The best crossbody bags for travel to be comfortable and stylish
Carefully curated selection of the best crossbody bags for travel for comfort and style.
A good cross body bag is a great travel accessory and one I recommend in all my style -conscious packing lists.
Pick the right one and you can go city wandering for hours, with hands free to take photos and the knowledge your belongings are safely by your side. You will even look cute in photos!
Pick the wrong one, on the other hand, and you may well find yourself with sore shoulders and spending more time rummaging through your bags content to get the camera out (or your city pass or ticket, or cash) than looking at sites.
I have done that at home and abroad and it is so awkward and at times so unsafe I decided it was time to invest time and a bit of money on a good cross body bag for travel.
On my quest, I came across several styles and this is my round up of the best cross body bags for travel to be comfortable, safe and stylish on the go.
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Best cross body purses for travel chart
This is my selection of best travel bags: scroll down to the rest of the articles to see what I looked at to make this selection!
| Make | Size (approx) | Anti theft |
| Gabs convertible bag (this is my bag! No affiliation with them, I juts love it! | Several, I like it in size Small | No |
| Fossil Kinley | 13″L x 3.5″W x 9″H | No |
| Hobo Delilah | 12″L x 4″W x 12″H | No |
| Vera Bradley Triple zip | 11.75″W 11.75″H 1.25″D | No |
| Kipling | 12″L x 8.87″H x 4″D | No |
| K&Bo | 10.5” x 9” x 1” | No |
| Baggallini everywhere | 11″W x 9″H x 5″D | Yes |
| Travelon Luggage | 4.5″x 11″ x 10″ | Yes |
| Travelon hobo | 11.5″ X 9.5″ X 3″ | Yes |
Why is a cross-body bag best for travel?
When I was younger my go-to type of day bag for travel was a backpack.
However, after many trips and travel failures, I came to the conclusion that crossbody bags are best for travel for many reasons.
Like backpacks, cross body nags leave your hands free but, unlike anything that sits on your back, they allow you to easily access your stuff and keep it safe, often your own hand resting on the closure.
Also, crossbody bags are usually more stylish than backpacks and they allow you to feel more like a local than a tourist.
Last but not least, many museums do not allow backpacks in but they will allow crossbody women purses.
So, on the basis of safety, comfort and the facts that they make you look good, I am 100% a cross body bag fan!
Do you need a cross body bag for travel?
Bags can be expensive so the first thing to consider when pondering about a new bag just for you travels, is if you may use a bag you already have or you should invest in a specific one for when you are one the go.
To answer this question, I made a quick checklist of what I needed in a travel cross body bag and compared it with what I had home already and what I saw in the shops.
What to look for when choosing a crossbody bag for travel
My must have in a good cross body bag for travel are:
It should be big enough
A good day bag should be big enough to carry essentials for a long day out, without forcing you to go back to your hotel in the middle of sightseeing.
What you need each day depends on your destination but do consider you may want to have your documents, camera, water bottle, sunscreen/make up, shawl, guidebook and so on.
It is worth taking a moment to consider what you need during your day on vacation and make sure your bag is up for the challenge.
But not too big
When choosing a good cross body bag for travel it may be tempting to go for ‘as big as possible’.
While it is indeed good to be able to stash your cardigan and spare comfy shoes in a handbag, over the course of many trips I discovered there is such a thing as a bag that is too big.
A large bag is a bag you easily fill excessively and this can cause sore shoulders and can even be a problem when entering museums.
Make sure your day bag is not as bulky as a weekend bag!
Has straps that are suitably wide for its weight
I have owned more crossbody purses that I like to admit and while some were great, some looked amazing but were terrible.
The main thing that made a bag poorly made was that they had straps that were too thin for the bag.
If you have a large bag, make sure it comes with a shoulder strap that is suitably wide not to cut into your shoulder when full.
Has straps that are not too long/ short for your body
The main thing I love about crossbody bags is that I can forget I have them on.
However, should they be too long or too short, they become a colossal pain as they bump against your body as you walk in all the wrong ways.
The best bags to buy have adjustable straps but if you like one with fixed length, pay attention to manufactures specs to make sure it doesn’t sit crazy low on your tights.
It doesn’t scream tourist
I don’t believe you necessarily need to blend in wherever you go and chances are in most places you will stand out as a tourist pretty much no matter what you do.
However, a bag that attracts attentions for all the wrong reasons and screams ‘I am a visitor and I have cash and credit cards on me’ is not a good one to have on your travels.
My rule when it comes to handbags while traveling is: if it is something I wouldn’t wear at home, chances are I shouldn’t wear it on travels either.
Made of sensible material
A cross body bag from travel must be sturdy enough to survive a lot of wear and tear.
Depending on your plans this might mean you need a bag that is easy to wash, is waterproof or just not easily marked.
Take into the account the type of trip you have ahead of you and consider what specs your bag needs and what is just a nice to have.
I also usually have a look at the material of the lining.
Ideally, I want it to be easy to clean, resistant and light in color, so you can find your items more easily (now, you can laugh at this but I learned this trick with changing bags for babies and it has changed the way i shop for bags!)
Converts into a different shape
You don’t need your crossbody bag for travel to be convertible but a bag that changes shape can be really ueful when on the go.
Convertible bags are purses that can change shape and/or carrying method: some go from cross body to tote or clutch, others turn into backpacks.
I am a huge fan of convertible bags as they are an easy way to have a day to night look without packing several purses. The red bag in the photo is the one I use: it is crossbody, turns into a tote, a baguette and, if you use the straps property, you can even wear is as a backpack!
Anti-theft
A little bit like the convertible thing, I do not believe you need tour crossbody bag for travel to be anti-theft but it is definitely better if your bag has some characteristics that make it less easy for pickpockets top open or snatch
These can be full bells and whistles like you see in anti theft purses or even just a clever hidden pocket and flap closure.
Depending on where you are going and what you need for peace of mind, some anti-theft purses can be a good investment and this is why I include some of them in this round up of the best crossbody bags for travel
Looks good with your frame and style
Ok, I am not going to choose the best travel purse crossbody just on how it looks on me but it is definitely something I will take into account.
Depending on your body shape, some bags look better than others: when picking one, make sure you don’t get one that is too big/ small for your frame and consider the rest of your outfit.
Do you want to add color to it or will your summer dress do all the talking and you need a more neutral bag?
Consider what you are gong to wear so you can get a bag that will make you feel ‘together’
I hope you enjoyed this selection of bags and it helped you pick a great crossbody purse for your next trip.
Safe travels!
