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The Best Travel Purse

Last updated on March 15, 2024

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For many people, traveling is full of adventure, excitement and joy. You can experience new cultures, food, clothing, customs and traditions while expanding your own knowledge of the world. If your valuables are stolen, that excitement can quickly turn to fear, disappointment, anger and distress.  That’s why whether you’re traveling across the world or across the country, it’s important to keep your belongings safe.

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Regular backpacks and purses are not designed with security features that keep your things safe from pickpockets and thieves. The material of a backpack can easily be slashed with a sharp blade, and zippers can be pried open with pointed objects. As a result, someone else may get their hands on your passport, cash or other valuable items.

In order to keep your travel belongings safe, it’s important to use a bag that is designed specifically with security in mind. A special travel purse is often constructed out of material that cannot be slashed with a knife. In many travel purses, the zippers can be locked and cannot be broken or pried open, keeping your things secure.

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While regular backpacks and purses usually have one main compartment, a travel purse usually comes with several inside pockets. This is a great feature to have because you can organize things like your passport, tickets, cash and other travel documents and keep them safe from prying hands.

Another key benefit of travel purses is that they are often inconspicuous and don’t make you look like a tourist. This feature helps keep you safe as thieves and pickpockets may not pin you as someone that has great valuables in their purse. If you look like a tourist, you may attract negative attention from people who are looking to take advantage of you. Being able to blend in with the locals can provide you with an additional level of security that a regular backpack or purse cannot.

Our Picks For The Top Travel Purses

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Product Overview
Our Take
 Top Pick

CLUCI Zippered Pockets Multifunctional Travel Purse

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CLUCI

Zippered Pockets Multifunctional Travel Purse

Elegant is the best word to describe this leather travel purse. In addition to being fashionable, the purse is outfitted with three inner pockets, two side pockets and one front zipper pocket. You can even get the purse in 45 different colors, such as gray, wine red, vintage yellow and two-toned blue.

Overall Take

Stylish and FunctionalThis travel purse can be worn over the shoulder or as a backpack.

 Runner Up

Telena Water-Resistant Faux Leather Travel Purse

Telena

Water-Resistant Faux Leather Travel Purse

Whether you're taking a family vacation or meeting a client, this travel purse has you covered. It's made using a durable and stylish PU leather that's also water-resistant. Ladies will find the purse can hold a everything from a tablet to an extra change of clothing to a bag of makeup. There are even nine total pockets to keep everything neat and ...

Overall Take

Fits a TabletThis travel purse can also be used by new moms as a diaper bag.

 We Also Like

WATERFLY Nylon One-Shoulder Sling Travel Purse

WATERFLY

Nylon One-Shoulder Sling Travel Purse

The crossbody sling on this travel purse can be worn over either shoulder. The bag features two large pockets for your iPad, books or a change of clothes, as well as a smaller cell phone pocket built right into the sling. You'll also find such extras as an earphone hole, water bottle holder and an umbrella pocket.

Overall Take

Multiple Color OptionsYou'll find this travel purse comes in a wide variety of colors, including navy blue, mint green, red and purple.

 Strong Contender

LOVEVOOK Anti-Theft USB Port Travel Purse

LOVEVOOK

Anti-Theft USB Port Travel Purse

Spacious is the best word to describe this travel purse. It has room to fit a 15.6-inch laptop, as well as all your notebooks, water bottles and personal care items. A back anti-theft pocket is also included to protect your valuables.

Overall Take

Built-In TechThe straps and back of this travel purse are padded for comfort during transport.

What to Look For

  • One of the most important elements to research when searching for a travel bag is its security features. If your travel purse doesn’t have the specific features you need, it will not be able to keep your valuable items safe from pickpockets and thieves. Some models are made out of slash-resistant material. This applies to both the body of the bag, as well as the strap. As a result, someone cannot tear open the bag or cut the strap while you’re wearing it. In addition, the two bags have an adjustable shoulder strap that can be secured to a pole or chair in order to keep your bag from getting taken by someone else. These bags also have RFID blocking card slots, which means that online identity thieves cannot scan your credit cards and passport while they are in those special pockets. Models made out of a durable, water-resistant cowhide leather will hold up nicely against the elements.
  • Your travel purse needs to hold a number of important items, including your passport and travel documents, credit cards and cash, and devices like phones and tablets. Depending on your needs, you may want to get a bag that has a large main compartment with many inside pockets. As a result, you can keep all of your valuables organized. This way, it’s easy to see if anything is missing at a glance.
  • Consider a bag that has a main compartment and several smaller compartments. Check that the main compartment can be locked, so that pickpockets cannot steal your valuables from there. Other bags come with a large main compartment and several smaller outside compartments.
  • While many people prefer to wear their travel purses crossbody for added security, it’s nice to be able to have the flexibility to wear your travel purse as a shoulder bag as well. Bags that come with adjustable straps are also nice, so that you can choose how you want to wear the purse.
  • While traveling, you may be wearing your travel purse for many hours a day while you see the sights your destination has to offer. That’s why it’s important to select a bag that offers comfort.
  • For many travelers, it’s important to be able to showcase their personal style while on the road. Many travel purses come in multiple colors and patterns, so you can choose the one that best suits you.

More to Explore

When you’re on the road, you can’t rely only on your travel purse to keep your belonging safe. It’s best to be aware of your surroundings and travel smartly. One of the most important travel safety tips is to always do your research on a place before you visit it. Understand which areas are dangerous at certain times of day and should be avoided.

Many experienced travelers keep their belonging in more than one place. For example, they may keep some cash in their shoes, some in their money belt and some in their travel purse. In the event their travel purse gets stolen, they still have cash available they can use. If all your valuables are in one location, you open yourself up to more risk as they can all be stolen at the same time.

When you’re planning on napping on a bus, train or taxi, be sure to tether your travel purse with your valuables to yourself or to your seat. This way, you cannot be stolen from while you snooze. Many travel purses come with extendable straps designed specifically for this purpose. You can use something simple like a carabiner clip and attach your purse to a part of your clothing or your seat belt.

More to explore