Insurance forum

The question about whether or not it is worth getting coverage is determined by whether or not you can afford to cover (or forfeit) the cost of a replacement if the worst happens. Think through the worst case: the camera gear is stolen or dropped overboard on a boat. How much will the insurance company pay out and how much is a new one? Are you prepared to pay the difference? Now compare that difference to the what you would have to pay to cover the cost of taking extra insurance to cover specific items. Can you afford to take the risk of having to pay that difference, or do you pay more now upfront to cover that risk?


Check with the insurance company, too, about how they define the value of a camera. Is the body one item up to $1000, and the lens another item worth up to $1000 (ie a total of $2k)? Or is it a combined value?

I've carried a DSLR, two lenses, netbook plus small point and shoot on several trips and have never lost a thing. But I'm careful and sensible. I always lock gear up in my back in the room when I don't need it while out and about, and NEVER leave it lying around in the room. Sames goes with cables, etc that advertise the fact that I have gear. And when in transit, I ALWAYS carry it in my daypack which it with me at all times.

I found a company based in Canada that I will use during my next trip, instead of nomads, as I was not happy with them. They are Securiglobe.com.

I know this is an old thread but this is a very important note regarding insurance.

As Ann80 noted you must keep these expensive personal items with you at all times. I was insured by a company called 1Cover in Australia and had my iPhone stolen from a locked bag within the baggage compartment of a bus while traveling in Cambodia. There were employees sitting in the baggage compartment and they must have stuck their hand within the crack in the zipper of my bag that opens before the zip is stopped by the lock that was on it.

When claiming for the stolen iPhone I was advised that their is a loophole for 1Cover that doesn't allow you to claim for personal electronic items stolen within a baggage compartment. Only when stolen when the items are in your possession.

The bus was a sleeper bus and after a very uncomfortable 3 hours on the bus I moved my backpack from with me on the bus down to the baggage compartment. So be extremely careful to read the terms and conditions of your insurance as this condition which may appear on many insurance companies terms and conditions. They will weasel their way out of anything these slimy companies.