I am shortly going on an international trip and want to get something to carry passport and money that is harder to steal from than a purse. Besides I don’t want to have to carry my purse all the time. So Dopers, which will more comfortable in a tropical climate: a money belt or one of those little pouches that hangs around your neck?
I switched from money belt to neck pouch because it was much more difficult to get stuff out of the money belt. And it got really sweaty. The neck pouch works better for me. Haven’t had anyone steal anything from either.
I have one of these little neck pouches from pacsafe. I like it, fits nicely under my clothes after I make it through being scanned. I wear it outside the clothing until then. It looks like any random passport neck thingy but cant be cut off. Pacsafe also makes belts, and wrist bands that can go on an ankle, wallets to chain to ones belt and other goodies.
I think you’d have a hard time putting credit cards and a passport in a money belt. I’ve used a neck pouch in the past with good success.
My first one was a coated nylon and felt unpleasant against my skin when it was hot. A later model had an absorbent backing and felt better.
Here’s a page with lots to look at.
Neck pouches are probably more comfortable, but almost certainly less secure. People know you have it, and it just takes one little razor swipe from behind to separate it from you. They sell razor-proof ones with steel wires threaded in. but those are going to be bulkier and easier to notice.
Belt pouches are really uncomfortable, but seem much safer to me. I usually pin mine lightly to my clothes or undies and wind the belt around the hip part of my undies to keep razor-and-snatch thieves from winning.
I’ve become a real fan of the PacSafe collection. Their purses have multiple security measures that make me feel safe enough even in pretty sketchy parts.
Ever since my wallet was stolen in Madrid, I wear a neck pouch when I travel. And I’ve added an elastic cord that goes around my body, in case someone snips the cord it hangs from.
For me, the point of a money belt is that it holds the things that I really need to make sure I don’t lose/have stolen (my passport, my extra credit card, the bulk of my cash if I have a bunch on me right now), but it is not meant to hold the things I will need access to during my daily activities. I don’t put things in my money belt that I will need to get to.
I keep my preferred credit card, ID, the day’s cash, etc in a normal wallet. If it got stolen, it would suck, but it wouldn’t be the end of the world and I could deal with it. I’ve also never felt unsafe enough when travelling that I thought I needed to take extraordinary measures to keep my normal wallet items safe.
That said, a money belt will probably be sweatier in a hot climate than a neck pouch.
I think they’re referring to one worn inside your clothing. True, the strap is slightly visible depending on what you’re wearing, but even if the cord is cut, they have to yank in out from under your shirt, which is kind of noticeable.
I had one like that, and as others said, only kept items that I didn’t need day to day and would have great trouble replacing - passport, backup credit card, sums of cash larger than foldin’ money for incidentals. Now that I think about it though, it doesn’t work well for tight fitting women’s clothing, so if that describes what you wear, choose the belt.
I used to have a square money belt type of thing. Picture a very thin, flat, square sporran. Or kind of like a neck wallet but worn around my waist. It was awesome. Worn with an untucked shirt, it was covered up. To grab at it, you’d pretty much have to reach for my crotch which would be hard for me to miss. Plus, it was thin enough I could wear it with tight clothing, although I would wear it under my skirt. The only thing odd about it is that, when under a skirt, it looked like I was pulling my money out of my panties.
Now I have a travel wallet that functions the same way. I use it as my every-day wallet. It has a thick belt loop, so it attaches to my belt and stays flat against my body hanging from me belt. When unfolded, it can hold a passport. I don’t attach it to my belt for everyday purposes.
I’d like to second this. If you’re constantly going into whatever method you’ve got of concealing stuff, you’re doing it wrong.
You’ll notice, but you’ll be facing the wrong way to do much about it. He’ll be halfway down the block and blended into the crowd by the time you react to it. Pickpockets are GOOD- those that suck at it get caught.
I forgot to mention my favorite solution- I wear a lot of skirts, so I had a tailor whip up a cotton slip and include a secure zippered pocket that fits my passport. I can wear it against the front of side of my thigh.
To be really secure, you need the Currency Suppository.
I prefer the intra-brain security chamber.
Eh, you need that like you need a hole in your head. 
When I travel I pack the everyday things that I need in my purse, but I keep extra cash, credit cards, and my passport (when I don’t constantly need it) in one of these. It clips securely to the waistband of my pants with only a little tab showing on the outside. The only way someone could steal it, even if they noticed it, is if they stuck their hands down my pants and wrenched it out.
Unfortunately, I lost my last one when I left it in a hotel safe in Argentina. I got the cash and credit cards back, but not my amphipod. I’m still kicking myself about that dumb ass move!
Does this cause chaffing? I assume i don’t have to worry about the sweating part since this product was made for runners to begin with? I was initially concerned about it being able to fit a U.S passport, but i guess that has been laid to rest.
So many options now as far as money belt, neck pouch, etc. I was initially wanting to get a money belt, but i felt it would get uncomfortable as the day goes along walking around Rome for like 6-7 hrs. Same for neck pouch. This Amphipod sounds like a more comfortable and safer option assuming the chaffing doesn’t occur obviously.
I have always used a neck pouch. Money belts just seem too awkward and troublesome.
But I generally only use the neck pouch during actual traveling and leave it behind in the room during stays. I tend to carry just enough money as I think I’ll need. Plus in some high-risk areas – Hanoi last year, for example – I’ve taken to carrying a “fake” wallet in my back pocket, containing nothing but a note that says “FUCK YOU.” But I haven’t been able to get anyone to steal it yet, much to the wife’s relief, as she’s convinced they’ll be angry enough to come thrash me.
Actually, i was thinking along the same lines putting a decoy wallet in my back pocket with a note “NADA” since i will be in Spain. Maybe a note with “FUCK YOU” is not too wise…
I do think Hanoi is safer than Spain as far as pickpockets.
money belt is much safer and use it for your passport and other key things. Neck pouch just screams “steal me” if you’re in such a situation.
When I traveled in China in the 1980’s, I used a money belt. I also had a little elastic bandage thingy with a pocket that was on the top of my calf. Had enough money in it to get me back to Hong Kong in case the money belt was ever robber. Never had to use it thougth.
Hanoi is in the top 10 of the world’s worst pickpocketing cities, the only Asian city on the list. Barcelona (#1) and Madrid (#4) do beat it, however. I had a thread on this a couple of years ago.