The 20 Best Crossbody Bags for Travel in 2024

While the right luggage sets and weekender bags can make your transit significantly easier (or harder), choosing the best travel purse is just as important. Pick a bag too small, and you'll be left juggling your phone in your hands while you're sightseeing the Colosseum. Pick a bag that's too oversized, and you'll wish you'd left it behind in the hotel— case in point, not every bag makes for a good travel accessory.

With summer travel plans on the horizon, Marie Claire spoke with travel aficionados Yolanda Edwards of Yolo Journal and Brooke Saward, the writer behind the World of Wanderlust blog, about their go-to trip accessory—the crossbody travel bag. The bag is a favorite amongst the well-traveled thanks to its hands-free design, detachable straps, and versatility, allowing it to take you from sightseeing to Aperitivo hour to dinner.

From designer styles to leather totes with convertible crossbody straps, the 20 bags on this list are small enough to carry hassle-free but are designed to hold all of the must-haves for your next destination.

The Best Crossbody Bags for Travel

Pacsafe Citysafe CX Anti-Theft Convertible Crossbody

This crossbody bag allows you to relax your grip. Pacsafe's water-repellent travel style features anti-theft properties, such as a slashguard strap and exterior, RFIDsafe pockets, and material to block out credit card or chip readers. Plus, it easily expands for those days when you need extra space, with enough room for a tablet.

Travelon Anti-Theft Classic Messenger Bag

With over 6,000 five-star reviews on Amazon, this crossbody bag has been touted as a great option for safeguarding your belongings abroad thanks to features such as RFID protection and anti-slash straps. Reviewers love all the pockets in this bag, especially the hidden front pocket where you can store your cell phone and city guide maps. It even has designated pockets for water bottles!

Ferragamo Small Iconic Leather Tote Bag

If you're not one for packing multiple bags on a trip, your best bet is a purse that can seamlessly dress up or down. This Ferragamo bag is a favorite of Edwards, who loves it for its versatility. "I like this Ferragamo bag because it has a detachable cross-body strap and becomes a top-handle bag that I would take to fancy lunches or dinners," she says. It's the right size for your essentials, too, and won't feel too big when it rests on your hip.

Minooy Athena Unique Design Mini Crossbody Bag / Wallet

This crossbody and wallet in one is well suited for the Marie Kondo obsessives. One look inside this bag, and you'll be shocked by the many little pockets this bag has. Thanks to its organized, compact design, this small but mighty bag can fit all of your credit cards, a journal, makeup, passport, toiletries, and even an iPad mini. With RFID-blocking pockets, you can feel safe knowing your credit cards are protected. High-quality leather means you can plan to use this bag for plenty of future travel.

Dagne Dover Micah Neoprene Crossbody Bag

Neoprene, a.k.a. the fabric used in scuba gear, may not be the first material you think of to use in a bag, but it has some excellent uses. First, it's waterproof, so whether you're heading to a tropical location or getting caught in the rain, your things will be well protected. It's also resistant to tears or cuts, plus it's machine washable. Besides the killer fabric on this bag, it's got a ton of compartments for all of your things and a nice wide shoulder strap to keep you comfy even on the longest of travel days.

Lululemon All Night Festival Bag 5L

If your trip involves unpredictable weather or the forecast looks stormy, you'll want to invest in this two-in-one water-resistant crossbody bag that can also be worn over the shoulder. This one from Lululemon will not only keep your belongings dry, but it's roomy enough to fit all your essentials. The thoughtful extra-wide opening means you can easily find what you're looking for without having to dig around.

Senreve Aria Belt Bag

If you're tempted to bring along multiple purses but know it's not the most practical way to pack, this crossbody bag is a stylish solution that can also be converted into a shoulder bag, belt bag, sling, and even a clutch. There are also a ton of different colors and leather options (including vegan leather!) to choose from.

