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Oct 24, 2024

14 Best Crossbody Bags for Travel in 2024, Tested and Reviewed

From camera bags to sling bags to belt bags, we've got 'em all! We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we love. Promise. IMO, no bag can beat the humble

From camera bags to sling bags to belt bags, we've got 'em all!

We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we love. Promise.

IMO, no bag can beat the humble crossbody bag—especially when it comes to travel. Whether you're hiking up a mountain, hitting a nightclub, or struggling your way through the TSA line, you need a purse that'll keep all your essentials close to your body and protected from the elements (not to mention out of the hands of pickpockets). For me, the best crossbody bags for travel tend to have a few things in common: They're durable, they're versatile, and they make the occasional struggles of vacay life less annoying...and if they're stylish, that's just an added bonus.

From belt bags and bum bags to sling bags and camera bags, I rounded up all the best travel-friendly crossbody bags out there, based on my own testing and the suggestions provided by my fellow jet-setting Cosmopolitan editors. And to help you out, I included bags of all sizes, price points, and styles (including several waterproof crossbody bags that will keep your stuff dry in the case of an unexpected thunderstorm) 'cause I'm nice like that. Here's a sneak peek at my faves if you're curious.

Ahead, all the best crossbody bags for travel of all kinds—and for more on-the-go necessities, check out our fave travel outfits, travel backpacks, and Amazon travel essentials.

Obsessed doesn't begin to describe how I feel about this quilted cutie (which may look smol but can hold SO much stuff, trust). Created using recovered pre-consumer materials, the Metro Crossbody is sustainably made yet features so many luxe details, including natural Italian leather trim and diamond-quilted shell. I love how it features two exterior pockets (one in the front and one in the back), as well as a roomy interior section with a zip closure for storing your phone, wallet, passport, sunnies, or whatever else you need to take along for the day.

Glowing Customer Review: "The Metro Crossbody is excellent for travel. It held my phone, passport, wallet, sunglasses, tissues, and lipstick. It’s so balanced that it was not heavy—even with local coins! I loved it, and it was elegant and practical."

I've taken my Metro Crossbody on several trips (including a two-and-a-half week jaunt around Europe and a whirlwind week in Disney World), and it has always served me very, very well. And while it def has more of a ~casual lewk~, I like that I can get away with wearing it to restaurants and bars. —Corinne Sullivan

When I realized Quince made travel accessories, I *had* to try out a piece for myself to see if that price was too good to be true. Spoiler: It's not. Made from recycled plastic bottles, this minimalist option is both sustainable and functional, boasting two separate zipper compartments, a foldover design, and a hidden back pocket to keep your phone easily accessible. This one is available in half a dozen color options and even comes with a dust bag for storage—and yep, you better believe that nylon fabric is ultra-durable and 100 percent water-repellent for worry-free rainy days.

Glowing Customer Review: "I was a little skeptical because of its smaller size, but this is the Swiss Army knife of purses. There was nothing I was unable to fit in. The location of the many pockets are perfect. Super easy to grab what I needed and very secure. I also got repeated compliments on how cute it was."

Over 14,000 five-star reviewers agree: This mini crossbody is well worth your $13 (and then some). With a one-liter capacity, this budget-friendly bag is large enough to hold phones of any size and other miniature travel essentials, such as hand sanitizer, AirPods, snacks, chapstick, wallets, keys, and more. Reviewers love the waterproof nylon material on this one, as well as the fact that the wide, sturdy strap can be adjusted to fit around your chest or waist. It even has a discreet zipper pocket in the back for keeping cards and cash close to your chest.

Glowing Customer Review: "I’ve used this bag every day on my travel abroad. It’s big enough for a phone, wallet, passport, and a couple of other necessities. It’s super comfortable and looked great with all of my outfits. The quality is nice, zipper works great, and it kept all my items safe."

According to Cosmo Associate Editor Chaise Sanders, "This bag has gotten me through college and beyond. It's surprisingly roomy, and I love all the pocket options so I can leave my wallet at home. I usually have problems finding a strap loose enough to go around me, but this one can go super long depending on how/where you'd like it to hang."

What I love about this Amazon bestseller: It's got room for legit anything you could want on the go. Designed like a mini backpack (but, ya know, for your front), the Roomy Sling Bag has an impressive six-liter capacity, with a front zippered pocket, two interior sections with zip closures and open slots for organization, and a "secret" back pocket for holding cash, passports, and other valuables. Testers also appreciate the soft faux-leather fabric, the pretty woven strap, and the fact that it costs just a little over $25.

