how paranoid should one really be?

After reading a bunch of travel web pages, I decided to arm myself with
one of these expensive "slash proof" backpacks. Personally, I think
it's beyond paranoid, but so many people say that they've had their
backpacks or bags taken from them in seconds by someone walking by with
a knife and yanking on the strap. I also got a slash-proof camera strap.

The places I'm traveling are Hamburg (and surrounding areas), up through
Denmark to Copenhagen, Latvia (Riga and Daugavpils) and a one day
lay-over (no pun intended) in Amsterdam.

I decided that the cost of the backpack was easily outweighed by the
replacement costs of the contents it will be carrying. What's the
general consensus around here? How paranoid should one really be?

Regards,
Bruce

Bruce Dumes wrote:

After reading a bunch of travel web pages, I decided to arm myself with
one of these expensive "slash proof" backpacks. Personally, I think
it's beyond paranoid, but so many people say that they've had their
backpacks or bags taken from them in seconds by someone walking by with
a knife and yanking on the strap. I also got a slash-proof camera strap.

The places I'm traveling are Hamburg (and surrounding areas), up through
Denmark to Copenhagen, Latvia (Riga and Daugavpils) and a one day
lay-over (no pun intended) in Amsterdam.

I decided that the cost of the backpack was easily outweighed by the
replacement costs of the contents it will be carrying. What's the
general consensus around here? How paranoid should one really be?

I think you're being too paranoid. Mild vigilance will be all you need
with a normal backpack. Besides, the cities you mentioned don't have a
particularly bad reputation for crime...

--
(*) ... of the royal duchy of city south and deansgate
http://www.davidhorne.net - real address on website
"Abominable, loyal, blind, apparently subservient."
Pres. Carter on Ex-Pres. Blair- May, 2007

On Aug 8, 3:21 pm, Bruce Dumes wrote:
After reading a bunch of travel web pages, I decided to arm myself with
one of these expensive "slash proof" backpacks. Personally, I think
it's beyond paranoid, but so many people say that they've had their
backpacks or bags taken from them in seconds by someone walking by with
a knife and yanking on the strap. I also got a slash-proof camera strap.

The places I'm traveling are Hamburg (and surrounding areas), up through
Denmark to Copenhagen, Latvia (Riga and Daugavpils) and a one day
lay-over (no pun intended) in Amsterdam.

I decided that the cost of the backpack was easily outweighed by the
replacement costs of the contents it will be carrying. What's the
general consensus around here? How paranoid should one really be?

Regards,
Bruce


Someone comes up to me with a knife that's sharp enough to slash the
straps to my backpack? They can have the pack. I don't want anyone
to slash me. Just be careful and don't store all your money and
credit cards in one place. Make sure you have a photo of your
passport.

PeterL wrote:

On Aug 8, 3:21 pm, Bruce Dumes wrote:
After reading a bunch of travel web pages, I decided to arm myself with
one of these expensive "slash proof" backpacks. Personally, I think
it's beyond paranoid, but so many people say that they've had their
backpacks or bags taken from them in seconds by someone walking by with
a knife and yanking on the strap. I also got a slash-proof camera strap.

The places I'm traveling are Hamburg (and surrounding areas), up through
Denmark to Copenhagen, Latvia (Riga and Daugavpils) and a one day
lay-over (no pun intended) in Amsterdam.

I decided that the cost of the backpack was easily outweighed by the
replacement costs of the contents it will be carrying. What's the
general consensus around here? How paranoid should one really be?

Regards,
Bruce


Someone comes up to me with a knife that's sharp enough to slash the
straps to my backpack? They can have the pack. I don't want anyone
to slash me. Just be careful and don't store all your money and
credit cards in one place. Make sure you have a photo of your
passport.

Storing the photo online is a better idea.

--
(*) ... of the royal duchy of city south and deansgate
http://www.davidhorne.net - real address on website
"Abominable, loyal, blind, apparently subservient."
Pres. Carter on Ex-Pres. Blair- May, 2007

"Bruce Dumes" wrote in message
...
After reading a bunch of travel web pages, I decided to arm myself with
one of these expensive "slash proof" backpacks. Personally, I think it's
beyond paranoid, but so many people say that they've had their backpacks
or bags taken from them in seconds by someone walking by with a knife and
yanking on the strap. I also got a slash-proof camera strap.

