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For over two months, we bought 11 top sling bags and incorporated them into every part of our lives. We considered messenger-inspired crossbody styles for hiking and modern sling bags for traveling and days out in the city.
Our testers agreed the Cotopaxi 13L Chasqui is the best overall choice for comfort, organization, and style. Our team also appreciated the Maxtop Large Crossbody for its friendly price and array of color options.
Need space to carry more? If you have additional items to haul, check out our complete backpack review or our exhaustive list of travel bags to take you wherever you may roam.
Editor's Note: We've spruced up our review on March 23, 2025, tossing in some extra details on the recommendations you can sling over your shoulder. We also removed all fanny packs from this review and dedicated an entire review just to those.
Comfy fit, well-constructed, several pockets and ways to organize
Comfortable to wear, lots of pockets for organization, padded shoulder strap which is removable
Many pockets and organizational options, ideal for camera gear, versatile, comfortable
Well-padded for carrying, fleece-lined inner pocket, chest pocket big enough for small phone
Several storage compartments, comes in cool patterns, comfy to wear
Breathable material, can be worn over either shoulder, nice selection of organization pockets, key clip
Comfortable shoulder strap and back padding, well made with durable materials, spacious storage
Low cost, many zippered pockets for storage, anti-theft pocket in back, numerous color choices
Chest pocket to store phone, comfortable shoulder strap, two water bottle holders
Durable materials, well-sized for everyday use, metal seatbelt-style buckle, underarm strap to secure the bag tightly to your body
Inexpensive, two large storage pockets, two water bottle holders, option to carry over left or right shoulder as desired
Cons
A bit pricey, no shoulder strap pocket, might be too large for some needs
Cannot be worn as fanny pack, expensive
Expensive, difficult to make use of all features without instruction
Water bottle pocket holds smaller bottles only, strap must be worn over right shoulder
Bohemian aesthetic may not suit everyone, does not switch from crossbody to fanny pack for carrying
Outdoorsy look that might not appeal to everyone
Limited organizational options for small items, no key clip, cannot switch strap to carry on either shoulder
Low-quality fabric, plastic buckle
Clip-closure system not easy to use, limited number of organizational zip pockets
No small pockets for organization, too many buckles and straps, expensive, carrying strap is long for a smaller person
No interior organizational features, cheap material, no secure storage for small items
Bottom Line
Useful organizational features, a well-cushioned fit, and plenty of room to carry your belongings make this a top choice for all kinds of uses
A stylish crossbody bag that has plenty of space for your daily necessities
Whether you are carrying heavy camera gear or just like to stay hyper-organized, this super comfortable, low-profile, urban-styled sling is a versatile favorite
Ready for city or trail days, this comfortable pack combines thick padding with a collection of useful storage options big enough to hold all your essentials
Cute and functional, this spacious, thoughtfully organized crossbody bag comes with a comfortable fit and a casual look
Thoughtfully designed to deliver high-quality storage and fit, this outdoorsy-styled sling is well-suited to everyday activities and day hikes
A spacious, well-constructed everyday bag with excellent padding but limited organizational features and carry options
Well-sized, low-priced, and available in many colors, plus several pockets to keep your items well-organized
Reasonably spacious, comfortable, and functional for average everyday needs around town at a low price
Large and made of durable materials, this modern, city-ready bag comes at a higher price point but easily stores and carries everyday commute items like a tablet
A low-cost, spacious sling bag that works well for hiking or carrying gear around town if you aren't worried about storing and tracking smaller items inside
The Fjallraven High Coast Crossbody Bag is a great option if you are looking for a small, around-town crossbody bag big enough for your daily essentials. This lightweight and highly functional crossbody bag is ideal for travel or a quick trip into the city. It includes a zippered front pocket, and the main compartment opens to a smaller interior zippered pocket with a key hook, along with two mesh sleeves inside for added organization. The spacious main compartment can comfortably fit items like a wallet, phone, keys, and even a small water bottle. The additional interior mesh pockets are designed to help keep smaller items organized — perfect for cards, a passport, or a portable charger. The shoulder strap is slightly padded and silky smooth and sits comfortably on the shoulder without digging in when the bag is fully loaded. The strap is also removable, allowing it to double as a gear or toiletry bag. It is easy to resize and has plenty of length to adjust for body size and carrying preference. High-quality zippers and solid construction ensure you can confidently tackle the day's tasks, yet the fabric is soft and feels nice against the skin when in motion.
