Thanks for this review! I've been looking for one of these pouches, but I didn't think someone would do in-depth review of 'em. I'm gonna go with the Eagle Creek as well. Thanks again!
I have the Eagle Creek - it’s great! For domestic travel I keep some spare cash, a credit card, drivers license, and health insurance card for emergencies. I run a minimalist wallet for day to day use with cash and a primary credit card in a front pocket - this one gets used in public and I consider expendable more or less. I actually do forget that the Eagle Creek hidden pocket is there most of the time when I pack it minimally. For international travel, I use it for carrying my passport along with the emergency cash and cards. The only time I ever anticipate pulling the hidden pocket out in public is an unexpected police interaction where they want to see my passport. Otherwise I’d access the pocket for the cash or card in a restroom stall.
The money belt I bought unbuckled so easily that I never tried it In 1972, a brother sewed me a neck pouch made of denim. Lovingly done .. used through the 70s .. but way too hot .. I think that's a problem with nylon ones also. I'm watching these videos because my well-used hidden pocket needs replacement
I like the old-school denim neck pouch 👍 Any extra fabric flap is going to add extra heat, the nylon pockets have a fuzzy back which helps a lot. Since making this video I've found myself using the Eagle Creek one the most. It's minimalist but big enough to hold my passport, cash and some cards.
Good strategy. I like the redundancy of storing money/cards/ID in separate places. Small cash in pants pocket, more money for the day in wallet, plus ID (eg drivers license), credit card, debit card. More cash, plus another ID (passport), second debit and credit card in my bag in another wallet. That way if I lose one, I have a backup and can continue my trip without much of a big deal.
in 2018, I tried a "wrist warmer" from Amazon with hidden zipper for cash+credit cards, I traveled with it in addition to my neck wallet for passport, so that not my my valuable are in 1 place, it hide well inside my jacket. I'm thinking about buying a larger sizer to wear it on my ankle during long trips.
They're difficult to get to when you're wearing them in public, at least without being noticed. I like to use money belts to hold my passport, and credit cards, stuff that I don't use regularly. I have a separate wallet for my daily spending. I find the money belt works best when nobody knows you have one on =)
Unfortunately the third kind requires you to wear a belt, which I often to not do. I love my soft shorts so the belt wallet isn't feasible for me. The Eagle Creek silk money belt and neck wallet look interesting, but I own neither yet.
If you like the wallet you can always attach it to a small elastic waist strap. Basically what the waist strap belts are anyway. Neck wallets work well but can be noticeable depending on what you're wearing.
Just what I was looking for, thank you! Do you think the eagle creek will bend my passport when sitting? Do you know a product that doesn't require a belt for summer that is totally hidden?
Eagle creek makes a similar money belt that has a waist strap attached for use without a belt. It's soft so it coud bend your passport if you sat with it on your hip. I just move it or shift it over so I'm not putting pressure on it. I've kept my passport in this wallet for like 3 years and havent' had that happen yet .
I use the neck wallet, but I added hooks and eyes. I wear the wallet long so I can tuck the bottom into my jeans where I attached the hook on the wallet and the eye sewn into the waist of my pants. It just makes the wallet a little more difficult to snatch and grab by cutting the strap.
Shacke Pack... large enough to carry a phone such as a Samsung Galaxy 9+? It's not just about carrying money, I also need to carry some keys and a phone.
Not sure on the dimensions of that phone, you could measure it and check against the listed dimensions of the Shacke Pak. I'm carrying the Eagle Creek waller right now. It's a little smaller than the Shacke, but I only use it for passport/tickets/receipts etc. My phone (Pixel 2) fits inside, but it's very bulky in there. Can't really fit keys/phone in at the same time. Probably the same for the Shacke Pak. It's a great passport/document wallet, but too thin to pack with a bunch of other stuff. I'd say a little gear pouch/mini packing cube would be better for that.
