overall
Pacsafe Metrosafe X Anti Theft 20L Backpack
9.4
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If you're tired of second-guessing every zipper and pocket on your commute, this guide is your shortcut. We've combed through the anti-theft bag market to separate genuine security features from gimmicks, saving you hours of research and the risk of a pickpocketed wallet. Whether you're a daily urban commuter or a frequent traveler, our honest breakdown helps you decide which bag's locking mechanisms, slash-resistant materials, and RFID protection truly fit your lifestyle and budget.
| # | Product | Best for | Type | Size | Best for | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pacsafe Metrosafe X Anti Theft 20L Backpack | overall | Backpack | 20L | Daily commute + travel | Check Price |
| 2 | Pacsafe Metrosafe X Anti Theft Urban Sling | crossbody / sling | Sling | Compact | Front-wear security | Check Price |
| 3 | Pacsafe Vibe 25L Anti Theft Travel Pack | travel | Travel backpack | 25L | Multi-day trips | Check Price |
| 4 | VANKEAN 17.3-inch Anti Theft Travel Laptop Backpack | commuting / work laptop | Laptop backpack | Extra large | Office commute | Check Price |
| 5 | Fiiuos Anti Theft Crossbody Purse for Women | women's anti-theft purse | Crossbody purse | Compact | Women's daily and travel | Check Price |
| 6 | MATEIN Anti Theft Travel Laptop Backpack | best budget | Laptop backpack | Personal item size | Budget-conscious buyers | Check Price |
| 7 | SYTRAH Anti Theft RFID Crossbody Sling Bag | RFID blocking | Sling bag | Compact | Card and passport protection | Check Price |
| 8 | Pacsafe V 26L Tour Anti Theft Backpack | large capacity | Travel backpack | 26L | Extended trips and gear-heavy travel | Check Price |
| 9 | VADOO Lightweight Anti Theft Sling Bag | lightweight / packable | Sling bag | Compact, ultralight | Minimalist daily carry | Check Price |
| 10 | SHRRADOO Anti Theft Backpack with USB Charging Port | USB charging port | Laptop backpack | Large | Travel and daily charging on the go | Check Price |
Why we picked it: The Pacsafe Metrosafe X 20L is the most well-rounded anti-theft backpack we compared. It uses interlocking zippers that cannot be pried open from the outside and a layer of lightweight steel mesh woven into the panel fabric that resists slashing, the two most important physical deterrents a daypack can offer in crowded transit or tourist areas. A padded 16-inch laptop sleeve and an 11-inch tablet sleeve sit inside the main lockable compartment, so a commuter carrying a work laptop gets the same protection as a traveler with a camera or passport. A detachable anchor strap lets you clip the bag to a chair or railing in a cafe or train, and Pacsafe backs the bag with a 5-year warranty, which says a lot about build confidence. For most people who want one bag that handles both the office commute and international travel, this is the safest default choice.
Commuters and city travelers who want one backpack that protects a laptop, cards and passport with genuine anti-theft hardware.
Buyers packing for a week-long trip who need more than 20L, or anyone who prioritizes ultralight weight over security features.
Key specs: Interlocking lockable zippers - cut-proof steel mesh panels - 16-inch laptop sleeve - RFID pocket - detachable anchor strap - 5-year warranty
Why we picked it: The Pacsafe Metrosafe X Urban Sling is built for people who want their valuables physically in front of them rather than on their back, which matters most in dense crowds, public transit or busy markets where a backpack out of sight is the easiest target. It carries the same lockable zipper compartment and RFID blocking pocket as the larger Metrosafe X backpack, just scaled into a single wide-opening pouch that fits a phone, wallet, passport and a small water bottle. The strap adjusts from just under 43 inches to nearly 64 inches so it can be worn crossbody on either shoulder or slung across the chest, and the back panel uses the same honeycomb padded fabric for comfort during long walking days. It will not replace a backpack for heavier loads, but for keeping essentials under direct view and hand, it is the strongest option here.
