This Baggallini backpack may appear small, but it will hold all of your essentials while keeping them safe from would-be thieves.
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We Tested the Baggallini Backpack, and Even a Box Cutter Couldn’t Shake This Anti-Theft Bag
Updated Oct. 03, 2024
When it comes to traveling, few things are more comfortable and convenient to bring along than a travel backpack. It allows you to go hands-free as you explore, and it has a ton of room for your daily essentials and souvenirs. But as great as they are, a backpack could make an easy target for pickpockets. After all, you don’t have eyes in the back of your head. Luckily, there are quality anti-theft bags that’ll keep your belongings safe. The Baggallini backpack is about as good as it gets.
Like many anti-theft bags, the Baggallini Securetex Anti-Theft Vacation Backpack is equipped with built-in anti-theft features, including anti-slash materials, locking zippers and radio frequency identification (RFID)-blocking capabilities. Since we had such great results with the Baggallini anti-theft crossbody bags, we had high hopes for the Baggallini backpack. We took it into the Testing Lab for closer inspection and sent it home with one of our product testers to see how it holds up to everyday wear. Spoiler alert: It’s pretty amazing! Here’s everything you need to know about the Baggallini backpack.
What is the Baggallini Securetex Anti-Theft Vacation Backpack?
The Baggallini Securetex Anti-Theft Vacation Backpack is a midsize, no-frills silhouette backpack. It’s made of lightweight, water-resistant nylon, and it has interior slash-resistant panels sewn in. It also features cut-resistant double cable straps. Locking zippers, an RFID-protected passport pocket and wallet add extra layers of security. Better still, this backpack features metal hardware and zippers, which our testers say add to the overall quality and longevity of this bag.
This Bagallini backpack is a dream come true for anyone who has a lot to carry. The outside features two open side pockets for water bottles, an umbrella or easily accessible items. It also has two front zipping pockets—one has a loop to tuck the zipper into for slight security and the other is not secured. The backside has an impressively designed, RFID-protected expanding pocket with two inner zip pockets and a cardholder. Our testers note that this is a smart place to store money, passports and credit cards when you’re on the go.
The interior of the Baggallini backpack is both simple and functional. The center main compartment has a deep internal zip pocket capable of holding a tablet, plus two open slots for chargers or a cell phone. Additionally, there’s a grommet hole to slip charging cables or headphone cords through. The main compartment has two zippers with hooks that allow you to secure them together.
This backpack is offered in six different colors, including three patterned options. Our testers opted for the moss color, which they describe as “poppy and fun.”
ANNAMARIE HIGLEY/RD.COM
Editor's Pick
Baggallini Securtex Anti-Theft Vacation Backpack
This mid-size backpack is lightweight, water-resistant and loaded with anti-theft features.
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 backpack is really made of. Our team was immediately taken with this backpack, calling it well-designed and cute. “This moss-colored Vacation Backpack is on the compact side–in a cute, low-profile way,” says Kaz.
In the studio, our team appreciated the bag’s sturdy handle and lay-flat nylon straps, noting that the edges are soft instead of rigid. Naturally, our team wanted to see if the straps felt as comfortable as they looked. To do this, they filled the bag with 9 pounds’ worth 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 Kaz, this bag felt very comfortable after 15 minutes of wearing and carrying around 9 pounds of stuff.
Our long-term tester, product testing manager, Annamarie Higley, agrees that this bag is comfortable. Higley, who took this bag home after our team finished their testing, wore the Baggallini backpack for 15 to 20 minutes at a time as she ran errands around town. “This bag fits more than it looks like it would. While running errands, I was able to fit a small number of groceries and drugstore purchases, as well as rented library books inside it. This is, of course, in addition to my phone, keys and wallet,” she explains. Higley also took this backpack with her to a local pool and was able to fit a compact change of clothes, small toiletry bag, sunscreen bottle, book, wallet, headphones, phone and keys.
Once our testers established that this backpack is practical and comfortable, it was time to test its anti-theft capabilities. They began by locking and unlocking the zippers to evaluate their ease of use and level of security. While they appreciated that the zippers were metal instead of plastic, our team noted that they aren’t really locking, but rather clip onto a D-ring. According to Higley, they don’t feel quite as tricky to get undone, but they still offer a little bit of reassurance that your stuff couldn’t get easily nabbed.
Next, our testers took a box cutter to the anti-slash straps and body. To their delight, the Baggallini backpack passed this test with flying colors. “The box cutter didn’t even leave a mark on the main compartment,” says Kaz. “On the strap, [the] box cutter created a slight mark and tiny cut, but it didn’t come close to cutting all the way through.”
Of course, there’s always room for improvement. According to Higley, the water bottle pockets could be more functional. “I wish the bottle-style pockets were a little bigger. I don’t think most water bottles, except maybe disposable ones, would fit in them,” she explains. “I still find the pockets useful for things like sunglasses or sunscreen, but a place to put my water would be preferable.”
Overall, our testers agree that even priced at $110, the Baggallini backpack is a great value, thanks to its design, quality and storage capabilities. “It holds a lot of items, which is crucial for me when traveling, and the basic design means it will remain stylish for years to come,” says Higley.
Pros
- An actual slash-resistant body
- Cut-resistant straps
- Comfortable to wear for long periods of time
- Water-resistant
- RFID-protected pockets
- Simple silhouette that’ll never go out of style
- Carries more than it appears
Cons
- Water bottle pockets are small
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 backpack. We also had our product testing manager, who has years of experience testing various products, carry this bag with her daily to see how it holds up to real-life use. “I opted to long-term test this bag because of just how quality it seemed,” explains Higley. “The fabric is thick and durable. The hardware is metal. And when my team went at it with box cutters, the exterior remained largely unscathed.”
ANNAMARIE HIGLEY/RD.COM
Editor's Pick
Baggallini Securtex Anti-Theft Vacation Backpack
The Baggallini backpack remained largely unscathed after our team took a box cutter to its body and straps.
Originally Published: October 03, 2024
