Monday, October 7, 2013

Gear Review: Pick-Pocket Proof Pants For Women

I must admit that I was plenty skeptical about the new women's Pick-Pocket Proof Pants (manufactured by Clothing Arts) that I anticipated reviewing. It's not that I was worried the pants wouldn't thwart thieves. I'm sure they would. After all, my friend tried the men's version last year and he had difficulty getting into the pockets himself. (There's definitely a learning curve.) But he loved the pants and wears them constantly. You can read my review here.

But I'm all about form and function. So, great that thieves won't be able to nab my passport, money, credit cards and cell phone. But aesthetics can't be sacrificed. And the idea of a pants with a multitude of pockets, including the cargo kind, just didn't seem to fit in with a pleasing aesthetic. Would my butt look droopy, my thighs bulgy and my hips like I'm carrying an extra 10 pounds? I'm pretty petite (5'2" and 104 pounds) so anything that detracted from my slim appearance would be a no go, even if it was pick-pocket proof.

Was I pleasantly surprised! These pants look great and perform well. The pockets -- there are six of them: two rear, two side and two cargo -- are all low profile.. The cargo pockets don't hang in a floppy way. Two of these pockets contain double security features: a zipper and a button flap. I defy a thief to get past that. The two side pockets are zippered and contain an inner pocket, perfect for my cell phone. Like with the men's pants, it does take awhile to get accustomed to all the buttons and zippers. But that's the trade off if you want to keep other hands out of your pockets.

The pants are lightweight and soft as cotton, but constructed of a nylon that's wicks away moisture, doesn't wrinkle, and dries quickly. Oftentimes, I have found that pants never fit me perfectly around the waist, often requiring a belt. No belt is needed with these, thanks to additional buttons to cinch in the waist, making for a perfect fit.

I was surprised to find that the pants convert to capris, my favorite pants style. So that's how I intend on wearing them on most of my trips to warm climes.

The fit is relaxed, without a hint of bagginess, and the comfort factor is high, including when I'm curled up for an hour on my commuter bus. The pants arrived four days ago and I've been wearing them every day since. In a few days, I'm heading out of the country on assignment to a tropical country and my Pick-Pocket Proof Pants are coming along with me, whether I expect pickpockets or not. And now you can get a 20% discount on these or the men's pants if you purchase my travel first-aid kit organizer.

19 comments:

Melanie said...

Pick pocket proof pants sound like a great idea. Bonus that they look nice too.

Brette @ PuttingItAllontheTable said...

This looks like a great invention!

Sheryl Kraft said...

These look like the ultimate travel pants. Comfy and loose, but flattering at the same time!

Roxanne said...

They look cute.

Belle Wong said...

These look great!

ruth pennebaker said...

I'm assuming they're washable, too, right? In that case, sold.

Laurel said...

Cool, I've never heard of pick-pocket pants! These would be really useful for places notorious for pickpocketing - like Barcelona or Greece.

merr said...

Such a smart idea...and the pants are cute, too.

Kalie said...

These pants look pretty, ideal for women.They can be very helpful during traveling.I love to travel diverse parts of the world and it is suitable for me too. Recently, I visited Dublin and I feel the journey was tremendous with the South Dublin coach hire mesmerized the journey.

J The Travel Authority said...

Hi Melanie, Absolutely. I wouldn't be so keen on wearing the pants if they didn't look great, too.

J The Travel Authority said...

Hi Brette, I just returned from the Lima and these pants came in handy to hold my valuables while I roamed the city.

J The Travel Authority said...

Hi Sheryl, Yes, the fit is perfect. Loose but not too loose so that I could comfortably curl up in a chair while wearing them.

J The Travel Authority said...

Hi Sheryl, Yes, the fit is perfect. Loose but not too loose so that I could comfortably curl up in a chair while wearing them.

J The Travel Authority said...

Hi Roxanne, And they're soft, too!

J The Travel Authority said...

Hi Belle, I even wore them at night with a little cardigan when I would visit wine bars. Perfect.

J The Travel Authority said...

Hi Laurel, It's great how there are two pockets that require undoing the button and then the zipper. It would be ultra difficult for a pickpocket to get past both features. As I've said: You'd have to be unconscious for someone to get into these pockets.

J The Travel Authority said...

Hi merr, I know. Surprised no one thought of it before.

J The Travel Authority said...

Hi Ruth, Absolutely they're washable.

Jane Louise Boursaw said...

Really cute too.