Travelers and city dwellers in crowded areas who want their essentials worn on the front of the body at all times.
Anyone needing to carry a laptop, tablet or multi-day packing volume in one bag.
Key specs: Lockable zipper compartment - RFID blocking pocket - adjustable 42.9-63.8 inch strap - front or back wearable - padded back panel
Why we picked it: The Pacsafe Vibe 25L is designed around a longer trip rather than a single commute, and it shows in the details. Two separate lockable compartments let you split clothes from electronics, a 13-inch laptop sleeve and internal mesh pockets keep smaller items organized, and an RFID-safe pocket protects cards and passports from unauthorized scans. Padded, adjustable shoulder straps with a sternum strap and a removable hip belt distribute weight properly over a full day of walking, something daypacks without a hip belt cannot match on long trips. A zippered pocket on the shoulder strap gives fast access to a phone or transit card, and the bag has a luggage pass-through slip so it rides securely on top of a rolling suitcase through airports and train stations. For anyone planning a trip longer than a weekend, this is the pack built for it.
Travelers packing for a multi-day or international trip who want lockable security plus proper weight distribution.
Daily commuters who only need a slim daypack and do not want the added bulk of a hip belt and larger frame.
Key specs: Two lockable compartments - 13-inch laptop sleeve - RFID safe pocket - removable hip belt - luggage pass-through - 5-year warranty
Why we picked it: The VANKEAN 17.3-inch backpack targets office commuters who carry a full-size work laptop every day rather than travelers packing light. It is built from water-repellent ballistic nylon that shrugs off rain and daily wear better than standard polyester, with a padded compartment sized for laptops up to 17.3 inches and separate space for an iPad, charger, files and clothes for an overnight trip. RFID-blocking pockets protect cards and badges, and a hard-shell compartment on top keeps sunglasses or a phone from getting crushed under heavier items. An external USB port lets you charge a phone from a power bank inside the bag without opening it, a genuinely useful feature for anyone commuting through a full workday. At this size and price it is built specifically for the laptop-heavy commuter, not the light traveler.
Office commuters and business travelers who need to carry a large laptop, files and a charging cable every day.
Minimalist travelers who want the smallest possible bag or do not carry a full-size laptop.
Key specs: Water-repellent ballistic nylon - 17.3-inch laptop compartment - RFID pockets - external USB port - hard-shell sunglass pocket
Why we picked it: The Fiiuos Crossbody Purse is built specifically as a women's everyday and travel purse rather than a technical travel pack, and it succeeds by combining real security hardware with a look that does not read as a security bag. A lockable anti-theft zipper deters pickpockets in crowded subways and airports, while eight dedicated RFID-blocking card slots effectively double as a secure wallet built into the purse itself, removing the need to carry a separate card holder. Seven interior pockets keep a phone, keys and cosmetics organized and easy to find without digging, and the vegan leather exterior with a tassel detail looks like a normal going-out purse rather than a tactical travel bag. For women who want theft protection without carrying something that looks like gear, this is the strongest pick.
Women who want a stylish everyday or travel purse with genuine lockable and RFID-blocking security built in.
Anyone needing to carry a laptop or more than daily essentials plus a phone, wallet and cosmetics.
Key specs: Lockable anti-theft zipper - 8 RFID-blocking card slots - vegan leather - 7 interior pockets - adjustable tasseled strap
Why we picked it: The MATEIN backpack proves that a genuinely useful anti-theft-styled bag does not need a premium price tag. It fits laptops up to 15.6 inches in a dedicated padded compartment and adds a roomy main compartment for daily necessities, tech accessories and a change of clothes, all within personal-item dimensions that fit under most airline seats. The front panel is organized with multiple pockets, a pen slot and a key fob hook, keeping small items from sinking to the bottom of the bag. Water-resistant polyester and metal zippers hold up to daily commuting and light travel wear. It will not match the locking hardware or cut-resistant panels of the premium Pacsafe options, but for students, budget travelers or a reliable spare bag, it delivers real day-to-day usefulness at a low price.
