|
Shopping for a secure, pickpocket-proof bag for Europe travel? Your favorite Europe travel guide walks you through my honest review of Arden Cove's pickpocket-proof bags. I'll let you know if they're worth the money for your next Europe trip.
Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links. If you purchase a linked item, I will make a commission, at no extra charge to you. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Arden Cove generously sent me 4 of their bags to test, in exchange for my honest review.
Why it's important to carry the right purse in Europe
When I'm 'across the pond,' I almost always carry a small, crossbody bag for Europe travel. European cities are busy, you’re walking all day, and an unfortunate reality is that pickpocketing can occasionally happen in crowded tourist areas.
On a typical sightseeing day in Europe, I find myself taking upwards of 20,000 steps. Behind comfortable walking shoes, the right purse is the #1 travel accessory that can make or break your trip. And you know what really puts a damper on your trip? Getting pickpocketed. (And no, even I have not made it through 100% of my Europe trips without a scamming incident. It happens). I’m always looking for bags that feel secure but still look polished enough for sightseeing, restaurants, and museums. Recently, I started testing a few bags from Arden Cove, a brand that focuses specifically on tasteful travel security. Arden Cove's bags include security features like locking zippers and slash-resistant straps, designed to make them harder for thieves to access, while still looking like a normal purse that you'd carry in everyday life. Here are my honest thoughts on the Arden Cove bags after trying them out! Prefer to watch me chat about them? Pop over to my YouTube Channel to watch my reviews! What I look for in a Europe travel purse
The best purse for Europe travel is small, secure, and comfortable enough to carry all day. As much as I love a high-end, label-emblazoned bag for home life, I'd recommend against covering yourself in labels in Europe, both because they tend to wear fewer labels than we do in the US, and because you generally don't want to advertise that you might be carrying a lot of cash. (Also, please don't carry a lot of cash. Not a good idea.)
Additionally, smaller is better when you're traveling in Europe. Days are long, you're taking lots of steps, and any bag can feel like a burden after a few hours. And, of course, the bag should be secure. At an absolute minimum, a bag for Europe travel must zip fully (NO OPEN TOTE BAGS), and ideally be worn crossbody both for safety and so you can use your hands. My First Impressions of the Arden Cove Bags
Immediately upon removing my bags from their boxes, I was pleasantly surprised by their sturdy construction and...general cuteness. Even though I'd spent time on the website and knew I liked the styles, I was impressed with the quality, especially given the price point (I'll admit that purses are my weakness. The more expensive, the better).
They're lightweight, have sturdy hardware, and I was impressed with how 'normal' the straps look even after coming out of the packaging. We've all had bags that just never really recovered from being packaged. Security Features Designed for Europe Travel
All of the Arden Cove bags I received have anti-pickpocket security features, perfect for a trip to Europe. These features make it harder for a pickpocket to access your bag in a crowded area, like train stations, markets, and major tourist sites, through some of the 'traditional methods, such as slashing the straps and taking the whole bag, unzipping and accessing the contents without you noticing, or scanning your cards. The Arden Cove bags feature:
• locking clasps • slash-resistant straps • RFID-blocking pockets • water-resistant fabric and zippers If you're researching travel bags, you might also want to read my guide to the best travel purses for Europe. Arden Cove Anti-Theft Bags:
Myko Anti-theft Minicrossbody Bag
