We sent this Baggallini crossbody bag into the wild to test its anti-theft capabilities. Here's why you should purchase one ASAP.
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We Carried the Baggallini Crossbody, and This Anti-Theft Bag Is Truly Secure
Updated Sep. 03, 2024
Whether you’re planning a big trip or just want to feel safer walking around your own city, a quality anti-theft bag is one of the smartest purchases you can make. These bags feature built-in anti-theft features, like anti-slash materials, locks and radio frequency identification (RFID)-blocking capabilities to give you peace of mind during your travels, especially if you’re traveling solo. And in spite of their utilitarian nature, these bags can actually be quite stylish, like the Baggallini crossbody bag.
Our Product Testing Team brought this anti-theft bag into the Testing Lab to determine whether it’s as durable as the brand claims. We also sent one home with a member of our Product Testing Team to see how it holds up to everyday wear. Once we were through with our rigorous testing process, we summarized our findings in this detailed Baggallini crossbody bag review.
What is the Baggallini Securetex crossbody bag?
The Baggallini Securetex crossbody bag is a lightweight crossbody bag that can be worn across your body or on your shoulder. It’s made of recycled nylon that’s lightweight and water-resistant, and it has interior slash-resistant panels sewn in. It also features a cut-resistant double cable strap and an adjustable cut-resistant shoulder strap that can be attached to a post or chair. Locking zippers, an RFID-protected interior passport pocket and a back wallet add extra layers of security.
The interior of this purse is simple and functional. The main compartment has a zip pocket and a three-part open side pocket for card organization or to hold your cell phone and pen. There’s also an exterior front pocket with wallet organization, two interior zip pockets and a rear zip pocket. It features a grommet opening for a charging cord, too.
This bag is offered in six different colors, including two patterned options. Overall, our testers found that it goes with just about everything they wear, calling it “pretty chic and compact for an anti-theft bag.”
SHERI KAZ/RD.COM
Editor's Pick
Baggallini Securtex Crossbody Bag
This lightweight, compact bag is loaded with anti-theft features and has a soft strap that makes it comfortable for all-day wear.
How we tested it
Sheri Kaz, associate product tester, took this bag into the Testing Lab with our Product Testing Team to see what this little bag is really made of. She also carried it with her on a daily basis to see how it holds up to real-life use. Kaz, who chose the mulberry color, noted that while there’s no real bling to speak of, the bag is attractive and looks good with just about everything. “I love the purple color, and it goes with everything I wear,” she raves.
In the Testing Lab, our team was immediately impressed by the straps, which they describe as nice and soft. “The edges aren’t rigid, and they are very easy to adjust,” says the Product Testing Team. Of course, our team wanted to see if the straps felt as comfortable as they looked. To do this, they filled the bag with an appropriate assortment of everyday items, including a wallet, book, keys, sunglasses and other odds and ends. Then, they wore the bag around for 15 minutes and evaluated its comfort and ergonomics. According to our testers, this bag initially felt soft resting on the neck and didn’t feel weighed down. After 15 minutes, it was still just as comfortable and didn’t hurt. Better yet, Kaz reported that this bag is suitable for all-day wear. “When my best friend and I go shopping, it’s an all-day marathon,” she explains. “This bag is comfortable and makes hands-free browsing simple. The strap does not chafe, and because the bag is relatively small and light, it’s comfortable all day long.”
Kaz was also delighted to discover that this bag is indeed waterproof. In the lab, our team sprayed the bag with water and found that it beaded off nicely and didn’t soak through to the interior of the bag. But the real test came when Kaz found herself caught in heavy rain. “I recently got caught in a downpour and was worried about my phone in the bag,” she says. “Upon inspection, all the contents were dry. My shoes didn’t fare as well.”
With high marks for looks, comfort and water resistance, it was time to test this bag’s anti-theft capabilities. Our team did this by locking and unlocking the zippers in order to evaluate their ease of use and level of security. Then, they tested the anti-slash straps and bodies by taking a box cutter to them. According to our testers, the zippers on this bag aren’t truly locking zippers. Instead, they are plastic zippers with metal pulls that can clip onto the bag’s D-ring. The back pocket zippers can also be clipped together or onto the D-ring. Kaz secured the zippers during concerts and festivals she attended, and she found them easy to use and appreciated the feeling that her belongings were safe.
Though Kaz and the rest of our team described this bag as well-made and durable, they found that it’s not entirely slash-proof. “The outer layer is slash-proof but not the inner layer, contrary to what they say on the website,” explains the Product Testing Team. “For the interior pocket, it [the box cutter] cut the lining and the slash-proof layer (i.e., the first two layers) but didn’t make it to the outside.” The team adds that the box cutter left a slight mark on the strap but wasn’t actually able to cut through it. A second slash also wasn’t able to cut through the strap, though it did lead to some fraying.
Overall, our testers agree that at $75, this bag is a good value. And while Kaz feels that it may be a bit pricey given the fact that it lacks any real style, she believes the added features of anti-theft make it a worthwhile purchase. “I’ve already recommended it to a friend who is going to Egypt, and if she doesn’t get her own, she is free to borrow mine,” shares Kaz.
Pros
- Cut-resistant straps
- RFID-protected pockets
- Locking zippers
- Lightweight
- Feels soft on your neck
- Waterproof
Cons
- Inner layer is not truly slash-proof
Why you should trust us
At Reader’s Digest, we know how important it is to feel safe whether you’re traveling with your family or doing some solo exploration. This especially applies to anti-theft bags, as our editors and testers are a diverse mix of travelers, parents and pet owners who know how easy it is to become distracted or disoriented while out and about. As such, we have years of personal experience trying to keep our purses safe and avoiding pickpockets. Some of the ways we do that is by investing in products like anti-theft bags and zipperless luggage. We are always excited to share our winning products and will never recommend anything we don’t love, regardless of a product’s popularity.
Our product testing experts on the Product Testing Team spent around 36 hours in our Testing Lab getting up close and personal with 15 anti-theft bags. Several of those hours were spent with the Baggallini crossbody bag. We also had one of our testers carry this bag with her daily to see how it holds up to real-life use. “I’ve owned other Baggalini bags in the past that lasted years with abuse,” says Kaz. After long-term testing, she expects the same high quality and longevity from this Baggallini crossbody.
SHERI KAZ/RD.COM
Editor's Pick
Baggallini Securtex Crossbody Bag
Cut-resistant straps, locking zippers and RFID-protected pockets make this waterproof bag ideal for international travel or local errands and events.
Originally Published: September 03, 2024