One feature we would like to see incorporated into the Fjallraven High Coast Crossbody is a little bit more versatility in how it's worn. The straps are set so that it can only be worn at the waist, instead of along the chest or back, like The North Face Borealis Sling. Other than that, the crossbody bag is awesome for walking around town or traveling and sleek enough to carry our necessities for a night out with friends. Further, it is on the pricier end of the spectrum. Still, it's cute, comfy, and has a nice urban aesthetic.
The Fjallraven High Coast Crossbody fits a surprising amount -- a great little satchel to have with you on trips, hikes, and walks.
Out of all the sling bags we tested, the Cotopaxi 13L Chasqui was our favorite large option. This crossbody bag has six thoughtfully designed compartments to keep you organized no matter what your day has in store. There is a nice amount of padding along the back panel and shoulder strap, each covered in a thick, breathable fabric for comfort. The single strap can be easily worn over either shoulder by moving the clip from one corner to the other at its base, making it an extremely versatile design. It is also adjustable in length for taller folks and comes with a load-lifter strap up top to ensure a snug fit across the body. Sturdy grab handles at the top and sides help carry the bag by hand. A large anti-theft pocket with room enough to hold a tablet or a large phone is tucked under the backside padding. The main compartment unzips around in a clamshell design, opening flat to provide quick and easy interior access from all sides. Inside, laptop-sized sleeve pockets are built into both halves, each with a Velcro strap to secure them closed. This is a cool feature similar to some travel backpacks and laptop backpacks that adds an extra layer of protection and confidence when carrying valuable electronics. If you need to carry even more gear or stash your jacket, use the narrow, dual-sided daisy chain on the strap to quickly hook items to the outside.
We'd love it if the Cotopaxi Chasqui included a chest pocket on the shoulder strap for small valuables. You must take off the bag to access your belongings, including things like your phone, keys, or other small items you might want more readily available. Also, this bag can be a bit finicky in its fit, so make sure you take the time to adjust the shoulder and load lifter straps to the proper lengths for your body and gear and select the clasp location to your preferred position, left or right. If you skip this step, the bag may swing around you as you move and will not feel secure. The Chasqui is awesome and a great choice if you're looking for a large-volume, modern messenger-style sling bag to meet your everyday needs. If you want an even funkier aesthetic, the Kavu Rope sling has a comparable volume and comes in an astonishing array of patterns and prints.
The Cotopaxi 13L Chasqui is spatious, functional, and aesthetically pleasing! From long hikes to airport days where you might have to clock some work hours, you can fit pretty much everything you could need in here.
The Maxtop Large Crossbody is a well-designed crossbody that balances comfort, accessibility, and organization. Its soft, smooth fabric and straps give it a pleasant feel on the skin, which holds up over extended periods, and remains comfortable to carry even when full. The bag's generously long strap also makes it adjustable to fit all body sizes and shapes. Featuring four easily-accessible, zippered pockets, the Maxtop Large Crossbody is a great choice for keeping your belongings organized. One main pocket, one small pocket on the outside, one on the inside with a key clip, and one anti-theft pocket at the back help separate and secure your belongings. The large buckle makes the pack easy to take on and off, and the buckle release can also be adjusted to sit near your hip for quick reach when needed. Whether you're looking for a daily carry option or an efficient way to keep things contained, this bag delivers versatility with a sleek and practical design. We also love that it comes in 34 different colors and patterns!
