Tech & Gear Luggage The 9 Best Crossbody Bags of 2021 Stylish and practical bags for your trip By Jordi Lippe-McGraw Jordi Lippe-McGraw Instagram Boston University Jordi is a freelance contributor to TripSavvy. Her personal passions gravitate toward wellness and adventure, leading her to frequently plan trips that blend zen relaxation with urban and rugged exploration. TripSavvy's editorial guidelines Updated on 10/12/21 Share Pin Email Our editors independently research, test, and recommend the best products; you can learn more about our review process here. We may receive commissions on purchases made from our chosen links. Tripsavvy / Chloe Jeong Crossbody bags might be one of the best types of bags for travel. Unlike a backpack, you can position one in the front, on the side, or in the back depending on the situation (think inching through a tight airplane aisle) and your comfort. Plus, they allow you to keep your hands free. Since they're such a popular choice, the variety of options is endless. Whether it's a specific color, material, size, or price point, everyone can find a crossbody bag that suits their needs. Before deciding which crossbody bag to buy, it's important to keep a few key factors in mind. Do you need something for city exploring? Then something stylish with just enough room for your phone and credit cards might do the trick. If you're more of the adventurous type, a bigger and more durable crossbody is likely the way to go. With so many options available, deciding on one can feel overwhelming. We helped narrow down your search. Here are the best crossbody bags. The Rundown Best Overall: Madewell The Sydney Shoulder Bag at Zappos Two straps allow it to transform into a shoulder or crossbody bag in an instant. Best Budget: Time and Tru Norah Crossbody Bag at Walmart You'll be amazed at just how much this crossbody bag holds. Best Mini: Botkier Cobble Hill Crossbody at Bloomingdales Mini bags are all the rage, and this one from Botkier is perfect. Best for Travel: Tumi Voyageur Troy Nylon Crossbody Bag at Amazon It comes standard with a Tumi Tracer, a program that helps reunite Tumi customers with their lost or stolen items. Best Designer: Marc Jacobs The Shutter Crossbody Bag at Zappos The high-end design makes it seamlessly transition from jeans and a T-shirt to a cocktail dress. Best Splurge: Balenciaga Neo Classic Mini Top Handle Bag at Balenciaga.com Buckled strap details at the corners, whipstitch detail on the handles, and Italian leather solidify the statement bag status. Best Vegan: Matt & Nat Erika Vegan Crossbody Bag at Amazon This bag can easily take you from a day of walking tours to an upscale dinner. Best for Electronics: The North Face Cross Body at Amazon All of your essentials will be safe even in inclement weather. Best for Parents: Notag Crossbody Bag for Women at Amazon You could fit diapers, toys, snacks, a change of clothes, a wallet, and more without having to pull everything out to find them. Table of contents Expand Our Picks Final Verdict What to Look For Why Trust TripSavvy Best Overall: Madewell The Sydney Shoulder Bag View On Zappos View On Madewell.com View On Shopbop.com What We Like Multiple strap options Comes in variety of colors Solid construction What We Don't Like No exterior pockets Madewell is known for its classic yet modern designs that quickly become everyday essentials. And that couldn't be more evident than with the brand's Sydney shoulder bag. It's not too small or too big, making it ideal for long days exploring a new city. You can fit all your essentials—a wallet, phone, change of clothes if need be, and still have some room to pick up small items along the way. What's more, it's incredibly versatile. Two straps allow it to transform into a shoulder or crossbody bag in an instant. And the understated leather in black or burnished caramel makes it so the bag can go with any outfit. After all, who wants to take up room in their suitcase for multiple purse options? This bag will never go out of style, so bring it on your many trips ahead. Size: 10.5 x 10.5 x 5 inches | Pockets: Interior | Care: Wipe clean Best Budget: Time and Tru Norah Crossbody Bag View On Walmart What We Like Chic look Multiple pockets What We Don't Like Small size Although small in size, you'll be amazed at just how much this crossbody bag holds. The two zippers on the front are different sizes capable of holding a small item like keys in one and a large cell phone in the other, meaning you can easily access the essentials while on the go. In addition, an interior pocket helps you keep important items like credit cards secure. Meanwhile, the adjustable shoulder strap creates a perfectly snug fit. Reviewers have raved about how "it looks and feels like real leather." Bonus: It comes in several colors and prints, from classic black to a bold brown design. Size: 8.5 x 9 x 2 inches | Pockets: Interior and exterior | Care: Wipe clean Best Mini: Botkier Cobble