Fat Passport

Item

Comments and where to buy

Pack or suitcase

You want something lightweight and durable, with sturdy double-zippers that enable locking. My personal preference is a soft pack that I can carry over my shoulder or on my back, and that’s not too deep (so I’m not always rummaging around in my bag). These are light, flexible, and manageable to carry. Choices abound, so look around at places like REI, Amazon, and Luggage Online. I’ve never used a suitcase, and these stand out like a sore thumb in the third world, but there are plenty available at both Amazon and Luggage Online.

Daypack

Get a daypack where you can keep your guidebook, camera, and various other odds and ends you may need while you’re out. The more glamorous it looks, the more inviting it may be for thieves, so consider getting something simple and non-descript. My personal preference is an over-the-shoulder or sling bag where I can keep my SLR camera within easy access, as well as having the other items above, and which doesn't look like a camera bag that might attract curiousity or worse. About the only such bag I’ve found is from Tamrac, though there are many various daypacks available through Luggage Online, Amazon, and others.

Baggage locks

Use small combination locks to lock your bags. For travel in/from the US, get TSA Accepted Combination Locks preferably with four dials instead of three.