The places I'm traveling are Hamburg (and surrounding areas), up through
Denmark to Copenhagen, Latvia (Riga and Daugavpils) and a one day lay-over
(no pun intended) in Amsterdam.

I decided that the cost of the backpack was easily outweighed by the
replacement costs of the contents it will be carrying. What's the general
consensus around here? How paranoid should one really be?

The main place you're at risk is the airport, and from baggage handlers
rather than itinerant slashers. These days most cops take a very dim view
of people meandering about airports with sharp knives...

I assume that you don't intend doing any serious walking about with the
back-pack.

With any luggage what happens when you load features onto it is that the
weight goes up.

Can you live with your projected load plus an armoured rucksack?

--
William Black


I've seen things you people wouldn't believe.
Barbeques on fire by the chalets past the castle headland
I watched the gift shops glitter in the darkness off the Newborough gate
All these moments will be lost in time, like icecream on the beach
Time for tea.

With any luggage what happens when you load features onto it is that the
weight goes up.

This thing is surprisingly well made (should be for the money). It's
actually lighter than my regular backpack.

Bruce

Bruce Dumes wrote:

With any luggage what happens when you load features onto it is that the
weight goes up.

This thing is surprisingly well made (should be for the money). It's
actually lighter than my regular backpack.

You won't need it. Violent theft from tourists is extremely rare in
these countries.

--
(*) ... of the royal duchy of city south and deansgate
http://www.davidhorne.net - real address on website
"Abominable, loyal, blind, apparently subservient."
Pres. Carter on Ex-Pres. Blair- May, 2007

On Aug 8, 6:21 pm, Bruce Dumes wrote:
After reading a bunch of travel web pages, I decided to arm myself with
one of these expensive "slash proof" backpacks. Personally, I think
it's beyond paranoid, but so many people say that they've had their
backpacks or bags taken from them in seconds by someone walking by with
a knife and yanking on the strap.


Where, in Rio de Janeiro or Nairobi?

You're going to some of the safest cities in the world. No one gets
their bag slashed in Hamburg or Copenhagen. The worst thing that
happens in any of the cities you're visiting is pickpocketing (in Riga
and Amsterdam), so just watch out for that and you'll be fine.

I also got a slash-proof camera strap.


The only thing you really need is a money belt.

The places I'm traveling are Hamburg (and surrounding areas), up through
Denmark to Copenhagen, Latvia (Riga and Daugavpils) and a one day
lay-over (no pun intended) in Amsterdam.

I decided that the cost of the backpack was easily outweighed by the
replacement costs of the contents it will be carrying. What's the
general consensus around here? How paranoid should one really be?


How paranoid depends on where you're visiting. I've been to places
like Mexico and China where I was very careful about theft. But there
would be no reason to walk around Japan or Switzerland with a
slashproof backpack. Almost all of Western Europe is very safe. A
good way to avoid problems (and this includes losing things or getting
them damaged as well as the possibility of theft) is not to carry
valuables on your trips in the first place - don't take a laptop if
you don't really need to, for example.

"David Horne, _the_ chancellor (*)" wrote in message
...

Storing the photo online is a better idea.

I load the lot onto a memory stick, along with my 'portable apps' suite and
fasten it to my mobile phone.

When travelling I wear it around my neck with the phone and chip dropped
into my front shirt pocket.


--
William Black


I've seen things you people wouldn't believe.
Barbeques on fire by the chalets past the castle headland
I watched the gift shops glitter in the darkness off the Newborough gate
All these moments will be lost in time, like icecream on the beach
Time for tea.

William Black wrote:

"David Horne, _the_ chancellor (*)" wrote in message
...

Storing the photo online is a better idea.

I load the lot onto a memory stick, along with my 'portable apps' suite and
fasten it to my mobile phone.

When travelling I wear it around my neck with the phone and chip dropped
into my front shirt pocket.

To be extremely pessimistic, that could all be stolen. I advise an
online solution as well. It's easy and safe to do.

--
(*) ... of the royal duchy of city south and deansgate
http://www.davidhorne.net - real address on website
"Abominable, loyal, blind, apparently subservient."
Pres. Carter on Ex-Pres. Blair- May, 2007