Lots of experienced travelers carry a specific travel purse on their travels. Let’s face it — your needs in a purse on the road aren’t always the same as they are when you’re at home, so it makes sense that you might need a special travel purse. There are lots of different travel purses available, so how do you find a good one?

One area to consider is security. Some travel purses offer security features designed to thwart potential pickpockets and purse snatchers. You can stop them from slashing the side of your purse by getting one with built-in wire mesh in the body. Prevent them slicing the handle and getting away, with a wire-reinforced strap. Make it difficult for pickpockets by having zippered compartments, perhaps even with latches on the pulls. Definitely avoid purses that are easy for somebody to slip their hand into!

Also make sure that your travel purse has lots of separate compartments on the inside. The best ones have one pocket for everything that you need to put into them, whether you need to store passports, wallets, cell phones, important documents or medication. This way, if your purse does get slit, it will be much harder for a thief to make of with everything. Having your goods neatly zippered away is going to make it much harder for someone to come up behind you and to stealthily pluck your wallet out.

A lot of women end up carrying much more than normal in their travel purses. If you end up with items like maps, cameras, mini-toiletries, water bottles, and guidebooks, you’ll need a sizable travel purse to fit it all. Other people are minimalists, and can get by with a couple of credit cards, a little cash, and their passport. Think about your own travel style and needs when you’re choosing a travel purse.

Some people swear by leather travel purses. That’s certainly the classic, and leather can be very durable. It’s particularly good if you buy one that’s made to look distressed — then the more you beat it up during the trip, the better it will look! Other people want to avoid leather, either for moral reasons, or to get something lighter weight. There are many synthetic material travel purses available, too.

Think about how you will carry the purse while you’re traveling. It’s not wise to have one that dangles loosely from your shoulder, since that can be a target for thieves. And you don’t want one that you’ll have to hold in your hand, since your hands may be otherwise occupied. Shoulder straps that give you the option of slinging it across your chest can be a good choice. A purse that you can squeeze under your arm also provides that security.

Finally, you want something that’s easy. The last thing you want is a white purse (that will be dirty by the time you reach your destination), or something dainty (that will be quickly be ruined). It needs to be sturdy enough to stand up to the rigors of travel. And it needs to be something you can scuff up without worrying about it.

Once you find the perfect travel purse for your style of travel, chances are that you’ll be able to use it time and time again, for years to come. A good, durable travel purse is an investment that can improve your enjoyment of this great trip, and many trips in the future.