Crossbody Bag for Traveling | Hands-Free and Hard to Snatch

For the full breakdown, see our best Everyday Crossbody Bag guide.

Whether you’re clearing airport security, wandering a crowded market, or climbing onto a cruise ship gangway, a crossbody bag for traveling solves the same problem: you need your essentials close and your hands available. Unlike a shoulder bag, which can slip off or swing within easy reach of a thief, a crossbody sits flat against your chest or hip, stays in your line of sight, and makes grab-and-run theft considerably harder. The trick is picking one with the right security features, organization, and strap comfort for how you actually travel.

What Makes a Crossbody Bag Good for Travel?

Travel editors consistently point to three qualities: secure closures, anti-theft details, and smart organization. An open-top bag that’s fine for brunch is a liability in a packed train station, so zippered or locking closures are the baseline for travel. From there, look for anti-theft features like slash-resistant fabric, anti-cut straps, and RFID-blocking pockets, which are exactly what Travelon’s anti-theft crossbody line and Baggallini’s Anti-Theft collection are built around. Pacsafe, a brand that specializes in travel security, uses the same approach across its Secure crossbody collection, which ranges from 3L day-minimalist sizes up to 10L bags that can hold an 11″ tablet.

Comfort matters just as much as security. A narrow, unpadded strap will dig into your shoulder by hour four of sightseeing, so look for a wider, adjustable strap you can wear across your torso or shorten for a higher, closer fit. Organization is the third pillar: multiple compartments let you separate your passport from your phone from your boarding pass instead of digging through one dark pocket at the gate.

How to Choose the Right Size and Features

Start with what you actually carry—not what you hope to carry. A phone, passport, wallet, keys, and sunglasses fit in almost any crossbody, but a large wallet, a paperback, or a portable battery changes the math. Travel editors recommend sizing up slightly if you regularly carry extra items, because an overstuffed bag is harder to close securely and harder to search through. If a tablet is non-negotiable, check the stated tablet compatibility before buying; Pacsafe specifically lists models for 7″, 8″, and 11″ tablets.

Where you’re headed should shape your priorities. Dense cities and crowded tourist areas call for locking zippers and slash-resistant materials. Long walking days call for a lightweight bag with a structured shape that keeps items easy to find without rummaging. And if you’re passing through airport security frequently, a quick-access exterior pocket for your boarding pass and ID saves real time.

What Do Reviewers Recommend?

Editorial testing has produced a few standout picks across budgets. CNN Underscored highlighted the Bagsmart crossbody, which costs under $20 and still packs five RFID card slots, two front zippered compartments, a back pocket, and a roomy central pocket—an impressive feature set at that price. The same review praised The North Face’s crossbody for its 2.3 liters of storage, internal organization, and secure zip pockets. Business Insider called out Away’s crossbody for a passport-sized interior pocket plus a hidden pocket tucked into the strap, a clever place to stash a backup card. And for those who want more room, CNN, Travel + Leisure, and National Geographic have each covered larger styles from brands like Pacsafe that carry tablets while keeping the anti-theft focus.

One caveat worth repeating: “crossbody” does not automatically mean anti-theft. A basic crossbody is still just a bag with a longer strap. Security comes from specific features—locking zippers, cut-resistant straps, RFID protection—so check the specs rather than assuming the style protects you.

FAQs

Does RFID blocking actually matter for travel?

Only if your cards and passport contain RFID chips, which most modern credit cards and passports do. RFID-blocking pockets prevent a thief from scanning your card’s data wirelessly from a few feet away. It won’t stop someone from physically taking your bag, so treat it as one layer of protection, not a complete solution.

What size crossbody bag do I need for travel?

A 3L to 5L bag covers phone, passport, wallet, keys, and small extras. Choose 5L to 8L if you carry a large wallet, sunglasses case, or portable charger, and look at 8L to 10L models if you need to fit a tablet. When in doubt, size up slightly—a bag you can close easily is more secure than a stuffed one.

Are anti-theft crossbody bags worth the extra cost?

For crowded cities and tourist-heavy destinations, yes. Features like slash-resistant fabric and locking zippers actively deter the most common theft methods, and RFID protection closes a digital loophole. If you’re only heading to a quiet suburb, a standard crossbody with a zipper may be all you need.