I have been on the hunt for the perfect crossbody purse for travel for years. What I’ve learned is there’s not a one-size-fits-all bag that works for every single vacation; it really depends on where you’re going and what you’ll be doing. For example, the type of bag I might choose for a beach vacation is different than the one I’d want with me for exploring a European city.

Whatever the destination, when I’m shopping for a new travel bag, I look for these characteristics:

Lightweight
Durable
Wipeable
Easily accessible pocket for phone
Adjustable strap
Versatile (goes with multiple outfits)
Stylish

Here are some of the bags I’ve personally used and loved for travel.

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Travelon Classic Messenger Bag — **TRAVELON CLASSIC MESSENGER BAG**

The quintessential travel bag, featuring side pockets for your water bottle and umbrella!

Travelon Anti-Theft Classic Messenger Bag

The Travelon Messenger Bag is the quintessential travel bag. I used this almost exclusively when trekking across Europe on a 13-day road trip. At the size of a brownie pan (about 9x13), It holds a ton yet remains surprisingly lightweight. There are pockets galore, both inside and out. One of my favorite features are the zippered mesh pockets on both sides of the bag - perfect for your water bottle or small umbrella. It also has anti-theft features built-in, like lock-down straps that allow you to secure the bag to a stationary object or chair, locking compartments to deter pickpockets, and slash-resistant fabric. And if you’re worried about digital theft, this bag protects against that, too, with RFID-blocking card slots and passport pockets. It even has a little LED light inside the bag to help you find what you’re looking for in the dark. You really can’t go wrong with this bag. I have it in both black and nutmeg. Buy it on Amazon.

Bandolier (Hailey)

While this isn’t technically a bag, I love love love this Bandolier crossbody phone case and wallet for long travel days when I don’t want to be schlepping a heavy bag around. I have several styles of Bandolier but the Hailey is one of my favorites due to the wider strap. I find it very comfortable to wear and I love having my phone at my fingertips to take photos. You can fit a couple of credit cards and some cash in the built-in wallet on the bag, but I like to connect my Hailey to an add-on pouch to carry a few more essentials like lipgloss and my portable phone charger. Buy the Bandolier Hailey on Amazon (make sure to select the right size for your phone!) or try this lower-priced dupe.

UTO crossbody bag from Amazon — UTO CONVERTIBLE CROSSBODY

Affordable and stylish, this crossbody features three separate pouches and two strap options.

UTO Convertible Crossbody

If you’re looking for an affordable yet stylish bag, try the UTO convertible crossbody. It comes in a ton of colors and materials. I prefer the nylon fabric in a nice neutral with gold hardware that goes with everything. This purse has three separate pouches that can be detached and rearranged to fit the day’s adventures. The wide strap is adjustable and comfortable and can be completely removed if you want to transform the bag into more of a clutch, suitable for dinner. Buy it on Amazon.

Marc Jacobs Snapshot

This is one of the smallest bags on my list. It’s perfect for days when you don’t need to carry a lot but want to have some cards, cash, and small essentials like chapstick or sunglasses handy. The wide strap is comfortable and can be swapped out to change up the loop. This bag is youthful and fun. It adds a stylish pop to any outfit. If you travel with teenagers like I do, they will try to steal this bag! See all the color options and buy it here.

Fossil Fiona Crossbody

Fossil is known for their watches but they make amazing bags, too. The Fiona crossbody is one of my favorites for travel. It has two outside pockets that are sized perfectly for most cell phones and sunglasses. The leather is high quality and smells divine. The Fiona comes in many colorways. I love the black, camel and graystone but there’s also a “dot” version that adds a bit of visual interest. It’s important to note that this is a leather bag, so it’s a bit heavier than some of the nylon options on this list. I also recommend a leather protector to shield the bag from rain or spills. The regular size is perfect for me, but the Fiona also comes in a smaller size for petite frames; check out the smaller size here or buy the regular size Fiona on Amazon.

Kipling Alvar Crossbody

Kipling is always a popular choice for travel. The brand offers many styles that are lightweight and durable. They are known for their zippers (compartments galore!) and adorable little gorilla attachments. The bags used to feature a fuzzy gorilla but the newer styles include a hard plastic gorilla instead. The Alvar comes in several colors. I chose the gray because it goes with everything but the pops of color are fun, too! Buy the Kipling Alvar here.

Baggallini Calais Crossbody

I have always loved all the zippered compartments on Baggallini bags, but for years, they only came with silver hardware. Since I primarily wear gold jewelry, I usually seek out bags with matching gold hardware. I was thrilled when Baggallini finally added a gold hardware option to some of their popular styles. I have this bag in the Black/Gold combo and love it! It is super lightweight, offers RFID protection and the nylon fabric is water resistant. Sooo many pockets to organize your stuff and the grab-and-go phone pocket is so convenient! I hope they add the gold hardware option to more colors soon. See all the color options available and buy this bag here.

Tumi Tyler crossbody bag — tumi voyageur tyler

Choose this bag if you are looking for understated elegance and durability.

Tumi Voyageur Tyler Crossbody

Tumi is a quality brand known for their luggage and travel accessories. I love the Tyler Crossbody for Travel , featuring a huge U-zip pocket on the front and an open pocket with magnetic snap closure on the back - perfect for your phone. There are also tons of pockets inside to keep you organized and an engravable tag where you can add your name or initials. Buy the Tumi Tyler on Amazon. The similarly-sized Tumi Tula is another great option.

Rebecca Minkoff Julian backpack

While the Rebecca Minkoff Julian is not technically a crossbody, I couldn’t leave it off the list. I LOVE this backpack and travel with it regularly. The leather is soft and supple and the zippers are heavy and high quality. There’s a zippered pocket on the back that is perfect for your phone (and it faces your back when wearing the backpack so you don’t have to worry about someone opening the pocket). I also love the side pockets - perfect for chapstick or gum. But one of my favorite “secret” features is that the clasp in the front can actually be opened and reclasped at the top of the bag, adding an additional layer of security by making it difficult for bystanders to get to the zipper. I do this when traveling on trains or walking through crowded streets and it gives me extra peace of mind. Since this bag is leather, it can get a little heavy but there’s also a lighter-weight nylon version (I have both!) Buy the leather Julian here or the nylon Julian here, in Olive.

looking for more travel essentials?

Check out our list of must-have travel essentials. All items can be purchased on Amazon.

the best crossbody bags for travel

TRAVELON CLASSIC MESSENGER BAG

Travelon Anti-Theft Classic Messenger Bag