The Myko is bigger than I expected (always hard to tell from pictures and the term "mini.") It can actually hold everything I would need for a day in Europe - phone, a few cards, hotel key, hand sanitizer, etc. It has a card organizer (all of the bags do) with the RFID blocking feature, so no need to carry an extra wallet with this one (a separate wallet wouldn't fit anyway). In other words, it's the perfect crossbody bag for a day of sightseeing in Europe and an excellent travel purse for Europe trips. Myko Anti-theft Minicrossbody bag Savona Zippered RFID Blocking Passport Wallet I'm told that 'kids these days' aren't carrying wallets, but this Millennial definitely is. I like the Savona - it's smaller than the big LV wallet I carry on an everyday basis (obviously I wouldn't lug that brick to Europe!), lightweight, zips, and has the RFID blocking quality to protect your digital assets. And, perhaps most relevantly, it has a clip so it could clip onto the straps of any of your other bags to be a little crossbody wallet. Just a little reminder - wallet in the back pocket is *not* pickpocket safe. Wear it as a crossbody or put it into another, larger bag. Savona Zippered RFID Blocking Passport Wallet Crissy Nylon Crossbody with Locking Clasps Strap Probably my personal favorite, the Crissy is a larger crossbody, with two separate zipped areas, the front of which contains the RFID blocking and slots for cards. It's plenty large to carry your possessions if you like to bring a little more with you on a daily basis than the Myko can hold. I use this purse in Indianapolis as a 'normal' purse - it's big enough, which I always think is the best test of the year-round value of a travel bag. Crissy Nylon Crossbody with Locking Clasps Strap Carmel Convertible Backpack and Crossbody If you've been following along on socials, you know I don't tend to be a travel backpack girlie. But I really do like the Carmel Convertible Backpack (and not just the name!). Intriguingly, it can ALSO be worn as a crossbody. Carmel Convertible Backpack and Crossbody bag shop Arden Cove's pickpocket-proof Europe travel purses->Pros of the Arden Cove Travel Bags:
Cons of the Arden Cove Travel Bags:
Who these travel bags would be great for:
So...would I bring an Arden Cove bag on my next trip to Europe?
Yes, I would bring an Arden Cove bag with me to Europe on my next trip, especially since pickpocketing has been on my mind after our Barcelona trip. The Arden Cove bags combine anti-theft features with a modern, on-trend style that I appreciate. While on the pricier side of 'anti-theft' bags, the cost is worth it because of the more tasteful style that you could actually carry in everyday life, quality of the bags' hardware, and elevated anti-theft elements like the RFID-blocking on the interior pockets. An Arden Cove bag is the perfect travel purse for long days exploring Europe.
find the perfect Europe travel bag for you ->Frequently Asked Questions about Arden Cove travel bags
Are Arden Cove bags good for Europe travel?
Arden Cove bags are designed with travel security in mind. Their travel bags include locking zippers, slash-resistant straps, and RFID-blocking pockets, which can help protect belongings in crowded, touristy areas in Europe (much of Barcelona, near the Eiffel Tower, etc.), where pickpockets operate. Additionally, they have waterproof nylon AND zippers, which is ideal for someone who loves visiting the UK as much as I do. What type of purse is safest for Europe travel? A small crossbody bag with secure zippers is usually the safest option for sightseeing in Europe. Crossbody bags stay close to your body and are harder for pickpockets to access. One classic way take them is to "slash" the straps and take the whole purse as it falls off. Are anti-theft bags worth it for Europe? For travelers visiting busy cities like Paris, Rome, or Barcelona, anti-theft bags can add an extra layer of security and peace of mind. Are Arden Cove bags sold on Amazon? Arden Cove sells their high-end anti-theft purses on Amazon. What should you carry in your purse while traveling in Europe? Most travelers only need a few essentials: phone, passport, credit cards, and sunglasses. A small bag helps avoid carrying unnecessary items. Thanks for Stopping By!
I hope I've given you some food for thought as you shop for an anti-theft purse for your trip to Europe. In my view, the best travel purse for Europe balances security with a polished look you’d actually want to carry at home, and Arden Cove hits the mark.
And while you're here, I hope you'll consider exploring the many other free resources I've created over the years for Americans exploring Europe, including: • {2026} What NOT to Pack for Europe: Avoid These Common Tourist Mistakes • {2026} The Best Comfortable Shoes for Walking All Day in Europe Love it? Pin it!
0 Comments
Your comment will be posted after it is approved.
Leave a Reply. |
Archives
March 2026
Categories
All
|
RSS Feed