Burner phone 😆 But really, this is difficult. You can have multiple credit/debit cards stored in separate locations, hide them and your passport in a travel wallet, make photocopies for backup. But the phone is tricky, you rely so much on it when you travel. Reservations, tickets, 2FA for account passcodes. The only thing I've come up with is to make it as redundant as possible, phone/text that transfers to your number and gives an email (like Google voice), have a backup of passwords that isn't reliant on your phone (like Bitwarden), automatic photo backup to the cloud. So if you lose your phone you can still do everything from a laptop in an internet cafe if necessary, buy a new phone/SIM on the road. This way losing your phone is inconvience rather than a disaster.
@@OneBagTravels Yea great ideas, thanks!!! I will definitely implement some of these. In the past I used a camera for most of my photos, but I think unless it needs a long zoom or something else, I will take most photos with my phone so they can be backed up by google. I just hope my phone battery won't die much faster this way. Burner phone might not be uch a bad idea, I mean just buy a cheap phone to use while away aong with local simcard and yea I'll need to figure out that password stuff. I hate stuff though that make you confirm passwords with getting sms on your phone, what can be done about that?
@@come_explore_with_me_IL Phone definitely dies faster when you use it for everything. I usually carry a 10,000 mAh battery bank. Confirming logins with 2FA I think is generally a good thing, it's inconvienent but is good protection.
Hi great channel!! I'm mostly concerned about hiding my larger cellphone-- Where I'm heading, I hear thieves sometimes demand your phone if they can see just the shape of it- Does anyone have any experience completely concealing it? I will have a decoy phone on me as well, but I want to keep the nice one for times when I'm maybe taking pictures... Also really active and love running, anyway to have it on me while running but something where it doesn't fall out?
I think the best way to deal with phones is to practice basic travel safety and make everything on the phone redundant, meaning everything on it can be accessed without the phone. Basic travel safety is practicing siguational awareness, keeping your phone hidden away in your pack or zippered pocket, or tethered to yourself with a lanyard. Don't use it in public in areas prone to theft and be wary in highly public/touristy places. There's not much you can do if you get mugged, but if all your data is backed up in an alternate location, then you just need to buy a cheap replacement to continue your trip. Photos backed up on the cloud, message apps like Whats App, cloud phone number like Google Voice, all apps signed up for 2FA. If you have an expensive phone look at your insurance options, renters/home owners insurance often covers personal property away from home, or you could get additional travel insurance that covers theft.
@@OneBagTravels hi, I have a problem: my SIM card. If I lose it my travel is ruined. All banks require SMS verifications for 2FA, even if they have their own mobile token their backup system is SMS verification. You can't use VOIP numbers like Google Voice with banks because they filter VOIP numbers, they want you to verify a physical SIM card. If I lose my SIM card I can't make any online purchase, I can't access my bank accounts, what do you suggest?
@@anon003 That is a problem. SMS verification for 2FA won't work if they block your number. Try an authenticator app instead, I've heard Authy is good but I haven't tried it. I'll be doing this too.
@@OneBagTravels but banks don't allow you to have 2FA with external authenticator APPs. They adopt two systems: SMS verification or mobile token with OTP generated in their APP in ONE verified device, to verify a device they want SMS verification, they don't accept VOIP numbers, they want a number with a Physical SIM card. Now, if I lose my phone with my SIM card inside how can I verify online transactions and access my money if I don't have anymore my verified device (you can have only one) and I don't have anymore my SIM card to do an SMS verification?
@@anon003 Wow, that's a nightmare. Sounds like your bank isn't very secure if they only allow SMS verification? You only have a few options, get a new bank, keep your SIM card secure, or use a trusted friend/family to receive your 2FA and send it to you. Not a very secure option.
Thanks for this review! I've been looking for one of these pouches, but I didn't think someone would do in-depth review of 'em. I'm gonna go with the Eagle Creek as well. Thanks again!
You're welcome! I'm probably the only one who would do an in-depth review of travel wallets 😄
I have the Eagle Creek - it’s great! For domestic travel I keep some spare cash, a credit card, drivers license, and health insurance card for emergencies. I run a minimalist wallet for day to day use with cash and a primary credit card in a front pocket - this one gets used in public and I consider expendable more or less. I actually do forget that the Eagle Creek hidden pocket is there most of the time when I pack it minimally.
