by Looking for the best anti theft backpack for travel (and daily life)? We have put the Standard Luggage Daily daypack to the test, on planes, trains, busses, bikes, beaches and more! Here’s what we think of this theft proof backpack.
You’ll also want to check out our guide to the best travel backpacks, our 10 tips for packing light, and our complete guide to minimalist packing.
I carried my last travel daypack for seven years. Yup, that’s a good long run. There were lots of things I didn’t like about it but that sucker just wouldn’t wear out.
Finally, I decided to upgrade anyway. After all, I’m a full-time traveller and my luggage and daypack are just about the most important things in my life!
(I handed off my old backpack to a friend… no waste is good waste!)
Since I often travel in parts of Europe where pickpocketing can be a big problem, I decided to look for the best anti-theft backpack that would also carry my laptop and look chic on the streets of some of the most fabulous cities in the world.
Already having carried the amazing Standard Luggage Carry-On backpack for more than a year, it was a no-brainer to ask if I could review Standard’s brand new Daily Backpack. They were kind enough to send me one. Yay!
So far, I’ve road-tested the Daily Backpack through 9 different countries – riding bikes, taking flights, sitting on too many busses, and viewing the sights.
I even used it in Venice, possibly the pickpocket capital of the world.
Read on to discover my answer to the question…
Is This The Best Anti Theft Backpack For Travel?
What’s in our review of Standard’s anti theft backpack?
1. What’s included with the Standard Luggage Daily Backpack?
2. What I love about this anti-theft backpack
3. What I don’t love about this anti theft bag
4. Other Standard Luggage travel gear we love
What’s included with the Standard Luggage Daily Backpack?
- Body hugging zipper to prevent unwanted access
- Lockable zippers for extra security
- RFID-secure pocket to prevent digital theft
- Lots of interior pockets to keep you ultra organized
- Cushioned internal pockets for camera and lenses
- Adjustable shoulder strap for messenger-bag carrying
- Water-resistant fabric and a rain cover for major downpours
- Lifetime warranty and Satisfaction Guarantee
- Free shipping anywhere in the world (open the borders!)
What I love about this anti-theft backpack for travel
It makes me feel secure
My old daypack had lots of pockets at the back where I kept my wallet and my phone. Not smart and not secure! I was always paranoid about the people behind me when I was on subway trains or in crowded city squares.
As with all the best anti theft backpacks, the Daily Backpack has a body-hugging zipper to keep unwanted fingers from your stuff. There are plenty of interior pockets, a hidden pocket, and even an RFID pocket. Now I feel much better about stowing my stuff and slinging my pack on my back.
So damn organized!
When it comes to luggage, I am a pocket freak, but even I wouldn’t have thought to put this many compartments in a backpack. It has:
- Cushioned spots for my laptop, my camera, and my extra lens
- Three outer pockets, two of which are hidden from view, to keep my stuff secure
- Three mesh pockets inside that I use for camera accessories, phone accessories, and travel “stuff”
- Slots for pens, sunglasses, my travel cutlery set, and random items
- An exterior water bottle holder which expands to fit my 750ml reusable water bottle
Easy laptop access
Just as I was about to write this section, the bus I am on (travelling from Zagreb to Vienna) pulled into a parking lot and announced a 10-minute break. I flipped my laptop closed and slipped it into the laptop sleeve in about 12 seconds.
Trust me, nobody wants to spend their bus break trying to shove their laptop into a disorganized backpack! The sleeve fits up to a 15.1 in. laptop and 15 in Macbook Pro — but no minimalist traveller would carry something that big, right?
Levels up my style game
Truth be told, my old pack was a freebie from my job at Yahoo! If watching Queer Eye has taught me one thing, it’s that people judge you by how you look (whether you like it or not).
I’m pretty happy to have stepped up my style game from an old sad-looking freebie pack to this stylish laptop backpack. Even better, I can hide the backpack straps away and carry it like a briefcase when I check into luxury hotels or go to business meetings (hey, it could happen!).
