Customer Reviews

Pacsafe MetroSafe 200 Anti-Theft Shoulder Bag

5 star:		(38)
4 star:		(13)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

My husband and I each took Pacsafe bags on our trip to Europe this fall. I took the slightly larger Pacsafe 200 and he used the smaller Pacsafe 100 for his camera. The Pacsafe system provided us with a great peace of mind. We did not have to worry about our bags being slashed or the zippers being opened and our things being taken. In Barcelona at Parc Guell, my husband observed a pick-pocketing team in action. A young girl of about 10 years old walked over to me, looked at my purse and went back to her father and shook her head, as in "I couldn't get anything". That's proof enough for me that these babies work.

The Pacsafe 200 easily held my iPod (the headphone passthrough is great!), cell phone, Canon A720 camera, several guidebooks, a bottle of water, umbrella, rain coat and plenty of other travel "comforts", as well as small purchases made along the way. There is an unprotected pocket on the back that lies against your body. This was great for items like maps and tour tickets that you wanted easy access to without undoing the tamper-proof zippers on rest of the purse. There is a top large section for bigger items, where I stored my rain jacket, camera and guidebooks. The front panel has two slots for electronics (iPod and cell phone) and some slots for pens, as well as a hook for your keys. There are two unprotected side pockets that you can slide a water bottle or umbrella into. I also used this for my camera in safer areas, when I wasn't taking pictures.

I highly recommend the MetroSafe 200 for those who would like a little extra room for their items when traveling, without being weighed down by a huge purse or tote bag. It could be used as an everyday purse for city dwellers. We spent three weeks in Europe and never had to worry that our electronics or our money would be taken. This was well worth the investment to buy this purse for the protection, peace of mind and also functionality and organization that it provided. I will certainly use again when I travel, and it doubles as a nice personal item for the plane.

I bought the MetroSafe handbag months before an international trip. I began using it at home and loved the compartments and practical features. Before I went on my trip, I was paranoid about pickpockets. The MetroSafe kept my valuables safe and gave me peace of mind! I love the ability to secure (latch) the zippers from prying hands, the steel cables in the straps, and the numerous pockets for organization!

The only drawback, if there is one, is that this can't be machine washed.

I've chunked my Coaches, Prada, and designer bags into the closet for special occasions and now use the MetroSafe for practical, every day use. I highly recommend this for anyone who travels, even in your own city....

This bag is well made, so $60 may be a fair price, but I was very disappointed that although the side pockets are touted as space for water bottles, the pockets are WAY too small; I couldn't get even a small bottle into them, but was already on the road by the time I realized the description is misleading. And the big flap that fastens with Velcro, while it may be useful for security, became a pain to be constantly ripping open. I ended up using only the top-zip section. That section is roomy, but I also discovered too late that there are no appropriate pockets in the entire bag for loose cash and ID/credit cards, so I had to put a wallet inside, occupying valuable space. The bag is a good idea but needs serious restructuring.

I bought this bag for a trip to Italy and absolutely love it. As other reviewers have commented, there are lots of pockets for organizing personal items. The size of the bag is perfect - small enough that museums don't make you check it, yet roomy enough to tote everything you'd want for sightseeing. I comfortably carried a camera, guidebook, umbrella, mp3 player, folding hat and water bottle with room to spare for small souvenirs, snacks or other items. (FYI, it is also large enough to fit my husband's netbook computer in the main compartment but I drew the line at toting around his computer on vacation!) I'm puzzled by reviews that say that the side pockets are too small for water bottles. Each side pocket expands by undoing a snap to easily hold a small water bottle or travel umbrella. I wouldn't try to jam a liter-sized bottle in the pocket, but half liter or 20 oz bottles fit just fine. I liked the security provided by the steel cables in the strap and slash-proof lining. The clip-down zipper tabs effectively thwarted sticky fingers on the Metro in Rome. I felt a hand slide under my arm and quickly pulled away when the zipper wouldn't open!

I love this bag! Just got back from trip - it held so much and had a nice long strap for a big woman like me! Easy to sling across so I did not have to worry about it slipping off my shoulder. The anti-theft features gave me extra confidence in crowds. I could always find exactly what I wanted with the organizer compartments. This bag is going everywhere with me from now on!!