For international travel, I use it for carrying my passport along with the emergency cash and cards. The only time I ever anticipate pulling the hidden pocket out in public is an unexpected police interaction where they want to see my passport. Otherwise I’d access the pocket for the cash or card in a restroom stall.
That's exactly what I do too. Keep the hidden pocket hidden with a second set of ID, cash and cards, refill day carry wallet as necessary.
Agreed bro. I might get the Eagle Creek for cash on one leg, and the Lewis N’ Clark for passport and documents on other leg.
Breaking your cards/cash/ids up into separate wallets/locations is the way to go
The money belt I bought unbuckled so easily that I never tried it
In 1972, a brother sewed me a neck pouch made of denim. Lovingly done .. used through the 70s .. but way too hot .. I think that's a problem with nylon ones also.
I'm watching these videos because my well-used hidden pocket needs replacement
I like the old-school denim neck pouch 👍
Any extra fabric flap is going to add extra heat, the nylon pockets have a fuzzy back which helps a lot. Since making this video I've found myself using the Eagle Creek one the most. It's minimalist but big enough to hold my passport, cash and some cards.
I would keep some cash in my front pocket and my documents in a travel wallet. I used a belt with zipper where you can hide cash.
Good strategy. I like the redundancy of storing money/cards/ID in separate places. Small cash in pants pocket, more money for the day in wallet, plus ID (eg drivers license), credit card, debit card. More cash, plus another ID (passport), second debit and credit card in my bag in another wallet. That way if I lose one, I have a backup and can continue my trip without much of a big deal.
in 2018, I tried a "wrist warmer" from Amazon with hidden zipper for cash+credit cards, I traveled with it in addition to my neck wallet for passport, so that not my my valuable are in 1 place, it hide well inside my jacket. I'm thinking about buying a larger sizer to wear it on my ankle during long trips.
That's a great idea, I like to carry cash/cards in multiple locations as well
Amazing.I need one like that.Thank you for sharing this video.I appreciate it.
Sure thing, I'm still using the Eagle Creek belt 👍🏼
turn your volume up
I do not agree they are very difficult to acces.Belt stays number one for me
They're difficult to get to when you're wearing them in public, at least without being noticed. I like to use money belts to hold my passport, and credit cards, stuff that I don't use regularly. I have a separate wallet for my daily spending. I find the money belt works best when nobody knows you have one on =)
Unfortunately the third kind requires you to wear a belt, which I often to not do. I love my soft shorts so the belt wallet isn't feasible for me. The Eagle Creek silk money belt and neck wallet look interesting, but I own neither yet.
If you like the wallet you can always attach it to a small elastic waist strap. Basically what the waist strap belts are anyway. Neck wallets work well but can be noticeable depending on what you're wearing.
Just what I was looking for, thank you! Do you think the eagle creek will bend my passport when sitting? Do you know a product that doesn't require a belt for summer that is totally hidden?
Eagle creek makes a similar money belt that has a waist strap attached for use without a belt. It's soft so it coud bend your passport if you sat with it on your hip. I just move it or shift it over so I'm not putting pressure on it. I've kept my passport in this wallet for like 3 years and havent' had that happen yet .
I use the neck wallet, but I added hooks and eyes. I wear the wallet long so I can tuck the bottom into my jeans where I attached the hook on the wallet and the eye sewn into the waist of my pants. It just makes the wallet a little more difficult to snatch and grab by cutting the strap.
Good mod, the neck ones can be noticable if you wear them under your shirt.
Shacke Pack... large enough to carry a phone such as a Samsung Galaxy 9+? It's not just about carrying money, I also need to carry some keys and a phone.
Not sure on the dimensions of that phone, you could measure it and check against the listed dimensions of the Shacke Pak. I'm carrying the Eagle Creek waller right now. It's a little smaller than the Shacke, but I only use it for passport/tickets/receipts etc. My phone (Pixel 2) fits inside, but it's very bulky in there. Can't really fit keys/phone in at the same time. Probably the same for the Shacke Pak. It's a great passport/document wallet, but too thin to pack with a bunch of other stuff. I'd say a little gear pouch/mini packing cube would be better for that.
