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The best purses for travel

A travel purse should stay closed in a crowd, sit flat against your body and hold the few things you can't lose: passport, phone, cards and a little cash.

Crossbody styles win here because they leave both hands free for tickets and luggage. For long travel days we added a bigger bag that slides over a suitcase handle, and a light tote that folds away when you don't need it.

  1. 1

    Pacsafe CX Anti-Theft Square Crossbody

    Made for crowded places: zipper security, cut-resistant materials, an RFID-blocking pocket for cards and passport, and a cut-resistant anchor strap that secures it to a fixed object. Compact at 2.4 liters.

    Typical price: $75–$100

    Shop at Pacsafe →
  2. 2

    Travelon Anti-Theft Classic Mini Shoulder Bag

    Locking zippers, slash-resistant mesh in the body, cut-resistant cables in the strap and RFID-blocking card and passport slots, in a bag 8.5 inches square.

    Typical price: $50–$75

    Shop at Travelon →
  3. 3

    Baggu Medium Nylon Crescent Bag

    Recycled heavyweight nylon you can machine-wash after the trip, 13.75 inches wide on a 47-inch adjustable strap to wear across the body.

    Typical price: $50–$75

    Shop at Baggu →
  4. 4

    Away The Everywhere Bag

    The travel-day bag: 20 liters with a padded pocket for a 16-inch laptop, and a trolley sleeve that slides onto your suitcase so you are not carrying it.

    Typical price: $175–$225

    Shop at Away →
  5. 5

    Longchamp Le Pliage Original L Tote Bag

    Folds to the size of a paperback in your luggage and comes out as a zip-top day bag at the destination, for markets, beaches and souvenirs.

    Typical price: $150–$200

    Shop at Longchamp →

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FAQ

Crossbody or backpack for travel?

A crossbody stays in front of you, where you can see it in crowds and on public transport. A backpack carries more, but its pockets are behind you, which makes it the easier target.

What should a travel purse hold?

Passport, phone, cards, some cash, a power bank and lip balm. If it has to hold a water bottle and a sweater too, pick a bigger bag and keep the valuables in an inner zip pocket.

Are anti-theft bags worth it?

Locking zippers and cut-resistant straps help in crowded places because they make your bag slower to open than the next one. They are no substitute for keeping the bag in front of you.