While it offers plenty of space and comfort, the Maxtop does come with a few drawbacks. The lack of padding on both the shoulder strap and the bag itself means that carrying sharp or bulky items could cause some discomfort, though its compact design helps mitigate this. Because the main compartment is quite large, overstuffing it can make the other zippered pockets difficult to access or use. While soft, the fabric also feels less durable compared to other options, with a somewhat lower grade material that may not hold up well over time. Though the bag includes a headphone slot — a thoughtful touch — it feels outdated in an era of wireless earbuds. Its size also takes up a good portion of the back, which may not be ideal for those looking for a more low-profile option. Overall, definitely a bag that does its job and isn't afraid to hide it, though it does sit comfortably when worn.
Though this sling might look deceivingly like a fanny pack, it's a crossbody bag that feels comfortable on and has easy-to-access zippered compartments from the outside.
Credit: Tatyana Grechina
Best Sling Bag for Photographers and Organizational Enthusiasts
The Peak Design Everyday 6L V2 is an urban-inspired crossbody bag that has recently been completely redesigned. Its newest V2 edition includes even more functional organization, wider opening access, robust UltraZip external zippers, a new anti-slip strap design, detachable external carry straps, and more. The result is an ergonomic, highly versatile, city-ready sling bag that excels in organizational efficiency. It may have been designed with photographers in mind, but its weatherproof nylon exterior, varied pockets, and protective, customizable FlexFold dividers will prove valuable for anyone who appreciates staying organized on the go. The low-profile, streamlined style would make it perfect as a carry-on or for everyday commutes, as the adjustable strap can easily be switched up to meet your carry-style needs throughout the day. There is also a grab handle for when you need to pick up the bag by its top. Five interior and exterior pockets, including an 11-inch tablet sleeve tucked into the main body, provide many handy options for storage. Wide openings and hefty zippers make it super easy to open and reach your items inside. Need room for a tripod or even a blanket? Use the cinch straps to tie on your extra gear and go. And, for additional security in crowded places, slide the primary zipper pulls through the set of external loops at the corners of the base.
Our only complaint about the Peak Design Everyday 6L V2 bag is its high price. It is expensive, selling for almost triple the price of other products in our lineup — great for protecting nice camera equipment but perhaps not as budget-friendly for other things. The design also incorporates a variety of uncommon features that may require some effort to fully understand and put to work. We found the manufacturer's instructional video to be a helpful introduction, as it walks through some of the key design and adjustability features that will help you get maximum value out of your pack. Overall, the Everyday Sling is a thoughtful, well-made, highly versatile city carrier with diverse appeal, even if it is also more of a niche product because of its high cost.
Like the minimalist, on-the-go style of the Peak Designs Everyday sling but don't love the size? In addition to the 6-liter version we tested, there are two others to choose from: a smaller 3-liter sling bag that can be converted into a fanny pack and a more substantial 10-liter crossbody with enough room to hold a full-sized laptop, larger cameras, a drone, and more.
The Peak Design Everyday 6L features some unique compartments with structured partitions, but this can also make the rest of the pockets a little more difficult to use. We love its sleek aesthetic though!
The North Face Borealis Sling is our go-to sling bag for hitting the trail. At six liters, it's a nice size for day trips and has five different pockets for organization and storage. The bag is comfortable to carry when fully loaded, with the perfect amount of padding on the shoulder strap and back panel for a great fit. We love the secure chest pocket built into the strap for phone storage and the water bottle pocket on the right side for your favorite drink. The main zippered compartment is good for larger belongings, while the smaller interior zip-mesh pocket with a key clip can safely hold small valuables like your keys, ID, and cash. You'll also find a sleeve six inches across and nine inches deep positioned to the back, the perfect size for a tablet or Kindle. The cool fleece-lined outer side pocket makes a great place to stow larger phones or similarly fragile items. If you still need more space, the back of the bag has a bungee strap for attaching an extra layer.