Is it better if the hidden pocket is black or skin colored?
It doesn't matter unless your pants are transparent 🤷
What about mobile phones? how do you protect your phone while keeping it accessible?
Burner phone 😆 But really, this is difficult. You can have multiple credit/debit cards stored in separate locations, hide them and your passport in a travel wallet, make photocopies for backup.
But the phone is tricky, you rely so much on it when you travel. Reservations, tickets, 2FA for account passcodes. The only thing I've come up with is to make it as redundant as possible, phone/text that transfers to your number and gives an email (like Google voice), have a backup of passwords that isn't reliant on your phone (like Bitwarden), automatic photo backup to the cloud. So if you lose your phone you can still do everything from a laptop in an internet cafe if necessary, buy a new phone/SIM on the road. This way losing your phone is inconvience rather than a disaster.
@@OneBagTravels Yea great ideas, thanks!!! I will definitely implement some of these. In the past I used a camera for most of my photos, but I think unless it needs a long zoom or something else, I will take most photos with my phone so they can be backed up by google. I just hope my phone battery won't die much faster this way. Burner phone might not be uch a bad idea, I mean just buy a cheap phone to use while away aong with local simcard and yea I'll need to figure out that password stuff. I hate stuff though that make you confirm passwords with getting sms on your phone, what can be done about that?
@@come_explore_with_me_IL Phone definitely dies faster when you use it for everything. I usually carry a 10,000 mAh battery bank. Confirming logins with 2FA I think is generally a good thing, it's inconvienent but is good protection.
🤔
Hi great channel!! I'm mostly concerned about hiding my larger cellphone-- Where I'm heading, I hear thieves sometimes demand your phone if they can see just the shape of it- Does anyone have any experience completely concealing it? I will have a decoy phone on me as well, but I want to keep the nice one for times when I'm maybe taking pictures... Also really active and love running, anyway to have it on me while running but something where it doesn't fall out?
I think the best way to deal with phones is to practice basic travel safety and make everything on the phone redundant, meaning everything on it can be accessed without the phone.
Basic travel safety is practicing siguational awareness, keeping your phone hidden away in your pack or zippered pocket, or tethered to yourself with a lanyard. Don't use it in public in areas prone to theft and be wary in highly public/touristy places. There's not much you can do if you get mugged, but if all your data is backed up in an alternate location, then you just need to buy a cheap replacement to continue your trip.
Photos backed up on the cloud, message apps like Whats App, cloud phone number like Google Voice, all apps signed up for 2FA. If you have an expensive phone look at your insurance options, renters/home owners insurance often covers personal property away from home, or you could get additional travel insurance that covers theft.
@@OneBagTravels hi, I have a problem: my SIM card. If I lose it my travel is ruined.
All banks require SMS verifications for 2FA, even if they have their own mobile token their backup system is SMS verification.
You can't use VOIP numbers like Google Voice with banks because they filter VOIP numbers, they want you to verify a physical SIM card.
If I lose my SIM card I can't make any online purchase, I can't access my bank accounts, what do you suggest?
@@anon003 That is a problem. SMS verification for 2FA won't work if they block your number. Try an authenticator app instead, I've heard Authy is good but I haven't tried it. I'll be doing this too.
@@OneBagTravels but banks don't allow you to have 2FA with external authenticator APPs. They adopt two systems: SMS verification or mobile token with OTP generated in their APP in ONE verified device, to verify a device they want SMS verification, they don't accept VOIP numbers, they want a number with a Physical SIM card.
Now, if I lose my phone with my SIM card inside how can I verify online transactions and access my money if I don't have anymore my verified device (you can have only one) and I don't have anymore my SIM card to do an SMS verification?
@@anon003 Wow, that's a nightmare. Sounds like your bank isn't very secure if they only allow SMS verification? You only have a few options, get a new bank, keep your SIM card secure, or use a trusted friend/family to receive your 2FA and send it to you. Not a very secure option.