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Top 5 Crossbody Bags Perfect for Travel
Top 5 Crossbody Bags Perfect for Travel. When it comes to travel, having the right bag can make all the difference. A crossbody bag is one of the most practical choices for travelers because it offers hands-free convenience, security, and style. Whether you’re exploring city streets, boarding a flight, or enjoying a vacation getaway, a good crossbody bag keeps your essentials close while ensuring comfort throughout the day. In this guide, we highlight the top five crossbody bags perfect for travel, focusing on durability, design, and functionality.
1. Louis Vuitton Pochette Métis
The Louis Vuitton Pochette Métis is a luxury crossbody bag that has become a favorite among style-conscious travelers. Crafted from the brand’s signature Monogram canvas, it features a structured design with multiple compartments, making it perfect for organizing your passport, phone, wallet, and other essentials. The adjustable strap ensures a comfortable fit for long days of sightseeing, while the classic design pairs effortlessly with both casual and formal outfits.
2. Longchamp Le Pliage Cuir Crossbody
Known for its lightweight yet durable design, the Longchamp Le Pliage Cuir Crossbody is a stylish option for travelers who prefer a minimalist look. Made from soft leather, it folds flat for packing yet offers enough space for essentials. The adjustable strap allows for customized comfort, and its simple, elegant style makes it suitable for both day trips and evening outings.
Best for: Travelers looking for a compact, foldable bag with a timeless aesthetic.
3. Tumi Voyageur Tyler Crossbody
Tumi is well-known for its travel gear, and the Voyageur Tyler Crossbody is no exception. Designed with travelers in mind, this bag offers multiple secure pockets, water-resistant nylon fabric, and an adjustable strap for easy wear. It’s perfect for those who want a lightweight, durable, and organized travel companion.
Best for: Frequent travelers who prioritize functionality, durability, and a sporty yet sophisticated design.
4. Fossil Kinley Small Crossbody
The Fossil Kinley Small Crossbody combines style with functionality. Featuring a mix of leather and canvas materials, it has a roomy interior, an exterior pocket for quick access items, and a secure zip closure. The vintage-inspired design adds charm, making it ideal for travel days that blend casual exploration with stylish outings.
Best for: Travelers who appreciate a vintage look with modern functionality.
5. Travelon Anti-Theft Classic Crossbody
For those concerned about safety while traveling, the Travelon Anti-Theft Classic Crossbody is an excellent choice. It features lockable zippers, slash-resistant straps, and RFID-blocking card slots to protect your belongings from theft. Its practical size and well-organized compartments make it perfect for city travel, where pickpocketing can be a concern.
Best for: Security-focused travelers who want peace of mind while exploring busy destinations.
How to Choose the Right Crossbody Bag for Travel
When selecting a crossbody bag for travel, consider the following factors:
- Size and Capacity: Ensure it’s large enough for essentials but compact enough for comfort.
- Material: Opt for durable, weather-resistant materials like leather, coated canvas, or nylon.
- Security Features: Look for lockable zippers, RFID-blocking pockets, and slash-resistant straps if traveling to crowded areas.
- Adjustability: A good adjustable strap can improve comfort during long wear.
- Versatility: Choose a design that works for both day and evening wear.
Finding the Right Purse for Travel
Over the years, I tossed the clutch and stuck with the crossbody. Why? Because it’s far more challenging for someone to take it from you. If something is strapped across your body, they can’t just rip it off your shoulder like they could with a tote bag or take it from your hand like they could with a clutch.
That’s why the best anti-theft travel purse has to be a crossbody, even if you don’t go with the specific bag I’m promoting here. Simply having a crossbody will lessen your chances of having any of your valuables stolen.
Now, you, of course, have to follow other safety steps, but getting a crossbody is a step in the right direction.
Anti-Theft Purses: Perfect for Solo Female Travelers
The next step is finding an anti-theft purse. What does that mean?
The best anti-theft travel purses will have a variety of features that up your safety, such as wire mesh built into the bag, slash-proof straps, and lockable zippers. These help make it more difficult for someone to get into your bag, even if they aren’t trying to lift it off you.
Whether you’re walking around a city or in a crowded tourist area, it becomes far more difficult to steal from you if your zippers are locked and the bag is made of stronger stuff than the average purse.
Features Found in the Best Anti-Theft Travel Purses
The level of slash-proofing may vary by bag, so make sure that whichever anti-theft travel purse you choose, you are aware of its protection coverage. Sometimes, it’s fully proofed, and other times, the protection is only in a couple of exterior panels. There can also be slash-proofing within the strap. When deciding which is the best anti-theft travel purse for you, please look for these.