Our main issue with this crossbody centers around its water bottle pocket. First, it's too small and narrow to fit a wider bottle like a 1L Nalgene. The maximum diameter is just 2.9 inches. Also, whenever a water bottle sits in the side compartment, the pack's main zipper becomes more difficult to fully open. You can only unzip one-third of the way along the right side of the pack (the side housing the water bottle pocket) before the zipper pull gets hung up by the inserted bottle, making it harder to access items stored inside. Lastly, the chest pocket on the shoulder strap cannot fit a large phone. We tested it with an iPhone 13 mini, which worked great. Folks with larger phones must stash it in the interior tablet sleeve or fleece-lined side pocket instead. Still, this is a super comfy sling bag for day hikes or everyday adventures that will keep your back happy and items organized. Another outdoorsy sling that offered comparable features and scored similarly well across most metrics is the Osprey Daylite Sling, which we also quite liked for day hikes.
The North Face Borealis fits everything from a tablet, medium-sized sketchbook or notebook, ear buds, wallet, passport and more -- including a secure spot for your sunglasses and a small waterbottle!
Credit: Tatyana Grechina
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Your needs may vary from carrying extra toddler-friendly goods and diapers to camera equipment, or just the basics -- so we wanted to give you a variety of options.
Credit: Tatyana Grechina
How We Tested
Here at Gearlab, we have been testing sling bags since 2020, and crossbody styles have only grown in popularity since. There are now hundreds of different variations to choose from. Our team spent weeks researching the most popular products on the market today before narrowing down our shopping list to include the most promising, popular, and top-rated options available today. Once purchased, we handed them off to our experts for testing, which included taking them on runs, wearing them around town, packing them full of items, and carrying them on hikes. Each sling bag was then rated based on its detailed performance across four key metrics. Whether you need a crossbody carrier to take on a day hike or a stylish sling bag to hit the town, we are confident we can help you find exactly what you're looking for.
The bags we tested were scored across four performance metrics:
Comfort and Fit (30% of overall score weight)
Storage and Protection (30% weighting)
Ease of Use (30% weighting)
Versatility and Aesthetics (10% weighting)
Why Trust GearLab
Tatyana Grechina, our lead tester, has incorporated some sort of bag into her style for as long as she can remember. From toy purses in childhood to trendy clutches in grade school and low-slung leather totes later, her love of bags has led her to the most practical of all — the crossbody bags. With an active, indoor-outdoor lifestyle, Tatyana loves the ease with which she can move through life when all of her necessities stay snugly strapped to her body, and over time, she has cycled through a variety of brands and styles.
The Patagonia Aton 8L offers some nice versatility with its straps and an easy-to-reach strap pocket for your sunnies, wallet or keys.
The Peak Design Everyday 6L's construction makes it the perfect storage bag for gear.
We took these sling bags far and wide to see which were our favorites.
GearLab Tester Whitney Clark has been a sling bag aficionado for the last 20 years. Despite the crossbody style going in and out of fashion over time, she has remained a diehard fan due to their consistent practicality, varied styles, and hands-free functionality. Small or large, sling bags play an important role in her everyday attire, serving as a reliable accessory for running errands around town as well as when she needs easy access to crucial supplies on a 20-mile hike in the mountains.
A look down our lineup of top sling bags of 2025!
Credit: Tatyana Grechina
Analysis and Test Results
Our in-depth evaluation of sling bags included every type of crossbody bag, from designs best suited for trail hikes, commutes, and festivals to those you might take when going on a run or grabbing dinner out with friends. We considered options that could carry larger all-day loads, and others sized to hold the minimum essentials, offering easy access to things like a cell phone, keys, wallet, or similarly important personal items.
What's the Best Value?
With its versatility of storage and organization, the Maxtop Large Crossbody is a great value. Adjustable, comfortable and practical, this crossbody bag is excellent for daily wear as well as extended wear. It offers a smart, intentional design that keeps your essentials secure and accessible, and it's available in over 30 colors and patterns!
