Best shoulder sling type bag/purse

I don't think you need to shell out any amount of $ for Travelon or Pacsafe bags. I own some of these and they are made of lower quality fabric. The metal mesh doesn't cover the entire exterior anyway. They are ugly...

IN fact, any good bag will do. Make sure you can zip up the compartments for valuables. Double zippers are the best and bring a small lock, if not, a small lockable S-hook. You can also buy lightweight carabiners to attach your bag to your chair or shopping/luggage carts.

Where are you going? I have had cute, reasonably-priced bags custom made for me in Greece and Poland. I found another such place in Budapest and will patronize them when I am in town again.

Oh gosh...I just laughed out loud. That SO sounds like something that would happen to me. Incessant ads then when they've convinced you you might want it they flipping vanish. If no one else comes up with it, I hope you'll post if it pops back up again!

Off to do some purse searches to see if anything comes up!

I have traveled to so many places with my black cross body Baggallini that I found at a goodwill store for $5. It has a zipper top, and some smaller zippered pockets inside. It holds my kindle and a bottle of water, plus tissues, hand sanitizer, pens, paper, etc. I wear a sweater, rain jacket, hoodie, etc. over it to keep it relatively hidden. Never had a problem. AND I can wash it when I return home.

Baggalini runs a wide range of purses. What I like is they tend to be lightweight. Given that one carries them for hours a day, days on end, this matters more to me that the slim chance of slashers. I tend to prefer a hobo style bag with a double zip top. I also carry a small lockable S caribiner for when I am in areas of risk. I often have a sweater of scarf draped over the top as the day warms (or cools) which is an added deterent. I also like messenger bag styles, but only if there is a zip top under the flap. An open bag with just a flap is still suseptivle to small hands getting into the main compartment.

I have a Pacsafe and love it. It has survived several month long trips. My sister has a nice Bagallini, it is nice, many styles are available in a variety of sizes. Happy shopping!

I don't shop by brands, but by what looks good and is light. I've never felt the need for a slash proof bag, and often just bring the bag I'm using for every day at home. I tend to prefer a messenger style bag, with zippers for each of the compartments under the flap. And I ONLY take crossbody bags when travelling. A shoulder bag can too easily be snatched. The only exception is the very small shoulder bag that I may wear when going out in the evening, which can be worn under a jacket or sweater.

I will second margaretpeetoom's recommendation of Baggallinis. (Though I have to marvel at your terrific Goodwill find for $5.) I have been so satisfied with Baggallinis that I have purchased a number of different styles and typically use one for everyday, not just travel. In my experience, they hold up quite well and have a number of zippered pockets. (Zippers are a must for me, since I can be careless). Whenever I am in a TJ Maxx or Marshalls, I check out the purse and luggage areas to see if they have any Baggallinis. They usually carry at least one. If I'm really looking for a particular style, I will check out Amazon prices.
Good luck with shopping and safe travels.

Barkinpark - thanks but I don’t have time to have a bag custom made overseas.
Everyone else - I will check out amazon and see what comes up there OR I will make my Travelon purse work. Funnily, a few weeks back while on a motorcycle trip, a women walked by me with the bag in question and I thought “that’s the bag!” But bailing off of the bike would have been difficult. I should add, I liked it as it was stylish and practical, and since we are doing a river cruise for a week prior to 3 weeks of independant stumbling around Europe, I thought it would be perfect. Will keep searching..

On a whim, I tried google for part of your phrasing. Is it a Sash Bag? thesashbag.com
(not that it matters, I don't get purses made, I just make them myself)

I love Baggalini. I use them every day, traveling or not, as they are practical as can be. I even wash them in the machine (use a mesh lingerie bag) and hang to dry.

The critical part of a cross-chest bag, whether leather or fabric (or fake leather), is the strap. Fashion-conscious brands are prone to go light on the fundamental need to keep your bag with you. The strap should be sturdy; the rings or snaps should be heavy-duty. And the strap needs adjustable so you can tug it up close to your body, above hip and into armpit. Leave concerns of appearance at home with your evening wear.

I would avoid buying anything from Amazon nowadays. There are just too many counterfeit products, fulfilled or even sold by Amazon. Google search terms such as "why Birkenstock pulled out of Amazon" and you will understand why.

In short, Amazon co-mingles authentic products with counterfeit products in their warehouse and stores them under the same SKU code. So, when you place an order, the warehouse robot randomly pulls out what's on the shelf, not distinguishing and having no way of distinguishing what's fake and what's real.

If the customer indeed figures out he/she receives a fake, then Amazon issues a refund. Yet, sometimes, there is no easy way to immediately tell the difference.

Buyer beware! But enjoy your travel.

BTW, take a look at the purses by ebags. They seem pretty nice and practical. Wait for a sale (20-30% off), if you can. Also, if you click through an airline portal, you should be able to get airline points for your purchase.

My favorite travel bag is Baggallini. My latest investment (Zappos) is the "Pocket Crossbody with RFID wristlet." Well worth the investment. It's water resistant, sturdystrap/adjustable and best of all light weight. Wash in machine in lingerie bag, hang to dry. Just the right size to carry your daily essentials. That said, I do not carry my passport or money in my handbag. I use the wristlet to carry non valuables when traveling. Valuables go in my hidden money belt.

Ok, the Sack is off my list and Bagallini is the next one to look at. Thanks for the reply’s, I have traveled extensively around Europe and SE Asia and know what is needed. BUT, I prefer to look stylish and presentable while traveling and safe and secure at the same time, it can be done without to much effort. That’s why I ask the questions, to get better ideas, etc. Thanks everyone.

