Pacsafe X Anti-Theft 25L Backpack Review

The Pacsafe X Anti-Theft 25L Backpack is a comfortable daypack designed for daily commutes, travel, or exploration. This carry-on-compliant backpack offers ample storage space while maintaining a compact, slim profile. It can expand to fit extra gear or collapse for a more compact and minimal form. It has various user-friendly security features, including durable, slash-proof fabric and a discrete rear compartment for sensitive items like passports that sit up against the body. The backpack also includes an RFID-protected pocket and lockable zippers for extra security.

Despite its robust security measures, the backpack has a stylish appearance that does not draw unnecessary attention. Its sleek design and aesthetics conceal most of its anti-theft capabilities. As an added environmental benefit, the backpack is constructed from recycled PET bottles, making it an eco-friendly choice for those who prioritize environmental sustainability.

External Components

The Pacsafe X Anti-Theft 25L Backpack is made from 750D recycled polyester, which is water-resistant (1,000mm),  PFC-free, and equivalent to 30 recycled plastic bottles. The choice illustrates the brand’s commitment to the environment, especially regarding ocean sustainability. The backpack features an eXomesh® slashguard, a built-in stainless steel wire mesh that enhances security by making the bag cut-resistant. Despite this heavy-duty protection, the fabric is still remarkably comfortable to the touch, with no noticeable difference in feel compared to standard backpacks. It is slightly more structured and stiff.

While at a local coffee shop, we accidentally put its water-resistant properties to the test by spilling coffee on it. Impressively, most of the liquid simply just ran off the surface. Wiping it off with a napkin was quick and easy, leaving no noticeable stains. Even after the bag sat unnoticed in a small puddle of coffee for a little over an hour, we had no issue wiping off the fabric, and there were no lingering spots or stains. The backpack’s resistance to liquids and stains is excellent.

The Pacsafe X Anti-Theft 25L Backpack features YKK zippers that are exceptionally smooth and glide like butter. These zippers come with interlocking zip pulls made of high-quality metal hardware. While they require a specific configuration to lock, they become easy to use with a bit of practice. When locked together, the zippers prevent tampering and reduce the jangling noise that can occur when not interlocked.

The backpack also incorporates their Roobar Sport locking system, which integrates with the interlocking zippers to secure them in place for protection against tampering. It takes security a step further by utilizing a locking mechanism that is somewhat challenging to unlock without a previous understanding, effectively safeguarding your gear from pickpockets. You can configure the system to secure either the main compartment, the front compartment, or both.

There are five dedicated attachment points on the front of the backpack right above the front pocket, made with a heavy-duty nylon material that feels incredibly strong and secure. Towards the top of the bag’s face is a laminated Pacsafe® logo in a color somewhat similar to the rest of the bag. The overall branding on the backpack is pretty minimal, which can serve as a subtle deterrent to potential thieves and pickpockets who recognize the brand’s logo. Hopefully, it discourages them from even trying to tamper with the bag if they are familiar with Pacsafe’s reputation and products.

The Pacsafe X Anti-Theft 25L Backpack features a top-grab handle that is both wide and nicely padded, providing excellent grip and comfort while carrying the bag. The handle’s design allows for ample space, making it easy to slip your hand through quickly and without any issues. Additionally, the backpack includes a simple luggage passthrough made from nylon webbing. This passthrough keeps the bag oriented upright when attached to luggage, preventing items from falling out during transit. These thoughtful design elements contribute to the overall functionality and convenience of the backpack, making it well-suited for various types of travelers.

The shoulder straps on this backpack are comfortable thanks to a contoured and softly padded design that makes carrying the pack a breeze. These straps feature dense and very soft foam, providing excellent support. The back panel has a similar soft padding that almost feels like a thin layer of memory foam, though it lacks a dedicated air channel. However, this did not present any issues in terms of comfort or breathability while wearing the backpack, but your mileage may vary.

The shoulder straps include attachment points of sturdy plastic attached via nylon webbing for small items like carabiners or pouches. The length of the shoulder straps is also super smooth and easy to adjust, with strap keepers to manage any excess slack. For added security, the straps incorporate Carrysafe® slashguard technology with Dyneema®, which means that they are reinforced with stainless steel wire mesh to prevent any attempts at slashing or cutting them.

One of the standout features of this backpack is its PopNLock Security clips. They are quick and easy to use once you get the hang of them, though they require some understanding of how the locking mechanism works. By pressing the button down, the locking mechanism can easily slide out. Turning a small tab locks it, preventing the button from being pressed and the clip from detaching. This clever system lets you lock the bag to a fixed object, providing extra security and preventing anyone from making off with your backpack or the gear inside.

