Any security advantage to brass zippers vs nylon? My son and I leave JFK May 20 for J-burg( then on to Maun). His bag has nylon zippers- should we get something with metal zippers to slow the thieves? Or is any type zipper equally vulnerable? Thanks in advance, this will be our first trip over and we have learned much by reading this forum the past year.

I really can't answer your question re: type of zippers, but I've flown to Africa 8 times all with a nylon zippered duffel bag. The only time I had a problem was when the folks at British Air in Joberg flat out lied to me about my bags making a connecting flight. Although they told me my bags were on the flight they weren't. My guns arrived the next day and my duffel bag 2 days later. With my bag sitting around in Joberg all that time someone had opened the bag and closed it again. The only thing taken was a toy that I was bringing over for the PH's year old daughter. I guess the thief must have had a young child.

Theft is certainly a problem at Joberg, but it's not like everyone has stuff stolen from their bags. I had a flashlight stolen from one of my bags in Minneapolis by a thief working for Delta. What really bugs me is the fact that the airlines do little to combat such activities.

diptek

Both can be opened with a ball point pen so one is not better than the other as far as theft provention is concerned but I think the heavy metal zippers hold up better under regular use.

Mark

Mark,

Have you ever tried to open a brass zipper on a Filson bag with a pen? Wouldn't be as easy nor as fast as opening a nylon zipper in that fashion. A thief will look for the easiest, most vulnerable bag and bypass the tough ones.

I've been using the Filson bags for 18 years into and out of africa and other countries and nobody has ever opened my bags with a pen. Given enough time and the right tools I can get into any bag, but that's not really the point, is it?

Mike,

The question actually came up a couple of years ago when a client was considering buying one of those Filson wheeled duffels. I was pretty sure that it would be difficult to open the Filson with a pen so I tried my Filson. It was very disappointing to find how easy it was to open the bag. Plastic zippers might be easier to open but then again maybe the more expensive Filson bag will indicate to a thief that there might be more valuable items inside. I don't think there is one universal answer on how to avoid theft. Even a hard sided case can be a problem if it won't fit in a charter plane.

Mark

quote:

Originally posted by MARK H. YOUNG:
Mike,

The question actually came up a couple of years ago when a client was considering buying one of those Filson wheeled duffels. I was pretty sure that it would be difficult to open the Filson with a pen so I tried my Filson. It was very disappointing to find how easy it was to open the bag. Plastic zippers might be easier to open but then again maybe the more expensive Filson bag will indicate to a thief that there might be more valuable items inside. I don't think there is one universal answer on how to avoid theft. Even a hard sided case can be a problem if it won't fit in a charter plane.

Mark

That client was me and thanks for checking back then. We bought some duffles (sorry can't remember the brand) on sale at REI at the time that had a metal D-ring in the fabric and metal zippers so you could put a cable type TSA lock through the zippers and D-ring so the pen trick can not work or if it does work they can't run the zipper tabs and re-close the bag.

The duffles have held up well to lots of travel since.

Sadly, the best answer is have nothing in your checked baggage worth stealing.

My hard-sided case went to the Zambezi Valley last year on the charter. But, if that is a problem, why not just pack an empty duffle in your suit case and transfer your belongings when getting ready to charter, leaving your hard-side behind until you return? The theft most likely won't be occurring on the charter or in camp. Same with the tuff pak, if you can't take it on the charter, take your soft sided gun cases.

Vaughn,

The repacking would put me off but your method would work. I just remember going into the valley quite a few year back. The other couple that shared our charter had a array of Samsonite and the pilot was grumbling heartily.

Mark

Mark,

Thanks for the info, I've never tried it on a Filson.

I have, on most charters, left my TuffPak with the outfitters representative and had it delivered back to me upon my return from the bush. Never been an issue and apparently a very common practice. Only on the larger charter aircraft has my TuffPak accompanied me into the bush.

It will be my TuffPak and Filson again this August.

Do you put your ammo box in the Filson or check it separate?

SSR