Either way, their function is designed to prevent what they call “cut and run theft.” Slashing your bag, stealing its contents, and running off before you’re even the wiser.
The zippers rely a bit on you, as you’re the one who has to latch them to ensure protection. I have a relative notorious for leaving the zippers on their bags open. It drove me nuts! So even if she had lockable zippers, they would have done nothing for her, as she doesn’t bother to zip! Not only do you have to zip, but you also have to latch.
Me, the safety nerd, loves the security it gives me when I latch my bag after paying for something, but again, this is a step you must be diligent about.
Another note on zippers: whichever travel purse you choose, check how easy it is to puncture. I know it sounds weird, but poke a pen at the zipper and see if it comes apart easily. Some bags come with puncture-proof zippers (aka Tough Zip), adding an extra layer of anti-theft to even the best anti-theft travel purse.
RFID Protection
Nefarious people can use an RFID reader to scan information from your credit card or passport. They can even do this from several feet away. To prevent this, you can get a wallet or bag with RFID protection to block these radio waves.
Not every credit card can be scanned by a reader, but it is possible. Readers can also reportedly steal your name, address, nationality, photo, and other information stored in your passport.
If you’re concerned about identity theft, this is one of the key features you’ll be concerned about when searching for the best anti-theft travel purse.
Style
I’m not someone who needs to keep up with the latest trends. However, I still highly value my aesthetic, so I wanted a purse that could match or at least not scream ‘tourist’ as many do.
That’s my main issue with fanny packs. I’ve got such an image of 80s and 90s movies with the fanny packs, and it makes me feel dated. So, as much as some love them, I knew that was not a route I was willing to go. Instead, because of the safety of having a crossbody, I knew it had to be the style of my travel bag.
Color
Much like my thoughts on style, I knew I wouldn’t pick a bag (as much as I love color) in any color other than black so that it would work with any outfit.
Black also hides a lot of dirt. The number of times I’ve put my bag down on a dusty road in Tuscany or the ground in the jungles of Thailand, and I’ve yet to see any discoloration or staining.
At the time of this posting, I’ve been using my bag for three years, and it still looks very new! That’s because they use water and dirt-resistant fabric. There has only been one issue with my bag, which I’ll mention later.
Safety Features
With the Travelon Anti-Theft Classic Messenger Bag, you can protect your belongings from pickpockets and slash-and-grab thieves. The bag features a 5-Point Anti-Theft security system:
- Lock-down straps secure the bag to a stationary object or chair, helping prevent grab-and-go thieves from dashing off with your bag.
I’ve yet to use this, as I honestly forgot about it, but it would have been helpful in some situations where I was eating outdoors in places like Mexico or Barcelona. - Locking zippered pulls secure your bag compartments and help prevent pickpockets from getting into your bag.
I love the locking zippers, as they give me peace of mind! - The Slash-resistant body of the bag helps prevent slash-and-grab theft in busy areas with a slash-resistant mesh barrier in all four sides and the bag’s bottom panel.
Luckily, I haven’t had to test this out, but I feel good that it would help should that unfortunate circumstance happen. - Slash-resistant straps with a stainless steel wire inside the strap help prevent slash-and-run theft.
Again, I’ve not had the misfortune to have this tested, but I like the assurance I found when searching for the best anti-theft travel purse. - RFID blocking pockets help prevent electronic identity theft with RFID blocking card slots and passport pockets.
As mentioned above, this is great for those concerned about identity theft! - Tethered interior key clip.
It’s great to clip your keys to make it more difficult to snatch them! It also helps me find my keys so they don’t fall to the bottom of the bag.
Size
The Travelon Anti-Theft Classic Messenger Bag is 9 x 3.5 x 12.5 inches. As I usually travel with several items, I wanted a bag with enough space for all of them. I’ve fit everything I need in this bag: passport, phone, journal, money, credit cards, contact case, glasses case, sunglasses, external battery pack, and other miscellaneous items.
However, I didn’t want something too big that would be clunky to carry around.
I decided on the right size by measuring the bags I had at home so that I had a real-world example and also by looking at how big the bag looked compared to the models in the promotional pictures. They aren’t the same size as me, but it gave me a general idea.
Conclusion
A crossbody bag is one of the most practical travel accessories you can invest in. From luxury options like the Louis Vuitton Pochette Métis to security-focused designs like the Travelon Anti-Theft Classic Crossbody, there’s a perfect choice for every traveler. The right crossbody bag offers hands-free convenience, secure storage, and versatile style, making your trips more enjoyable and stress-free.
