Aside from the Toughpak and various hard sided type luggage, is there any canvas type duffel bags that are hella stout? Specifically the zippers and zipper teeth.

I've had two Cabela's Outback Series Premium Canvas duffel bags broken into on my past two trips.

The first duffel bag they cut the zipper tabs on the side of the zippers so they could remove the lock and pilferage.

Second bag they stuck something between the zipper teeth and basically unzipped the duffel. Stole some items, and then wrapped the duffel in tape so the rest of my belongings didn't spill out in transit (didn't work well).... wonderful site to see at the luggage claim conveyor belt.

I've never seen a bag the bastards can't get into.

I prefer to keep as many of my valuables in my carry on and/or ammo case or rifle case as possible and have the my checked bags as heavily shrink wrapped as possible.

It won't stop the thieves but it does usually deter them so they're more inclined to look for an easier bag to open.

Use feminine colored luggage. I'd suspect most thieves aren't looking for ladies panties and that is what they might believe if you had pink floral luggage.

quote:

I prefer to keep as many of my valuables in my carry on and/or ammo case or rifle case as possible and have the my checked bags as heavily shrink wrapped as possible.

It won't stop the thieves but it does usually deter them so they're more inclined to look for an easier bag to open.

quote:

Use feminine colored luggage. I'd suspect most thieves aren't looking for ladies panties and that is what they might believe if you had pink floral luggage.

Two solid suggestions. Ya'd think some shrink wrap wouldn't be much of a physical deterrent but it's always worked for me. Plus I've most most nondescript old, torn ragged Parachute bag immaginable; the high $$$, monogrammed (great bags) from Cablea's attract attention like a neon sign.

Also when using Jo-Berg as a transit airport, if you have a longish-sh-sh layover (I know it's a PITA) but I collect my luggage (unless the conncection is less than 3.5-4 hrs). Simply reduces the time it's in their possession.

The problem is whatever you put in your checked baggage adds up in value and you KNOW if stuff does get stolen, you'll never get true value back from the insurance companies.

WOW - I guess I should just throw all my duffel bags away and do something else? D99 - What a really dumb statement "that duffel bags are not worth traveling with".

I have used my Red Oxx duffel bags, usually three along with a Tuff Pak for over 25 out of Country trips with no probllems whatsoever. No broken zippers, no theft, no damage. All the valuables are by common sense carried in the carry on "duffel".

But since you said they were "no good" will just dump them all in the trash I guess. Heh, right!! Geez.

Larry Sellers
SCI Life Member

quote:

Originally posted by D99:
Pelican and good old Samsonite.

Duffel bags are not worth travelling with.

Ann,
Loved your advice. I wonder what sort of stir pink or lavender floral print cases would cause in camp? The PH of course would have to keep his mouth shut, but the camp boys would certainly be doing some tittering. Good entertainment, keep 'em guessing.

D99, who's the dumbass? I don't see any post in this thread where anyone is bitching about high dollar items stolen. Apparently you're reading too much into it and assuming?

Obviously I didn't pack high dollar items in my checked luggage. Items stolen consisted of a pair of boots, fleece jacket, and an inexpensive Boker pocket knife.

Irregardless of luggage content and value (or lack there of) it's still infuriating.

I don't think there is a good choice as far as luggage goes. You can buy Pelican cases as suggested and they will be pretty much burglar proof but if you are transferring to a charter you probably want to pack a duffel inside your Pelican and transfer the contents to the duffel for the flight. The downside is the Pelican case is heavy in itself and the extra duffel also adds weight and takes up gear space. Finally transferring your kit to the duffel is a PITA.

I don't think Samsonite is a real alternative unless they are tougher than they used to be. We bought two full size Samsonites for regular travel and they had the corners bashed completely in after justed a couple of domestic trips. So we are still stuck with the duffel as the most practical safari luggage. The only thing I can think of that will help is to not make them look attractive as others have mentioned. In my case our duffels are so beat up and dirty that a thief might not want to even touch them let alone pilfer them. I absolutely agree that new expensive bags with monogrammed initials scream "there is furtune in here".

Mark

????????

Your last post made no sense at all????

Jeeez - I mentioned I use Red Oxx, just like others mention, Pelican, Samsonite, Cabela's, Filson and such. So don't think a simple mention of a brand name is quite an "Advertisement Billboard" by any stretch?

I guess you failed to really read my post?? I stated all my expensive, breakable items go in a CARRY ON DUFFEL, with small locks. It sits right above me in the overhead bin, so don't think there is much chance my CARRY ON DUFFEL will be subject to pilferage. Just for you D99, it's a Red Oxx too!!

