Best Travel Purse?

I don't use a purse, not my thing as a straight guy.

I have a cheap smaller walk around zipper bag for when out. Perhaps, wet wipes for cleaning hands off. Sunglasses, perhaps a paper map. In some countries even TP in my bag when out and about. Maybe sun block in that zipper bag. If someone swipes this junk I will not lose sleep over it.

My wallet and passport is another thing! I like pants (trousers) that have side pockets with Velcro or zippers for some things. (On plane and in airports I have found passports that were dropped by passengers somehow.) My passport is in a pouch thing on a cord. The cord is attached to a D-ring sewn inside my side pocket.

Having zippers, Velcro or at least button flaps for trousers makes me feel better. I do the same thing on my walk around hiking shorts used in warm places. I have used trousers with small "secret" pockets sewn inside. I try not to grab for my wallet all the time looking for cash. I sometimes put coins in a side pocket and paper money in my shirt pocket. Small bills for cheap things. If I need a big bill for something expensive I look around first to see who is near. If needed I step inside a bathroom to get some cash out of my wallet.

Many, many years ago I noticed that some coins had slid out of my side pockets when sitting. I was thinking that this could have been some keys or something important - so I had a few more stitches put in at the low end of the pocket. About 1/2 inch, 3/4 inch to make the opening not so big.

For safety with a sling bag, or any bag hanging off your shoulder, avoid walking bag side closest to to the curb. Long time ago when I was was living in Vietnam sometimes motorbikes would come by slowly in idle and the back passenger would grab the bag and they take off with it! Rip-off!

Good luck.

Edit. Was having problems with my off and on wifi. Just noticed the original post was a little old.

Went through the work so might as well leave it be!

[ Edit: Edited on 5 Aug 2024, 22:55 GMT by karazyal ]

I find that if I don't have something attached to me, that I will leave it someplace. And now I dont have hands to hold onto things anyway as I have a death grip on my walker.

Originally I had the largest bum bag that LL Bean made and I could put a wallet, water, camera etc. in it. And the zippers had little lanyards on them which I could put my thumbs into and it would keep the zipper from being opened.. In 1992 when I was in Segovia with my mom and the gypsies were trying to sell us tablecloths draped over their arms, I didn't lose anything, and neither did my mom (she had a heavy metal folding cane which she was swinging in a wide arc around herself saying NO NO NO!!!) but one of the girls with us had her gold card stolen for the 3rd time on that trip from a small bag on her chest.

I have been really lucky not to have any problem that way. Maybe I don't look like I would be worth stealing from. I carry my passport and one credit card and one debit card and my cell phone in a little bag around my neck often under my clothes. I have my DSLR camera on a camera vest to keep the weight off my neck and I am also wearing a hat with a chin strap. I will also have a small bum bag - enough for a small water bottle, and extra camera batteries. And I am riding a small mobility scooter. Back at the hotel is my laptop, other cards, copies of my passport etc.

Bob's photo of me

[ Edit: Edited on 6 Aug 2024, 19:41 GMT by greatgrandmaR ]

Hi. We don't camp any more but do a lot of walking/hiking. I use a cross-body bag that has RFID blocking and is slash proof with metal cables in the strap. They come in all sizes and mine is probably larger than you want because I carry my camera and some painting equipment in it. Look for one of the smaller ones but be sure you can fasten it to yourself, i.e. cross body, fanny pack or cross body sling. You want to make it look like a nuisance to steal. Anything can be stolen but most thieves will look for the easiest victim.

Try TravelSmith.com, Magellans or https://baggallini.com as they have quite a selection.