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 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

1. Best for Travel: Free People Quilted Carryall Bag, $78
2. Best with Pockets: MZ Wallace Metro Scout Deluxe, $185
3. Best Budget Pick: Uniqlo Round Mini Shoulder Bag, $20
4. Best Splurge: Longchamp Le Pliage Energy XS Handbag, $250 $175
5. Best with an Adjustable Strap: Old Navy Slouchy Suede Hobo Bag, $35
6. Best with a Wide Strap: Baggu Crescent, $52
7. 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 two 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 super-cute, 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.

Best with Pockets: MZ Wallace Metro Scout Deluxe

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.”

Best Budget Pick: Uniqlo Round Mini Shoulder Bag

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.

Best Splurge: Longchamp Le Pliage Energy XS Handbag

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.

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.”

Best with a Wide Strap: Medium Baggu Crescent

Baggu

Medium Nylon Crescent Bag

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.