Hill Crossbody View On Bloomingdales View On Botkier.com What We Like Structured look Two strap options Well made What We Don't Like Only holds a few small items Mini bags are all the rage, and this one from Botkier is perfect. Seriously, multiple reviewers described it as the perfect mini bag. Why? Well, it's the ideal size (if you're in the market for a mini) because it can hold the necessities, it comes with two strap options for a more casual or dressy look, and the zippered middle section makes it easy to grab essential things like credit cards. The construction also divides the bag into two sections, providing a decent amount of organization for such a small bag. That's on top of the fact that the bag features clean lines making it timeless while the textured leather and nontraditional angles bring it squarely into the modern day. Size: 8.75 x 2.5 x 6 inches | Pockets: Exterior and interior | Care: Wipe clean The 9 Best Travel Purses of 2021 Best for Travel: Tumi Voyageur Troy Nylon Crossbody Bag View On Amazon View On Nordstrom View On Zappos What We Like Lightweight Comes with a lost baggage system Purposeful design What We Don't Like Not versatile for varying occasions Tumi is a travel accessories company, so you know their bags are well thought out when it comes to suiting the needs of travelers. Though compact, this crossbody has lots of organized rooms to fit a day's worth of essentials like a wallet, hand sanitizer, a passport, and more. There's even a quick-access phone pocket with a magnetic snap and key leash to make sure those key items are at the ready and safe from theft. There's even an interior card pocket if you want to leave your bulkier wallet at home. The strap is both removable and adjustable depending on how you want to wear it. Even the tiniest details make a difference, like the detachable leather keyring for a personal touch and four metal feet to keep the bottom from getting dirty when sitting on the ground. A huge plus? It comes standard with a Tumi Tracer, a program that helps reunite Tumi customers with their lost or stolen items. Size: 7 x 8 x 2 inches | Pockets: Exterior and interior | Care: Wipe clean The 13 Best Fanny Packs of 2021 Best Designer: Marc Jacobs The Shutter Crossbody Bag View On Zappos View On Bloomingdales View On Marcjacobs.com What We Like Unique shape High-quality leather What We Don't Like Not suitable for long days out Elegant but not formal is the best way to sum up this crossbody bag. The size is perfect for carrying for a party or everyday use, and the high-end design makes it seamlessly transition from jeans and a T-shirt to a cocktail dress. What makes it unique is the rounded top with two zip closures so that it stands out from traditional boxy crossbody bags and makes organizing a breeze—cellphone and makeup in one compartment and your wallet and keys in the other. The removable adjustable crossbody strap with a 21-inch drop customizes the fit even more while the removable tassel and oversized 3D tonal logo detail at the front bring it into statement bag territory. And you have your choice between three colors: classic black, breezy beige, and bold blue. Size: 8 x 2.5 x 6 inches | Pockets: Interior | Care: Wipe clean Best Splurge: Balenciaga Women's Neo Classic Mini Top Handle Bag View On Balenciaga.com View On Bloomingdales What We Like Statement look Convertible handbag option Color and pattern choices What We Don't Like Small size Heritage brand Balenciaga is the la crème de la crème when it comes to high end crossbody bags. First, it features an adjustable, removable shoulder strap with a 21-inch drop or converted into a double handles handbag with a 3-inch drop. That means you can go from a day out exploring a new destination to a night out on the town with one bag. The exterior pocket keeps essentials like keys and cards handy, while the roomier interior with a slip pocket holds your smartphone, makeup, wallet, and other items to keep you going throughout the day. Buckled strap details at bottom corners, whipstitch detail on the handles, and Italian leather solidify the statement bag status. It also comes in a variety of bold colors and prints to take it over the edge, like fuchsia and black snake as well as fluorescent yellow. Size: 8.5 x 3.75 x 5.5 inches | Pockets: Exterior and interior | Care: Wipe clean Best Vegan: Matt & Nat Erika Vegan Crossbody Bag View On Amazon View On Mattandnat.com What We Like Shoulder strap extends to 24 inches What We Don't Like No exterior pocket Crafted from ultra-soft vegan faux leather and recycled nylon lining, the Erika Vegan Leather Crossbody Bag by Matt & Nat is elegant, luxurious, and best of all, cruelty-free. It comes in classic hues like black, red, or beige and features a cute flap and hidden snap closure. Plus, the strap adjusts by 4 inches so you can find the best fit possible. This bag can easily take you from a day of walking tours to an upscale dinner. Size: 8 x 7.5 