Dinky safe for travel?

[Pagan]

My hubby and I are heading to Paris next week to celebrate our 25th. I know Paris has a significant number of pickpockets, so I'm going to need to be careful what I carry.

I'll bring a Le Pliage tote for most of my non-valuable items, but I need a smaller crossbody as well. I was considering bringing my black Dinky 24 since it has a metal strap and can be worn crossbody. Obviously, I wouldn't carry much cash or my passport in it. Assuming the weather is cool enough for a jacket, I think I'd wear a long one over the purse.

I do have a Pacsafe crossbody bag that has never let me down and is stash proof. The zippers all clip into tension hooks within sleeves - no one is easily unzipping it. I've worn it in cities where pickpocketing is a greater threat (Rome and Prague come to mind) and have never lost anything despite being jostled a couple of times at tourist locations or on the subway by groups who were clearly on the make. I could carry that again, of course...it's just unspeakably ugly. Not exactly what I'd like to wear out to dinner, although I'll bring it with me for days of sightseeing.

Any thoughts on the (relative) safety of the Dinky? The flap is very easily opened, but it can be worn close to the body and is trim enough to fit under a fall coat. I want to be cautious but would like to avoid carrying a bulky travel bag at all times.

 

[MonsieurMode]

My hubby and I are heading to Paris next week to celebrate our 25th. I know Paris has a significant number of pickpockets, so I'm going to need to be careful what I carry.

I'll bring a Le Pliage tote for most of my non-valuable items, but I need a smaller crossbody as well. I was considering bringing my black Dinky 24 since it has a metal strap and can be worn crossbody. Obviously, I wouldn't carry much cash or my passport in it. Assuming the weather is cool enough for a jacket, I think I'd wear a long one over the purse.

I do have a Pacsafe crossbody bag that has never let me down and is stash proof. The zippers all clip into tension hooks within sleeves - no one is easily unzipping it. I've worn it in cities where pickpocketing is a greater threat (Rome and Prague come to mind) and have never lost anything despite being jostled a couple of times at tourist locations or on the subway by groups who were clearly on the make. I could carry that again, of course...it's just unspeakably ugly. Not exactly what I'd like to wear out to dinner, although I'll bring it with me for days of sightseeing.

Any thoughts on the (relative) safety of the Dinky? The flap is very easily opened, but it can be worn close to the body and is trim enough to fit under a fall coat. I want to be cautious but would like to avoid carrying a bulky travel bag at all times.

I reckon it's a perfect travel bag!

The turncock is very secure; you would 100% feel if someone was opening it. Also, the Dinky can be worn "in front" easily (as in not on your side) and comfortably. The back pocket is very close the the bag, and, like the flap, you would be alerted if someone was slipping their hand into it.

I've heard a lot of worry pickpockets slashing straps, but I've never heard of it actually happening. Obviously the chain/leather strap prevents this from even being a possibility!

Also, you may want to think about wearing the strap shorter. With mine, I actually prefer to loop the long strap across the top of the flap and connect it to the same side as the other and wear it cross body. It puts the bag at about belly-button height and normally keeps it in front of me, which is such a secure spot that it will allow you to wear it without constantly checking your bag every other minute.

 

[Hobbsy]

I reckon it's a perfect travel bag!

The turncock is very secure; you would 100% feel if someone was opening it. Also, the Dinky can be worn "in front" easily (as in not on your side) and comfortably. The back pocket is very close the the bag, and, like the flap, you would be alerted if someone was slipping their hand into it.

I've heard a lot of worry pickpockets slashing straps, but I've never heard of it actually happening. Obviously the chain/leather strap prevents this from even being a possibility!

Also, you may want to think about wearing the strap shorter. With mine, I actually prefer to loop the long strap across the top of the flap and connect it to the same side as the other and wear it cross body. It puts the bag at about belly-button height and normally keeps it in front of me, which is such a secure spot that it will allow you to wear it without constantly checking your bag every other minute.

That's a great idea about making the strap shorter, I know that would make me feel even more secure.

 

[Suzanne B.]

My hubby and I are heading to Paris next week to celebrate our 25th. I know Paris has a significant number of pickpockets, so I'm going to need to be careful what I carry.

