Quick answer: For the strongest protection, a Pacsafe Metrosafe X crossbody (about $150) is hard to beat: steel-mesh slash panels, a cut-resistant strap and lockable zips. For most Australians travelling on a budget, a crossbody with inward-facing or lockable zips and RFID lining does the job for $55–$80. That covers the Pacsafe Go Micro, the Travelon Classic Essential Messenger, and our own Trip Topp bags. What matters most is wearing it in front of you.
Disclosure: Trip Topp sells two of the bags compared below. We've included the brands we compete with because they are genuinely good, and we say where they beat us. Prices were checked on 15 October 2026 at Australian retailers and change often.
What makes a bag "anti-theft"?
Most travel theft is opportunistic. Someone unzips a bag in a crowded metro, lifts a phone from an open pocket, or snatches a bag off a café chair. A good anti-theft bag makes each of those slower or harder. Look for these five features:
- Zips that lock or face your body. This stops the quiet unzip in a crowd, which is the most common pickpocket move.
- A slash-resistant body and strap. Steel mesh or cut-resistant fibre such as Dyneema stops a blade cutting into the bag or through the strap. Only some bags have this.
- RFID-blocking pockets. These shield contactless cards and e-passports from being read at close range.
- A hidden pocket that sits against your back or chest for your passport.
- Crossbody or front carry, so the bag stays in your line of sight.
Anti-theft bags compared
| Bag | Price (AUD) | Size | Zip security | Slash-resistant | RFID | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pacsafe Metrosafe X Compact Crossbody | $149.99 | 3 L, 23 x 16 x 7 cm, 410 g | Lockable zips with locking clip | Yes: steel mesh panels and Dyneema strap | Yes | Maximum protection, high-risk cities |
| Travelon Classic Anti-Theft Essential Messenger | $77.95 on sale (RRP $129.95) | About 25 x 25 x 6 cm, 340 g | Locking compartments | Yes: slash-resistant mesh body and strap | Yes, card organiser | Day trips, a flatter messenger shape |
| Pacsafe Go Anti-Theft Micro Crossbody | $59.99 | 1.5 L, 17.5 x 12.5 x 8 cm, 150 g | Lockable zips | Yes: mesh panel and Dyneema strap | Yes | Phone, cards and passport only |
| Trip Topp TravelGuard Anti-Theft Sling | $74.99 | 6 L, 35 x 18 x 10 cm, fits a 9" tablet | 3-digit combination lock on the main zip | No | No | Carrying more (tablet, power bank), with a USB charging port |
| Trip Topp RFID Anti-Theft Crossbody | $59.99 | Compact crossbody | Hidden zip pulls that tuck in against your body | No | Yes, RFID lining | Everyday travel on a budget, 13 colours |
Where each bag wins
Pacsafe Metrosafe X: best protection
Pacsafe is the benchmark for a reason. The Metrosafe X has steel-mesh "eXomesh" panels, a Dyneema-reinforced strap, lockable zips and a clip that lets you lock the strap around a chair leg. If you're heading somewhere with a known bag-slashing problem, it's worth the extra money. The trade-off is price, at roughly two and a half times our crossbody, and a heavier build.
Travelon Classic Essential Messenger: best flat messenger
Travelon's messenger has slash-resistant mesh in the body panels and strap, plus locking compartments and an RFID card organiser. Its flat shape suits people who prefer a messenger to a sling. At its full price of about $130 it's close to Pacsafe territory, but it's often discounted.
Pacsafe Go Micro: smallest serious option
At 150 g and 1.5 litres, it carries a phone, cards and a passport, and that's all. You still get lockable zips, a cut-resistant strap and RFID blocking for about $60.
Trip Topp TravelGuard: most room and a lock
Our TravelGuard sling is the biggest bag here at 6 litres. It fits a small tablet, a power bank and a water bottle. A 3-digit combination lock seals the main zip, and a USB port lets you charge your phone from a power bank inside the bag. It doesn't have slash-resistant panels. If a knife-wielding thief is your worry, buy the Pacsafe.
Trip Topp RFID Anti-Theft Crossbody: best value for everyday travel
Our crossbody stops the most common theft, the quiet unzip, because its zip pulls face in against your body. It adds RFID lining and a hidden passport pocket, and it comes in 13 colours for $59.99. Like the TravelGuard, it isn't slash-resistant.
Which one should you buy?
- Going to Barcelona, Rome, Paris or another pickpocket hotspot and want the best protection: Pacsafe Metrosafe X.
- Want a lock but need to carry more, like a tablet or power bank: TravelGuard sling.
- Want a light, affordable everyday bag: RFID Anti-Theft Crossbody or Pacsafe Go Micro.
- Prefer to keep your passport under your clothes: pair any bag with a neck pouch or money belt.
Whichever bag you choose, how you wear it matters more than the label. Keep it in front of you on trains and in markets, and never hang it on the back of a chair. For more on this, read our guide to avoiding pickpockets overseas.
Frequently asked questions
Do anti-theft bags actually work?
Yes, against opportunistic theft, which is most travel theft. Locked or hidden zips stop quick unzipping, and slash-resistant panels stop cut-and-grab. No bag stops a determined thief who has time and tools, so wearing it in front of you still matters.
Do I need RFID blocking?
It's cheap insurance rather than a must-have. Real-world RFID skimming is rare, but an RFID pocket costs little, adds no bulk, and protects contactless cards and e-passports from close-range reads.
What size anti-theft bag do I need?
For a phone, cards and passport, 1.5–3 litres is enough. If you also carry a power bank, sunglasses, a water bottle or a small tablet, look at 5–6 litres.
Are anti-theft bags allowed as a personal item on flights?
Yes. A crossbody or sling counts as a small personal item on Qantas, Virgin Australia and Jetstar, as long as it fits under the seat in front. See our 2026 carry-on allowance guide for each airline's limits.
Is Trip Topp's anti-theft bag slash-proof?
No. Our bags rely on locked or inward-facing zips, hidden pockets and RFID lining. If slash protection is a priority, choose a Pacsafe bag with eXomesh panels.