The luggage store rooms aren't very secure- just a room where you can dump your stuff with everyone else's.
Take a padlock- they are rarely (never?) provided. A small one is fine. You're just really stopping honest people from being tempted- a dishonest person will break the padlock anyway.
agree with 1 and 5, a small padlock and a couple mini luggage locks for your backpack are also worth taking as a deturrent
I will echo the comment about a backpack. If doing much travel - especially if hopping around a bit, travel as light as possible and do not do it with a suitcase. Also, keep your valuables on your person. I will sleep with my passport and wallet either in my pockets or inside of the pillowcase under my head - if someone's trying to take stuff from there, I'll probably notice. Also, I'll keep anything else valuable (i.e. camera, computer, etc.) either in a locker or (if they dont have one) snuggled up with me in the bed. A cannon is not a teddybear, but I've found you can get used to sleeping with one pretty well when you don't want it stolen. As most people in hostels are all traveling around just like you with similar things, they probably are not all that interested in picking up some of your stuff to take along with them. That said, it's always better to not let temptation present itself.
Never leave your bag in a hostel. There are thieves just about everywhere you prey on hostels. If you want to see your belongings again, carry your bag with you at all times.
"carry your bag with you at all times."
Now there is a NOT intelligent comment. I can just picture all the backpackers in Paris walking around sightseeing with their pack on their back. Uh-huh.
Hostles ARE NOT safe places to store bags. If I'm a thief, where am I going to go first? A hostel of course. You can take your chances but it might cost you.
pdoonan, just out of interest have you had any personal experiences of things being stolen from hostels or are you giving unfounded advice like on the other threads?
I doubt a thief would go to a hostel first, especially as you have to get past reception in the majority of hostels, and need a key for many... I think the rare times when things are stolen they are probably taken by staff or other guests. But as I said in my original answer I've stayed in countless hostels and never personally had a problem... then again I've always used common sense and kept my passport and some money on my person.
I had my passport stolen out of my backpack in Amsterdam and had a camera stolen from my hostel room in Barcelona. So yes, I'm speaking from personal experience. I don't know who stole it (obviously) but I still don't trust hostels.
Ah, sorry to hear that and sorry for being a bit harsh on you... was just referring to the comments on the thread - West/East europe on a MAJOR budget.
Moral of the story for the OP - always carry anything valuable to you with you (or leave it at home!) but I've never heard of anyone stealing clothes etc from a hostel, so your main backpack should be fine.