Best crossbody bags for travel – 2024 edition

Looking for a stylish, smart and functional bag for your upcoming trip? You need a cross body bag for travel. This is the best way to carry your day-to-day items securely while not compromising on style.

Whether you are exploring a new city or enjoying a beach vacation, a well-designed cross body purse is an essential part of your travel wardrobe.

In fact, I often travel with two! One for day and night.

In this article, we rounded up the best crossbody bags for travel as well as the reasons why this is the best type of bag for your trip and what to look for if you’re buying a new purse.

But, if you just want to know which are our top three favorites – here they are. 

Top 3 Crossbody bags for Travel

• Best all round travel cross body bag – Kate Spade Bay Street bag
• Best security cross body bag – Travelon Anti-Theft messenger bag
• Best designer cross body bag for travel – Marc Jacobs The Snapshot

Reasons to buy a cross body bag for your travels

Actually, I don’t need a reason to buy a new bag or purse. I love feeling stylish and composed as I head off on my travels.

But if you need a little help justifying the purchase here are some great reasons why this type of purse is the right choice when traveling.

Handsfree

I don’t know about you but I take a lot of photos when I travel, plus these days I am juggling a couple of kids too.

Wearing a crossbody allows you to have everything close by when you need it and they leave your hands free to manage cameras, phones, maps (and children!).

I have tried a backpack but not only does it not look so good, it is a pain to take it off and rummage around for what you need. I also feel they are not as secure because you can’t keep your eyes on your belongings.

Your shoulder bag is no help either – they are usually big and bulky and can be easily snatched if you are in a large crowd.

Secure

I think everyone is more conscious of their belongings in an unfamiliar environment. I like to keep my phone and wallet close to hand and my bag in full view.

If you are traveling to a place where you feel you need additional security then Travelon bags have a series of anti-theft features including:

• slash-resistant body panels and shoulder straps
• locking compartments
• lock down straps
• RFID blocking card and passport slots

Versatile

Buy the right cross body and you may not need to take another bag with you.

A stylish black leather bag with gold or silver hardware like this one will work for both daytime and night occasions.

If you get one with detachable straps you can even buy additional chain straps to change the look of the bag >> click here to view purse straps.

How to choose a cross body bag

Here we discuss what to look for in a bag you are taking on your travels from the size, style and features of the bag to the material, size and weight.

You will notice I selected some bags that may not be specifically designed for travel. That’s because I don’t believe it is necessary for most types of trips. Plus the security-conscious bags often don’t look cute.

Your personal style, travel style and plans

First think about your upcoming trip(s) and what you will be doing on them. Do you like city breaks and country escapes? Or are you a beach lover or adventure traveler with style?

The bag you need for a trip to New York City is probably going to be different to the one you need for a relaxing beach vacation in Hawaii or a trek in Peru!

Match your bag to your vacation and your personal style.

Speaking of pictures, phones these days take such great snaps that, unless you love photography or need a camera for your work, a phone may be the only camera you need.

My Olympus mirrorless camera comes with me wherever I go and fits into most of my small crossbody bags.

Your travel bag essentials

Now think about what you need every day for your trip. This is different for everyone but I’ve provided some ideas as a starting point.

Try to keep only the essentials with you when you travel. At home I might have 3 lipsticks in my bag – oops! But since I discovered this moisturizing lipstick that magically matches my skin tone, that’s the only thing that comes with me in my day bag.

Not to mention the store cards etc in your wallet. These can stay at home. Just transfer your travel credit / debit card and a small amount of cash to a small wallet.

Bag size and weight

I like to carry the smallest bag I can get away with. It needs to be lightweight too.

If you plan to do lots of walking and sightseeing then you want to make sure your bag is not too heavy that it hurts your shoulders at the end of the day.

Unless you are a keen photographer carrying a bulky digital SLR camera plus lenses then you can choose a reasonably small bag.

The lightest bags are made of microfiber material but you can also find lightweight leather and vegan leather bags too.

Design and organization

Consider the shape and width of the bag. Anything too bulky is going to get in the way of picture taking and be cumbersome to manage.

Bags should be adjustable to your height so an adjustable strap is a must. Some bags have removable straps which can be useful if you want to switch up your look.

How many compartments do you need in your bag?

This is personal preference but I like to have a zippered internal pocket where I can store my passport and small wallet, a place for my phone and not too much else. An external pocket is useful to store tickets and lip balm.

Things to look for:

• adjustable shoulder straps
• padded shoulder strap – if you are carrying heavier items like a camera
• compartments
• zippered internal and external pockets
• water bottle holder

Material

Choose your bag material based on the type of places you are visiting.

I always think a leather bag (or vegan leather) looks chic in the city. For a beach trip choose a canvas cross body that won’t be damaged by sand and sun.

Microfiber, nylon or polyester are good all-round options especially if you think your bag is going to pick up a bit of dirt and get some rough treatment. This is a washable material so you can get marks out easily.

If you are going to be somewhere that gets very wet consider a water-resistant material to protect your belongings.

Color

These days you are not restricted to black and brown bags. There are so many interesting colors and patterns to choose from. Make sure you choose a purse that matches the outfits you have chosen for your trip so you feel and look stylish.

When in doubt, a black crossbody bag always looks chic. I usually take one of these on my trips as well as a colorful small crossbody purse for the evening.

