Backpacks

Cacogen

I have just been to our local camping shop to see about backpack security, they want £50 (per bag!!) for a security net to encase the pack. Both our packs together didn't cost that!! So we having been wracking our brains to come up with a better way.

1. We make a net from Electric Fence cable and secure it with a bike chain

2. We strengthen the inside of the pack with Plastic cable ties, making a mesh.

3. We forget it, our packs are not worth anything and if we use obvious security, people will think they are worth something

I also want something to stop the straps getting caught in the plane/airport, so the net idea seemed to kill two birds with one stone. If we decide against the net our options are:

1. We use one of the bright orange heavy duty plastic survival sacks. I could put Velcro at the top to seal and a plastic pocket on the front to put our flight details. I suppose this would be really easy to spot as well, maybe reduce the chance of losing them in the airport? (we have a change over at Heathrow and I know from experience that they're terrible at keeping track of luggage on change-over flights).

2. To reduce weight/bulk we use a cheap washing bag instead, maybe dyed to make it noticeable?

3. We just tie up the straps and take our chances, thousands of people travel with backpacks and the airports are used to it

So many ideas, but no idea which one is best! Can anyone help?

Jen

indiamike

Hi Jen,
Nice new butterfly avatar!

Well for part one, I guess you were probably looking into PacSafe , which is extremely expensive and your asking yourself "does it warrant the extra expense".

My question is "what are you packing that's really valuable"?

Is it just dirty laundry or something more?

I have spent a lot of time in India and I found that just some small padlocks attached to the zippers on my backpack worked fine. Most packs are extremely tough to cut through. If someone wanted to take your gear, with or without the extra security, they could just take the whole bag. (note-bring a method of locking it up to things especially if your traveling by train)

I am one of those lucky ones who have never had any problems with theft in India, mostly when traveling a little common sense goes a long way. Stories like "we left our packs on the beach and went for a midnight swim and when we came back our packs were gone" are not uncommon.

With the straps, I never had any problems and always figured that having the straps out just made it easier on the baggage movers.
However many people may put it in a big laundry bag, marked and tagged. So it's up to you.

Anyway I hope this helps some to resolve your conflict.

Mike

Cacogen

Thankies! Seem to have a flutterby fixation at the moment!

Yep you hit the nail straight on the head - no way am I paying £50 to protect something that is worth less than £20. We got Jack's pack, new, a few weeks ago so it will probably be strong enough, mine is a bit older and was a donation - don't think it would withstand any cutting (will hold up to everyday use though, so probably fine). We were just going to stick to padlocks and safety pins, but a nagging voice in the form of a parent got us paranoid!

Cheers for the help

Jen

Alan D

Hello Jen,
Caroline and I are also among the people (the vast majority i would say) who have not had anything stolen in India. At times our backpacks have been on the roof of a bus along with 30 people, other times they have been wedged under the back seat where we couldn't see them. As Mike says just exercise common sense and you should be OK.

Good travelling
Alan

rab

Go through everything you have and chuck out what you don't really really need. My wife and I go next week. We are going to pack so small that we hope to check in our bags with us on the plane. Then you don't have to worry about them not making it through the transit and you can keep them with you.

Regarding the secure mesh type things I know what you mean but I really only think they serve as to attract attention and they are rather heavy. The first time I went to India I made my own mesh liner with galvanised weldmesh from a hardware shop. I molded it into shape and it would easily have stopped someone razor-blading their way into my bag. I covered the edges with gaffer tape to stop them catching on things but the tape came off and I tore a couple of things getting them out of my bag. Needless to say I chucked it away after a few days.

My rucksack is old and a bit grubby but in good sound nick but doesn't really invite theft too much. The only other security items I would take would be a padlock for your room and a length of chain or wire. I made up a metre length of 2 mm gauge galvanised steel wire looped at the ends and secured using steel crimps. I just did it at work and it cost me zilch. That I will use for on the train or anywhere I am likely to fall asleep or to be out of sight of my bags at all.

It won't protect you from the tooled up professional sack nabber but it will stop the opportunist.

Have a safe and fantastic time!

Richard and Angela Brown

stephanie

Backpacks are very heavy. Have you considered getting a hard suitcase on wheels with a pulling handle. Just a small one will do. I have travelled everywhere from Tamil Nadu to Kathmandu and New Zealand with mine and they have the added advantage (apart from having brilliant locks) that you can put it down and sit on it when you get tired.