July Everyday Belt Bag

Luggage brand July knew what they were doing when they created this belt bag. It's Saward's go-to bag for traveling since she can wear it over the shoulder. "Everything is easily accessible, but not located on the side or back of my body where it could be a potential hazard for pickpockets," she explains. It's made from woven cotton, making it easy to pack and machine-washable. The inside is even coated, so you can clean it out in seconds.

Other Crossbody Travel Bags We Love

Uniqlo Round Mini Shoulder Bag

It wouldn't be a stretch to say this bag may be Uniqlo's most popular item ever. This $20 bag has gone viral on TikTok, with dozens of shoppers showing off just how much it can carry. One TikToker pulled out everything from a phone charger and wallet to snacks and over-the-ear headphones—despite its deceptively small size. The shoulder strap is easily adjustable, so you can wear it in a variety of ways; plus, it comes in several fun colors.

MZ Wallace Crosby Zip Nylon Crossbody Bag

Don't be fooled by this bag's seemingly small size. This surprisingly spacious crossbody contains plenty of pockets to keep your essentials organized and comes with two interchangeable crossbody straps, one leather and one chain. It's the perfect bag for moms traveling with small tots who need space to stash on-the-go snacks and other necessities.

Rothy's The Daily Crossbody

We're big fans of Rothy's shoes here at Marie Claire, but the brand's bags prove just as good. Knitted from Rothy's signature thread made from plastic water bottles (about 430 grams of ocean-bound plastic, to be exact), this is a great find for those looking for leather alternatives. It includes two removable straps to easily take you from day to night and has plenty of pockets to keep your things organized. The best part? It's fully machine-washable, so when on-the-go spills inevitably occur, you can make it look as good as new.

Portland Leather Goods "Almost Perfect" Crossbody Tote

A good leather tote bag is a must-have in everyone's closet, but one suited for travel is even better. This classic tote will fit all your things, whether a laptop or water bottle and keep them secure with its zip-top closure. Made from real leather, this tote will last you through plenty of trips while keeping its structured shape and doubling as a work bag. A detachable shoulder strap makes this tote even easier to haul across destinations.

Leatherology Meadow Double Zip Camera Bag

A camera-style bag may be simple, but it's an incredibly effective carry-all when it comes to travel. Leatherology's double zip camera bag is just the right size to hold all your essentials without adding extra bulk. With two zippered compartments, you can easily keep your things organized, plus, the important things like your passport and ID will be extra secure in the internal zipper pocket. The best feature of this bag is that it comes in 17 different colors, including neutrals, pretty pastels, and croc-embossed leather, and also has the option for personalization.

Cuyana Double Loop Bag

A travel bag doesn't have to sacrifice style to get the job done—Cuyana's Double Loop Bag is a prime example. The unique double-loop design of the shoulder strap adds a chic touch, and if you opt for this poppy red shade, it's even more of a statement. Another added bonus is the adjustable shoulder strap—in just a snap, you can turn this bag from a crossbody to a shoulder bag, meaning it can take you from day to night in seconds.

Madewell The Transport Shoulder Crossbody Bag

Madewell's Transport Tote is one of our favorite leather totes of all time, so it should come as no surprise that we also love the crossbody version. It's made from soft leather that reviewers say looks and feels luxurious. The interior is roomier than you may think and is specially designed to hold at least a tablet, pouch, and water bottle. Another great feature is the double set of straps. Depending on your desired look and plans, you can switch this bag from a crossbody to a shoulder bag.

Bandolier Dillon Bag

If you prefer to travel light, this crossbody bag is right up your alley. It may be small, but it securely and stylishly holds your travel essentials like your phone, wallet, keys, and passport. And because your phone is likely what you reach for most, you can keep it handy with an easy-to-reach pocket. Reviewers say the quality of the leather is especially good, making the bag look and feel extra luxurious.