I took the Metrosafe 200 on a trip to Paris. The appearance (I got brown) is very nice, and it is a compact but useable size. With regard to the utility, the "safest" pocket is under the flap, in a zipper and clipped compartment. This pocket is very nice, with two small pouches for a phone or camera and a spot for a passport. However, it is pretty inconvenient to access this pocket for items you want to grab out a lot, so ultimately it was not the best place for my camera, or my phone, as I didn't realize how much I grab for my phone, until it was tucked away. So overall, a bit annoying, but I guess that difficult access is the point of the bag. Difficult for you, difficult for pickpockets. The main compartment is a nice size, but has no organizational pockets in it, save for one very loose panel towards the back (no zipper or closure). Thus, I found myself digging around quite a bit for items, and dark fabric interior offered no contrast to help differentiate the jumble of items. The water bottle holders were useful and did hold a standard size bottle. Overall, while I felt my stuff was safe, I was not totally satisfied with the bag. If the main compartment had a few zipper pockets or pouches, it would have been much better.

I used this bag for a trip to Rome in March. I was able to fit my guide book, Nikon D70 (SLR) camera, Italian phrase book, and my MP3 player in the bag. At times I would bring an extra lens, but it was an extremely tight fit, so I wasn't able to carry the guide book. The strap was comfortable; I was able to walk for miles without problems. I even had room on the side to fit an umbrella and a 16 ounce water bottle on the other side. It was small enough that I didn't need to check it at most museums, with the exception of the Borghese Gallery.

I now use it with my 10 inch netbook (Dell Mini 1012), and it fits well. I don't think it would fit a computer bigger than 10 inches, but I haven't tried.

I use the MetroSafe 200 Shoulder Bag to carry my camera and its accessories, plus a few other odds and ends. Overall, this bag is a fine way to help keep valuable stuff secure while traveling.

Things I like:

*The bag does not look like a typical laptop or camera bag.

*Both the strap and the bag itself are reinforced with metal cables or mesh, providing good protection against slashers and cutters.

*The internal pocket zippers can be immobilized by attaching them to a metal hook inside the bag.

*A "turn and lock" strap hook allows the bag to be attached securely to chairs, luggage racks, and other large objects.

*There is a good selection of pockets and pouches, with varying levels of accessibility.

Things I don't like:

*All the metal reinforcement makes the bag and strap a bit stiff and inflexible. This makes it difficult to squish or fold the bag when packing it inside of another piece of luggage.

*The strap does not have a sliding shoulder pad.

*Unless you carry extremely small and slender water bottles (say, the size of a Red Bull can), the external bottle pockets are not large enough to be useful.

*The paint on the lockable strap hook quickly wears off from rubbing against the metal loop it attaches to, leaving the hook without a protective finish.

Bottom line: despite some minor design flaws, the MetroSafe 200 is well constructed and provides good protection for valuable items.

I bought this bag for a trip to Mexico and Europe. I was extremely pleased with the quality, safety and number of pocket sections. My only complaint is that the center compartment does not expand and could be a little wider also I could just about fit a mini umbrella in the side pocket but not a water bottle. I would recommend buying this keeping in mind the two downsides I mentioned.

I bought this bag in preparation for my trip to China because I have had my wallet stolen during international travel before. I did not want a repeat experience so I invested in this bag. During my trip, I fit chapstick, a wallet, a digital camera, a cell phone, a water bottle (sometimes 2 small bottles), my passport, tissues, and even a scarf at one point. It is so well-designed. Every pocket and compartment holds items securely. For example, I knew that when I slid my flimsy airline ticket into the outside pocket, it would not budge an inch. A lot of bags are designed with loose pockets for holding precious items, which leads to fishing around for valuables in urgency - not an ideal situation! I kept commenting on how much I loved my bag during the trip. Also, the strap has a swivel clasp on one end, so the strap is easily untwisted if it becomes twisted. Loved it! I cannot say enough about this bag and I applaud the designers who put a lot of thought into making this bag super safe and functional. The key feature was the clasp that held the zipper shut, putting my mind at ease when strolling along the bustling market streets of China. I knew that my money was not going anywhere. Spend the money to buy this bag and you will not be disappointed. Although a little steeply priced, you are paying for a high-quality bag. The materials are top-notch and the bag is just so compact and structured. Anyway, enough rambling - I give this bags a big thumbs up!