Here are a few shots so you can see what I mean:
Convenient camera storage
I don’t know about you, but I hate carrying my camera bag around. It’s lumpy and heavy, plus it’s a major target for thieves. In fact, I hate it so much that my camera often gets left behind at the hotel.
Bad travel blogger! Bad!
The two cushioned camera pockets in this bag fit my Olympus mirrorless camera and zoom lens perfectly. Guess what? I always have my camera with me now!
No more damp stuff
I have been caught in the rain about 37,000 times while travelling. There have been times when my I got so soaked that I had to wring my bag out at the end of the day. My old passport had that wobbly dropped-in-the-bath look that made me extra-suspicious at border crossings!
My laptop even got so wet one time it stopped working for a little while (thank god it dried out eventually). As you can imagine, I’m pretty happy to have a new waterproof laptop bag.
The Daily Backpack is made from water resistant fabric, but also comes with a rain cover for unexpected downpours. Hey Southeast Asia, I am ready for your tropical storms!
What I don’t love about this anti theft bag
Sticky zippers
It’s pretty common for anti theft backpacks to have sticky zippers. The Daily Backpack has a firm square shape, held up by some stiff interior walls. That means that the zipper to the main compartment has to go around a corner – which zippers don’t really do well.
It’s a minor irritation because I have to concentrate when zipping up my bag. But, it’s also comforting to know that would-be thieves will have an extra challenge if they try anything shady.
No dedicated cell phone pocket
On a bag designed for travel and business travel, I’m disappointed that there’s no pocket where I can easily store and access my phone. The existing pockets are either too exposed or too hidden away. (Yes, I’m the Goldilocks of travel bloggers). I’d love a phone pocket on the side of the bag, with the zipper neatly hidden under my left elbow. Maybe they’ll read this and add it to version 2.0 ;)
It can do city, but can it get wild?
One thing I haven’t yet tested is whether this pack can work as a hiking daypack or a weekend bag. My old backpack could hold a LOT when I needed it to and I’m just not sure this one will be able to carry as much. Which means, I’ll have to get a lot better at minimalist packing when I need to take a weekend trek up a volcano or whatever.
Other Standard Luggage travel gear we love!
The Standard Luggage Carry On
This is the convertible suitcase / backpack I’ve been carrying for the last couple of years, and I suspect I’ll have it for the next decade. Just like the Daily, it has dedicated pockets for almost everything, including a great laptop pocket which allows quick access but doesn’t scream “hey thieves, there’s a laptop in here” like so many do. It’s durable, water resistant, stylish and converts from a regular suitcase to a backpack. Exactly the versatility I need in a carry on bag.
(Don’t miss: Our complete guide to minimalist backpacks and suitases) →
Packing Cubes
You would have to pay me a lot to get me to travel without packing cubes. Not only do they make my life a lot easier, they just keep me sane on the road. Standard’s 3-piece packing cube set connects together to form a clever hangable wardrobe. Very smart!
Convertible Packing Cube / Backpack
One piece of gear I really want but don’t yet have is Standard’s packing cube that converts to a day pack. For true minimalist packing, this little guy does double duty. You can carry it on the plane, on the trail, and then slip it inside your luggage when not in use! Awesome.
So is this the best anti theft backpack for travel? Well obviously, I can’t answer that because we haven’t tried them all. But I can safely say that if you’re looking for an anti theft waterproof backpack, you should definitely check out the Daily. It would take something pretty extraordinary to make me give it up!
If you have any questions about this theft proof backpack, ask in the comments below!
♥ Happy mindful adventures, Jane & Stephen
Standard Luggage gave us the Daily Backpack for review, but as always, we’d only recommend products we think you’ll love! A couple of the links in this post are our personal affiliate links, which means, if you use them to buy something we get a small fee. It helps keep this blog afloat, so thanks in advance!