Glowing Customer Review: "I had yet to find the right bag for traveling in Europe until I found this! It was versatile and the perfect size for the 3 weeks I traveled with it. I loved the 'hidden' pocket on the back—I used it for my credit card and cash. This bag was comfortable and easy to carry and held up really well."

You may know Monos best for its incredibly chic hardside luggage, but the brand makes some pretty great crossbody bags as well. For instance: the bestselling Metro Sling, which is available with either nylon or vegan leather fabric, depending on whether you prioritize durability or versatility. Compact and functional, this sling-style crossbody has everything you need, including a built-in keychain carabiner, a full-length back pocket for valuables, and a zippered main compartment with one interior zip pocket and three sleeve pockets for keeping your everyday essentials organized. Oh, and you can also wear it as a belt bag if you so choose!

Glowing Customer Review: "The sling works well cross-body as well as worn around the waist. As a plus-size woman, it can be difficult to find bags that fit comfortably, but the Monos Sling fits me well with room to spare, and it looks sleek. It has a lot of space for packing items, and I like the different compartments. Super happy with my purchase."

"I'd like to say my fiancé is my go-to travel buddy, but it's actually this sling bag from Monos," Cosmo Lifestyle Editor Hannah Chubb says. "It fits a mind-boggling amount of stuff (like, everything you could ever need while sightseeing) and goes with every outfit ever. I recommend it to everyone."

Wasted space? The compact Nouvelle bag from Lo & Sons doesn't know her. Lightweight yet roomy, this chic bag offers some of the best interior organization I've encountered in a crossbody, including two mesh pockets, one zip pocket (which can fit iPhones of all sizes), and three card slots. It's also got an easy-access zip pocket in the front for anything you want to easily grab, a cushioned strap for comfy wear, and a key leash for attaching your valuables. And while it's made with recycled nylon, the minimalist design makes this one work for either day or night, IMO.

Glowing Customer Review: "I was looking for a bag to use on my first trip to Europe, and this checked all the boxes. It's stylish and light, and I appreciated the padded strap and crossbody design for comfort. I especially liked the zippered opening and zippered compartment for credit cards/money to evade pickpockets."

Béis really thought of everything when designing this durable crossbody. Some featured perks: the built-in card organizer and key leash, the hidden water bottle pocket on the side, and the totally water-repellent nylon fabric. And though it has less than a two-liter capacity, reviewers found that the two zippered pockets (as well as the slit pocket in the front and the small zip pocket in the back) were able to keep all of their essentials safe on their chest and easily accessible. And no worries about scuffs or stains, either, 'cause you can easily spot-clean this one to look good as new.

Glowing Customer Review: "I love my Sport Sling! I’m currently wearing it all around Europe, and I feel like all of my personal belongings are safe right on my chest. The best feature of this bag is the hidden water bottle pouch, so you don’t have to carry a water bottle."

With an enormous eight-liter capacity (!!), the Atom is truly an overpacker's dream—but it's so well designed that you'd never know you were toting around an insane amount of stuff. A few of the highlights: the zippered exterior pocket and divided main compartment, the padded shoulder strap (complete with a stash pocket), and the tuck-away storage straps on the front for carrying an extra layer. Oh, and you can also wear this bb either on the front or the back and be rest assured the it'll keep your goodies safe from the elements, thanks to the water-repellent finish.

Glowing Customer Review: "I recently went on a 14-day trip around Scandinavia, and the Atom Sling Bag was the perfect pack to have. I could carry all the essentials I needed for daily excursions, included a shell or fleece that I could strap on. The Atom was less bulky than a traditional backpack and hugged my body better during travel on trains, buses, bikes, and trams."

"This crossbody has become a must-pack for when I travel," Cosmo Senior Entertainment Editor Emma Baty says. "It's big enough to hold a water bottle and a sweater, but small enough that it doesn't feel like you're wearing a backpack. Plus, the phone pocket in the front is so helpful for when I have other stuff in my hands."

Can't choose between a crossbody bag and a belt bag? To quote the iconic Old El Paso ad, ¿Por qué no los dos? This neon-colored nylon cutie from Aimee Kestenberg is the ultimate two-in-one accessory, as it can easily be converted from a chic crossbody to a bum bag thanks to the loop built into the back. I'm obsessed with the deceptively spacious interior compartment, the zippered external pocket (which is perf for a digital camera or phone), and the precious woven rope pullers on the zippers—and though it's a bit pricey, it's well worth your coin, promise.

Glowing Customer Review: "I got this as a gift for my daughter but may come back to get one for myself! Looks so sleek in the nylon material yet very durable. As always, the hardware on this and all my AK bags are statement-makers."

