From Crossbodies to Belt Bags to Totes, These Are the 12 Travel Purses T+L Editors Swear By (2024)

I’m a big fan of July luggage, so I had to try their crescent bag on a trip to Greece. It was versatile enough to use for hiking, sightseeing, and going out to dinner, and I loved the adjustable strap for wearing it as a crossbody or shoulder bag. I took the purse on a 7-mile hike and the main compartment is big enough to fit three 16-ounce water bottles along with all my other essentials like a wallet, sunscreen, and a baseball cap. This bag also got shoved under multiple airplane seats (we had six flights in total) during the trip and the canvas material held up perfectly without any marks or stains.

Quince is one the best places to buy high-quality travel accessories that won’t break the bank. Their Italian Leather Crossbody Bag is the perfect size for storing the essentials since it’s spacious yet compact. Considering it’s made with genuine leather, the price is so good that you might want to pick up more than one of the eight color options available.

“It’s roomy without feeling oversized and compact without feeling too small — as Goldilocks would say, it’s just right,” senior commerce editor Emily Belfiore shared. “I love the adjustable crossbody strap, which I ended up tightening for a more secure fit to make it drape closer to my body, and that it comes in so many luxe textures and colors. I actually overheard someone walk by me and say ‘I love her bag.’”

This spacious satchel from All Saints is the ideal size for travelers looking for a little extra space when they’re on the go. For all-day adventures, this bag can store sunscreen, water bottles, a book, and more without having to lug around a tote bag or backpack. The white or black leather material and chain detailing makes this bag much cuter than an average fanny back, too.

“I can't travel with a tiny purse because I need to fill my bag with sunglasses, hand sanitizer, sunscreen, 10 lipgloss options, and more — let's just say I'm an overpacker,” commerce testing editor Jackie Cucco admitted. “I bought this bag the second I saw it because it's big enough to fit more than just the essentials, but it also sits relatively flat against the body, so it won't add bulk while you're out and about.”

Bring a little piece of Italy with you wherever you go with Prada’s iconic Re-nylon and Saffiano Mini Bag. Made with flexible recycled nylon fabric, this purse is more packable than a structured leather bag, and it still offers plenty of storage space. The designer bag can be dressed down with jeans during the day or dressed up with a dress and heels at night, making it particularly versatile for traveling.

“It's the perfect small, but not too small, handbag that can fit my phone, hotel keys, wallet, lip gloss, and other knick knacks without feeling too bulky on my shoulder,” T+L senior commerce editor Jasmine Grant said. “The nylon fabric is perfect because it not only repels liquid and stains, but it also easily tucks into my suitcase, and I never have to worry about it getting crushed or damaged.”

Crescent bags are all the rage when it comes to travel purse styles, especially this one from Uniqlo that you may have already seen on your social media feed. It has tons of room to store a travel wallet, shades, sunscreen, and more. When you’re not using it, the bag can be folded up and stored in a suitcase. Plus, it’s hard to beat the affordable price for such a stylish and practical purse.

“I was influenced to buy this after seeing it all over social media, and I have since bought three more,” T+L updates writer Anne Taylor gushed. “You can make the design go with pretty much any outfit depending on the color you buy and I love that it feels secure and sturdy. You can also fit so much stuff inside.”

The best part about this woven bag from Detroit-based brand Shinola is that it comes with an adjustable and removable crossbody strap, which means the purse can be styled in multiple ways. For dressier occasions, it has tote straps to carry it as a handbag, or you can attach the longer strap for a more casual daytime outfit. No matter which way you wear the purse, we love that it has a privacy flap in addition to the magnetic closure for safeguarding the items packed inside.

“I've been sporting this adorable basket bag for the past few weeks and I swear that I have never been complimented more on an accessory,” T+L commerce writer Ali Domrongchai said. “Beyond its aesthetics, this bag is surprisingly spacious and features adjustable straps for comfortable carrying as a shoulder bag, crossbody, or handbag. Plus, it's designed with a magnetic flap that covers and keeps your belongings secure.”

There’s a reason why the Lululemon Belt Bag is constantly out of stock: it makes the perfect travel bag. The sporty sling bag can fit travel essentials like passports, phone wallets, earbuds, snacks, and more all in the main compartment. The material is also featherlight, so it won’t weigh you down while sightseeing or dashing through an airport.

