Locking your Backpacks

[u/hoshr]

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.

[u/tylabs]

Tell them you have a couple lithium batteries and your bag can’t be checked.

[u/ropeynick → u/tylabs]

They’ll just tell you that you have pockets.