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All products featured on Self are independently selected by our editors. However, we may receive compensation from retailers and/or from purchases of products through these links.
Purses are always there to hold your stuff—kind of like a satellite pocket. But great ones don’t just cradle your beloved belongings and keep them safe—they also add a little something to your outfit. And the best crossbody bags are particularly convenient, with wide, comfy straps that allow you to schlep your goods around totally hands-free (while looking a smidge cuter than your average fanny pack).
If your current crossbody is threadbare from daily wear, or if you’re looking to add one to your collection, we can help narrow your search. These editor-approved options are perfect for folks on the go.
Our top picks
- Best for Travel: Free People Quilted Carryall Bag, $78
- Best with Pockets: MZ Wallace Metro Scout Deluxe, $185
- Best Budget Pick: Uniqlo Round Mini Shoulder Bag, $20
- Best Splurge: Longchamp Le Pliage Energy XS Handbag,
$250$175 - Best With an Adjustable Strap: Old Navy Slouchy Suede Hobo Bag, $35
- Best With a Wide Strap: Baggu Crescent, $52
- Best Lightweight: Lululemon Everywhere Belt Bag, $38
Shop the best crossbody bags
Ready for life to get more convenient? These are our favorite crossbody bags for staying organized and hands-free.
Best for Travel: Free People Quilted Carryall Bag
When you’re looking for a travel bag—whether for a weekend road trip or an airplane carry-on—you need something that’s spacious, sturdy, and lightweight. Enter: The Quilted Carryall from Free People. It fits a ton and comes in a rainbow of bright colors—plus it’s soft and unstructured (no more fighting with overhead bins or car trunk doors).
The Carryall’s Mary Poppins–esque roominess makes it a great staple for beach days, weekend stays, or even your commute to the gym (whether it’s 2 or 20 minutes away), as one SELF staffer explains. “I love my crossbody gym bag,” says Katie Gunderman, SELF’s associate social media manager. “She’s supercute, and I also use her when I travel.”
Also worth checking out? The smaller sling version and the matching Mini Case, to help keep your smaller items together in the (very spacious) main compartment.
Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Comes in bright and neutral colors | Can only be spot-cleaned |
| Has one interior and two exterior zippered pockets | |
| Large capacity |
Product specs
Dimensions: 6.5 x 17 inches | Material: Textile
Best with Pockets: MZ Wallace Metro Scout Deluxe
Good: An extra roomy bag. Bad: Spending ten minutes rifling through it to find your keys. The smartly constructed Metro Scout Deluxe crossbody from MZ Wallace has a whopping six interior pockets, three exterior pockets, and a detachable pouch (read: plenty of ways to organize your stuff—it’s the opposite of a “black hole” bag).
All the pockets—along with the lightweight fabric and adjustable strap—are why one SELF tester swears by this bag. “It’s very sturdy with high-end hardware, and it keeps its shape,” she says. “It’s the nicest, non-shiny nylon bag I’ve found.”
Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Tons of compartments for organization | Some reviewers report that certain colors appear differently than advertised |
| Comes with a removable pouch | |
| Strap is adjustable |
Product specs
Dimensions: 8.3 x 4.3 x 7.3 inches | Material: Nylon, leather, metal
Best Budget Pick: Uniqlo Round Mini Shoulder Bag
For $20, you could certainly do worse than this sleek, minimalist-but-roomy Uniqlo bag. I own it in multiple colors and often find myself reaching for it over the pricier purses in my closet. It blends well with many outfits, it’s durable (and super functional), plus it looks more expensive than it is.
One SELF tester agrees, calling the bag “fabulous,” largely thanks to its lightweight practicality, adjustable straps, and ability to hold a ton.
Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Has internal pockets to keep your stuff organized | Not machine-washable |
| Water-repellent | |
| Made with recycled nylon |
Product specs
Dimensions: 11 x 6.7 x 3.9 inches | Material: Polyester, nylon
Best Splurge: Longchamp Le Pliage Energy XS Handbag
The Longchamp Le Pliage Energy XS Handbag isn’t cheap, but it is gorgeous (and it doubles as a stylish mini handbag, if you take the adjustable crossbody strap off). Given how pretty it is and how well it’ll go with most ’fits in your wardrobe, you’ll likely get a pretty reasonable cost per wear. That’s been the case for one SELF tester, who wears hers year-round and loves that it’s just large enough to fit her phone and essentials. “For chic-ability, you can’t do better than Longchamp,” she says.
Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Has two interior pockets (including one that’s large enough to fit a smartphone) | May be too small to fit all of your necessities |
| Strap is adjustable and removable | |
| Zipper and snap closure |
Product specs
Dimensions: 6.7 x 5.5 x 3.9 inches | Material: Canvas, leather, metal
Best with an Adjustable Strap: Old Navy Slouchy Suede Hobo Bag
Old Navy
Slouchy Suede Hobo Bag
With a belt-buckle-style adjustable strap, you can rock this purse as a crossbody or a shoulder bag. It’s that just-right size, meaning you can pack it with a shocking amount of stuff, but it won’t look weirdly giant and empty when you’re only carrying the necessities. Made of faux suede, it can be worn by vegans and non-vegans alike, and it’s not as pricey as genuine leather or suede options (though it’s just as cute).
In fact, it won over one SELF tester thanks to how well it passes for real suede. “[It’s] very roomy and more expensive-looking in person,” she says, adding that the material feels “like butter.”
Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Soft feel | No interior pockets or dividers |
| Great medium size | |
| Budget-friendly |
Product specs
Dimensions: N/A | Material: Polyester
Best with a Wide Strap: Medium Baggu Crescent
With a wide-strapped bag, you can say goodbye to uncomfortable red marks or imprints on your shoulder. Even when it’s loaded up, this Baggu bag’s thick shoulder strap will help evenly distribute weight.
That’s part of why SELF commerce writer Jessica Kasparian loves this lightweight purse. “I’m always reaching for my Baggu Crescent bag—it fits so much. I’m talking wallet, phone, keys, water bottle, Kindle, emergency snack,” she says. “The strap is thick and adjustable, so it feels really supportive and doesn’t dig into my shoulder.”
It’s also durable, given that Kasparian says she once spilled a full water bottle into her Crescent, and all she had to do was dump out the H2O and allow the bag to air dry—and it was good as new. “I think it’s indestructible,” she adds.
Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Comes in two adjustable strap lengths | No exterior pockets |
| Machine-washable | |
| Holds a ton of stuff | |
| Very durable and easy to clean |
Product specs
Dimensions: 8 x 13.75 x 4 inches | Material: Recycled heavyweight nylon, recycled ripstop nylon
Best Lightweight: Lululemon Belt Bag
“The Lululemon crossbody is a classic,” says Lauren Alberti, Allure’s creative development manager. “It fits your phone, keys, and wallet, and is perfect for a hands-free hot girl walk.”
This bag is compact, lightweight, and worn close to the body, making it a great addition to any outings where you could use some extra pockets to keep you organized, whether that’s hiking or just running errands. “I especially like the zippered back pocket, which keeps my phone separate from everything else—that way, I don’t have to open the main pouch to quickly access it and switch songs or reply to a text,” Kasparian adds.
Though you can’t toss this belt bag in the washing machine to refresh it, the fabric is water-repellent, which can help keep it in tip-top shape. You can also spot-clean it when needed.
Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Adjustable strap | Spot-clean only |
| Has interior and exterior pockets | |
| Wear it crossbody or as a fanny pack |
Product specs
Dimensions: 7.5 x 2 x 5 inches | Material: Nylon, recycled polyester
What to look for when choosing a crossbody bag
Pockets
Having well-placed pockets in your crossbody bag can save you from needing to dump out the contents in the search for your keys or ID. Some of our favorites have both internal and external pockets—and a few also have zippers to keep your important essentials safe.
Adjustable strap
The way a crossbody bag fits can differ from person to person, so it can be helpful to look for one with an adjustable strap. Bonus: A short strap can allow you to wear the bag on your shoulder instead of across your front.
Materials
Most of the crossbody bags featured here are made from polyester, nylon, or a combination of the two. These fabrics are typically lightweight and easy to care for—sometimes they’re even machine-washable. Other options have leather, metal, and canvas details, which may need touch-ups from time to time.
Not sure how to care for your new crossbody? Check out the manufacturer’s recommendations to make sure your bag looks like new for years to come.
How we picked these crossbody bags
After consulting editors for their tried-and-true favorites, we scoured options that are available online and read dozens of customer reviews. We looked for key features, like pockets, adjustable straps, and durable materials, and we also considered which bags are cute enough to carry with you on a long hike or a busy day running errands. The crossbody bags on this list are some of our very favorites (and we’re confident you’ll love them too!).
Related:
- The Best Backpacks for Travel, According to Experts and SELF Editors
- These Work Bags Can Fit a Laptop, But Won’t Ruin Your Shoulders
- The Best Black Leggings, From Editors Who’ve Tried Hundreds
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