Students, budget travelers and anyone who wants an affordable, well-organized daily laptop backpack.
Travelers who specifically need lockable zippers or slash-resistant fabric for high-risk environments.
Key specs: Water-resistant polyester - fits 15.6-inch laptop - personal-item size - front organizer panel - budget price
Why we picked it: The SYTRAH sling bag is built around one job: keeping cards and a passport from being scanned or grabbed in public. It packs four dedicated RFID-blocking card slots into its own zippered compartment, separate from the seven other organized pockets used for a phone, keys, sunglasses and cosmetics, so digital security does not come at the cost of everyday organization. A lock-ring zipper design adds a physical deterrent against a quick unzip-and-grab attempt, and a hidden back zip pocket keeps a phone or spare card out of sight against the wearer's body. The reversible strap adjusts from about 25 to 46 inches and can be worn on either shoulder, front or back. For travelers whose main worry is card skimming and pickpocketing rather than slashing, this is the most RFID-focused pick on the list.
Travelers most concerned about RFID card skimming and pickpocketing in transit hubs and tourist areas.
Anyone needing cut-resistant fabric against slashing or a bag large enough for a laptop.
Key specs: 4 RFID-blocking card slots - lock-ring zipper - hidden back zip pocket - 7 compartments - reversible 24.8-46.4 inch strap
Why we picked it: The Pacsafe V 26L Tour is the largest-capacity bag in this lineup and is built for travelers who need more than a daypack but still want full lockable security throughout. It has three separate lockable zippered compartments rather than one, including a main section with a 16-inch padded laptop sleeve, so clothes, electronics and quick-access items each get their own locked space. The RFID-blocking pocket meets the official US FIPS 201 quality standard, a stronger benchmark than most competitors specify, giving a clear, testable basis for its card protection claim. Padded adjustable shoulder straps, a sternum strap and a removable hip belt make 26 liters comfortable to carry over a full travel day, and a small zippered pocket on the strap keeps earbuds or a transit card within reach without opening the main bag. For gear-heavy travelers who refuse to compromise on either capacity or security, this is the pick.
Travelers with a full laptop, camera gear and multi-day clothing needs who want every compartment lockable.
Daily commuters or minimalist travelers who do not need 26 liters of locked storage.
Key specs: 3 lockable compartments - 16-inch laptop sleeve - FIPS 201 RFID pocket - removable hip belt - luggage slip - 5-year warranty
Why we picked it: The VADOO sling bag is the lightest bag in this comparison at roughly half a pound, making it the easiest to add to a day pack, wear under a jacket or bring as a secondary bag without noticing the extra weight. Despite the minimal build, it keeps the essentials: a zipper lock closure for a physical deterrent, a front pocket with three RFID-blocking card slots, a mesh-lined main compartment with a keychain clip, and a small zip pocket on the strap for coins or earbuds. Water-resistant fabric protects contents from light rain, and the strap adjusts from about 37 to 55 inches to wear as a chest bag, phone pouch or fanny-pack style sling. It will not replace a backpack for anything beyond a phone, cards and small essentials, but as a packable minimalist option it is the easiest bag here to always have on you.
Minimalist travelers and theme-park or concert visitors who want the lightest possible bag with basic theft protection.
Anyone needing to carry a laptop, tablet or more than a phone, wallet and small accessories.
Key specs: Under 1 lb weight - zipper lock closure - RFID-blocking front pocket - water-resistant fabric - 37.4-55 inch strap
Why we picked it: The SHRRADOO backpack is built around one practical travel problem: keeping a phone charged from a power bank without digging through the bag. An external USB port routed to an internal cable lets you plug in and charge on the move, and a built-in combination lock on the main zipper adds a physical deterrent beyond a standard zipper pull. The main compartment fits laptops up to 17 inches alongside a separate packing section for clothes and accessories, and the bag unfolds 90 to 180 degrees, which is specifically useful for laying flat during airport security screening. Water-resistant fabric handles daily wear and light rain. It is not marketed with the cut-resistant panel technology of the premium Pacsafe bags, but for travelers who specifically want convenient charging built into a lockable laptop bag, it is the most direct option here.