Larry Sellers
SCI Life Member

quote:

Originally posted by D99:
Larry, I am not the dumb-ass putting my high dollar stuff in a duffel bag and then bitching like an idiot when my stuff is stolen.

Just because you and your Red-Ox advertisment billboard have been free from pilferage doesn't mean it will continue to happen.

Binoculars, cameras and anything of value goes in my carry on. Anything made of fabric or food items goes in a duffel if your going to take one. Carry on, weather fabric, samonsite, or pelican has a much less chance of being stolen or broken into than stuff that goes through baggage apes.

Larry, can I have your Red Oxx bags

Matt - You can definitely have them just as soon as D99 convinces me that they are worthless. But don't hold your breath as I don't see that happening anytime soon.

Larry Sellers
SCI Life Member

quote:

Originally posted by matt u:
Larry, can I have your Red Oxx bags

Good ideas here and for certain Joburg airport is the perfect "testing ground" if ever there was one.

NO zipper closure is secure. Any zipper can be opened with a ball point pen.

If you want security, buy hardsided bags by Haliburton. In several million miles of world travel, I never had one defeated. And, believe me, they tried.

On a dead head from Miami to San Francisco several years ago, I loaded a brand new Haliburton three suiter on Pan Am. (May they rest in peace). When I recovered the bag at SFO ,it had been pried and chisled. The corners were bent. It was jammed so badly I had to take it to a Mill Valley locksmith to get it opened, but the scumbags didn't steal a thing.

They cost a lot, but I traveled with three different bags over about 25 years and never had a successful theft take place.

Zippers are a joke.

I guess D99 chose to leave us? Oh well.

1st it's duffel bags that are wortless now zippers are a joke. JD - I know you have traveled a lot, more than most I would suspect, but I bet 95% ++ of the personal luggage carried by the airlines have zippers of somekind.

Are zippers foolproof, not hardly. Some are a whole lot better than others however and a lot harder for the crooks to get into. There is no absolute in preventing theft these day anywhere so until someone comes up with this magical invention I guess zippers are what we deal with? Since "zippered luggage" makes up the bulk of luggage, it's just common sense that the most theft would occur from "zippered luggage".

The "actual" number of bags ripped off as a percentage of bags carried is really pretty small. Doesn't mean we have to like it when it happens. You probably have a greater chance of having your 4 X 4 vehicle stolen in Albuquerque than you have the same happening to your checked bag on an airline?

Larry Sellers
SCI Life Member

quote:

Originally posted by jetdrvr:

On a dead head from Miami to San Francisco several years ago, I loaded a brand new Haliburton three suiter on Pan Am. (May they rest in peace). When I recovered the bag at SFO ,it had been pried and chisled. The corners were bent. It was jammed so badly I had to take it to a Mill Valley locksmith to get it opened, but the scumbags didn't steal a thing.

Which should we watch out for ? Miami or San Francisco ? or are they both as bad as each other for theft ?

+1 on Red Oxx, many,many miles with no problem. I really do like the floral idea though. Never thought of that.

High dollar items in the carry-on, rest goes in the old fashioned GI sea bag. Padlock thru the top, no zippers, and if they want something, they just have to steal the bag or knife it open. 40 years without a problem.

Blank you hit it on the head. If they can't break into the bag and want what's inside bad enough they will just take the whole bag.

My thought, just use good quality zippered bags, pack wisely, and most likely you will be fine. As I said before, there is no way to be absolutely sure you won't lose something, but don't worry to a point that it ruins your trip.

Larry Sellers
SCI Life Member

quote:

Originally posted by Blank:
High dollar items in the carry-on, rest goes in the old fashioned GI sea bag. Padlock thru the top, no zippers, and if they want something, they just have to steal the bag or knife it open. 40 years without a problem.

quote:

Originally posted by Blank:
High dollar items in the carry-on, rest goes in the old fashioned GI sea bag. Padlock thru the top, no zippers, and if they want something, they just have to steal the bag or knife it open. 40 years without a problem.

There's a lot to be said for those and I have one myself..... although we call them army kitbags but the same thing. The only problem with them is that you have to unpack everything to get to whatever's in the bottom.

In recent years, I've found the best solution is plenty of shrink wrapping.

Naive question - I haven't been overseas a whole lot, but I have made a couple of trips to central Asia with no baggage problems. When are the bags to Africa being broken into? When do thieves have access while the bags are out of your control? Is this the baggage handlers doing this?

