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Crossbody bags are practically built for travel. They keep you organized without weighing you down, provide an easy-to-reach place for stashing travel documents, and are versatile enough to carry everyday essentials while exploring a new city.
As a travel journalist, I’ve used crossbody bags for more than a decade. During that time, I’ve determined that the best crossbody bags are compact in size, come with excellent organization and storage, and have anti-theft features so you can focus on enjoying your trip.
Fortunately, several styles fall under the crossbody bag category—including sling bags, belt bags, and messenger bags—that come with a host of benefits.
We selected Cotopaxi’s Coso 2L Hip Pack Cada Día as the best overall because of its versatile, unisex design and practical features, such as zippered pockets, water repellency, and comfortable strap. We also appreciate the company’s commitment to sustainability, which includes manufacturing bags with leftover and recycled materials.
If you’re looking for something specific, we’ve got a few options. These are the nine crossbody bags we think are suitable for any traveler.
The best crossbody bags for travel
Here’s everything you need to know about our top picks.
Best crossbody bag for travel overall: Coso 2L Hip Pack Cada Día 
Photograph Courtesy REI
Buy it now at REI
Why we like it: The Coso Hip Pack by Cotopaxi is comfortable, stylish, and functional. The outer shell is made from recycled nylon with a water-resistant coating you can easily wipe clean. We like the bag’s organizational features—it has several exterior and interior pockets for things you need easy access to, plus a zippered compartment.
A fleece-lined pocket is designed to protect your phone but also fits a pair of sunglasses. There’s even a key hook in the main compartment, which I especially appreciate after too many occasions when my hotel key fell out of my pocket or bag.
The side compression straps are another welcomed detail for cinching the bag in when it gets too full. Lastly, the strap is long enough to wear the hip pack as a crossbody bag, but quickly adjusts back to belt mode.
Keep in mind: The front pocket is open, so we wouldn’t put anything valuable in there.
Product details: Capacity: 2 L. | Material: Recycled nylon | Dimensions: 11 x 7 x 3 in.
(The best carry-on luggage to make your next plane trip a breeze)
Best crossbody bag for women: Uniqlo Round Mini Shoulder Bag
Buy it now at Uniqlo
Why we like it: Dubbed “the Millennial Birkin,” Uniqlo’s round mini shoulder bag has sold out several times and is a TikTok sensation. Unlike its designer counterpart that costs tens of thousands of dollars, Uniqlo’s crossbody bag is less than $20. So what’s all the hype about?
This bag proves that simplicity rules. With its rounded shape, the bag conforms to the body’s natural silhouette. It’s complemented by a wide strap that adjusts for wearing as a crossbody or shoulder bag. Inside, there’s a roomy main compartment and two smaller pockets along the side for items like a phone or cards. However, we wish these pockets were zippered because our stuff often falls out into the main compartment.
While the water-resistant coating is not permanent, we have found that it does an excellent job protecting our belongings during light rain or poolside splashes. It also comes in a wide variety of colors to match any outfit.
Keep in mind: The water-repellent coating will eventually wash off. There are no zippered pockets inside.
Product details: Capacity: N/A | Material: Nylon and polyester | Dimensions: 11 x 6.7 x 3.9 in.
Best crossbody bag for men: Bellroy Venture Sling 
Photograph Courtesy Bellroy
Buy it now at Bellroy
Why we like it: With a capacity of a gallon and a half, this crossbody bag fits an impressive number of items, such as a water bottle, an iPad, a phone, charging cables, and even a small camera. It’s also very easy to organize because the interior is divided into several compartments and pockets. We also appreciate the ample padding along the back and the bottom, which acts as an additional protective layer in case of accidental drops or bumps.
According to the manufacturer, the recycled fabric and all the zippers are water-resistant, helping to keep contents dry. The extra wide strap feels comfortable all day and detaches. That means you can easily repurpose the bag into a toiletry case, for example, or a packing cube.
Keep in mind: The zippered front pocket has a fabric dip that can fill up with water in the rain, so you would have to empty it before you open the pocket.
Product details: Capacity: 6 L. | Material: recycled woven fabric | Dimensions: 5.9 x 7.8 x 1.9 in.
(The best toiletry bags for every traveler)
Best designer crossbody bag: Montblanc Extreme 3.0 Compact Envelope with M Lock 4810 Buckle
Buy it now at Montblanc
Why we like it: Montblanc’s style blends elegance with functionality. Most importantly, the company is known for not cutting corners when it comes to quality materials. This crossbody was made from cowhide leather and, as its name suggests, was inspired by the design of classic envelope clutches. The top folds over and closes securely with a sporty buckle whose design references climbing gear.