Enjoy India and give her my love.

Steph

Cacogen

Thanks for the tips one and all,

Rab, I am travelling on BA and I don't think they will let a lot of our stuff on as carry-on (penknife, medical needles, etc.). Is there a way round this?

Stephanie, Cheers for the info, but we have already purchased the bags. I will keep in mind for future trips though and maybe other people will find it useful as well

The countdown is in single figures and I'm starting to really panic - no one is buying our stuff! and to top it all off, everytime I mention this to my erstwhile travelling partner, he hides under the bed covers!!! Not relevant, but I need to get it off my chest!

Jen

rab

Re pen knives in hand baggage. Erm ... try acting as though you have no idea at all of the score and if they flag them up in security then they can go with the pilot.

My wife Ange had that happen when she emigrated from Aus to the UK. Her dumb friend gave her a letter opener as a gift, all wrapped up. When security opened it they had a fit and it had to go in the pilot's attache case!!!

No other ideas though. We go to Chennai on November 1st. Just can't wait now!!!!!!!!!!

Have a great trip and no I couldn't do your magic square web puzzle but scored about 3 in the golf; is that a high score?

Richard

Cacogen

Cheers - I'm just a bit worried that they might confiscate/bin our pen knife, it was a gift and although it's not a prize possession I wouldn't like to lose it unnecessarily, I think I'll phone the airline.

Glad you like the games, 3 is the only score! (I got bored after the third one!). Luckily the uni provided the solutions for the magic square, they were only interested in implementation, so it wasn't a problem when making it - its a pity I didn't try to solve it before starting the project (ahh hindsight) because now I know the solution backwards its no fun :P

Have fun on your journey also, I know how excited I am and we don't leave till the 15th, so you must be through the roof!

Jen

barbara

I wouldn't try & get your knives & needles on board if I were you. While there's some chance you'll get past security, it's more likely you won't. There is zero chance they'll pass them to the captain to mind for you.
I nearly missed a flight in Paris last week because they wouldn't let me through with a trekking pole. They made me go all the way back to departures (through immigration & customs) in order to check the bag. When I got to the checkin desk there was no-one there as the flight had been closed out. Eventually I found some-one & sprinted back to the gate in the nick of time (unbelievably, my bag made it too).
The moral of the story is don't be stupid!
Checking your bag is not such a hardship, some do get delayed but most do not, and bring your overnight necessities in your handluggage.
Have a great time!

tra-la-la

I agree with barbara.
Why try to be smart with sharp objects in the cabin. The rules and new efforts to enforce them are designed to protect you aren't they?

chewbacca

back pack security--an interesting issue
never leave more than clothes and toiltries in my pack but it worries me more as to what some one may put IN to my pack that take stuff that can be
easily replaced.
it has not happened to me but it does happen.

qualo

i now look at people with those big back packs and laugh
i now use karriommor airport 40 (litre).
you can take it on the plane, its has detachable day pack and loads of useful straps and stuff.
best of all it has wheels - i've only used the straps once or twice in india (ie varanassi)- the wheels make travelling so easy and because its so small its very convinient.
its was suprsingly easy to fit everything into such a small pack too- plenty of clothes, loads of cds, 4 books, speakers, camera etc...
backpacks r only good imho if you need extra space for adventure sports/trekking etc...

chewbacca

my smallest pak is 21 inches long by 14 inches wide by 10 inches deep which i have taken on board for trips to asia of 30 days[just shorts,t-shirts and thongs]and this is what i will used for 6 months in india---was gunna buy a newie but came up with the idea to make my gear fit my small pack
instead of other way round .
did a trial packing and i will do the job no worries.
nursing my 65 litre on small mekong river craft and lousy cambodian roads last year was at times an endurance test.

talskeddy

for internation travellers back packs are a pain.

you are forever having to put them on and take them off or asking a friend to get something out of a pocket.

If you are treckking take one, otherwise...

A cabin bag on wheels (extendable handles) works well
Just the tight size for travelling round india.
On board security
Will fit easily under train seats in rickshaws etc.
You dont arrive a mess.
Good when boading planes
Especially if you pack everything in plastic self seal bags.

If you want to carry the kitchen sink,
you can leave it at any station (in left luggage)
or send it ahead by train.