These Are The Best Crossbody Bags For Traveling, Period

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Whoever you are and wherever you go, there’s no denying that having your hands free is the superior option when it comes to carrying any type of handbag. It all comes down to efficiency and comfort. You can glide around town, move faster and simply do more with ease when you don’t have to worry about a strap falling off your shoulder or a top handle to constantly hold onto. And when it comes to travel, a crossbody bag is an absolute must. The best crossbody bags for travel, like the best luggage brands, are the ones that pack your essentials safely and securely so you can focus on seeing the sights.

Peep the best crossbody bags for travel, below

Whether you're strolling through a bustling European city, exploring the natural wonders of a remote destination, or simply running errands in your local neighborhood, the right crossbody bag, like a pair of comfortable sneakers, will make or break your trip (and your outfit). In this comprehensive guide, we dive into the world of the best crossbody bags—exploring the latest trends, innovative features, and the most coveted brands that cater to your active lifestyle without compromising style.

We cover all types of crossbody bags—from messenger bags, to waist packs to convertible silhouettes and more. Whether you're looking to make a fashion statement sightseeing around a stylish city, or you're heading out for a day hike, you'll find a crossbody bag for your travel needs on this list. From under-$50 Amazon finds to the best (most timeless) designer finds, it's time you invest in a crossbody bag or two that will quite literally, better your days.

Everywhere Belt Bag Large

The Everywhere Belt Bag from Lululemon is probably the world's most popular waist pack. At one point in time it was sold out everywhere and up even up charged on resale sites!

Aside from the household brand name it holds, this belt bag (to be worn across your body) will make your life so much easier. It's simple, but made with water-repellent fabric that will keep your phone, keys, wallet and more safe and dry. It's casual and perfect for daily walks whether you're in activewear or weekend wear.

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City Crossbody Bag

This under-$100 bag is made from some of the best leather you'll ever touch and smell. It's responsibly sourced in Ethiopia and made at Parker Clay's lovely factories, in-house where they employ and educate women at fair and healthy wages.

Parker Clay is a certified B-Corp., and takes pride in creating world-class leather goods, safe and clean facilities, and giving ranchers a fair price for their efforts. The result for you? An incredibly made, durable product that gets better with age and will never go out of style.

Revive Modular Crossbody Bag

This crossbody bag is designed with multiple compartments and pockets to keep your essentials organized and easily accessible. It features a roomy main compartment for larger items and smaller zippered pockets along the strap for your sunglasses, keys, and ear buds for an easy grab store process.

It's made from a recycled weatherproof neoprene-like material that will keep you belongings dry and your hands free. It's the perfect sporty companion for an unpredictable day of running around the airport ravel. Plus, the strap is completely adjustable and the zippered strap compartments are removable making it customizable.

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Sling Bag

The compact yet well-organized design from Amazon includes multiple pockets, card slots, a window for wired headphones and more, making it easy to keep your items neatly arranged. With its adjustable crossbody strap, it offers comfortable wear for extended periods, making it an ideal choice for exploring new destinations or running errands. Its affordable price point adds to its appeal, making it an excellent option for those seeking both convenience and value in a crossbody bag.

Meadow Small Sling Bag

Leatherology is known for its namesake...leather! What you get is really well made items, meant to last at a fair price point. The Meadow Small Sling Bag is a small-but-mighty pack that fits all your essentials. When worn, it feels like a part of your outfit and not an additional accessory.

It's super lightweight and is the perfect on-the-go crossbody bag for a day of walking, sightseeing, or dancing at a festival. The main compartment has expanding sides and two-way zipper open for easy access to whatever you need. It also features card slots are sewn into the interior of the bag so you can save space by leaving your wallet behind. My favorite feature is the back slide pocket which is great for access to your phone when it's time to snap a quick pic. The customization aspect of adding your initials is the cherry on top of this perfect small crossbody bag.

Midi Sac

The woven check of this crossbody bag is a fun accent, giving texture and French-girl chic. The compact size belies its surprisingly spacious interior, offering enough room to carry your essentials while on the go. The adjustable crossbody strap ensures comfortable wear, allowing you to navigate through your day with ease while looking fabulous. Whether you're headed to a casual brunch or an evening soirée, this crossbody bag is a sleek and practical choice that complements a wide range of outfits, making it a versatile addition to your accessory collection.

WTF Soho Convertible Bag

Crossbody bags are cool and all, but why stop there? Free People's WTF Soho Convertible Bag is the perfect do-it-all travel companion. It's rugged for adventure, but sophisticated for city sights and non athletic clothes, hence the high quality leather. Plus, its versatile design allows you to carry it as a crossbody bag or convert it into a stylish fanny pack, adapting to your travel and outfit needs. It has received a ton of five star reviews on Revolve like, "I love the three compartments. It's small enough to carry around town for the day but big enough for all my essentials. I love the handles at the top to clip my hat to with a carabiner!" The possibilities are endless.

The Casual Crossbody

Wearing the Rothy's Casual Crossbody is like wearing a stretchy-yet-breathable blanket across your body. It's made from super soft recycled fabric, woven to grace your skin with comfort and care.

We found that The Casual Crossbody is the perfect travel companion because it's extremely light in weight, easy to pack and is machine washable. Not to mention its adjustable straps and multiple compartment pockets will keep you organized with maximum comfort.

Terra Small Sling Bag

The hands-free Terra Small Sling Bag helps you get outside with ease. It's the perfect short hike addition, allowing you to fit your phone, sunscreen, wallet and a small water bottle. With five pockets, it will keep all your essentials secure with a padded layer pocket for ultimate comfort. It's made from recycled ripstop nylon, making it extra durable and able to withstand the elements.