Judy, my CAA office has a variety of Baggalini styles. Even non members can shop there (or just try them on for size). Good luck.

Maria! Thanks, we have a CAA here and we are members! I didn’t think about that, will check it out this pm.

Re: Amazon and counterfeit products

Yes, this is a legitimate concern, but it is not limited to Amazon. It is a problem across all online retailers, and before online retailing had taken off, it was a problem in brick-and-mortar stores (although the rise in e-commerce has certainly exacerbated the problem).

It's challenging for Amazon and ebay and Walmart and other e-commerce sites to prevent counterfeit products from being sold on their sites without creating barriers to the many small businesses who want to sell their products on these sites. A lot of retailers say Amazon isn't doing enough to combat the proliferation of counterfeit products. And since they are the largest in terms of online sales, they are getting the most attention.

Just be aware when you shop for travel products online from any retailer, this is a risk you face.

As someone who goes for more urban or sporty or outdoorsy with my bags these days, I tend to buy direct from the manufacturer from companies like Tom Bihn, Red Oxx, Timbuk2, Chrome, etc.

Do you have TJ Maxx in your area? I think it's the same parent company as for Marshall's and maybe for you HomeGoods? I always see Baggalini at my local TJMaxx - sometimes the selection is good sometimes it is all odd colors and shapes. If it's located where you can drop by frequently, do that.

I also just go to Marshalls (TJ maxx, whatever..) and browse around and when I find a bag that checks off all my requirements (including being under $30.00) I buy it. Time and time again I buy a Kipling bag. They are durable (I pull, shove and throw my bags all over) and cute. Small but not so small I cant put all my daily necessities in it, light weight and non-descript, not flashy colors. I cut off the monkey!

One bag I use at times is the AmeriBag. Purchased it about 15 years ago and is still a great bag.

Just for the record -- I believe the bag the OP was referring to, originally, might be the "Sash" bag (as opposed to "Stash")... here's the Canada link...

https://sashbag.ca/

I've no experience with it or anything -- it's been on my Facebook feed a lot, too. LOL.

Cheers,
Vivian

It might be a slightly large for your taste, but have you checked out the Veloce shoulder bag here? I really like mine as it can be used as a shoulder bag or as a backpack, and it's expandable. I've used it as a business/laptop bag as well as a carryon personal item and daypack. It also slides over the handle of a rolling bag, which is a "must" for me. Really versatile bag.

Thanks for the suggestions everyone. I will check out several suggestions. We are in Canada, so will have access to some, not all, but heading to South Dakota tomorrow for the Sturgis bike Rally and will get some shopping time in. Hopefully...but I should mention my Travelon probably has another trip in it. I was just really wondering about the Sash Bag thing....

I used a Baggalini cross body that I bought for WDW, and it was the perfect bag. It had a mesh for small water bottle, several zipper compartments, outside phone or sunglasses slot, open snap slot perfect for maps and stuff I could risk losing, and the best part was a zipper slot in the wide strap. Perfect for ids and tickets - like city museum passes or Metro cards you may need access to several times a day.

This trip, I used one I bought from the RS website, which came with a carryon roller bag, and day trip size backpack. I am not sure it is sold anymore as a set, but it is similar to the bagalini I had and worked great. Many zippers is important and inside zipper for extra protection.

For Greece, Italy and Spain, I've been glad to have a PacSafe with the mesh.
I'm in my 60's and have had too many friends, family, etc, have things stolen.
Also, in Italy, a woman walking near the street - a 2-person motorcycle drove by and the passenger slit the shoulder strap and they drove off w/ her shoulder bag.

I keep my important $ and passport stuff on ME.
The high quality camera also.
The bag is only carried when I need more things with me for the day.

I have a PacSafe shoulder bag for travel and a couple of Tom Binh Cafe bags for real life. PacSafe caters to a weird paranoia. I don’t know if I will need the (possibly ineffective) security features but they give me comfort. The PacSafe line includes many stylish bags you ladies might like.

https://www.pacsafe.com/intasafe-crossbody-anti-theft-10-inch-tablet-bag/25121104.html?cgid=anti-theft-features

Not bag related but safety. The post 2 up reminded me that a friend who lived in Paris told us (while on the way to the final of the Tour de France on crowded streets and subways) to always carry our phones on our person, not in a purse. That way if your purse gets stolen you still have your phone. I still do that running around town here in the States.

I don't have secure place on my person to carry a phone. Given that, it is surely safer in my purse, which is a cross-body bag I am used to protecting every time I leave my apartment.

Since the thread was bumped up a couple of times...

Kipling bags have been my go to for travel. Their website has many to fit anyone's needs.

Macy's has a good selection of their bags - crossbodys, totes and accessories. They will often have a sale as well as a coupon on top of the sale.

TJMaxx will get in a supply of totes or crossbody bags. Some stores have a better selection than others - depends on demographics.

The Tom Bihn medium café bag has been a great day bag on multiple international trips. I love that it has O-rings that I can attach storage pouches. It adds security and helps keep everything very organized. They are priced at $70, are high quality, and come in a variety of colors. There is a smaller version of the café bag, too.

And I love the piazza day bag from ebags. Holds a standard 16 oz water bottle in a special pocket (I buy one and keep refilling it)
Bought my 1st of those purses off of Ebay pretty cheaply. They have updated it, but many of us think the old model us better