I'll bring a Le Pliage tote for most of my non-valuable items, but I need a smaller crossbody as well. I was considering bringing my black Dinky 24 since it has a metal strap and can be worn crossbody. Obviously, I wouldn't carry much cash or my passport in it. Assuming the weather is cool enough for a jacket, I think I'd wear a long one over the purse.

I do have a Pacsafe crossbody bag that has never let me down and is stash proof. The zippers all clip into tension hooks within sleeves - no one is easily unzipping it. I've worn it in cities where pickpocketing is a greater threat (Rome and Prague come to mind) and have never lost anything despite being jostled a couple of times at tourist locations or on the subway by groups who were clearly on the make. I could carry that again, of course...it's just unspeakably ugly. Not exactly what I'd like to wear out to dinner, although I'll bring it with me for days of sightseeing.

Any thoughts on the (relative) safety of the Dinky? The flap is very easily opened, but it can be worn close to the body and is trim enough to fit under a fall coat. I want to be cautious but would like to avoid carrying a bulky travel bag at all times.

And wear the bag with the turnlock against your body.

 

[katev]

My hubby and I are heading to Paris next week to celebrate our 25th. I know Paris has a significant number of pickpockets, so I'm going to need to be careful what I carry...I was considering bringing my black Dinky 24 since it has a metal strap and can be worn crossbody. Obviously, I wouldn't carry much cash or my passport in it. Assuming the weather is cool enough for a jacket, I think I'd wear a long one over the purse...

How exciting, Happy 25th Anniversary!

I was the victim of a pickpocket in Mexico so I understand your concerns, but you sound like an alert traveler and I think that the Dinky will work well for you.

Now when we travel on vacation, I carry a large tote with a zipper top and I keep a large wristlet inside to grab when I just want to carry the essentials. I also have a small crossbody bag with a built-in wallet and I keep the flap turned toward my body.

 

[Fresh_PS]

There are so many thieves move around in Paris. Where ever you go, mind your bag and keep your hands on your bag (zipper). Do not trust anyone who approach you kindly even children.

 

[faintlymacabre]

Also, you may want to think about wearing the strap shorter. With mine, I actually prefer to loop the long strap across the top of the flap and connect it to the same side as the other and wear it cross body. It puts the bag at about belly-button height and normally keeps it in front of me, which is such a secure spot that it will allow you to wear it without constantly checking your bag every other minute.

Interesting! Do you have any pictures of your strap-looping method? Does it cause wear/bending at the side of the flap where the chain comes out of, and does the whole bag "drop" to the side when you unlock the flap?

 

[Pagan]

I reckon it's a perfect travel bag!

The turncock is very secure; you would 100% feel if someone was opening it. Also, the Dinky can be worn "in front" easily (as in not on your side) and comfortably. The back pocket is very close the the bag, and, like the flap, you would be alerted if someone was slipping their hand into it.

I've heard a lot of worry pickpockets slashing straps, but I've never heard of it actually happening. Obviously the chain/leather strap prevents this from even being a possibility!

Also, you may want to think about wearing the strap shorter. With mine, I actually prefer to loop the long strap across the top of the flap and connect it to the same side as the other and wear it cross body. It puts the bag at about belly-button height and normally keeps it in front of me, which is such a secure spot that it will allow you to wear it without constantly checking your bag every other minute.

Thank you; I'll definitely try your loop trick. I'm short-waisted so even crossbody the bag sits reasonably low. I'm torn about carrying a bag that doesn't zip; I think I'll bring it with me but will see how I feel when I'm there about actually wearing it.

 

[Pagan]

There are so many thieves move around in Paris. Where ever you go, mind your bag and keep your hands on your bag (zipper). Do not trust anyone who approach you kindly even children.

I think I'm just going to wear the travel bag most of the time. We had the same issues in Rome a few years ago and it really coloured my view of the city. From groups of organized child thieves on the subway, to women who try to push babies into your arms (freaking babies - WTH) so they can reach under to try and rob you, to the more traditional distract/pickpocket types. It got old in a hurry. My entire family wore Pacsafe bags and non of us lost anything, but it wasn't through lack of effort.