Jolie Suede Leather Crossbody

Nothing screams fall/winter like a cognac textured corduroy. Take this crossbody bag from Fossil. The rich, earthy color palette and textured design evoke the cozy and warm vibes of sweater weather, making it an ideal accessory to elevate your autumn wardrobe.

With multiple compartments and pockets, it provides ample space to keep your essentials organized, from your smartphone to travel documents. The adjustable crossbody strap allows for comfortable wear during the day, while the gold chain strap can turn this baby into a shoulder bag for night.

Retro Classic Half Round Messenger

The half round messenger bag is currently trending, and its under-$25 price point is the perfect excuse to jump on board. Even though it's affordable, the minimalist style and classic color give quiet (faux) luxury. It's roomy with adjustable straps and its vegan leather exterior feels smooth to the touch.

Marcie Bag

If you're going to splurge on a crossbody bag, the Chloe Marcie Mini is an investment in both fashion and functionality. Not only is it super chic and classic, but the craftsmanship is high class luxury. The creamy neutral color is a beautiful addition to any day or night, without boasting logos or brand names. It's silent luxury at its finest.

The textured-leather bag has just enough space for your wallet, cell phone and sunglasses. It has a tab-fastening front flap so you can access them easily without any annoying zips.

Nouvelle

If sleek and minimal is your beat, then you're going to love this ultra organized crossbody bag. And if you'r a maximalist, you'll also love how streamlined this bag will make you feel.

It's a super lightweight, comfortable, spacious, and eco-friendly bag, ready to conquer the day. The straps are adjustable and padded for extra comfort, while the interior features multiple zip pockets to keep yourself organized. The array of pockets for your essentials includes two mesh pockets and one zip pocket (that fits all iPhone sizes) along with three card slots so you can leave your wallet behind. The nylon is sleek and sporty but elevated with gold hardware and finished with leather touches that make this simple bag feel like a luxury item.

Texel Crossbody

Rains makes the best, most stylish rain coats in the game, so when they launched bags, we knew they were going to be good. If you live in a rainy city or are visiting one soon, add this bag to your shopping cart. It's fully waterproof, even with the zip closure.

The main compartment holds zip and mesh pockets for easy organization while a back-mounted trolley sleeve, with zip pocket, allows the bag to be slid onto telescopic trolley handles for easy transportation. The design is finished with webbing adjustable shoulder strap and base-mounted storage straps, ideal for attaching a light jacket or water bottle so your hands free journey can continue on with layers.

Original Rope Sling Pack

Kavu's Rope Sling Pack has a cult following for its innovative design and outdoorsy style. With a single strap that can be worn over the shoulder or across the body, it provides easy access to your essentials while keeping your hands free for hiking, biking, or capturing breathtaking moments on your outdoor excursions.

The bag boasts multiple pockets, both inside and out, allowing you to stay organized and carry everything you need, from water bottles to trail maps. Its durable construction and adjustable strap make it comfortable to wear during long hikes, ensuring it's a dependable companion for any outdoor adventure. With its rugged charm and practical features like being waterproof and durable, the KAVU Rope Sling is the ultimate crossbody bag for outdoorsy travelers, offering both style and convenience on your journey into the wild.

Hailey Crossbody Phone Case and Wallet

This phone wallet offers versatile storage options for your credit cards while securely holding your smartphone. It's not technically a bag, but it does the trick with minimal storage and maximum convenience with a thick, comfortable, adjustable crossbody strap.

You'll never miss an important call or text with this baby around your body. It features card slots and a zippered pocket for your cards, cash, and other essentials, allowing you to downsize your purse and keep everything organized.

Numéro Dix

Polène is all about modern sophistication. This crossbody bag is crafted with meticulous attention to detail making it the epitome of understated luxury. Its sleek black grained leather exterior exudes timeless charm for both formal affairs and casual outings.

The crescent shape is fashion-girl-approved while the crossbody strap can be swapped out to a shoulder bag giving versatility. It's the wear-with-anything solution bag full of sleek storage (for day and night) and the perfect travel essential.

What to look for in crossbody bags for travel

The best crossbody bags will keep your belongings secure, feel comfortable along your trap muscles and be able to organize everything in your bag effectively.

Secure closer: A nonnegotiable for all crossbody bags (especially when traveling) is a secure closure. The means you should look out for a zipper finish or a snapped flap overlay to avoid any type of tourist theft.

Adjustable straps: Other notable features to look for in the best crossbody bags are adjustable straps for a custom fit. As a 5'3" traveler, I prefer my crossbody bags to fit snug along my ribs as if it's a second skin, but everyone's preference and size is different. The straps should be soft to the touch for comfort or wide if you're carrying something heavy so it distributes the weight of the bag over more space.

Extra storage: Lastly, it's all about organization! Card case inserts are super helpful so you can edit out an actual wallet, while key chain looks and phone pockets helps you organize your essentials easily.

How we selected the best crossbody bags for travel

Vanessa Powell is a seasoned stylist and fashion writer with more than a decade of experience. Previously, she was a fashion editor for People Magazine and Health Magazine, and has styled celebrities including Sydney Sweeney, Bailee Madison, Hilary Duff, and more. For this story, she evaluated over 50 crossbody bags for travel that she's personally tested in the past year, judging their design, comfort level, and just how great they looked. She regularly uses most of the crossbody bags on this list.

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