Pockets, Pockets, Pockets Galore!

October 11, 2007

For any traveler, particularly one in a foreign land, ones documentation and currency are of utmost importance– and the juiciest prizes for would be thieves. There are a few ways to help protect yourself from prying eyes and fingers and this article will detail just a few.

Obviously, there is always the ubiquitous ‘travel pack,’ often times a slim carrying case worn around ones stomach, under ones clothing. I bought one once early on in my travels, and within a few days I realized that it just wasn’t for me. They’re uncomfortable and not very breathable first of all.

Secondly, how much more obvious can you be about passports and money when every time you need either, you have to lift up your shirt and not-very-discreetly open your pack to retrieve it. It just seems like a big ‘Rob Me!’ sign to the world. Discretion is an all important skill while traveling and handling money and passports is the greatest example of this.

Once I graduated from the pack (I can only really imagine the large camera toting, socks and sandals wearing, Tommy Bahama-esque types wearing them now.) I discovered a much easier and reassuring method: zippers! A few years ago I bought some shorts for a trip and on the right side front pocket, there is a zippered pocket sewn into the seam of the shorts. Essentially, it’s a pocket behind the other pocket, and hidden off from the world by a small zipper.

For me, it’s the perfect method. It’s almost impossible for someone to unzip the pocket, slip their fingers in and rush off with any valuable without me noticing. Plus it’s in a convenient, intuitive place for the weary traveler. Add a decoy purse or wallet to the outfit and you are one walking, talking robbery proof individual!

The pocket is big enough to carry a passport and normal wallet or wad of money and it is slim enough that it doesn’t bulge out like an obvious and curious tumor. I use those shorts anytime weather and custom permits. I’m sure any travel store would be only too happy to outfit an intrepid traveler with a whole assortment of clothes with secret, zippered pockets. The added bonus is you feel vaguely like an international spy with such secret compartments on your person.

Another great method, especially if you’re backpacking, are pockets within pockets (preferably, of course, with sturdy zippers). I feel totally confident again carrying any number of important items in my backpack, zippered up in a pocket deep within a pocket deep within yet another pocket.

The more mazelike you make the path to such things, the better. If anyone were to rob me, they would literally have to pick me up and cart me off pulling my backpack and dragging me behind it. The more pockets, while traveling, the better. The more false herrings and deception you can exude to the world, the more likely that you’ll never be robbed of something important. Losing things, of course, is another story.