Frequent flyers and travelers who want a lockable laptop backpack with built-in USB charging convenience.
Buyers who specifically want slash-resistant fabric or the lightest possible bag.
Key specs: Built-in USB charging port - fits 17-inch laptop - combination lock zipper - 90-180 degree opening - water-resistant fabric
Anti-theft bags meaningfully raise the difficulty and time required to steal from you, which is usually enough to make a pickpocket move on to an easier target, but no bag makes theft impossible. Features like lockable zippers, cut-resistant panels and anchor straps address specific, common tactics such as quiet unzipping, slashing and grab-and-run theft, and combining several of these features, as the Pacsafe bags in this guide do, meaningfully closes off more attack methods than a single feature alone. The biggest practical factor is still situational awareness, keeping the bag in front of you or against your body in crowded areas rather than relying on the bag alone.
RFID blocking is useful if you carry a passport with an embedded chip or contactless payment cards, since it prevents a nearby hidden reader from capturing that data without your knowledge. It is a low-cost, no-downside feature to have, but it addresses a narrower and less common theft method than physical bag security like locking zippers, so it should be considered a helpful addition rather than the main reason to choose a bag. If none of your cards or documents use RFID chips, this specific feature will not add practical value for you.
A travel-focused anti-theft backpack, such as the Pacsafe Vibe 25L or Pacsafe V 26L Tour, typically adds a hip belt, sternum strap and multiple separate lockable compartments to comfortably carry more weight and organize clothes separately from electronics over a full travel day. A daily commuter bag, such as the Pacsafe Metrosafe X 20L or the VANKEAN laptop backpack, is built slimmer and lighter for repeated short trips on public transit or in an office, without the extra straps and bulk a longer trip needs. Choosing based on your most frequent use case, rather than your longest occasional trip, usually gives the better everyday experience.
Budget anti-theft-styled backpacks like the MATEIN typically include a basic combination lock or standard zipper along with genuinely useful organization and a padded laptop compartment, but they usually skip the interlocking zipper hardware and cut-resistant mesh panels found on premium bags like the Pacsafe line. For students, everyday errands or low-risk environments, this is a reasonable trade-off and still meaningfully better than a bag with no security features at all. Travelers heading into known high-pickpocketing areas or carrying particularly valuable items should weigh the extra cost of a premium lockable bag against what they are protecting.
Many experienced international travelers carry both, using a locked backpack such as the Pacsafe Metrosafe X or Vibe for the bulk of their belongings and a small front-worn crossbody or sling like the Pacsafe Urban Sling or the Fiiuos purse for a phone, cards, cash and passport that need to stay in constant view. If you can only choose one, a crossbody or sling worn on the front is generally the safer option in the highest-risk pickpocketing environments like packed metros and markets, since it stays within your direct line of sight, while a backpack is more practical when you are simply moving between hotels or transit hubs with less crowd density.
A backpack like the Pacsafe Metrosafe X or Vibe makes sense when you need real capacity for a laptop, clothes or camera gear, but it sits out of your direct line of sight, which matters in dense crowds or on crowded public transit where a bag can be opened or lifted without you noticing right away. A crossbody or sling bag worn on the front, such as the Pacsafe Metrosafe X Urban Sling or the VADOO sling, keeps your most important items in constant view and physical contact, which is the stronger choice in markets, train platforms and tourist hotspots known for pickpocketing. Many experienced travelers carry both: a locked backpack for the bulk of their gear and a small front-worn sling for a phone, cards and passport.
