Core77

Massive design feature fail for bags vis-a-vis security

By Rain Noe - April 7, 2010

in Object Culture

This is very, very disturbing.... So the standard design feature to make a bag or piece of luggage "secure" are lock-loops on the zipper pulls. With both zipper pulls bound together, there's no way to get into that bag, right?

Glad I'm not a bag designer tasked with developing secure luggage. If we can't use zippers, what the heck can we use? And that's not a rhetorical question--I'm curious to hear potential solutions from you guys. via carryology

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Ben

14 years ago

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It is great to see that the fixed zipperlocks on the side of the bags -that have been around for a while now- are being reinvented by electric_mayhem...
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EnergonCube

14 years ago

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I like the static cling idea. What about creating several sets of eyelets -- both above and below the zipper line? Then run a lock through each set. Yeah, it's a pain, but it could work.
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Derek Crenshaw

14 years ago

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Design in locking side compression straps. These will not allow full access with a Pen, only partial. Guys in back only have about 20-30 secs to rifle through your crap. So, this slows them down a bit.

But, Nermel is right, TSA will get in one way or another. So, best to just take your priceless stuff and tuck it away in your carry on, and best of luck with your check in.
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Christ Boron

14 years ago

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I like the cling idea-- well more the concept of knowing when your bag has been tampered with more than anything. The plastic cling wrap part can be redone with new cling wrap or something, and besides uses 'disposable' plastic. I feel like the hard case and lock would be in violation of airport security... Hmmm. What if it was something like a sack or case with lock at the end and a seam in the middle that could be 'torn' if it needed access by authorities, but could be easily repaired via replacing the stitch. That way it could be a security service, and the only 'waste' is a string of thread.
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vahid anwari

14 years ago

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Kevlar bags with titanium zippers and locks! can come in handy in terrorist attacks too!
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Jonny Weir

14 years ago

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Just wrap the whole bag in cling film, yea they can cut it off, but you will know. Some airports have a service to do this but for a ridiclous charge, so just do it yourself!
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Barnsie

14 years ago

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The site you saw the link on had some fun ideas http://www.carryology.com/

Packing a gun (research apparently says it gets better security tracking), or locking two halves of a hardcase together.

Or maybe just making your case look really ugly is the best bet?

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George Smart

14 years ago

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You could get some louis vuitton box luggage.
Looks awesome too
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rask

14 years ago

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How about an oldschool sack? Closed with a peice of chain to make it easy to attach the lock maybe..

Could be attached to a standard peice of luggage and stored in some sort of compartment, to be pulled out and arround the actual luggage before checking it in.
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brett

14 years ago

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I actually just checked my typical 'short trip' luggage, it actually provides a little ring at one end of the zipper to lock to. So rings on the pulls and one at the end of the zipper. If it was utilized then the thief couldn't rezip the bag. Unless he just picked the aforementioned terrible locks that pass for luggage security devices.
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Nermal

14 years ago

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The TSA recommends you leave your luggage unlocked so that they can go through your knickers. I've given up on securing my suitcase for flying.

Leaving it at a hotel bell desk, on the other hand... that's worrying. Does this work with all types of zipper, or are there some less susceptible to this kind of tampering?
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electric_mayhem

14 years ago

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Add a place on the bag to lock the zipper in place along with keeping the two zippers locked together. They can still open it with a ball point but wont be able to close it. might work, but then again if for some reason it breaks open accidentally nobody handling the luggage would be able to put it back together.
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trentblase

14 years ago

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Steel zippers.
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brett

14 years ago

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Given that the average luggage lock can be picked by a five year old with a paperclip I'm not sure if the zipper is the first place you should be looking.
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noah

14 years ago

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I have an old EMS backpack meant for traveling. The outer pocket has a normal size zipper and is susceptible to the problem, but the main pocket has an oversized zipper and withstood a very hard push from my pen. Larger, high quality zipper might be more secure.
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Scott Rocketship

14 years ago

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Does the word "latch" ring a bell?
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Ian Withers

14 years ago

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Well, I am not so sure that it matters now that you are not allowed to lock your bag on flights anymore. If you do, the airport security will kindly destroy whatever lock you put on it and put a friendly sticker on your bag explaining to you that you were in breach of the law and that it was necessary for the security of the planet. Notice how new luggage does not come with locks anymore?
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