Fit Notes

The Pacsafe X Anti-Theft 25L Backpack has a sleek, minimal, modern aesthetic with a relatively straightforward design. It is available in two colorways, each with relatively muted tones and a clean, modern look. This subtle aesthetic is especially nice for travelers and commuters, as it does not draw unnecessary attention. Despite its robust security features, the backpack maintains a discreet appearance, effectively disguising its anti-theft technology. This allows the bag to blend in seamlessly, giving the impression of a simple, ordinary backpack and providing an additional layer of security through its inconspicuous aesthetic.

This backpack provides an exceptionally comfortable experience, thanks to the well-designed padding in both the shoulder straps and the back panel. The shoulder straps feel solid and densely padded, with a wide design that evenly distributes weight across the shoulders. The back panel’s padding has a memory foam-like quality, an appreciated feature, even if most users may not need extensive padding. This attention to comfort in its design significantly enhances the overall wearing experience, making the backpack a joy to wear, especially for extended periods of time.

Inside The Pack

The interior of the Pacsafe X Anti-Theft 25L Backpack is made from 150D recycled polyester, which is water-resistant up to 1,000mm and PFC-free. The front compartment has minimal organization, which is there if needed or out of the way when not. It includes a zippered mesh pocket with a plastic key leash for secure key management. There’s also an RFID-protected slip pocket with a hook-and-loop closure for storing a wallet or passport. The compartment has two additional slip pockets—one medium-sized and one small—with a dedicated space for a pen or stylus. The remaining space in the front compartment serves as a storage area for other gear, allowing for flexible organization based on individual needs. We find that even a large portable battery bank fits here nicely without compromising the use of the rest of the organization panel.

On the front of the backpack, below the attachment points, is a front pocket designed for quick access to daily essentials. This pocket is equipped with an AquaGuard protective coating, providing extra protection for your gear against the elements. A notable security feature is the minimal yet clever loop that serves as a lockdown point for the zipper. It allows you to secure the zipper to one side, preventing others from accessing the pocket’s contents. This simple yet effective mechanism offers the flexibility to either secure the zipper for enhanced protection or leave it unsecured for quick, unencumbered access. A simple loop is all it takes but is still quite effective.

Inside this front pocket, you will find two slip pockets that offer minimal organization. While the pocket itself is somewhat compact with very little give, it still provides ample space to accommodate a variety of gear. This thoughtful design ensures that frequently used items are always within easy reach, enhancing the overall functionality and convenience of the backpack.

Another security feature of this backpack is the hidden storage pocket on the back, designed for storing sensitive gear. This pocket also has a zip tab, similar to the front pocket, that allows you to lock down the zipper to one side. Its strategic placement against the back of the backpack makes it an ideal spot for storing sensitive items such as passports, cash, or wallets, as they will remain constantly secured while you’re wearing the backpack, offering peace of mind during travels or daily commutes.

Two water bottle pockets on each side are designed with a snap button closure, allowing them to sit flush against the bag when not in use. They can still accommodate thinner water bottles or hold quick-access gear like smartphones when snapped closed. We regularly would slip a phone in these pockets just to free up a hand without any issues. Unsnapping the pockets allows them to expand to accommodate larger bottles, like a 1-liter Nalgene bottle. However, it is worth noting that the openings on these pockets are quite loose when unsnapped, so items could slip out.

The main compartment of the Pacsafe X Anti-Theft 25L Backpack has a nice wide opening, providing an excellent overview of everything inside and making it easy to pack for both overnight trips and daily commutes. This compartment features fleece-lined compartments for a laptop and a tablet. The laptop sleeve can accommodate a 16″ MacBook Pro and most 16″ laptops, offering padding for extra protection. Just in front of this is a padded tablet sleeve that fits an iPad Pro 11″ and most other 11″ tablets.

Towards the top of the compartment is a zippered pocket, perfect for smaller gear such as headphones, a mouse, a portable power bank, or hard drives. The rest of the compartment serves as a spacious area for other gear, whether clothing, packing cubes, tech pouches, or other everyday essentials. To give you an idea of its capacity, we are able to fit a 16″ MacBook Pro, an 11″ iPad Pro, a Dopp kit, four shirts, and a jacket in this compartment without any issues.

Overall, the Pacsafe X Anti-Theft 25L Backpack perfectly combines functionality and security in a stylishly aesthetic and compact form. The robust anti-theft features provide plenty of assurance and peace of mind for travelers and commuters. The bag’s thoughtful design makes the shoulder straps, back panel, and strategically placed compartments a joy to use and ideal for a variety of use cases. While the water bottle pockets are not the most secure, and some anti-theft technology requires a bit of practice, the sleek and modern aesthetic makes this a worthy option for the security-conscious looking for a stylish, well-designed backpack.