RFID blocking pockets protect against a real but relatively narrow risk, electronic skimming of contactless credit cards, passports and some ID badges using a hidden RFID reader in close range. It will not stop someone from grabbing your bag or slashing a pocket, so it should be treated as one layer alongside physical security, not a replacement for it. If you carry contactless payment cards, a passport with an RFID chip, or a company badge, a bag with a dedicated RFID pocket like the Fiiuos purse, the SYTRAH sling or the Pacsafe backpacks is a low-cost, no-downside addition. If your cards are all magnetic-stripe only, this feature matters less to you specifically.
Lockable or interlocking zippers, found on every Pacsafe bag in this comparison, stop someone from quietly unzipping your bag while it is on your back or over your shoulder, which is the most common form of bag theft in crowded places. Slash-resistant fabric, usually a layer of fine steel mesh woven into the panel, protects against a different and rarer tactic, someone cutting open the bottom or side of the bag to remove items without ever touching the zipper. Budget bags like the MATEIN or SHRRADOO include a basic lock or zipper pull but skip the mesh layer, which is a reasonable trade-off for buyers in low-risk environments, while frequent international travelers in high-density tourist areas benefit more from paying for both features together.
A daily commute rarely needs more than 20 liters, which is enough for a laptop, charger, lunch and a light jacket, and a smaller bag like the Pacsafe Metrosafe X 20L or the VANKEAN laptop backpack is easier to carry on crowded trains and buses without bumping into people. Multi-day or international travel benefits from 25 liters or more, giving room for a change of clothes, toiletries and electronics without needing to check a bag, which is why the Pacsafe Vibe 25L and the larger Pacsafe V 26L Tour exist as a separate category from the daily commuter bags. Buying too much capacity for daily use just adds unnecessary bulk and weight to carry every day, so match the bag to the trip length you take most often, not the longest trip you might occasionally take.
| Feature | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Lockable or interlocking zippers | Zippers that cannot be pried open from outside stop the most common form of quiet, in-crowd bag theft. |
| RFID-blocking pockets | A shielded pocket or card slot prevents contactless cards and passports from being scanned by a hidden reader. |
| Slash-resistant panels | A layer of fine steel mesh or ballistic fabric resists someone cutting into the bag from outside. |
| Anchor strap or lockdown point | A cable or strap that clips to a fixed object stops grab-and-run theft when the bag is set down. |
| Organized compartments | Dedicated pockets for a phone, passport and cards mean less digging and less exposure of valuables in public. |
Every product above was scored out of 10 on the same six-part rubric, then sorted into an S to C tier. We do not accept free units or payment for placement, and price or affiliate commission never factors into the score.
| Criterion | What we check | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Core performance | The numbers that define the category: capacity, power, resolution, battery life, speed or output, taken from manufacturer specs and cross-checked against independent test data where it exists. | High |
| Build & reliability | Materials, warranty length, brand track record, and how often the model shows up in long-term failure or return complaints. | High |
| Real-world usability | Weight, dimensions, noise level, setup difficulty and day-to-day friction, drawn from owner reviews and published measurements. | Medium |
| Running cost | Ongoing costs beyond the purchase: subscriptions, consumables, energy use or maintenance, where they apply to the category. | Medium |
| Owner feedback | Patterns across aggregated verified owner reviews: recurring praise, recurring complaints, and whether the experience matches the marketing. | Medium |
| Value | What you get relative to the rest of the field at a similar price band, not an absolute price judgment. | Medium |
Sources: manufacturer spec sheets and manuals, retailer listing data, aggregated verified owner reviews, and published independent test results where available for the category.
Honesty note: We have not hands-on tested every product on this page. Where we have not personally used a product, its ranking is based on verified specs, aggregated owner feedback, availability and editorial comparison rather than a hands-on review. Hands-on impressions, when included in a product entry above, are clearly written from direct use.
We don't accept free units or payment for placement. Our rankings combine verified manufacturer specifications, real owner feedback and availability, compared on one transparent S to C rubric.