I like to think I'm a reasonably alert traveller. I don't overly display wealth, whip out maps or the like and am always aware of my surroundings and keep a firm grip on whatever I'm carrying. I hope that the reports of theft are somewhat exaggerated; clearly women live and work in Paris each day and carry bags. I was in Prague this summer (another city with a lot of pickpocket warnings) and ended up switching to my large Rogue bag (shoulder carry) and out of my Pacsafe because I never felt targeted and I actually think those travel bags mark us as tourists. I was careful, but I didn't feel like we were being watched and assessed continuously either.

 

[MonsieurMode]

Interesting! Do you have any pictures of your strap-looping method? Does it cause wear/bending at the side of the flap where the chain comes out of, and does the whole bag "drop" to the side when you unlock the flap?

This isn't the best picture, but it's the only one I have right now.

You can see that the strap is pulled through on side, over the flap, and attached to the other side. It's the same way you'd double the Dinky strap to make it a shoulder bag, but instead of holding both straps I only wear one.

This causes no additional wear than doubling the strap would to wear it under the arm. As the strap is on top of the flap, it doesn't affect the way it opens at all!

 

[faintlymacabre]

This isn't the best picture, but it's the only one I have right now.
View attachment 3834652
You can see that the strap is pulled through on side, over the flap, and attached to the other side. It's the same way you'd double the Dinky strap to make it a shoulder bag, but instead of holding both straps I only wear one.

This causes no additional wear than doubling the strap would to wear it under the arm. As the strap is on top of the flap, it doesn't affect the way it opens at all!

Ah, I was picturing this entirely incorrectly! Great idea! I dislike wearing the Dinky as a shoulder bag, but a shorter crossbody wear method is perfect since I find that the chain/leather woven strap is too long for me! Thanks for this idea!

Also, I ADORE that car print Dinky!

 

[katev]

I think I'm just going to wear the travel bag most of the time. We had the same issues in Rome a few years ago and it really coloured my view of the city. From groups of organized child thieves on the subway, to women who try to push babies into your arms (freaking babies - WTH) so they can reach under to try and rob you, to the more traditional distract/pickpocket types. It got old in a hurry...

Wow! When we were in Cairo we had to be very alert and careful to avoid thieves but nobody ever tried to shove a baby in my arms! In Mexico we did encounter child beggars but no one tried the "kick the cup" scam!

 

[Pagan]

Speaking of children, there are children out there pretending to be homeless and will trick people by leaving their cups on the ground for people to kick them. This is to make people feel sorry for the child and hand them money to make up for it.

Once the child has the money and the person walks away and out of sight, the child will pull out a cellphone to tell whoever was on the other line that their scam worked. I was in Athens when this happened and I was shocked. I haven’t kicked the cup but if I did, I would have ignored the child anyway. Too many Romanians out there trying to rob tourists of money so watch your back.

I was even chased down by a Romanian in Rome as I was making my way to the Colosseum. Luckily, my bag wasn’t stolen.

That must have been scary - I'm glad you weren't robbed.

Rome (well, Italy really) was the absolutely top of my travel list; I'm not sure what I was expecting, but it wasn't the reality. We were there in 2012 and watched gangs of thieves openly operate while the police stood by not doing a thing. I don't know if the laws handicap them or if they've just given up but it was ridiculous. Glad I've been; clearly there are spectacular things to see and do there, but I'll never go back.

 

[katev]

All this talk about safe bags for travel has jogged my memory and reminded me that I already own a bag that was designed to foil thieves!

Several years ago I rehabbed a vintage Cashin for Meyers Body Bag that was designed by Bonnie Cashin, the original Coach designer, during the 1970s and it was featured in an exhibit called "Hail the Bag" at the NYC Museum of Contemporary Crafts in 1975.

Bonnie's original sketches for the bag in the UCLA archive show that she originally designed it to circumvent thieves; see the sketches and the pic below.

 

[Pagan]

All this talk about safe bags for travel has jogged my memory and reminded me that I already own a bag that was designed to foil thieves!

Several years ago I rehabbed a vintage Cashin for Meyers Body Bag that was designed by Bonnie Cashin, the original Coach designer, during the 1970s and it was featured in an exhibit called "Hail the Bag" at the NYC Museum of Contemporary Crafts in 1975.

Bonnie's original sketches for the bag in the UCLA archive show that she originally designed it to circumvent thieves; see the sketches and the pic below.

View attachment 3834677
View attachment 3834678
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You did a beautiful job rehabbing it - I love the colour. It's such a rich red.