Listen, I know everyone is obsessed with the internet famous lululemon Everywhere Belt Bag, but I personally think the micro version of the All Night Festival Bag (which has twice the capacity of the belt bag) deserves more hype. Featuring a foldover design and made with water-repellent fabric, this bb has all the perks you'd expect from an A+ travel crossbody—a secure front pocket! An easy-access exterior pocket! An adjustable strap!—without any of the bulk. And ofc, if you would like more than a two-liter capacity, you can always upgrade to the five-liter All Night Festival Bag.

Glowing Customer Review: "Love this little bag. Very comfortable to wear. All the pockets are in the right place. Holds more than it looks like it would. Very convenient for airport travel."

Here she is: the puffer-style crossbody travel bag you've seen all TF over TikTok. Part crossbody, part fanny pack, this genius accessory includes both a hidden exterior pocket for your phone and multiple compartments inside for keeping all your travel must-haves organized. You'll love the three-and-a-half liters of capacity inside, as well as the incredibly smooth, scratch-resistant polyester fabric of the shell (which comes in legit every color imaginable). Don't need *quite* as much storage space? This bag also comes in a mini version that's perfect for lighter packers.

Glowing Customer Review: "I bought the Luka Belt Bag and wore it on a trip to Disneyland and it was amazing! It’s comfortable to wear cross-body and also wears nicely around the waist if you want to take some weight off your back. It was the perfect size to hold a few extras beyond my wallet, sunglasses, and phone, and I was able to wipe down any spills and stains with a wet cloth."

"The Luka Belt Bag is so handy, I truly don't know how I ever survived without it!" says Cosmo Editor Olivia Truffaut-Wong. "It's big enough to fit your wallet, keys, a reusable shopping bag, your phone, chapstick, and sunglasses—a necessity in the summer. And the bag itself is super light, so it won't pull on your shoulders or weigh you down."

Organized girlies, this one's for you. This one has all the ~practical~ qualities you'd expect from a next-level travel bag—we're talking tons of nooks and crannies, an incredibly durable construction, and even a quick-access wallet in the front with built-in RFID protection—while still managing to look pretty stylish. I love all the interior organization this one provides and many multifunctional pockets—and though it comes in plenty of color options, my personal fave has to be the combination of the black with the gold hardware, which looks like money to me.

Glowing Customer Review: "I bought this bag for travel because I needed a crossbody with lots of pockets for organization but still lightweight for packing. I used it a few days ago and now I’m tempted to just make it my everyday bag. It even fits my full-sized wallet, and the black with gold hardware has a nice, classic look."

Dagne Dover is beloved for its heavy-duty (and oh-so-stylish) neoprene fabric, and the Micah Crossbody is no exception. The strap is adjustable from a long crossbody to a shorter shoulder bag (love!), and the bag itself has all the compartments you could desire, including a front zipper pocket with a card slot, a roomy interior with mesh slip pockets and a zipper closure, and a sneaky phone slip pocket in the back with a magnetic closure. P.S. The detachable accessories leash is great for making sure your keys don't get swallowed up in your bag.

Glowing Customer Review: "Holds every essential and then some. I specifically use it as an airport bag for easier access to my passport, AirPods, lip balm, etc. on the go. It is cute and functional. Would highly recommend."

Looking for a less-expensive alternative to the beloved Elie Beaumont Tassel Bag? Ta-da! Complete with a wide, printed strap and compact design, this bag features tons of storage space in a small package, including a main compartment with card slots, insert pockets, and a zipper closure, as well as a zippered pocket in the front. Testers <3 how it can be worn as either a crossbody bag or shoulder bag for versatility, and though it's made with polyurethane leather, it has a distressed look that makes it pretty chic for a $20 bag.

Glowing Customer Review: "This has been the perfect purse for vacation! I wanted something smaller. The strap is the perfect length (as I am plus-sized) so it extends to the right size. The coloring is perfect, and the pockets work to carry a small wallet and a few personal items, with a separate zipper pocket on the outside for easy access to my phone."

So...why is it a good idea to use a crossbody bag for travel rather than a traditional shoulder purse? For one, a crossbody will keep your stuff more secure. When worn across your chest, it's way harder for crossbodies to slip off your shoulder or be snatched by a pickpocket than totes and handbags. And two, crossbody bags allow you to go hands-free, which is v helpful for hiking, biking, shopping, and navigating the airport with all your other luggage.

Corinne Sullivan is an Editor at Cosmopolitan, where she covers a variety of beats, including lifestyle, entertainment, relationships, shopping, and more. She can tell you everything you need to know about the love lives of A-listers, the coziest bedsheets, and the sex toys actually worth your $$$. She is also the author of the 2018 novel Indecent. Follow her on Instagram for cute pics of her pup and bébé.

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