Security features

Some travel bags come with inbuilt security features to help you keep your belongings secure.  to look out for:

• locking compartments
• organization compartments with RFID blocking card and passport slots
• slash-resistant material

Best hand bag brands for travel 2024

I like to stick to tried and true brands known for style, quality and practicality for this kind of purchase. It is important that the bag is well-designed and made to high-quality standards. These are my favorite handbag brands that make items suitable for travel

Kate Spade New York – known for colorful and practical design, you can always rely on Kate Spade for a useful bag that will complement your wardrobe. I own several Kate Spade leather crossbody bags in different shapes and colors and they have stood the test of time and many adventures.

Baggallini – founded by two former flight attendants, Baggallini is a brand built on the need for useful and stylish travel bags for women. Using durable and lightweight materials, they also incorporate pattern and fun into their designs

Travelon – known for their security-conscious and lightweight products, Travelon aims to make travel easier and safer

Michael Kors– founded on the principles of glamour and affordable luxury, you can rely on Michael Kors for bags that will last for years and are useful additions to any wardrobe. In my opinion this brand makes some of the best designer crossbody bags for travel.

Fossil – a go-to brand for high-quality classic leather colors and shapes. Fossil prides itself on its commitment to quality and sustainability.

Travel cross body bag reviews 2024

Best travel handbag – Kate Spade Bay Street

This bag ticks all the boxes for a great travel bag even though it was not specifically designed for this purpose. It is lightweight, practical and chic.

Kate Spade’s Bay Street crossbody has a sleek classic look that will take you from day to night looking polished while holding all your essentials.

Keep your belongings organized and secure within the zippered compartments and adjust the strap for your body shape.

The Kate Spade Bay Street crossbody bag is available in 3 different colors /color combinations >> Click here to view prices

Features

• Stylish gold toned hardware and pebbled leather
• Zippered closure
• Zippered interior and exterior pockets
• Lightweight

Consider

• Size – might not fit larger camera
• Material – may not suit adventure vacations
• No special security features

Best bag for travel security – Travelon anti-theft messenger bag

A very practical bag with built-in security features.

Travelon are experts in travel security and this bag has been manufactured with its special anti-slash material and locking compartments.

Surprisingly roomy, this bag will hold larger items such as a camera and/or water bottle with ease.

This security crossbody bag range comes in multiple patterns and colors >> Click here to view prices

Features

• Slash and cut resistant
• Water and stain resistant
• Zippered closure
• 5 RFID blocking slots

Consider

• Not waterproof – not suitable for weather

Best designer crossbody purse – Marc Jacobs The Snapshot Bag

If you are looking to inject a little glamour into your travels Marc Jacobs makes stylish and useful purses that you are sure to be complimented on.

This bag comes with a zippered closure for security and has internal pockets and a snap magnet exterior pocket.

It is made with luxury pebbled leather with the trademark JJ logo in gold hardware and comes in a variety of colors and other finishes >> Click here to view prices

Features

• Stylish pebbled leather and gold toned hardware
• Double zippered closure
• Lightweight

Consider

• Size – will not fit large cameras
• Material – may not suit adventure vacations
• No special security features

Best lightweight travel shoulder bag – Baggallini Everywhere Bagg

Tropical and beach vacations call for lightweight bags with room for beach gear – hats, sunglasses and sunscreen.

We love these colorful lightweight bags by Baggallini.

Not only do they feature fun designs but these fabric crossbody bags also have a practical design including interior and exterior zippered pockets Baggallini Everywhere Bagg

Features

• Extremely lightweight and washable material
• Zippered closure
• Zippered interior and exterior pockets
• Lots of fun patterns to choose from

Consider

• No special security features

Summary of the top 10 cross body bags for travel

Image	Product	Size - W / H / D	Available colors	Price
	Kate Spade Bay Street bag	10" x 10.5" x 1.9"	Black, almond/black	click here
	Baggallini Everywhere bag	13.5” x 9” x 5”	17 classic and fashion colors / patterns	click here
	Michael Kors Jet Set Travel Large East/West bag	9" x 4" x .75"	Over 7 unique colors to choose from	click here
	Travelon Classic Messenger bag	9.75" x 10" x 2.5	Classic black and blue, as well as various color and pattern combinations	click here
	Vera Bradley Triple Zip crossbody bag	12" x 12" x 1"	Black, navy, olive, lavender and a variety of vibrant patterned options	click here
	Marc Jacobs Snapshot bag	10" x 7.5" x 3"	25 + colorways and styles	click here
	Fossil Fiona Large	11.8" x 9.8" x 2.75"	Tan, black, green, bone, plus more patterns and textures	click here
	LeSportsac Everyday Crossbody	14" x 9" x 5"	Comes in classic black	click here
	Primo Sacchi Italian leather crossbody bag	9.4" x 7.1" x 3.9"	20 colors of leather to choose from	click here
	Iswee Satchel Purse	9.75" x 8.2" x 4.8"	Black, red, tan	click here

The final word on the best cross body purses for travel

Cross body bags for women are the best purses to travel with because they meet the must-have requirements of being practical and stylish. We love that you can protect your belongings and still look good at the same time. In fact, carrying a crossbody bag is one of our top tips for avoiding pickpockets – unfortunately, they can be a problem in big cities.

You can see this style of bag in many fashion magazines. Mini versions and designer cross body bags are having quite a moment! 

It is because they are useful and chic that we always feature crossbodies in our destination packing lists – you can check them out here:

• Packing guide for London > click here
• Italy packing list > click here

These days you can find a bag that suits both your travel and fashion requirements from a wide range of brands. If you want to look polished on your travels then an investment in a high-quality crossbody bag is a must.

Disclaimer – Untold Morsels assists our readers with carefully chosen product and services recommendations that help make travel easier and more fun. If you click through and make a purchase on many of these items we may earn a commission. All opinions are our own – please read our disclosure page for more information.