JW PEI Women's Mini Flap Crossbody

Speaking from personal experience, JW PEI bags are crazy good quality for their price point. The brand's Mini Flap Crossbody is a good option if you're looking for a trendier piece to take with you on your travels. Available in 19 different colorways—including this dark brown and fun shades like metallic silver and bright pink—there's a shade for every style preference. While this bag doesn't have a zip closure, it does close with a magnetic button and has an interior zipper pocket for your smaller personal items.

Coach Chaise Pebbled Leather Crossbody Bag

Sometimes, simple is better, as this Coach crossbody bag makes clear. With a sleek, classic design, this bag suits just about everyone's style and will go with nearly everything in your closet. It's not too big or too small, so you can easily fit your travel essentials comfortably. Plus, the zip top closure and zipper pockets keep them secure.

Calpak Luka Belt Bag

A sure way to ruin a trip is by packing a bag that's too heavy to carry around all day—but you won't have that problem with this bag. It's made from a material that's as light as air. It comes in two different sizes—this big belt bag for every day or the mini size for quick trips—and 20 colors to match perfectly with your coordinating Calpak luggage.

Tumi Tyler Crossbody Bag

Tumi is a cult-favorite luggage brand for a reason. The brand only uses the highest quality materials in their designs, and functionality is a main concern for every piece. This crossbody has ample pockets—enough for your keys, wallet, phone, and credit cards to have their own space. It's made of durable nylon and has shining golden hardware for an extra luxe touch.

Key Features of the Best Crossbody Bags for Travel

How it closes separates a good travel purse from a great one. It's the most important feature of a travel purse for Edwards, who says, "It needs to have easy access, but a secure closure so nothing falls out and people can't reach into it." A crossbody bag would ideally have a zip-top closure, but a flap works, too. Stay far away from anything that doesn't close fully or only uses magnetic closures, or you'll risk easy access to pickpockets.

This may be up to personal preference, but size matters when it comes to the best travel purses. Howards says, "It can’t be too small—and must hold her wallet, passport, glasses, and lip balm—but it isn’t a carryall." With a tote bag, you'll be too tempted to throw in non-essentials, resulting in an aching shoulder at the end of the day. Instead, a crossbody bag is the "Goldilocks" of travel purses—they're small enough to carry your essentials but not too big to be burdensome.

Sure, a red bag may look especially trendy right now, but it's actually smarter to bring something less noticeable as your travel purse. "I would avoid choosing bright colors, because you don't want the location of your money, bank cards, or phone to stand out," Saward advises. Instead, the travel pro says she always goes with a sleek black bag—that way, her necessities are kept more under-the-radar, not to mention a black bag goes with every look seamlessly.

How to Style the Best Crossbody Bags for Travel

What makes the best crossbody bags the best is their versatile nature, which allows them to pair alongside whatever's on your itinerary. From the plane to nice dinners and everything in between, a travel crossbody should be able to do everything. Turn to a structured crossbody for an elevated exploring outfit to keep a casual look luxe. Make sure you choose lightweight pieces to layer with so your crossbody can comfortably lay.

Take it from me that keeping your essentials (passport, wallet, headphones, etc.) in a backpack or shoulder bag is not a good idea when traveling. Keep your things within easy reach while being able to go hands-free with a sling crossbody. A leather option also adds a touch more elevation to your summer airport outfits.

Meet the Experts

Yolanda is the founder of Yolo Journal, a magazine and newsletter dedicated to traveling. She's also a longtime magazine editor, having previously worked as a photo editor at Condé Nast Traveler and later as the publications creative director.

Brooke is a travel expert who's spent the last 10 years blogging about her travels on the World of Wanderlust blog and Instagram account. She shares her tips, tricks, and guides on her favorite cities and how to navigate solo traveling, as well as a Masterclass on travel blogging. She's also the author of World of Wanderlust, which features her best travel tips and stories from her travels through Europe, Asia, the Americas, Africa, Oceania, and the Middle East.

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