I've always had shoulder bags rather than hand bags, various sizes from big enough for a bottle of wine (or flask of tea more likely) to purse-on-a-strap (when I was young and only carried keys, cash and lippy). These days I use a small one-shoulder rucksack more often than not, like this one
Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
I try not to go where people are. Anyway if pickpockets want your stuff they'll get it. They slice the bottom of your bag with a stanley knife and catch your stuff as it falls out. Finesse is dead.
I carry my bag at the front if I'm somewhere crowded. Not sure whether it would stop a really determined thief, but it might make me a less-easy target than someone else.
Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
@plant pauper Both of mine, and a few other bags, have come from the handbag stall near the Uffizi in Florence and my favourite came from a chap with a workshop in San Giminiano 23 years ago. I now need space for 3 pairs of glasses - driving, reading and sun - as well as all the usual paraphernalia so bum bags and pockets don't cut it.
Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
"The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
I try not to go where people are. Anyway if pickpockets want your stuff they'll get it. They slice the bottom of your bag with a stanley knife and catch your stuff as it falls out. Finesse is dead.
That process is nothing new. Friends of mine were in Bangkok over 40 years ago when the female had the bottom of a handbag cut out when they were on a bus and everything stolen. Nobody on the bus said a word. Her partner then realised that the bottom of his camera bag had also been shredded, but because he'd put hardboard in the bottom because of the weight in the bag nothing had been lost. They spoke to reception when they got back to their hotel and were told it was just as well they hadn't noticed as the thief wouldn't have hesitated to use the knife on them. That was why nobody on the bus did anything.
Several US tourist websites advertise bags with metal mesh linings, or with metal chains in the straps. Maybe a bit paranoid unless one is planning a cruise stop in Lisbon. Saw some scary sights there. If I’m on a longer journey and using my backpack, the valuables it would be really awkward to lose go in a small cross body purse, often under my jacket. I’ve never got on with clutch bags of any sort. If OH is with me for any sort of dressy event, he ends up with lipsticks and stuff dumped in his jacket pockets. Not worried about ruining the line of his smart suit, he can do that without extra help.
Aren't you worried about pickpockets if your bag is behind you?
My thoughts too @B3. I have seen many people wearing back packs over the years and thought how easy it would be to quietly part open the zip( particularly if in a crowded place or queue etc) and nick what was inside. The same with shoulder bags, quite easy to pass someone and swiftly whip it off their shoulder and run away with it. I always wear cross body long handled bags ...current one is very lightweight and has plenty of pockets. I don't carry much however , just the essentials.
I use a really nice Barbour waxed cotton shoulder bag for work. I get a lot of stick for carrying a handbag on building sites though.
My grump of yesterday was cycling related. On a two lane but narrow country road a cyclist had stopped for a drink but didn't bother getting off the road to do it. Cars were having to stop and wait to go around him but he couldn't be bothered to move onto the verge where there was plenty of space. All the cyclists I see now are wearing helmet cameras and some will report cars that get closer than 1.5m so I don't risk even creeping past unless there's space. A couple of weeks ago a cyclist casually crossed the road pushing his bike as I approached in the car and made sure not to pull fully off the road so I had to do a wide overtake. I'm sure they're all trying to video some content to boost their Youtube channels. I've seen that Jeremy Vine even has one where he basically baits bad interactions with traffic, makes it worse and then edits it into 'shocking' content. No surprises from him though.
If you can keep your head, while those around you are losing theirs, you may not have grasped the seriousness of the situation.
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Anyway if pickpockets want your stuff they'll get it. They slice the bottom of your bag with a stanley knife and catch your stuff as it falls out. Finesse is dead.
That process is nothing new. Friends of mine were in Bangkok over 40 years ago when the female had the bottom of a handbag cut out when they were on a bus and everything stolen. Nobody on the bus said a word. Her partner then realised that the bottom of his camera bag had also been shredded, but because he'd put hardboard in the bottom because of the weight in the bag nothing had been lost. They spoke to reception when they got back to their hotel and were told it was just as well they hadn't noticed as the thief wouldn't have hesitated to use the knife on them. That was why nobody on the bus did anything.
If I’m on a longer journey and using my backpack, the valuables it would be really awkward to lose go in a small cross body purse, often under my jacket. I’ve never got on with clutch bags of any sort. If OH is with me for any sort of dressy event, he ends up with lipsticks and stuff dumped in his jacket pockets. Not worried about ruining the line of his smart suit, he can do that without extra help.