Good morning astronauts, I’m your host and the creator of Anti-Theft Boss, Traveling Chuck. Today, I’m sharing some budget anti-theft backpack options.
The beauty of anti-theft backpacks is that they don’t have to be expensive, and they can be used for just about anything: school, travel, city commuting, hiking, moonwalking, etc.
This review is the fifth installment in my best anti-theft backpack series.
Alright, let’s get to it!
#1) Oscaurt Anti-Theft Travel Backpack
The Oscaurt backpack is essentially a budget version of the Bobby Original Backpack.
Check out a video of the Oscaurt in action below:
Oscaurt Backpack Features
- The zipper of the main compartment is hidden, making it difficult for pickpockets to enter your bag
- Reflective strips on the bag guard you against becoming a ghost at night
- External USB charging port allows you to place a power bank inside your bag and charge any USB device from the outside without opening your bag
- The back panel features custom EVA material to ensure premium back support no matter how fully packed your bag is: can hold up to 55 lbs
- Crazy good internal organization compartments
- Secret pocket in the back
- Roomy side pockets to hold water bottle and umbrella
- Water-resistant materials
- Airport checkpoint friendly feature with 180-degree lay-flat opening
- Fits laptops up to 15.6″
- Dimensions: 11.02″ x 4.92″ x 17″ (width x depth x height)
- Capacity: 12L
- Weight: 2.3 lbs
- Great for working professional commuters
- Works well for travel
- Sturdy materials
- Excellent for school
- Extremely lightweight
- Wide opening prevents from having to dig around
- Perfect organization and size
- Works great for an international week-long journey
- Hidden zippers work great
- No RFID blocking materials
- Limited storage space
- No internal slash-proof materials
- Not rugged enough for some
My Grade: 7/10
#2) Mark Ryden Anti-Theft Laptop Backpack
Next up, we have another budget spin on the Bobby backpack.
Let’s take a look at the Mark Ryden backpack below:
Mark Ryden Backpack Features
- Hidden zippers on the main compartment to keep clever pickpockets at bay
- Water-resistant materials
- Can hold up to a 15.6″ laptop with an added tablet sleeve
- Laptop and tablet sleeves are both padded
- Tons of internal pockets for precise organization
- TSA checkpoint friendly lay-flat design; opens 180 degrees
- Secret stash pockets keep you from having to open the bag to access your essentials
- Modern, sleek, and attractive design fits both men’s and women’s style
- Strap to connect to rolling luggage (I love this feature)
- USB charging port means you can charge your devices using a power bank without opening the pack
- Safety reflective strips for night crawling
- Padded back and shoulder straps keep your back happy when loading heavy objects
- Dimensions: 16″ x 10.5″ x 3″ (height x width x depth)
- Weight: 2 lbs
- Incredible organization
- Lovely the modern design
- Super comfortable
- Easy access to the outside pockets
- Great for travel
- Feels light on the back when fully packed
- Durable to last a long time
- Functions well in the rain
- Awesome for school
- No RFID blocking pockets
- No slash-proof mesh or materials
- Zippers on the front compartment and on the hidden pockets stand out
- Tough to fit a large water bottle in the side pockets
- Too small for some users
My Grade: 8/10
#3) Hanke Anti-Theft Backpack Review
Now, let’s explore another quality backpack that’s selling for cheap. Check out the review of the Hanke below:
Hanke Backpack Features
- Durable and water-resistant materials used throughout the bag
- Hidden zippers on the main compartment
- Additional hidden pockets on the back and side give you easy access to your items while keeping thieves out
- “S” curve shoulder straps and padded back panel keeps your back happy and your shoulders happier
- USB charging port to charge your electronic devices without opening the bag
- Tons of internal organization pockets
- Fits up to a 14″ laptop (one reviewer said it can squeeze in a slim 15.6″ laptop)
- Internal credit card slots
- Reflective strips to keep you safe at night
- Strap for connecting to rolling luggage
- Sunglasses hook on the shoulder strap
- Dimensions: 11″ x 4.92″ x 16.93″ (width x depth x height)
- Weight: 2.18 lbs
- Unbeatable value
- Suitable for travel and as a carry-on bag
- An added sense of security
- Professional looking with excellent attention to details
- Perfect for a trip to Universal Studios
- Stylish
- Longevity
- Very sturdy
- Surprising amount of internal storage space
- No RFID blocking pockets
- No internal cut-proof materials
- Tight side pockets
- Too narrow for some
- Bag does not open 180º
- Only holds up to a 14″ laptop
My Grade: 8/10
#4) Mancro Anti-Theft Laptop Backpack
I’ll finish off this review with a bang.
The wildly popular Mancro backpack has a ton of positive feedback and is currently selling for next to nothing.
Check out the thorough review below:
Mancro Anti-Theft Backpack Features
- Comes with a combination lock to use on the main compartment zippers
- The laptop sleeve fits up to a 15.6″ laptop
- Additional internal compartments for tablets, cell phones, etc.
- 9 internal organization pockets
- The USB port allows you to charge your phone or other USB devices without opening the bag
- Durable zippers
- Water repellant
- “S” curve padded shoulder straps for superior comfort
- Great for all uses: school, travel, business, commuting, hiking, weekend getaways, shopping, etc.
- Suitable design for everyone including picky teens
- Dimensions: 20″ x 12.2″ x 5.7″ (height x width x depth)
- Weight: 1.5 lbs
- Awesome internal organization
- Super comfy on the shoulders and back
- Frequent flyers love it for travel
- Repels water well
- Sturdy straps hold weight well
- Stylish and sleek looking pack
- Front slash pocket perfect for quick access
- Good for graphic designers
- Fantastic size
- No hidden pocket in the back
- No RFID blocking materials
- Not slash-proof
- The internal USB cable can get in the way
- It may not fit a large water bottle in the side pockets
- Can get warm in hot weather
My Grade: 8/10
Honorable Mentions
Now that you’ve already seen my top 4 picks for budget anti-theft backpacks that still pack a punch, let’s check out a few additional options.
The Matein anti-theft backpack is a solid option for business travelers #ad:
Macron makes another anti-theft backpack intended for students #ad:
The bag below is currently worth a look #ad:
Finally, the Tzowla Business Anti-Theft Backpack has some cool features I haven’t seen in other bags #ad:
Final Thoughts
All of the packs I mentioned above are great choices for cheap anti-theft backpacks.
Most of them sell for budget prices and have tons of positive feedback to back them up.
The premium features I see missing most in these bags are RFID blocking materials and slash-proof materials.
To be honest, I’ve been traveling for over a decade and don’t know if those features are 100% necessary.
I do like having RFID blocking compartments while at the airport for extra peace of mind.
Check out the RFID blocking hidden waist belt I use below #ad:
It’s up to you to decide whether you think some of the premium features on other bags are worth the extra price.
In my opinion, the budget anti-theft backpacks listed here get the job done and more.
