When traveling to Europe, you would want to avoid carrying travel cases and shoulder bags around, as it could be a real struggle. Instead, choose one of the best cross body bags for travel in Europe listed in this post.
Cross body bags for travel are compact and lightweight and help you travel light, making them a travel essential. Most best-selling ones also come with multiple safety features to keep your belongings and personal items safe, an adjustable strap for comfort, and several compartments to store your precious cards and other accessories.
Top Picks
5 Best Crossbody Bags For Travel In Europe
1. Best Lightweight: Peak Gear Nylon Crossbody Travel Purse
Traveling in Europe can get safer with the Peak Gear crossbody bag. Made of durable nylon material, which is water-resistant. The secure crossbody bag has a hidden RFID blocking pocket with a lost and found ID tag. Besides being lightweight and functional, it is fashionable enough to pass stringent stylistic evaluations. The small size of this anti-theft travel bag is convenient for essentials, and the black sturdy strap remains snug on the back. Go ahead and check out this YouTuber’s video for more details about the widely tried and trusted lightweight crossbody bag.
Pros
- Features YKK zippers and durable metal rings
- Adjustable strap for a custom fit
- Magnet closure pockets
- Stands upright with ease
- Has an exterior pocket
Cons
- May be a bit flimsy
- Pockets may be shallow
"I have been using this crossbody bag for a few months, and it has served me well so far. It's lightweight, and the spacious interiors let me store everything properly. Moreover, its security tracker and RFID-blocking pocket are convenient when I'm traveling abroad."
2. Best Water-Resistant:Travelon Anti-Theft Classic Essential Messenger Bag
Travelon classic essential messenger bag is designed with a five-point security system. The anti-theft bag includes lockdown straps, locking zippered compartments, a slash-proof body, cut-proof straps, and RFID blocking pockets to identify electronic thefts. The logo plaque in front adds a style quotient to it. The dirt- and water-resistant crossbody bag also features a removable LED light. To get a better understanding of the RFID-blocking Travelon crossbody bag, you can check out this review video showcasing a tester’s experience.
Pros
- Detachable and adjustable strap
- Internal mesh barrier
- Features D-ring buckle
- Hidden steel cable inside the strap
- Has an exterior pocket
- Available in other colors
Cons
- May not have a wide opening
- Clasp may not be as durable as expected
"I'm impressed with this bag's slim design and spacious storage. Its RFID protection and locking zippers ensure my essentials are safe, especially during travels. The material is pretty durable as well; it withstands the wear and tear of daily use."
3. Best Durable: Ogio Women’s Brooklyn Tablet Purse
The Brooklyn tablet purse from Ogio is made of durable poly fiber and features a hidden interior pocket at the back with a zipper. It has two large multi-functional pockets inside, a 21-inch crossbody strap with a 42-inch drop length, and the tablet sleeve measures 8.5×11.75 inches. The padded base of the durable crossbody bag protects electronic gadgets. It incorporates an organizational panel and a visibility liner. Check out this review cum testing video to know more about the easy-access crossbody travel bag.
Pros
- Padded iPad or tablet pocket
- Button and zip closure front pocket
- Spacious compartments
- Doubles as a sling bag
Cons
- Strap may not be adjustable
- Fabric may be a bit crunchy
"This purse helps me organize my belongings neatly without squeezing them. Though the strap length is shorter than expected, its versatility suits my requirements both in casual and professional settings. My tab also fits in this bag smoothly, which is a plus."
Peak Gear Nylon Crossbody Purse Best Lightweight | Travelon Anti-Theft Classic Essential Messenger Bag Best Water-Resistant | Ogio Women's Brooklyn Tablet Purse Best Durable | |
---|---|---|---|
Color | Black | - | - |
Material | Nylon | - | - |
Weight | - | 12 ounces | - |
Dimensions | - | 2.5 x 9.75 x 10 inches. | 16.06 x 2.87 x 12.95 inches |
Weight | - | - | 13.68 Ounces |
Rating | |||
Reviews | 4,498 | 3,253 | 4,974 |
Price | $29.97 | $55 | $39.99 |
4. Best Adjustable Straps:Travelon Anti-Theft Classic Slim Crossbody Bag
All Travelon bags are crafted from a five-point anti-theft security system, including RFID for electronic theft. This tried-and-tested compact crossbody bag can be worn as a crossbody bag or converted into a backpack style. The straps of this anti-theft bag are adjustable, removable, and re-attachable. It features a padded pocket for a tablet and a front zip pocket in the main compartment, making it a functional crossbody bag. It also has a mesh bottle holder pocket and a key clip with an LED light.
