Hey there! I travel a lot, and let me tell you, I’ve had my fair share of stuff stolen—camera gear from a train in Spain, a bag sliced open at Johannesburg airport, and a backpack nabbed on a bus in Nicaragua. Ouch, right? That’s why I’m all about keeping your things secure when you’re on the road. My go-to? An anti-theft backpack. These bad boys come with cool features like straps and fabric that resist cuts, zippers you can lock, and even cables to tie your bag to something sturdy. If only I had one in Nicaragua!
To help you avoid becoming a theft victim, we tested 24 anti-theft backpacks in the Travel + Leisure lab. We tried cutting them with box cutters, locked them to chairs and yanked them to mimic a thief, and sneaky-tested hidden pockets. We picked our favorites based on how they’re designed, how much they hold, how comfy they are, how well they protect your stuff, how tough they are, and if they’re worth the price. We’re also using them for six months on real trips to see how they hold up outside the lab.
Best Overall: Solo NY Stealth Hybrid Backpack
Why We Love It
This bag looks sleek and can switch from a backpack to a tote or shoulder bag depending on what you need.
Things to Keep in Mind
The backpack straps can loosen up over time, which isn’t ideal.
Made from recycled plastic bottles with a water-resistant coating, the Solo NY Stealth Hybrid Backpack is super versatile. You can slide it over a suitcase handle thanks to a back strap, and it’s got a handy panel inside to keep things organized, plus a padded spot for laptops up to 14.1 inches. Our tester, Rosie Marder, loves the hidden pocket on the back—it’s perfect for a passport or wallet and easy to reach.
It’s got slash-proof fabric and wire-reinforced straps. When we attacked it with a box cutter, the straps got scratched but didn’t break, and while the outer fabric took a hit, the inner lining kept everything safe. The bag also has tough zippers with locks and a latch on the front pocket to stop sneaky thieves in crowds. After three months, we love how it switches between backpack and shoulder bag, which is great for crowded buses or even museums that don’t allow backpacks. It’s a bit small, though, so don’t expect to stuff a big jacket in there—it’s better for warm-weather trips.
The bag is light and comfy to wear, but the straps aren’t padded, and they tend to slip loose while you move, which can be annoying.
The Details: 14.5 x 11.7 x 4 inches | 1.2 pounds | Slash-resistant fabric and straps | Locking zippers | Hidden pocket | Laptop pocket | Water-resistant
Solo New York Laptop Backpack for Women & Men
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Best Locking Zippers: Baggallini Securtex Anti-Theft Vacation Backpack
Why We Love It
This bag has locking zippers on the main and back pockets, plus awesome organization.
Things to Keep in Mind
It’s too small for most laptops.
Available in colors like black and portobello, the Baggallini Securtex Anti-Theft Vacation Backpack is made of lightweight, water-resistant material with slash-resistant panels. Our box cutter scratched it up, but couldn’t break through to the inside, and we were impressed by how much abuse it took. It’s got double-cable, cut-resistant straps and RFID protection in some pockets. The best part? Locking zippers on the main and back pockets.
Those locks add a few seconds to opening and closing the bag, which we think is enough to scare off a thief. There’s even a special hoop on the front pocket’s zipper to make it extra secure. It’s a small bag, so don’t expect to fit a laptop, but we were shocked by how much we could pack thanks to its smart layout. It’s got a wallet section with two zippered pockets, six card slots, a padded tablet sleeve, two water bottle pockets, and even a headphone port.
The Details: 10 x 13 x 3.5 inches | 1.1 pounds | Slash-resistant fabric and straps | Locking zippers | Hidden pockets | Water-resistant
Securtex® Anti-theft Vacation Travel Backpack
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Best Carry-On: Pacsafe Venturesafe EXP45 ECONYL
Why We Love It
This carry-on bag opens like a suitcase, has tons of organization, and comfy shoulder, chest, and hip straps.
Things to Keep in Mind
It’s big and might feel heavy for smaller folks.
Perfect for most airline carry-on rules, the Pacsafe EXP45 Anti-Theft Carry-On Travel Pack is made from recycled polyester with a water-repellent coating. You can wear it as a backpack or carry it like a briefcase, and it’s got tough zippers with lockable pulls and a built-in padlock. Our box cutter left marks on the cut-resistant straps, and while it cut the outer fabric, the inner wire layer kept things safe.
Our tester, Taylor Fox, loves that the laptop sleeve is tucked inside the front pocket, so even if someone cuts the bag, they’d still need to open it to get your laptop. There’s also a steel cable to lock it to something solid. The huge main compartment fit everything we tested—a jacket, toiletries, headphones, water bottle, laptop, phone, passport, wallet, chargers—and still had room. It’s got a padded laptop sleeve, a pocket for cables, an RFID-blocking pocket for your passport, and a water bottle pocket. It’s heavy at 4.3 pounds, though, and the shoulder straps aren’t super cushioned, so it can feel uncomfortable after a while.
The Details: 21.7 x 13 x 7.9 inches | 4.3 pounds | Slash-resistant fabric and straps | Locking zippers | Chair lock | Laptop pocket | Water-resistant
Pacsafe EXP45 Anti-Theft Carry-On Travel Pack, Black
Also Read: Which Travel Tech Gadgets Should I Pack for Business Trips?
Best for Commuters: XDDesign Anti-Theft Backpack & Briefcase
Why We Love It
You can use it as a backpack or briefcase, and it opens flat for easy packing.
Things to Keep in Mind
No lockable zippers or cut-resistant straps.
Great for busy professionals, the XDDesign Bobby Bizz has detachable straps you can hide to switch from backpack to briefcase, plus a messenger-style strap. Made of quality polyester with a reflective print for nighttime safety, it’s got a metal frame and anti-shock padding to protect your stuff. The fabric is slash-resistant, but we could cut the straps with a box cutter.
After three months, we love the extra safety features, like a locking chair strap and a hidden pocket with a USB port—we even locked it to a chair at the airport while we stepped away. The main compartment unzips fully for easy packing, and there are padded spots for a 15.6-inch laptop and a 10-inch tablet, plus smaller pockets. Our tester, Taylor Fox, says it fits well, with padded straps and a back panel that make it comfy even when packed full.
The Details: 16.1 x 11 x 3.9 inches | 2.8 pounds | Slash-resistant fabric | Hidden pockets | Chair lock | Laptop pocket | USB port
XDDesign Bobby Bizz 10 Liter Anti Theft Laptop Backpack
How We Tested
We ran two lab sessions, testing 24 anti-theft backpacks. For each, we checked out the anti-theft features, looked at the materials and weight, and packed them with a standard list of items (like a fake laptop, phone, passport, jacket, and headphones). We noted how much they held, how easy they were to pack, and how organized they were.
We wore them to test comfort, tried switching modes on convertible bags, and used a box cutter on slash-resistant fabric and straps—first with a quick swipe like a thief might do, then with a harder try. We locked bags to chairs and tugged them to test the straps, checked how easy locking zippers were to use, and tested hidden pockets to see if someone could sneak into them. We judged each bag on design, capacity, comfort, protection, durability, and value. We’re still testing them on real trips and will update our findings after six months.