The Maxtop Crossbody can fit a surprising amount, though we might not necessarily call it “large.”
Credit: Tatyana Grechina
The Waterfly Crossbody makes another good value option as an inexpensive sling bag that covers basic needs. Its large chest pocket works well for bigger phones, plenty of pockets make it great for storage, and a water bottle holder on each side helps distribute weight nicely. The strap is also adjustable, making it possible to wear on either shoulder.
The Waterfly Crossbody makes the perfect hiking companion with two side pockets for water or snacks, and multiple layers of storage for other things you may need to stash along the way.
Credit: Tatyana Grechina
Of course, exceptional value isn't always packaged in the cheapest form, and the Cotopaxi Chasqui proves this point. A top performer across all metrics and one of the largest capacity sling bags in the lineup, this is a supremely comfortable, highly versatile bag built to last. If you need something with a bit more packing space, we think it's a well-organized crossbody bag that is well worth its higher price point.
The Peak Designs Everyday, North Face Borealis and Waterfly Crossbody all have a range of pockets to keep your items separated and safe.
Credit: Tatyana Grechina
Comfort and Fit
Let's face it: you're not going to want any pack that doesn't fit well and stay that way throughout the day. It can be the coolest-looking sling bag in the world, but if it's painful to wear or causes chaffing, then forget it. To test the comfort and fit of each sling in our lineup, we packed every one full of items and wore them on long days out, pushing them to their limits.
We took the opportunity to evaluate the padding against our shoulders and backs, assess the strap material, and consider how well each carrier could be adjusted to suit varied carrying preferences. We also looked at the placements of buckles and the width and length of straps to determine whether or not the fit could be adjusted to accommodate people of all shapes and sizes.
One of the most comfortable bags we tested was the Cotopaxi 13L Chasqui. It has a nice cushion layer along its backside and padding under the shoulder strap, which ensures it sits softly against your body and reduces pressure even when loaded. The bag is also covered in breathable mesh, which allows increased airflow when sweating with exertion.
All of your items stay organized, separated and protected with this bag -- and the color details are great!
Credit: Tatyana Grechina
The Peak Designs Everyday Sling 6L also scored well in this metric based on its thick layer of protective padding and soft exterior material that feels pleasant against your skin. Its extremely adjustable design allows it to easily transform from a crossbody sling to a shoulder bag when you tuck away the excess strap and reattach the clip to a secondary loop. This makes it easy to switch things up throughout the day for comfort and convenience.
If you're worried about the Peak Designs Everyday being too bulky due to its structured form, you can see it actually doesn't look cumbersome at all compared to others in the lineup.
Credit: Tatyana Grechina
The Fjallraven High Coast Crossbody Bag was among the smaller options that performed admirably in this department. With padding in the right places, it sits well on the body when fully loaded and doesn't swing or sag. The adjustable, two-inch strap makes the bag comfortable on your back and allows you to rock it super long and snug up right under the armpits. You can also take the strap off completely for a convenient travel case.
We love the minimalist style and roomy fit of the Fjallraven High Coast Crossbody Bag!
Credit: Tatyana Grechina
The Patagonia Atom 8L and The North Face Borealis are two sling bags that scored above average in this metric. The Patagonia Atom was particularly notable for its thickly cushioned back panel and shoulder strap, as well as its balanced fit across the body. The Borealis also has very comfortable padding, and the water bottle holder sits in the middle of your back, which helps avoid lopsidedness. However, both of these bags are designed to be carried over one shoulder and lack the flexibility to switch between the two. This lack of versatility could significantly impact the fit's comfort over a long day and a heavy load.
Patagonia Atom 8L has three pretty spacious compartments that can separate your things, and a place to put sunglasses on the chest strap.
