Our testers took a box cutter to the Pacsafe crossbody's strap and fabric, and virtually no marks were left behind.
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After Careful Testing, We Confirm That the Pacsafe Crossbody Has Effective Anti-Theft Features
Updated Sep. 10, 2024
One clever way to help prevent pickpockets from ruining your day? Investing in an anti-theft bag. The best anti-theft bags have special security features, like anti-slash materials and straps, locks and radio frequency identification (RFID)-blocking capabilities. We tested over a dozen anti-theft bags in our dedicated Testing Lab and one stood out as being safe, stylish and suitable for different types of travelers: the Pacsafe Go crossbody bag.
To see if this bag is worth adding to your Amazon cart, our Product Testing Team took it into the Testing Lab for closer inspection. Once our team completed their work in the lab, we sent it out into the world with one of our testers to see how it holds up to everyday use. We then evaluated our team’s findings and our tester’s notes and used them to create this comprehensive Pacsafe Crossbody review.
What is the Pacsafe Go crossbody bag?
The Pacsafe crossbody is an anti-theft bag that can be worn on the shoulder or across your body. It is sustainably made using post-consumer recycled polyester and has a minimalistic, gender-neutral design. Measuring 6.3 inches tall by 9.5 inches wide by 2.8 inches deep, this Pacsafe crossbody holds up to 2.5 liters, which is enough room for your phone, wallet, sunglasses and other odds and ends. It even has enough room for a 7-inch tablet or e-reader. But more importantly, this bag is loaded with anti-theft features to keep your items secure.
Pacsafe’s crossbody bag may be made of recycled fishing nets and plastic bottles, but its eXomesh anti-cut stainless steel barrier makes it slash-resistant. It also has a slash-resistant strap with locking snaps to keep it from being ripped away. Locking zippers, along with RFID-blocking pockets and material, keep the contents of your bag safe from even the most savvy thieves.
JESSI RHINE/RD.COM
Editor's Pick
Pacsafe Go Anti-Theft Crossbody Bag
This slash-proof crossbody bag is made of recycled fishing nets and plastic bottles.
How we tested it
Sheri Kaz, associate product reviews editor, led the Product Testing Team in their efforts to assess the quality, durability and effectiveness of this Pacsafe crossbody. They were immediately impressed by the overall look and feel of the bag, noting that it seems durable and well-made. However, they did initially question the strap. “There is nothing luxurious about the straps,” observes the Product Testing Team, noting that it feels rough. But in spite of this initial impression, our testers actually found that the bag did not feel uncomfortable or heavy on Kaz’s shoulder. Our testers examined the bag’s locking zippers. They noted that the dock lock, which serves as a lockdown point for zippers, takes a little maneuvering but works well. Meanwhile, the brand’s patented TurnNLock security hook seems durable and easy to use.
Finally, it was time to see what this bag was really made of. To do this, our testers took a box cutter to the strap and fabric. They were amazed to find that there were virtually no marks left behind. With their testing complete, they sent this bag home with tester Jessi Rhine to see how it fares with a real-life user.
Rhine liked the overall look and feel of this bag, noting that it feels similar to a backpack. “It has a great casual look. I rarely dress up so this fits my style,” she says. “And the blue color is pretty neutral. It will match most outfits.” Moreover, she was impressed by the fact that it took her about a week before she noticed the marks left behind by our box cutter. “Not sure how hard you tried cutting it, but it took me about a week until I saw the small score on the front of the bag,” says Rhine. “I think this bag will last.”
Rhine packed up this bag and brought it with her to a local state fair. She found that the durable fabric made this bag slightly heavier than the average bag, but says it was comfortable to wear for the five hours she spent at the fair. “It was great,” she raves. “It was a nice length (adjustable, too) and easy to swing out of the way if bending over.” She also appreciated the fact that this bag is water-resistant since it rained while she was out. “I didn’t have to worry about the items inside,” she says.
Speaking of the inside, Rhine carried her phone, credit card pouch and keys with her. Unfortunately, she found that the RFID pocket was too small for her credit card pouch. In order to make the most of it, she would have had to remove her cards from the pouch. And in spite of the brand suggesting you store your passport in the RFID pocket, Rhine doesn’t believe that a passport would actually fit. The other pockets, however, were a hit. “The other inside padded pocket is perfect for my phone. I like that it’s padded to keep keys away from the phone screen,” Rhine explains.
While the padded interior pocket was perfect for her phone, Rhine would have preferred to stash it in the bag’s outside pocket instead. However, she found that it was too cumbersome to access. “I wish the outside pocket was a little easier to get into because I’d like to use it for my phone,” she explains. “But if I’m going in and out of that pocket a lot, I almost want it less ‘theft proof’ so it’s easy to grab a phone.” She also found that the locking zippers took more effort than she would have liked and opted not to use them on a daily basis. “They add a little bit of fumbling to easily open the bag but I would use them if I was in NYC on the subway,” she says. “It’s nice that you don’t have to lock them if you don’t want to.”
In spite of her general reluctance to spend more than $50 on any bag, Rhine agrees with our Product Testing Team that this Pacsafe crossbody is a good value. “I am not the average girl who likes to have a lot of bags,” she explains. But even she admits that this bag is a great deal, especially considering that this bag can often be found on sale. Our final verdict? The Pacsafe crossbody bag is well-made and has effective anti-theft features that’ll keep all of your belongings safe and secure while you travel.
Pros
- Slash-resistant panels and strap
- RFID-blocking capabilities
- TurnNLock security hook
- Securable zippers
- Sustainably made
- Great value
- Minimalistic, gender-neutral design
Cons
- Interior RFID pocket is on the small side
- Fabric isn’t stain-resistant
JESSI RHINE/RD.COM
Editor's Pick
Pacsafe Go Anti-Theft Crossbody Bag
Our box cutter barely made a mark on the fabric or strap of this gender-neutral bag.
Why you should trust us
At Reader’s Digest, we know how important it is to have peace of mind while you travel, whether you’re embarking on your dream vacation or running errands around town. That’s why we love products that deter thieves like anti-theft bags and zipperless luggage. As a diverse mix of travelers, parents and pet owners who know how easy it is to become distracted or disoriented while out and about, our editors and testers have years of personal experience trying to keep our purses safe and avoid pickpockets. As shopping experts, 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 carefully inspecting 15 anti-theft bags and considering each bag’s anti-theft capabilities, comfort and wearability, durability, capacity and functionality. Several of those hours were spent with the Pacsafe 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. “It’s not a large bag and not too heavy. A man might even wear this as it almost looks like a fanny pack,” says Rhine. “I think if they added an option to convert it to a fanny pack, it would be even more versatile.”
Originally Published: September 10, 2024
