest strap, there is a handle on the side of the Vibe 28, so that it can be carried like a small bag.



    Vibe 28 is sewn from a dense nylon "Oxford" with a thick layer of lining, which protects things inside from bumps. Additionally, the walls and bottom of the backpack are reinforced with a steel mesh so that the pickpocket could not even theoretically cut through it. Steel straps are sewn into the straps. Like many other Pacsafe backpacks, the Vibe can be riveted to the table leg or other fixed object. The zipper of the main compartment and pocket are fixed in place by a slide for the runners, so that no one will open the backpack unnoticed by the owner.



    In general, Vibe 28 was conceived as an ideal partner for an office worker or gadget man who occasionally makes short trips. During working hours, it is convenient to carry a laptop, papers and gadgets in a backpack, and before a business trip or rest you do not have to look for a suitable bag.

    Pacsafe Vibe 150 Anti-theft Bag


    The Pacsafe Vibe 150 bag is halfway between a full backpack and small brand accessories, such as the Venturesafe X Waistpack belt bag mentioned above. It’s a kind of compromise when you need to take more things than it fits in your pockets, but not enough to take a voluminous backpack with you.



    The Vibe 150 weighs just 370 grams. The volume is 4 liters, the iPad mini tablet is placed in the pocket in the main and only compartment, and the smartphone will fit in the large front pocket. The bag sits well on the shoulder and is worn on the back. To get the right thing, just drag the Vibe 150 from the back to the stomach.



    The fabric of the bag is reinforced with steel mesh, like most other Pacsafe accessories. A steel sling is sewn into the strap, and the lock on it allows you to attach the Vibe 150 to the fence or furniture. The “dogs” of the zippers of the main compartment and pocket are locked in one place, so that the bag can be carried fearlessly on the back, without fear that someone will dig into it. The pocket is also shielded, so you can carry a biometric passport and plastic cards in it.

    Pacsafe Stylesafe sling backpack


    Most Pacsafe backpacks and bags have a sporty or minimalist look. Pacsafe Stylesafe sling is not like that: it's a women's backpack. Naturally, constructively, nothing prevents the man from wearing it. However, the thin straps, the graceful shape of the backpack itself and a pair of front pockets hint at who it is intended for.



    The most important feature of Stylesafe sling is the straps connected by a zipper. The zipper opens and the strap is divided into two; closes - and the backpack can be worn on one shoulder. The straps themselves are not the thinnest and are reinforced with steel slings so that it is impossible to cut them. A carabiner with a lock is installed on the right “half”, so that this backpack is tightly “riveted” to furniture. Yes, Pacsafe loves this system: apparently, someone in the team was not lucky to part with the property that was not fixed in place.



    The backpack is protected from attempts to open the knife with the same steel mesh as in the "male" models. The lightning of the main compartment is locked in place by an inconspicuous carbine. The “dogs” of the zippers of the pockets can be threaded through special loops so that the thief could not unfasten them unnoticed.



    The volume of Stylesafe sling is 6 liters. A 10-inch tablet is placed in the backpack, for which there is a separate pocket in the main compartment. There is also a shielded pocket for plastic cards and electronic documents.

    Pacsafe Stylesafe Backpack


    Pacsafe Stylesafe is another feminine backpack with a very minimal design. Its volume is twice as much as the previous model: 12 liters against six. The main compartment houses a whole 11-inch laptop, for which its own compartment is provided. There is also a shielded pocket for plastic cards and pockets for gadgets.



    Outside there are four more pockets: one on the back, two on the sides for an umbrella and for a bottle, and one in front, which closes with a zipper. Her “dog” locks in place with a textile loop. The lightning of the main compartment from opening by outsiders is guarded by a carbine that snaps onto the slider. The backpack itself is reinforced with steel mesh, its straps - with steel slings.



    The most original defense is the Stylesafe design. The fact is that the lightning passes along the edge of the back and under the straps. That is, it looks like an XD Design Bobby backpack, only the Pacsafe model will be even more difficult to open discreetly on the back. And so that the backpack is not completely taken away while its owner orders coffee in a cafe, there is a lock on the right shoulder strap for fixing it on furniture.



    In addition, it is worth adding that Stylesafe holds its shape well and with all the protection weighs only 370 grams.

    You can purchase these and other Pacsafe backpacks from our online store . Until April 14, each of them has a 15% discount on the HABRSAFE promo code.



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