17 Reasons I Still Love My Travelon Crossbody Bag

For ten years, my travel bag was a backpack. Then, two days before an international trip, I found myself ordering and returning crossbody bag after crossbody bag from Amazon, hunting for one that wouldn’t get stolen, wreck my shoulder, or fall apart by day three.

The Travelon Crossbody Bag was the one that stuck. It’s been through Disneyland Paris, cobblestone streets, and a husband who borrowed it until I convinced him to get his own. Years later, I still reach for it. Here’s my honest, no-fluff take on why.

17 Reasons I Still Love My Travelon Crossbody Bag

After years of real use, not just a weekend test run, here’s every reason this bag earned a permanent spot in my carry-on. It’s one of the travel accessories I always point people to in How to Travel Like a Pro, starting with the reason that matters most: security.

With Amazon Prime, I was able to easily return all of the unwanted bags when I returned home from my trip. If you are doing your own research, be sure to check the RETURN ELIGIBLE date in “YOUR ORDERS” on Amazon to determine your return window.

1. Anti-Theft Bag for Travel Security with Lock-down Straps

Beyond looking good, this is the feature that sold me: real anti-theft security, not just a marketing label. The lock-down straps let me unlatch the Travelon anti-theft crossbody purse and clip it to a chair, table leg, or luggage rack so it can’t be grabbed and gone in one motion. The straps adjust too, which matters if you’re wearing it over a jacket or sweater.

PS Be sure to keep reading to the end of this article to discover tips on how to be a savvy tourist who knows how to outsmart a pickpocket and avoid being a target.

2. Locking Compartments & Zipper Pulls

The zipper pulls lock together, so a pickpocket can’t just slide two fingers in and grab something while you’re busy staring at a map. It’s a small detail, but it’s the kind you don’t appreciate until you’re standing in a crowded market and realize your bag is still zipped tight. Just remember: YOU have to actually lock them. They don’t do it themselves.

3. Slash-Resistant Body

There’s a layer of slash-resistant mesh built into the body of the bag, so a box cutter or knife can’t just slice through the bottom and dump everything onto the sidewalk. I’ve never had to test this one the hard way, and I’d like to keep it that way, but it’s nice knowing it’s there.

4. Slash-Resistant Straps

The strap itself has a thin stainless steel wire woven through it, so a slash-and-grab attempt meets metal instead of fabric. Between this, the lock-down clip, the locking zippers, and the slash-resistant body, these are the four anti-theft features actually worth checking for before you buy any travel bag, not just this one.

5. Tethered Key Clip

Inside the bag, there’s a tethered key clip so my house key, rental car fob, or vacation rental key has a permanent spot instead of sinking to the bottom with everything else. I used to dig through my bag every trip. Now I just reach for the clip.

6. LED Light

That same clip holds a tiny LED flashlight, which sounds like a gimmick until you’re digging through the bag in a dim hotel room or walking back to your rental car after dark. I’ve used it more than I expected to.

7. Water Resistance

The canvas of the Travelon Crossbody Bag is treated to resist both water and dirt. Sudden rain in Europe doesn’t wait for you to find cover, and this bag doesn’t seem to mind. It won’t survive being dropped in a lake, but a passing shower or a muddy sidewalk won’t ruin it.

8. Cost

This isn’t a designer bag, and it isn’t priced like one. Compared to what I paid for two bags that fell apart within a year, spending a little more upfront on one that’s lasted this long has actually saved me money in the long run.

9. Hands-Free Crossbody Bag for Travel

This is the whole reason I switched to a crossbody in the first place: it goes on over your head, sits against your body, and my hands are free. The zippers are quick enough that I can pull out my phone for a photo and have it zipped and locked again before I’ve even finished the shot. My Canon 6D Mark II won’t fit, but a smaller point-and-shoot does, and there’s still room for a water bottle in the side pocket.

10. Stylish

I picked the Heritage series over a plainer option purely because I liked how it looked: brown suede trim, a striped interior lining, and hardware that doesn’t scream “security bag.” It’s also gender-neutral enough that Chris borrowed mine constantly before he finally got his own. At 6’4″ to my 5’2″, he just adjusts the strap all the way out on his blue bag.

11. It Comes in a Variety of Colors

My crossbody bag is a soft gray canvas with brown suede trim and matte silver hardware, but the Heritage line comes in enough colors that it’s easy to find one that actually matches how you dress, not just what was in stock. The canvas is durable enough that the color still looks good years in.

12. Lightweight

Even loaded with a phone, wallet, sunglasses, and a water bottle, this bag doesn’t turn into dead weight on my shoulder by hour three of a day out. That’s essential when you’re already logging miles on foot sightseeing, exploring European Old Towns, or hiking to a viewpoint before the light goes for one more photo.

13. RFID Blocking

There’s a dedicated RFID-blocking pocket inside for my passport and credit cards, so nobody can skim my information just by walking close enough with a scanner. I can’t say I’ve ever caught anyone trying, but that’s kind of the point. It’s one less thing to think about.

14. Lots of Pockets

Beyond the RFID pocket, this bag is genuinely full of places to put things:

• A lightly padded pocket for a 10″ tablet or notebook and pen.
• Two zippered, locking front pockets.
• One zippered rear pocket.
• Mesh side pockets that hold a water bottle or a compact umbrella.

