How do I Choose a Travel bag with Built-in Lock Features?

As someone who travels often, I’ve unfortunately had my fair share of bad luck — my camera gear was stolen on a train in Spain, my bag got slashed at the Johannesburg airport, and a backpack was swiped from a bus in Nicaragua. After going through all that (and filing way too many insurance claims), I’ve become a huge fan of keeping my stuff as safe as possible while traveling.

One item I always recommend? An anti-theft backpack. These bags come with smart features like slash-resistant straps, lockable zippers, and even cables to secure your bag to a chair or post. I really wish I’d had one of these in Nicaragua.

Putting Anti-Theft Backpacks to the Test

To help others avoid the mistakes I’ve made, we tested 3 different anti-theft backpacks in the Travel + Leisure lab. We didn’t hold back — we slashed them with box cutters, tried to steal them from chairs, and even reached for hidden pockets to see if we could get in unnoticed.

We judged them based on design, storage, comfort, protection, durability, and value. We’ll also continue using them over the next six months to see how they perform on real trips.

🛡️ Best for Locking Zippers: Baggallini Securtex Anti-Theft Vacation Backpack

Why we love it:
It has strong locking zippers and smart organization features.

What to keep in mind:
It’s not big enough for most laptops.

This lightweight, water-resistant backpack is reinforced with slash-proof panels. When we tried cutting it with a box cutter, we couldn’t get through the inner layer. It also has cut-resistant straps and RFID-blocking pockets. Our favorite part? The locking zippers on both the main and back compartments.

Yes, unlocking the zippers takes a few extra seconds, but that small delay might be enough to stop a thief. It also has a special loop to secure the zipper on the front pocket. Though it’s a compact bag, the internal layout is so well-organized that we fit more than expected — including a tablet, water bottles, and even a headphone port.

Details:
Size: 10 x 13 x 3.5 inches | Weight: 1.1 lbs | Features: Slash-resistant fabric and straps, locking zippers, hidden pockets, water-resistant

Also Read: What is the Best Anti‐Theft Backpack for Travel?

🧳 Best Carry-On: Pacsafe Venturesafe EXP45 ECONYL

Why we love it:
It opens like a suitcase, has tons of pockets, and is comfortable to carry.

What to keep in mind:
It might feel heavy for smaller travelers.

This carry-on bag meets most airline size rules and is made with recycled materials and a water-repellent finish. You can carry it like a backpack or a briefcase. It has puncture-resistant, lockable zippers, and a built-in padlock. During testing, even when we sliced through the outer layers, the wire-lined interior stayed intact.

One editor liked that the laptop sleeve is hidden inside — so even if someone cut through the outer layer, they’d still need to unzip the bag to reach your laptop. There’s also a steel cable to lock it to furniture while you’re on the move.

We packed everything we needed — clothes, tech gear, passport, water bottle, chargers — with room to spare. It’s loaded with organization features, like padded laptop sleeves, RFID-blocking pockets, and dedicated storage for your essentials. Just note: at 4.3 pounds, it can feel heavy if you’re petite. After three months of use, we also noticed the shoulder straps could use more padding.

Details:
Size: 21.7 x 13 x 7.9 inches | Weight: 4.3 lbs | Features: Slash-resistant straps, locking zippers, chair lock, laptop compartment, water-resistant

Also Read: How do I Prevent Pickpocketing When Using a Travel Bag in Busy Areas?

👔 Best for Commuters: XDDesign Anti-Theft Backpack & Briefcase

Why we love it:
It works as both a backpack and a briefcase, and opens flat for easy packing.

What to keep in mind:
It doesn’t have lockable zippers or slash-proof straps.

If you’re always on the go for work, this is a great option. The XDDesign Bobby Bizz easily switches between a backpack and a briefcase. It has detachable straps, a reflective design for nighttime safety, and padding to protect your electronics. The main fabric is slash-resistant, but the straps weren’t as tough — we could cut through them in testing.

Still, it has some awesome features: a chair lock, a hidden pocket, and even a built-in USB port for charging. We locked it to an airport chair and walked away without worry. While the zippers aren’t lockable, the bag opens wide, making packing and unpacking a breeze. Inside, there’s space for a 15.6” laptop, a 10” tablet, and lots of smaller compartments.

Editor Taylor Fox said, “The backpack fits well, the straps are padded, and I had no problem wearing it during our entire testing period — even when it was full.”

Details:
Size: 16.1 x 11 x 3.9 inches | Weight: 2.8 lbs | Features: Slash-resistant fabric, hidden pockets, chair lock, laptop slot, USB port

Also Read: Are RFID Blocking Bags Effective for Protecting Personal Data?

🧪 How We Tested

We tested 24 anti-theft backpacks through two full lab sessions. Each one went through the same steps:

1. We checked the features — what anti-theft options did it offer?
2. We packed them up with essentials like a laptop, passport, headphones, jacket, and chargers.
3. We wore them to check comfort and tested how easy they were to adjust.
4. We tried cutting them with box cutters — both lightly (to mimic a thief in a crowd) and more forcefully.
5. We simulated theft — we locked bags to chairs and tried to grab them to test security.
6. We tested hidden pockets to see if someone could access them while the backpack was being worn.

We judged every bag based on design, comfort, durability, protection, and overall value. We’re also continuing to test them during actual travel over the next six months and will update our results accordingly.