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Recommendations for a cross-body bag.

I will be taking 2 RyanAir flights ( Lon-Krakow, Krakow-Porto) and need a cross-body bag to wear on flights and during days walking around. As you know RyanAir doesn't mess around. I have our larger bags sorted.

Posted by
11439 posts

Tom Bihn has a Cafe Bag that come in various sizes. I like the small. It holds my wallet, sunglasses, and all my regular purse stuff (which is minimal) and I can slip my iPad into the outside pocket on the back if I want to carry it there. The bag comes in lots of colors and is unisex. There is also a larger size and Bihn has other crossbody style as well. Not inexpensive but durable, washable, comfortable straps.

Posted by
4289 posts

I dislike spending a lot of money and I need to have a smaller bag for weight. This is what I have used for several years. It doesn’t suit all needs but it works for most of mine. Including today’s Ryan Air flight, along with my backpack.

Posted by
362 posts

I just got an older version of the Baggallini crossbody hobo tote that I really like. It's a tad bigger than I wanted, but I can stuff a sweater, jacket, or raincoat in it with plenty of room for the usual purse stuff (tissues, phone, wallet, charger, etc). Came with a zippered pouch attached via lanyard that was perfect for keeping cash, cards and passport secure but easily accessible. Love that it has two large side pockets that are actually useful - I fit a water bottle in one, umbrella if needed in the other. Lightweight, and you can fold it up to stash in backpack or suitcase if you need to reduce bags.

I got it at Sierra Trading Post, which always has deeply discounted travel bags by Baggallini, Sherpani and more.

Posted by
98 posts

Hi crazyNavylife
Another vote for Tom Bihn's Small Café bag. On a recent trip I carried a digital camera, tissue packets, travel wallet, lip balm, cell phone, packable ball cap, small packet of bandaids, safety pins etc.
https://www.tombihn.com/collections/shoulder-bags/products/small-cafe-bag?variant=42699297063101

The Small Café bag is a little larger than I would normally carry so I also have the Everyday Cublet for after tour day, in town walk abouts. I can carry all of the above but the camera in this bag. This is the bag I use in the airport to carry my passport & boarding pass, wallet and things I want to easily access during the flight. It tucks into my under the seat bag.
https://www.tombihn.com/collections/shoulder-bags/products/travel-cubelet?variant=42696451129533

I do travel with both bags as they squish to be easily packable. Yes, Tom Bihn products are a bit spendy however they are almost indestructible and will last the remainder of my travel years and then some.

Posted by
3023 posts

A while back I carried a Fossil cross body bag but it was too heavy so I bought a Baggallini cross body bag and love it. When it gets dirty, I throw it in the washing machine.

Posted by
229 posts

The Baggallini hobo bag posted by TheOrdinaryRebecca is great-I use it for my everyday purse at home. Very comfortable crossbody purse. And I use the medium Cafe bag from Tom Bihn for traveling (I guess I like larger purses in general, haha). I spent a lot of time considering between the small and medium cafe bag and went with the medium so I wouldn’t have all of my things things crammed in and I still have room for my water bottle. I could also squeeze in a light sweater if needed. I also got the organizer “tray” for it, but actually realized I liked the bag better without the tray. To me, it wasted space and made the bag too stiff. Yes, pricier than my Baggallini, but still much less $ than most of my friends spend on their designer handbags, haha.

Posted by
114 posts

I mostly use the Bagallini (purchased at Costco). It's nice and compact and very functional. Looks great too. I also have the RS crossbody, but it's a bit larger so probably wouldn't be an option for you.

Posted by
218 posts

A third vote for the Tom Binh small cafe bag. I also have a Patagonia Atom sling bag that I use on a daily basis. I carried the former on our VFR Tour last October and the latter on our Best of London Tour last June.

Posted by
195 posts

I love my pacsafe cross body bag I've used since 2013 on both trips and for an everyday purse. It's starting to wear out unfortunately. They have many new styles and I like the smaller side-saddle cross body.

https://pacsafe.com/

Posted by
1 posts

I used my PacSafe X Anti-Theft Compact Crossbody Bag on my recent trip to Europe. In a previous trip I used a Bagallini but it was larger than I wanted to carry for my recent trip. Honestly I didn't use the safety features of the PacSafe but having them gave me some peace of mind in the event I felt I needed to use them. The PacSafe GO Crossbody bag is very similar but simpler with fewer compartments (but the same size).

Posted by
983 posts

Depending upon your price point and size, the Bagagalini and PacSafe bags both work. I have both cross bodies and when I need something larger and more casual, I will consider taking them. However, in the past year, I want to carry something that is more dressy (looking more like a nice purse), but with all the safety features for travel. For my trips to Italy, Portugal, and London last year, I purchased the Arden Cove crossbody. For Greece this May, wanted something lighter and got the cream colored one on sale. I can hold all my money, credit cards, passport, sunglasses, small charger, small notebook, pen, and can clip on a collapsible water bottle. It is a bit pricey, but very durable and stylish.