“I love how easy this bag makes it to go hands-free when traveling and I literally bring it everywhere with me, from the pool or beach out to brunch and walking around the city. It allows me to take just what I want to have with me when I'm out and about without being bulky, plus it's cute enough to blend well with most of my daytime outfits, too,” commerce editor Sophie Mendel said, giving the belt bag her travel-editor stamp of approval.

This leather camera bag-style purse came with me on a girls trip and I got so many compliments throughout the weekend. The leather material is sleek and stylish, and the square shape of the bag makes it easy to pack a range of items from lip balm to sunglasses. It has an adjustable crossbody strap to style it across the body or keep it shortened as a shoulder bag. My favorite part is the magnetic slip pocket in the back for accessing a phone or plane tickets easily while still being protected in the back of the purse.

I’m not saying packable bags are superior to structured purses, but it’s a lot easier to bring multiple bags on a trip if the material is flexible like this Baggu bag. The nylon fabric makes it easy to fold the bag into a compact size, and it’s also easy to keep the bag clean. Oh, and did we mention it’s machine washable, too?

“I love this Baggu shoulder bag for traveling — the nylon material is practically begging to be shoved into the depths of my backpack and it always comes out looking as good as new,” senior writer Merrell Readman gushed. “I love the adjustable shoulder strap that is comfortable to wear, and the primary compartment has plenty of space for everything from my headphones and wallet to a mini umbrella.”

For maximizing space while traveling, this spacious MZ Wallace tote bag is your best option. Find yourself at a flea market in Paris? Buy one too many shoes while shopping on Oxford Street? This tote is plenty big enough to store all of your purchases without having to lug around shopping bags. It’s also much more stylish than other tote bags on the market and it comes with a removable crossbody strap as an extra helpful touch.

“MZ Wallace’s organizational features are second to none and this bag has four outer slip pockets and two outer zip pockets in addition to that main compartment. It’s surprisingly roomy; I appreciate both the additional zipper pocket inside and the pouch on a leash where I can easily find smaller items without rooting around inside,” associate editorial director Morgan Ashley Parker raved. “While I used to always bring a just-in-case cotton tote when traveling, this is now my go-to since it’s easy to pack but also has a zipper top so I know my things are safe inside.”

If you’re not a fan of belt bags, this compact crossbody is a great alternative. It’s about the size of a fanny pack, but it has a slimmer vertical design with a top zipper and multiple compartments. The bag has a discreet pocket on the back to keep a phone hidden but easily accessible for directions or answering calls. Tumi also offers free monogramming with up to three characters as an extra special touch.

“It fits an incredible amount for its size — like my phone, wallet, passport, earbuds, a snack, and even my Kindle. I converted to this from a belt bag because there’s no risk of everything toppling out if I bend over with the bag unzipped (which has unfortunately happened to me with a belt bag worn across my chest) and I love the easy access of the zippered front pocket for cash and the back slip pocket to tuck in my phone and ID,” Parker said.

While shoulder bags aren’t typically spacious, this one from Radley London is deceptively large without compromising a compact design for traveling. The leather purse can fit more than just the typical travel items, (wallet, earbuds, passport, etc.) which makes it the perfect option for travelers looking for a fashionable and functional handbag.

“The key to a travel purse is whether or not it can fit the essentials; for me, that means my wallet, a small bag of toiletries like lip gloss and perfume, and a book,” commerce editor Taylor Fox said. “I was shocked to discover that this dainty and stylish bag actually fits all of those items (including most paperbacks and smaller hardcover books). The bag also features small interior pockets to keep organized and both a zipper and clip closure to keep your items extra secure.”

Frequently Asked Questions

• Does a purse count as a personal item on the plane?

  It depends on the airplane regulations when it comes to in-cabin luggage, but a purse can usually count as a personal item if you also have a duffel, tote, or carry-on. Most airlines offer different luggage requirements depending on your seat class, so you’ll want to double-check before trying to board with too many items. Since most purses can fit underneath a seat, it can certainly be counted as a personal item.

• How do I clean a purse while traveling?

  Most of the time, a purse will come with manufacturer instructions on how to clean a purse. Some materials like leather or suede require higher maintenance for upkeep, but if the material is nylon or canvas, it can likely be spot-cleaned with a bit of water and soap.