The structured, hardy silhouette adds extra protection for your things, helping to prevent them from getting squished during transit. Inside, there is one main compartment with a side pocket, which you can customize or carry oddly shaped items such as a camera.
The shoulder strap is made mainly from sturdy fabric but accented with leather motifs. You can remove it via two side hooks.
Keep in mind: Leather scuffs easily, so we wouldn’t pack this bag for camping or hiking. The main compartment has only one side pocket.
Product details: Capacity: N/A | Material: Leather | Dimensions: 9.5 x 3.2 x 7.5 in.
Best anti-theft crossbody bag: Baggallini Securtex Anti-Theft Activity Crossbody 
Photograph Courtesy Amazon
Buy it now on Amazon
Why we like it: This Baggallini crossbody bag won us over with its compact size and safety features. It’s a wonderful option for travelers who need to store important documents and cards but don’t want to carry a full-sized bag in transit.
This bag’s organizational potential is stellar. The main compartment has a zipper that locks to deter pickpockets. When open, it reveals five card slots and two larger pockets along the sides large enough to hold passports. There’s more room inside and in another zippered front pocket.
The bag is made from lightweight, water-resistant fabric, reinforced with slash-resistant panels and RFID-blocking features to prevent electronic theft. The strap is about an inch wide and made from extra thick woven fabric to be cut-resistant.
Keep in mind: The strap isn’t detachable and only one of the zippers locks. This is a small crossbody made for carrying travel documents and smaller belongings.
Product details: Capacity: N/A | Material: Nylon | Dimensions: 5.3 x 7.5 x 1 in.
Best unisex crossbody bag: Patagonia Atom Sling 
Photograph By Patagonia
Buy it now at Patagonia
Why we like it: Functionality is a key element to this Patagonia crossbody sling bag, which is just the right size to accompany anyone on their daily adventures. The comfortable sling design doesn’t restrict movement, so travelers can bike, hike, and even ski with it.
Like the company’s beloved Atom backpack, this one is also made from durable, water-repellent—and lightweight—polyester. But what’s really impressive is the back and strap padding, which helps make this crossbody comfortable enough for hours of exploring.
A roomy strap pocket with elastic mesh allows you to store larger items like a phone, which remain easily accessible.
The main compartment has a convenient side zipper and a divider, which is helpful if you plan to carry an iPad or other items, such as water bottles or snacks. A pair of storage straps on the front also come in handy when securing a yoga mat or jacket.
The adjustable padded strap features a buckle underneath the pocket and slides smoothly for quick access to the main compartment.
Keep in mind: The thick back padding is not water-repellent. When it rains, we would avoid putting electronics in the strap pocket since part of it is mesh.
Product details: Capacity: 8 L. | Material: Polyester, nylon, and Spandex mesh | Dimensions: 13.5 x 9 x 3 in.
Best cheap crossbody bag: Mini Crossbody Bag
Buy it now on Amazon
Why we like it: This under $20 crossbody bag has many of the features of more expensive styles for a fraction of the price. Constructed to be waterproof, this bag helps protect the interior, which fits many travel essentials from a passport to a spare power bank. But best of all, the main compartment offers a good amount of storage organization, with another front pocket that can fit a phone or boarding passes. Another bonus? The entire bag is made from RFID-blocking material.
The strap extends for a custom fit and detaches via a pair of hooks, transforming the bag into a document holder you can stash in your backpack. The crossbody bag itself is ultra-light and slim when empty, so it won’t take up much real estate if you need to pack it.
Keep in mind: The strap is a bit thin, and the side hooks are made from plastic that don’t look very sturdy. Other than the RFID-blocking feature, the bag doesn’t have any other anti-theft capabilities.
Product details: Capacity: N/A | Material: Nylon | Dimensions: 5.5 x 7.4 x 0.7 in.
Best everyday: Fjallraven High Coast Crossbody 
Photograph Courtesy Fjallraven
Buy it now at Fjallraven
Why we like it: The Fjallraven crossbody bag is a great all-around travel bag for any season. The recycled polyamide (nylon) construction is water-resistant, transforming it into a good option for rainy destinations. The roomy main compartment features two mesh pockets that accommodate smaller items like a phone or a passport. There’s another zippered pocket inside, along with a key hook, for good organization. You can place items you need to access quickly in the front pocket, which closes securely with a zipper.
What we really like about this crossbody is that it easily transforms into a toiletry bag. Just remove the padded strap—a convenient top handle helps with carrying it.
Keep in mind: There is no padding on the bottom or sides of the bag itself,
