Pacsafe Toursafe Handbag Review

It’s been five weeks since I picked up the Toursafe Handbag, and I’ve been using it almost every time I go out since. I use it when I go to the mall and last weekend, I bought it with me when I traveled to Baguio. I feel I’ve gotten to know the bag now, than when I wrote about my first impression.

One of the things I like most about the Pacsafe Toursafe Handbag is that it looks casual enough for me to take when I travel, yet it doesn’t look too casual for occasions when I need to dress up. I also love how I can adjust the straps so I have the option to tote it like a shoulder bag, or sling it across my body like a messenger bag. The straps of the bag have high-tensile stainless steel wires that make it slashproof. Now, you’d think that having this wires would make the bag uncomfortable to carry. Astonishingly, you can hardly tell the wires are there. The straps are comfortable on the shoulders and doesn’t dig in painfully.

Another security feature of the strap is the snatchproof anchor clip. This allows you to unhook the strap at the base and loop it around a secure object. Say for example you’re in a restaurant. Normally you’d put your bag in an empty seat beside you, or if there isn’t any, put it behind your back or hang it from your chair. Unfortunately, this makes it easy for shady individuals to run off with your bag when you’re not looking. But thanks to the removable strap, you can secure your bag to your chair. Those who will snatch it will surely make a scene since they’ll be dragging the chair (and you) as they attempt to make off with the bag.

The bag also features Pacsafe’s patented eXomesh Slashguard in the lower part of the bag. Similar to the wires in the straps, you can hardly tell they’re there. The Slashguard prevents your belongings from spilling out of the bag in the event someone slashes your bag.

Most of the time I carry my bag like a messenger bag. Before, when I carry a messenger bag, I would usually have the bag slung in front of me to ensure that nobody tries to get something from my bag without me noticing. Thanks to the Toursafe’s tamperproof zipper, I can sling my bag to the back without having to worry about pickpockets. It’s a rather simple security feature: basically you just hook your zipper to ensure that it stays close. Simple as it may sound, the tamper-proof zipper works — even I have a difficult time unhooking the zipper!

The bag is surprisingly roomy. I can fit my Nikon D40 with the 18mm-105mm lens inside and there would still be room for a book or a shawl (or a Prez David!). As I mentioned in my first review, there are several pockets that can hold my cards, my iPod and mobile phone, some girly stuff and two zippered pockets. I love the zippered pockets. I keep my extra money in one, and in the other, bigger pocket, I keep the accessories of my gadgets: cleaning pen, extra battery, extra SD card, earbuds, phone handsfree adaptor.

There’s another zippered pocket outside, which I absolutely love. I can put my wallet, passport and pen there so I wouldn’t have to trouble myself opening the tamperproof zipper whenever I have to pay for something or when I have to go through the airport security checks. The pocket side is designed to be facing your body, so it’s not as easy to get to.

In one side of the bag, there’s a small pocket for a water bottle or a small foldable umbrella. The pocket can be fastened close, so it doesn’t look like it’s bulging out when it’s empty. My only gripe about this pocket is that it’s a bit too short. My 500ml bottle of Propel tumbled out of the pocket a couple of times.

The Pacsafe Toursafe Handbag retails in the Philippines for Php 4,490. Kinda pricey for a handbag, but considering its anti-theft features and the unbelievable comfort of the straps, as well as the bag’s design, it’s definitely worth the investment.

Pacsafe is available in Manila in all Travel Club branches, Brat Pack, Rustan’s, Hahn, ROX, I Studio, I Gig, Flight 360 and Bombproofgear. A huge thank you go out to United Limsun for the bag and the ProSafe 750 lock.