It happens at pretty much all airports pretty much anywhere in the world but one of the worst places in Africa is Johannesburg Airport and yes, it's mostly the baggage handlers and/or aircraft loaders..... Amongst the other culprits are often lost and found agents and I believe in the US, occasionally TSA agents.

Don't know if it's still the case but Heathrow Airport in the UK also used to be especially bad and for many years has been nicknamed Thiefrow.

I wonder how a Cobra would work as a burglar alarm.

quote:

Originally posted by shakari:
I believe in the US, occasionally TSA agents.

Unfortunately I agree with you. The only time we have ever had things missing from our luggage, including flights to Mexico is then there is the sweet little note from TSA in the luggage informing us they have inspected it.

I guess when you give a large group like that keys to cases and carte blanche to use 'em then you're bound to get some bad apples who are gonna steal what they can.

Most duffles have self-repairing nylon zippers. These can be opened easily with ball point pen trick. I've used Filson bags for 15 years without a problem. They use heavy duty BRASS zippers which are 100% better. They also stand behind their products and clothing. Expensive but truely heavy duty luggage.

Filson - "might as well have the best"

I have purchased in the last 6 months a set of hard side Samsonite luggage for me and my wife that have NO ZIPPERS. They are also equipped with built in TSA combination locks. After the last trip to Africa and the bastards stealing about 2K in cameras, etc., from our carry on luggage that was locked and stowed underneath the plane at the very last minute and at the insistence of the SAA airline stewardesses, I switched to the new Samsonite hard side, no zippered luggage. It's not cheap, but it doesn't give the thugs the chance to pop the zippers (as they can do on any zippered luggage) and steal anything that they want in a few seconds, zip it back up (those good old self sealing zippers!) and you usually don't discover the theft until you get home.

quote:

Originally posted by Use Enough Gun:
I have purchased in the last 6 months a set of hard side Samsonite luggage for me and my wife that have NO ZIPPERS. They are also equipped with built in TSA combination locks. After the last trip to Africa and the bastards stealing about 2K in cameras, etc., from our carry on luggage that was locked and stowed underneath the plane at the very last minute and at the insistence of the SAA airline stewardesses, I switched to the new Samsonite hard side, no zippered luggage. It's not cheap, but it doesn't give the thugs the chance to pop the zippers (as they can do on any zippered luggage) and steal anything that they want in a few seconds, zip it back up (those good old self sealing zippers!) and you usually don't discover the theft until you get home.

UEG

I was given a set (suitcase and smaller carry-on) for Christmas last year.. really sturdy and tough. No zippers and there is the built in TSA locks for ease of use. My only complaint is that the full size suitcase is HEAVY. You can get over the baggage weight limit in a hurry.

I had a FILSON duffle broke into last year in Joburg while there in transit to Zim. I didn't find out til I was in the B&B in Harare 3 hrs later. They took a 100$ North Face camelbak, a few knives and multi-tools and a few articles of clothing. Nothing of too much value, but it pisses you off to no end, nonetheless.

I gave the new hard side luggage a test run last month through Joburg.. so far, so good..held up great and no signs of trying to get in. Round two coming up shortly in Oct.

I'd like to get my hands on one of those theiving bastards. Theives are the worst.

Any record of Tuffpacks being broken into?
Peter.

Peter - Not that I have ever heard of. I know mine has never shown evidence of any attempt to be broken into. I think it would be nearly impossible to breakin to one. You could saw it in half I guess or drill the lock out, but that would take lots of time, equipment and effort. Most crooks would not have much of any of that.

Larry Sellers
SCI Life Member

quote:

Originally posted by Peter:
Any record of Tuffpacks being broken into?
Peter.

If it's got a lock, it can be either unlocked, decoded or picked.... and usual tool of choice is a swiss army knife..... or more accurately, one side of the scissors on a swiss army knife.

I understand padlocks, (dependent on quality) are more difficult but even they can be picked given enough time.

I should say, I've seen film of locks on suitcases, including Samsonite picked in less than two minutes for BOTH locks.

We used Pelican1610 cases last year. [Huge capacity but heavy. Packed carefully came in Just under the 50lb limit.]

We got these to prevent the Joburg thefts [while I had never had a problem previously]
On return, the wimpy TSA locks we had used were gone, cut off or maybe pulled off, and all three cases were jumbled up, but only my old cell phone was taken.

