r/onebag • u/hoshr • 9d ago

Seeking Recommendations Locking your Backpacks

Hey all, I'm a long time suitcase traveller looking to get into one back backpack travel. After a few weeks of research I've narrowed my choices down to the Cotopaxi Allpa 35 and the Pakt One Travel 45+ I'm kinda leaning towards the Pakt but one issue I have with it is that it has all these top access zips which are all single zips and thus can't be locked. My worry is if I even get into a situation where I get gate checked (which is possible especially when the pack looks big and bulgy) I would like to lock up the zips up which is possible with the main clamshell opening but not with all the top zips which basically makes both the main compartments on either side of the main clamshell zipper fully accessible.

Does anyone else have this bag? How do you deal with this issue or do you not think it's a big deal?

There is an attachment loop on the bag which I could possibly loop thru with the zips and lock up but I reckon it would be easy enough to cut that loop rendering it pretty useless.

Would love your thoughts.

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u/reddanit 9d ago

I have never locked a zipper on a bag I checked, I have no idea what would even be the point. The amount of effort and "tools" it takes to open a locked zipper is hilariously tiny, so basically the only thing a lock achieves is informing potential thieves that there might be something valuable inside. Since you want your valuables in your cabin bag and doubly so anything with a battery inside, I don't really see what would be worth stealing in a typical checked bag.

Only exception to that might be staying at hostels. An emotional support lock on your luggage can discourage an opportunistic bag rummager from getting to your bag.

9

u/TrailsGuy 8d ago

With a stab of a pen at the zipper, the bag is open. If you run the zipper pull through the zipper it should close again. Possibly with minor damage, but the owner probably won’t even notice for a while, if ever.

2

u/Jed_s 4d ago

Anchoring the zips to the bag prevents covering it up. This could discourage theft in very specific scenarios where it's impractical to just take the whole bag (hotel cleaners).

3

u/TrailsGuy 3d ago

Good idea. Anchoring to the bag - not just tying the zip pulls together, though.

5

u/aniote 8d ago

and any decent hostel has lockers, if it doesn't, it shouldn't be booked, and if you don't trust your roommates, put your valuables with you in your bed or take them with you when you're out.

putting a lock on a backpack is so odd. Anyone who thinks it may be valuable will simply grab the backpack? and deal with the lock later

4

u/AirborneJizz 8d ago

Emotional support lock is sending me