15. Exterior Canvas Grab Handle

There’s a small canvas handle on top for the moments I don’t want the strap on at all: setting it down at airport security, handing it off to Chris for two seconds, or just grabbing it off a chair. Small detail, but it’s the kind of thing you notice is missing on bags that don’t have it.

16. It is Perfect for a Day at Disney

I really fell in love with the Travelon travel handbag when our family visited Disneyland in Paris. I did not want to be encumbered with my backpack all day long as we raced around the park and enjoyed the rides.

This bag proved itself at Disneyland Paris, where I refused to wear a backpack all day while chasing rides with my family. I loaded it with sunglasses, my phone, lip balm, a water bottle, hand sanitizer, a mini umbrella, and snacks, and it never once felt like too much. It’s not built to be overstuffed, which is exactly what makes it the best crossbody bag for Disney: light enough to wear on every ride, big enough to hold what you actually need.

Related Post: Plan the Perfect Disneyland Paris Day Trip from Paris

17. Great for Day Trips

Beyond theme parks, this is my go-to for any day trip: wandering a small European village outside Paris, Rome, or Florence, hopping a train somewhere new, or just exploring without hauling my whole daypack. Water bottle, lip balm, snacks, phone…and you’re good to go exploring.

Crossbody Bag or Backpack? How I Decide

Crossbody bags go by a lot of names, messenger bags, courier bags, carryalls, sling bags, side bags, but they all work the same way: worn over one shoulder, resting across your body, sitting comfortably on the opposite hip. That’s what makes a crossbody, especially the Travelon, genuinely hands-free for commuting, sightseeing, and travel.

I still travel with my The North Face backpack. It hasn’t been replaced. But sometimes I don’t want to carry everything I packed, just for an evening out, a shopping afternoon, or a quick day trip, and that’s when the crossbody comes out instead.

The bag hangs in front of my body rather than behind it, so i can get into it without taking it off, and if a strict personal-item rule becomes an issue at airport security, I just tuck it inside the backpack instead of juggling two bags through the line. My rule of thumb: heavier loads or a long day on foot, the backpack wins for back support. Just the essentials within reach, the crossbody wins every time.

Do You Really Need An Anti-Theft Travel Bag?

This is a personal call, but if you’re headed somewhere packed with tourists, or somewhere with a real pickpocket reputation, I’d genuinely recommend an anti-theft bag for travel over a regular one. The crossbody design alone makes it harder for anyone to grab your stuff or snatch the whole bag and run.

Beyond that, look for one that’s durable, functional, comfortable, and actually secure. If a bag checks all four boxes, you’ve probably found the right one.

How to Outsmart a Pickpocket & Stay Safe While Traveling

Wherever you travel, you’ll find people skilled at pickpocketing, phone-grabbing, and other petty theft, especially where tourists are distracted by maps, jet lag, kids, or a famous view. Situational awareness sounds obvious until you’re the one staring at a cathedral ceiling with your bag unzipped. Here’s how to actually outsmart a pickpocket:

• Keep your bag in contact with your body, and keep a hand on it in crowded areas.
• Actually use your anti-theft bag’s features. A lock-down strap or locking zippers doesn’t help if you forget to use them.
• Don’t keep cash, cards, or your phone “handy” for convenience. That’s exactly what pickpockets are watching for.
• Carry only the cash you need for the day and leave the rest in the hotel safe.
• Don’t be flashy with jewelry or valuables. Leave the bling at home.
• If you’re traveling with others, keep an eye on each other’s bags too.
• Build habits so you’re not the one who leaves a phone on a café table.
• Trust your gut. If something feels off, leave.

Using the anti-theft features of the Travelon Crossbody Bag is not a guarantee of safety. Bad things sometimes happen. Be situationally aware and use common sense.

Related Post: 15 Top Trending Apps for Planning Adventures & Travel

Travel Tip * Alert your credit card company when you travel to avoid having a freeze placed on your card.

Additional Travel Safety Tips

There is little that can ruin a trip faster than finding your cell phone grabbed from the pocket of your travel handbag or having items stolen from you. Consider adding these tips to your travel habits to keep you and your belongings safe as you travel:

• Remove all items from your rental car at night, and keep bags out of sight during the day.
• Keep digital copies of important documents in a secure password manager or cloud folder.
• Store your passport, extra cash, and other valuables in the hotel room safe.
• Use an ATM attached to a bank. Don’t exchange money at the airport.
• If you’re traveling solo, don’t announce it.
• Use reputable transportation and travel companies, and consider a tour group if you’d rather not navigate alone.
• Check in with family or friends regularly, and leave a copy of your itinerary with someone at home.
• If you drink while traveling, pace yourself and stay aware of your surroundings. Being impaired makes you an easy target.

Related Post: 5 Smart Tips on How to Keep Travel Documents Safe

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Don’t Wait. Get the Travelon Crossbody Bag for Travel

This bag has outlasted more trips than I can count, survived Chris borrowing it constantly before he gave in and bought his own, and it’s still the first thing I grab before every trip. Even GQ has come around, telling men to stop overthinking the crossbody bag.

The longer I travel, the more I care about buying gear once and buying it right, instead of replacing cheap versions every year. This bag is one of the few things in my carry-on that’s actually earned its spot.

If you’re still deciding, don’t wait until two days before your next trip like I did. Grab the Travelon Crossbody Bag now and thank yourself later.

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