A backpack is a staple among travelers, students, and business persons of the world. It’s probably the most efficient way of carrying luggage and personal belongings. Unfortunately you cannot keep track of your backpack all the time, and this is where opportunistic thieves try to take advantage of people. Anyone that travels frequently or those who live in large urban areas know that pickpockets and thieves pose a real threat. So what can you do about it? Some backpack manufactures aim to offer stylish bags while others create bags that are functional, but not many concern themselves with security. Pacsafe is a company that does a little bit of both, however their bags are unlike all others. The company has a wide range of different backpacks, duffel bags, luggage, and handbags that are designed and manufactured with security in mind. Their bags are expensive for sure, and the Instasafe Z500 is one of their flagship bags. So let’s take a look at arguably the coolest backpack in the world.
Pacsafe only sells premium bags, and the Instasafe Z500 is priced at $220 dollars. That’s a lot of money to spend on a small backpack. You would want a backpack at that price to be the best there is, and the Instasafe Z500 quite possible could be just that. I came across this bag browsing for other backpacks during the Amazon Prime Day sale. I asked myself “how could a backpack cost that much?”, and then I started reading about the bag and was completely amazed. If you are someone that values security, this is the bag to get.
Let’s first start with the design. The Instasafe Z500 is one of the more “stylish” bags that Pacsafe sells. It’s very urban and minimalistic in nature, and I can see it being popular among many. I’m personally a fan of the looks, but you can get cool looking bags for a lot less. So what makes this bag so special? It all starts with the materials. The exterior of the bag is made with thick canvas that can certainly take a beating. Underneath the surface of the canvas we then find Pacsafe’s “eXomesh Slashguard”. Essentially a steel web wraps around the bag underneath the canvas. This makes it nearly impossible for someone to cut the bag open. There’s also steel wires that are found in all of the straps of the bag, again, making it almost impossible to be cut off.
So why would thieves want to cut open your bag? Probably because of the bags main feature. The zippers on the bag can lock together and then be secured to an additional lock that is on the bag. The user can then wrap a strap (lined with steel wire) around a pole or a chair in a coffee shop, and then lock the bag completely with a padlock. The zippers only operate in one direction, so as long as they remain locked together, you cannot open the bag at all. Thieve would need wire cutters to cut the strap that wraps around a pole, and typically people don’t walk around with those. They mostly look to just grab a bag out from a park bench and then sprint away (I’ve seen it happen). So not only is the body of the bag made from canvas and then wrapped in steel mesh that is difficult to cut, the bags zippers can be locked together and the bag can then be secured to a fixed object with a padlock. If you’re at a busy restaurant in a city and need to use the bathroom, you can bet that your bag will be where you left it. Sure, these features aren’t 100% foolproof. But if you’re a thief, it’s going to take a lot of time and effort to attempt to get into this bag.
On the inside, there is a surpassing amount of space and storage compartments. You can easily pack a 15-inch laptop, a tablet, a few books, a rain jacket, carry two water bottles, a lunchbox, and more inside this bag. While it’s not the largest bag from Pacsafe, this bag is designed with city commuters in mind (if you want a travel/backpacking bag like this one, they have those too). The security features just only continue also. Inside the bag we find a special RFIDsafe blocking pocket. Modern passports, identifications, and credit cards have small microchips in them that contain a variety of different information. There are devices out there used by identify thieves that can scan credit cards, and then steal information from them. All a thief has to do is swipe a small electronic device against your back pants pocket, and they could then steal your identity. With this special RFID pocket, all forms of identification or credit/debit cards are safe from the scanners, as long as you keep them in that pocket. It also has extra padding to keep your laptop safe.
Pacsafe has really thought of everything here. The Instasafe Z500 is not only a stylish and functional backpack, it’s also the safest one that you can effectively buy. The thick canvas, stainless-steel wire reinforcing, locking zippers, built-in padlock, the anchor, and the RFIDsafe blocking pocket make this bag extremely attractive to those that value security. Is it totally overkill? Yeah, probably. Is it really expensive? It sure is. But, is it the coolest backpack ever? I think so. So while it is a costly purchase, the Instasafe Z500 is certainly feature rich. $220 dollars is a lot to spend on a backpack, but this is a backpack that you buy for life, one that ensures all of your valuables remain safe.
Photos from Pacsafe