Credit: Tatyana Grechina
Storage and Protection
Regarding storage and protection, many crossbody carriers and sling bags do a relatively good job of keeping things organized. One of the best performers in this metric was the six-liter Peak Designs Everyday Sling, which is specifically designed for photographers and offers a collection of pockets and organizational extras that work very well for carrying such gear.
Inside Peak Designs Everyday Sling, you'll find removable velcro FlexFold dividers that allow you to create customized storage sections to stabilize and protect your camera (or any other similarly large item) within the main compartment. You will also see small slip pockets tucked into an interior zip pocket, perfect for stashing batteries or memory cards. Two additional interior side pockets can each easily hold a lens. On the outside, two Capture Clip mounting points are built into the exterior sides, and a pair of detachable cinch straps are ready to tie down extra tools like a tripod or blanket. If you're not carrying camera gear, no problem. These same features are just as useful for packing everyday necessities like wallets, books, tablets, snacks, charger cords, jackets, etc., as they are for hauling photography equipment.
The central compartment in the Peak Design Everyday 6L has a velcro divider which can be shifted or removed depending on your needs!
Credit: Tatyana Grechina
The Cotopaxi Chasqui has fewer pockets, but the ones it does have are very handy, paired with its larger 13-liter size, making it another of our favorites for on-the-go. The main compartment opens the pack completely, ensuring there are no crevices in which to lose your items while you're packing up for the day. Inner sleeves with velcro closures keep your belongings organized, and a separate zippered pocket holds medium items like water bottles and snacks. An anti-theft pocket along the back of the bag lets you feel like your phone or passport is secure from wandering hands. A small zippered pocket with a key clip and daisy chains on the bag's exterior offers additional organization and storage for whatever adventure you're headed on.
The Waterfly Crossbody is a great lower cost option that offers several spatious compartments and two small waterbottle holders on each side.
Credit: Tatyana Grechina
The The North Face Borealis Sling also does a good job of organizing your items with two outer pockets (one on the shoulder and one on the main pack), the main zippered pocket, one inner mesh pocket, and one sleeve. A bungee cord on the outside is perfect for stashing layers you take off while hiking, and there's also webbing that you could clip something to if you needed. Overall, it keeps your things separated on the inside and out, which makes it a fantastic sling bag for hikes or around town!
We definitely appreciate the spatious exterior pocket of the North Face Borealis -- it makes it much easier to put your essentials all in one place while packing larger things in the main compartment.
Credit: Tatyana Grechina
One of the standout features of the Fjallraven High Coast Crossbody is its thoughtful organizational elements. It has five storage compartments to easily keep your items secure and separate from each other. We really like the inner zippered pocket for keeping cash and credit cards along with the key clip, so we don't have to worry about losing our keys while on a hike or walking around town. The bag also has two inner mesh pockets for things like chapstick and sunscreen. We appreciate having pocket options for a bag this size, or else it's easy for things to get lost and our items to be squished together.
The Fjallraven High Coast Crossbody Bag has a good variety of storage space inside, including these small pockets for small essentials -- yes, like chocolate!
Credit: Tatyana Grechina
The Kavu Rope sling bag also kept us organized with five different compartments to separate, track, and protect items from one another inside. We liked the thoughtful pocket placement on the outside of the bag, which came in handy for smaller essentials like a phone or wallet when on the move. During testing, we found that some of the larger volume slings offered large sleeves or zippered pockets to pack bigger items, but neglected to include smaller exterior storage choices to provide easy access to earbuds, keys, credit cards, etc. So, we liked the size and accessibility of the outer pockets on the Kavu sling.
The Kavu Rope fits more than it looks -- you can fit a 21oz water bottle as well as a small tripod for filming, among other things
Credit: Tatyana Grechina
We also like the organization of The North Face Borealis Sling. This small 6-liter sling bag has just enough pockets to keep you organized. The main compartment hides a small mesh pocket and key clip inside. A sleeve along the back measures 6 inches across and 9 inches deep, providing a small pocket for an e-reader, journal, or other book. On the outside, a fleece-lined pocket easily holds an eyephone or your favorite sunglasses. The shoulder strap also has a small pocket that can fit a small smartphone (we use an iPhone 13 mini) or a pair of glasses. Our only complaint about the storage capabilities of this versatile sling is that the water bottle pocket is too small to fit a standard 1-liter Nalgene, and when a bottle is stuffed into this slender pocket, the main zipper is difficult to open fully.