Pros
- Lockable zippers to secure essentials
- Features D-ring buckle
- Slash-resistant body
- Cut-proof strap
- Dirt-resistant fabric
- Has an exterior pocket
Cons
- May be a bit smaller than expected
- Internal compartment may have a narrow opening
"This travel purse strikes a decent balance between size and practicality. While the sturdy strap design makes it easy to carry, the lockable zippers keep my belongings safe in crowded places. I'm also pleased with the quality of the material and the accessibility."
5. Best For Safety: Herschel Cruz Crossbody Bag
This 100% durable and safe polyester hands-free crossbody bag from Herschel Cruz makes travel stress-free and easy. The stylish crossbody bag’s quality craftsmanship includes durable webbing and an adjustable shoulder strap that you can fasten with the clip. It includes an inner storage compartment with the signature Herschel striped fabric liner. The travel bag can also be used as a clutch and has an internal key clip for added safety, making it the ideal crossbody purse for Europe.
Pros
- Durable zippers
- Roomy pockets for easy storing
- Stowable strap
- Available in various colors
Cons
- May be smaller than expected
- Strap may not be comfortable to wear
"What attracted me to this bag is its wide range of compartments, suitable for storing my daily essentials such as phones, wallets, and some makeup stuff. Also, its adjustable strap is a bonus, so I can wear the bag comfortably."
How To Choose The Right Crossbody Bag For Travel In Europe?
Here are a few features that you should consider before you buy a crossbody bag.
- Weight: Pick a lightweight crossbody travel purse that does not add to your luggage while traveling. However, do not go for an extremely light bag since you may not know when someone tugs or tries to cut it open.
- Strap: A crossbody bag needs a relatively long, adjustable shoulder strap. It should fit snug around the torso and yet be comfortable.
- Material: While traveling, waterproof material is essential. Avoid fabric bags as they tend to get wet. Polyester is a durable material that will also keep your personal items safe from the weather.
- Features: Look for anti-theft features, such as folding and zippered bags, internal hidden pockets, zip pockets, key clips, anti-theft technology such as RFID-enabled pockets for preventing electronic theft, and anti-slash materials.
- Compartments: While traveling, you need to carry important personal items, including passport, money, travel vouchers, phone, tablet, and valuables. Depending on how much you want to carry on yourself, pick a travel bag with a good number of pockets and quality craftsmanship.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What are the benefits of using crossbody bags for travel?
While traveling, you need your hands to be free and not preoccupied with carrying travel handbags or constantly adjusting the shoulder strap. This becomes even more important if your travel involves physical activities like trekking and climbing. A crossbody bag with quality craftsmanship facilitates all these requirements effectively while distributing the weight evenly across the body.
2. Are crossbody bags good for travel?
Yes, being sleek, anti-slip, easy to carry, and equipped with many zip pockets and slots, crossbody bags are ideal for stowing almost all travel vitals like passports, tickets, documents, and phones in a hassle-free, systematic, and secure manner.
3. How do I wear a crossbody bag?
You put the strap over your head in such a way that, if the strap rests on your right shoulder, the bag part should rest near your left hip or vice versa. It’s like a sling bag or fanny pack that is worn across the torso.
4. When is a crossbody bag useful?
Crossbody bags can be useful in many scenarios such as traveling, carrying a baby, maintaining proper weight distribution, and photography and video shooting.
5. How low should I hang a crossbody bag?
Most crossbody bags reach the hips. Ideally, the length depends on your convenience as a lot of these bags come with an adjustable shoulder strap.
6. Can I wear a shoulder bag as a crossbody bag?
Most of the time, the length of the shoulder bag’s strap may not be long enough or adjustable to fit across the body. That’s when a versatile crossbody bag comes to the rescue, as they are ergonomically designed for this purpose.
Why Trust MomJunction?
Having a deep interest in creating high-quality content, Wedesto Chirhah, an expert product writer and reviewer, has done extensive research and analyzed multiple products and user reviews from several websites to develop a list of the best crossbody bags from trusted brands for a safe, comfortable traveling experience. He also included product details and a buying guide to help you pick the right crossbody bag based on your preferred strap, material, weight, features, and compartment requirements.
The Bottom Line
If you plan to travel to Europe, investing in a good-quality crossbody bag is a wise decision. These bags are easier and more convenient to carry than shoulder bags, especially when you plan to do a lot of walking. It will help if you look for a bag with a long, adjustable strap and one that is lightweight as it won’t add to the weight of your luggage and will feel lighter even when stuffed with your belongings. Further, pick a bag made of waterproof material and one that comes with anti-theft features. We recommend the Peak Gear Nylon Crossbody Purse for its sleek design and the Travelon Anti-Theft Classic Messenger Bag for its water resistance capability and RFID protection.
Infographic: What Are The Advantages Of Using A Crossbody Bag?
Crossbody bags can make life easier when out and about. They are usually made from lightweight, breathable, and sturdy materials to suit diverse needs and are ideal companions when wanting to carry multiple items. Check out the infographic below to learn about the benefits of getting one.