x 3.5 inches | Pockets: Interior | Care: Spot clean Best for Electronics: The North Face Cross Body View On Amazon View On Thenorthface.com View On Moosejaw.com What We Like Durable fabric Water-resistant Padded pocket for electronics What We Don't Like Stains easily The North Face is known for creating some of the best gear for exploring, and this bag is no exception. The 6-liter capacity can hold a wallet, phone, food, books, and notebook for a travel day. It also has a padded tablet sleeve to keep electronics safe. One reviewer literally described the bag as "great for travel days." That's partly due to the fact the bag is water-resistant, so all of your essentials will be safe even in inclement weather. The main complaint? It stains easily. Size: 7.5 x 2.3 x 9.25 inches | Pockets: Exterior and interior | Care: Spot clean Best for Parents: Notag Crossbody Bag for Women View On Amazon What We Like Water-resistant Tons of storage What We Don't Like Not very stylish Kids come with a lot of stuff, so parents need a solid bag that can keep track of it all on the go. This crossbody option does just that. With two side pockets, three front zipper pockets, one back zipper pocket, two interior zipper pockets, and two open pockets, there is plenty of room to keep the necessities organized. You could fit diapers, toys, snacks, a change of clothes, a wallet, and more without having to pull everything out to find them. Plus, the elastic exterior water bottle pocket is ideal for stashing a drink. And don't worry about wet clothes or spilled bottles because the water-resistant nylon will hold up against typical kid messes. Now all you have to do is worry about enjoying your adventure. Size: 10.24 x 3.54 x 8.66 inches | Pockets: Exterior and interior | Care: Wipe clean The 9 Best Bags & Backpacks for Disney of 2021 Final Verdict If you want to hold more than just your wallet and cellphone but still want a chicer look, the Madewell Sydney Shoulder Bag (view at Zappos) is your best bet. It's guaranteed to work for any trip or destination. If durability or functionality is your top priority, the Tumi Voyageur Troy Crossbody (view at Amazon) will give you everything you need. What to Look for in Crossbody Bags Price Crossbody bags run the gamut in terms of price, largely depending on the material and brand. Leather tends to be at the most expensive end of the spectrum while materials like faux leather or polyester tend to be the least expensive. As with anything, you get what you pay for. Material When it comes to material for crossbody bags, the sky’s the limit. You’ll want to select something durable, of course—canvas, leather (or vegan leather), and suede are three of the most durable materials to choose from.  Capacity Keep in mind that, generally, crossbody bags are smaller and more compact than tote bags or backpacks. Everyone’s specific criteria for bag capacity will differ, though. Before deciding on a bag, think about what you’ll be using it for. What do you need to carry on a day-to-day basis? Maybe you want a smaller crossbody bag to hold your phone and wallet (and that’s it) because you already have a large backpack that you’ll be layering it with. Maybe you need a more spacious crossbody tote to use as a diaper bag. Be realistic about what you’ll be using your bag for and then go from there.   Pockets Most crossbody bags are slim and compact with just one interior pocket and an exterior one. If you want something with more organizational features, look for a bag with multiple hidden pockets or even an expandable design with a laptop sleeve. Frequently Asked Questions How can you tell a bag is waterproof? Most bags that are truly waterproof will advertise this feature. But if you're looking for water resistance in the rain, opt for a bag made of nylon or polyester. Bonus if it has a durable water-resistant (DWR) coating. What features prevent theft? A bag with sturdy zipper closures, interior zipped compartments, and slash-resistant fabrics like nylon and leather are great if you're worried about security. What size crossbody is the best? It depends on what you need the bag for. If it's just to run around town or go out a night, something just a couple of inches deep is enough to hold the essentials. If you need to hold a change of clothes, snacks, and a tablet, you'll want to look for dimensions closer to 7 x 9 inches. Go too much bigger, and you're getting into a territory where it might not be comfortable to have the weight hanging from one shoulder. Why Trust TripSavvy Author Jordi Lippe-McGraw has researched and written about travel and fashion products for nearly a decade. When making this list, she researched dozens of products, looking at photos and videos to see how much the bags could hold and customer reviews. The 12 Best Messenger Bags of 2021 Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Share Pin Email Tell us why! Submit Continue to 5 of 9 below. Continue to 9 of 9 below.