This little sling packs a lot more than it looks -- you can use the flat compartment for an ipad or sketchbook, or anything that needs tucking while you use the main compartment for anything you need quickly accesible. We chose to place the ipad in the main area for our day trip.
Credit: Tatyana Grechina
If you typically carry such items in your pants or jacket pocket anyway, or if you're looking for a fanny pack that can hold just these essential items, check out our comprehensive fanny pack review!
Ease of Use
Although many of these crossbody bags are relatively straightforward in design, some of the products have features that are easier to use than others. We considered how easy each bag was to put on and take off if the buckle was easy to use, and if the strap was simple to adjust. We checked how easy it is to access each bag's contents without taking them off. We also evaluated how well the pockets keep their contents in place — or if they let things spill out on a run or while hopping over a boulder on the trail. We also tested how easy their zippers and clips are to operate.
The Cotopaxi Chasqui received high marks in this metric. This sling bag can be worn over either shoulder, depending on your preference. Its strap is easily attached to dual-sided D rings at either corner of its base. The Chasqui is easy to pull on and off with its quick-release large buckle. It can also be unzipped and laid out completely flat for packing or unpacking, and its two Velcro straps do a great job of securing items within the interior sleeve pockets.
We love the small details on the Cotopaxi 13L Chasqui, like the colored zippers that add a pop to the large bag's overall tones.
The Cotopaxi 13L Chasqui is incredibly spatious, fitting your essentials up front, anything flat (like an iPad) behind the back partition, and leaves plenty of room for your jacket and 32oz waterbottle in the middle.
The Cotopaxi 13L Chasqui opens flat like a suitcase when packing, and has velcro straps on both sides of its flat compartments to ensure nothing falls out.
The Cotopaxi Chasqui is chock-full of organizational options and useful features to make it easy to pack and carry.
With its high functionality, easy access and great storage, the Fjallraven High Coast Crossbody Bag is both stylish and comfortable. Five compartments separate and keep things contained from each other, and you can easily get to your belongings when wearing the bag as you can wear it on the front side of your body. You can also take off the strap completely and carry the bag with its handle.
From hiding snacks to keys, chapstick, and anything else you might need, the Fjallraven High Coast Crossbody Bag does a great job of disguising how much you're packing.
Credit: Tatyana Grechina
The Kavu Rope Sling truly excels in its practicality and thoughtful design. It was designed for convenience and comfort, making it a great choice for those who want a functional yet stylish accessory. One of its standout features is the single strap that allows for quick and easy access. You can effortlessly swing the bag around to your front, which makes reaching for your essentials a breeze. One of its most appealing aspects is the hands-free nature of the sling style, which allows for effortless movement. It also has a rather large buckle that is easy to operate if you need to unclip and remove the sling bag rather than take it off over the shoulder.
Two large main zippered pockets on either side, along with two easy-access pockets in the front, and its buckeled rope feature make this a convenient, versatile choice for anything.
From left to right: the North Face Borealis, Cotopaxi Chasqui, Kavu Rope, Maxtop Large Crossbody, Patagonia Atom, Peak Designs Everyday, and the Waterfly Crossbody.
The Osprey Daylight Sling provides fairly easy access via smooth zippers and easily keeps our belongings in place. Though you have to take the pack off to properly access it, that's not hard to do. Some larger crossbody packs with active designs, like the Patagonia Atom 8L, The North Face Borealis Sling, or the Waterfly Crossbody, offer handy chest pockets embedded into their straps. This is a feature that makes them particularly easy to use because it allows us to keep our phones or other regularly used items close at hand without having to take off the entire pack.