Not sure it's worth the effort of keeping them out, just take all the valuables with you into the cabin. [When they x-ray the bags before loading they can spot the good stuff inside!]

Does anyone know of a substantial TSA lock??? Everyone I've seen is puny and weak, not really locks!

Les

Lion hunter,

That big formidable looking zipper on the Filson bag can be opened easily with a pen. Frostbit and I were talking about his luggage choices and I recommended the Filson bag. Got the bag out a few days later and tried the pen trick on that big old zipper. Opened with little effort and rezipped easily leaving no evidence. I'm not going to stop using mine but all should know the heavy metal zippers are almost as easy to open as the cheap nylon variety.

Les,

Wal-Mart is carrying some heavier TSA locks now. I bought the ones with a cable and have been very happy with them.

Mark

Scottyboy & Mark,

Thanks for the info. I had honestly never heard of a Filson bag being forced open. I will continue to use mine, however, as I think the odds are better than with any other type of duffle. Over a dozen safari without incident.

Please dont waste your money on TSA locks
None of the airports outside the USA have any keys for them anyways. They just cut them off if they want to open them. I use the heaviest locks I can find I have 12 trips over and never had a problem with locks. IO use a walmart action packer box and an americase metal travel case never ever had an unwanted entry problem.
BIG LOCKS

Larry

quote:

Originally posted by Larry Sellers:
I guess D99 chose to leave us? Oh well.

1st it's duffel bags that are wortless now zippers are a joke. JD - I know you have traveled a lot, more than most I would suspect, but I bet 95% ++ of the personal luggage carried by the airlines have zippers of somekind.

Are zippers foolproof, not hardly. Some are a whole lot better than others however and a lot harder for the crooks to get into. There is no absolute in preventing theft these day anywhere so until someone comes up with this magical invention I guess zippers are what we deal with? Since "zippered luggage" makes up the bulk of luggage, it's just common sense that the most theft would occur from "zippered luggage".

The "actual" number of bags ripped off as a percentage of bags carried is really pretty small. Doesn't mean we have to like it when it happens. You probably have a greater chance of having your 4 X 4 vehicle stolen in Albuquerque than you have the same happening to your checked bag on an airline?

Larry Sellers
SCI Life Member

Somebody just sent me an email demonstrating how to open a zipper closure with a ball point pen. Wish I still had it. Any zipper can be opened thusly and then closed again without any knowledge of the bag having been opened, simply by moving the closing slip over the opening. Any luggage thief knows this. Your zipper bag may have been opened several times and you would be none the wiser.

All I can say is Haliburton is the most secure luggage I've ever seen. Expensive, but worth it if you carry valuables in your luggage. I have had them hammered, chisled and pried, and nobody ever got in but US Customs, who knew how to beat the lock.

I bought an "updated" style several years ago. When I got to the UK, I couldn't open it. The new style lock had malfunctioned. I called the cops and asked them for help. They couldn't open it. We finally had to tap the hinge pin out, and that took several hours. On the return trip, I taped it shut with duct tape. I had to send it to Haliburton to get it fixed. I stopped using that one and bought another old style bag. I've had the three suiter for over 25 years and it still defeats baggage thieves.

If you really want to see the demonstration on how to open a zippered bag or closure with a ball point pen, then just find it on YouTube. It's there, and it has been on there for quite some time for the whole world of thieves to receive their step by step instructions.

I use an ancient Hartman steamer trunk, two hasp/staple thingies that you can padlock plus a central lock that will take another padlock.

The problem is the )(%&)@#(&$ TSA used a bolt cutter on the staples one time, had to get them replaced. They COULD have just cut the @P)(U&#$ locks, but no, they had to destroy the luggage itself. Then when I claimed, they dismissed the claim because the bag was delayed and thus ANYONE could have done it. DUH, the $()#*&U$#)@(TSA delayed it by taking it off the conveyor and destroying it.

I have to wonder how all those soccer fans made out. Last time thru JNB, I saw a grown man crying at the SAA bag claim desk, his TCs were in his baggage and had been stolen.

I think the fundamental problem is a cultural one. Blacks in Africa have been stealing each others' cows and women since time immemorial.

What do you mean by shrinkwrap the contents of your bag??? do you wrap in a big plastic bag?

Most airports nowadays have a machine where for a few dollars you can have your bags wrapped in what in effect is umpteen yards or extra wide, extra strong clingfilm.

Then when you get to the other end, you just cut or rip the whole lot off.

It's not a guarantee against theft but it is a reasonably good deterrent.