We love how cushy and padded the Patagonia Atom 8L is -- from its padded back to its thick, water-resistant external material that protects all of your items.
Credit: Tatyana Grechina
Versatility and Aesthetics
While style and aesthetics are largely subjective, we did our best to evaluate them by asking as many friends and family as possible to rate and rank them. We considered all the color and pattern choices each model is available in, so you can find something to suit your style. We also evaluated each bag's versatility or wear and use, testing the different ways each can be worn and for how many different types of activities they make good companions. Most of the award-winning bags performed very well in this metric.
The Peak Designs Everyday 6L V2 stood out for its classy, streamlined look and the option to wear it as both a sling and a shoulder bag. It has the most features of any bag we tested. Although it was designed specifically to address the camera-carrying needs of photographers, those same features make it a great sling for many other purposes. The 6L version we tested is currently sold in three colors, and the same bag can be purchased in a larger or smaller size — 3 or 10 liters — depending on your storage and organizational needs.
Credit: Tatyana Grechina
The Cotopaxi Chasqui also scores well in this metric for entirely different reasons. This sling bag is versatile, with a large capacity and a configuration that adapts to all kinds of loads, from your hiking essentials to all the items we need for a full day exploring a new city. Its aesthetic is also nearly the opposite of the Peak Designs Everyday, but has wide appeal for many people, offering bright colors and bold combinations.
A cool feature of the Fjallraven High Coast Crossbody Bag is that you can remove the strap entirely by unbuckling the clasps on either end. This transforms the bag into a more traditional gear or toiletry bag, making it incredibly adaptable for various uses.
The Fjallraven High Coast Crossbody Bag has space enough for all the basics -- including a small water bottle or beverage in its main compartment, as well as smaller mesh pockets and zippered areas to keep your items separated.
Credit: Tatyana Grechina
With its sleek, simple design, the Maxtop Large Crossbody is also a great low-cost option that offers both function and style. Its zippered pockets make organization easy, and everything fits snugly into the compact shape of the bag, which is just as comfortable to carry when full. While the fabric may not be as durable as other bags, it delivers a clean aesthetic that comes in a variety of colors and patterns and covers all the basics!
The Maxtop Crossbody can fit everything you need for a short jaunt around town, including a small waterbottle.
Credit: Tatyana Grechina
The Kavu Rope offers lots of storage and good organization and comes in 25 different styles and colors- 28, if you count the fact that they have the same bag but are made with polyester. Its zippered pockets can store a variety of things, and the nice, canvas material makes it a stylish addition to almost any outfit.
The Kavu Rope has some great pockets for organization, including two large compartments within the body of the bag, and two ergonomically-placed outer pockets.
Credit: Tatyana Grechina
In contrast, some slings received only an average score, even with a pronounced look. The street-inspired Chrome Kadet covers all the basics and will get the job done if you like a modern, almost-messenger bag with a spacious cargo pocket and the ability to clip it under your arm for serious movement, like commuting by bike. But it packs and carries a bit bulkier than we like for everyday use, and we found it to be less flexible in accommodating different types of adventures or styles of dress.
There's no “right” way to wear a sling bag -- whatever feels the comfiest is the way to go!
Credit: Tatyana Grechina
Conclusion
With so many crossbody carriers and sling bags out there, it can be tough to find the right one to fit your needs. Many of these packs are simple in design overall, yet it's often small details like a key clip or anti-theft pocket that can make all the difference in finding a bag you love. Whether you're looking for a basic pack for the next music festival, a sporty sling bag for hitting the trail, or a more sophisticated crossbody carrier for a daily commute or to organize camera gear, our comprehensive review showcases the best products out there today.
We love how sling bags can be worn in the front or the back, lending themselves to be more convenient or discreet -- and how many offer a sunglasses compartment on the chest strap you can easily access if you choose to rock them across the back!
