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Mar 06, 2025

The 15 Best Travel Purses of 2025, Tested & Approved By Travel Experts

We independently evaluate all of our recommendations. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Be ready for anything with these editor-loved bags. In This Article InStyle Your

We independently evaluate all of our recommendations. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation.

Be ready for anything with these editor-loved bags.

In This Article

InStyle

Your favorite shoulder bag might be perfect for brunch or wearing out for drinks with friends, but would you carry it on a plane? While aesthetically pleasing, not all bags have enough useful features to work well on vacations or long trips—which is where a travel purse comes in handy. “For me, a great travel purse has a balance of organization, durability, and design,” says Alexa Moore, a travel creator and digital storyteller who has ventured to 49 countries. And while you’ll still want a larger bag or duffel to hold your outfits and belongings, this mini multitasker will keep your essentials (think passport and snacks) at the ready.

Whether sightseeing, hiking, or just trying to simplify your inevitable dash through the airport, the right travel purse—especially those vetted and tested by InStyle editors and travel experts—can help you feel prepared and chic.

Why We Love It: If you’re only allowed one personal item on the plane, you may as well get something large enough to fit all of the essentials. When we tested Cuyana's Sling Bag, we stuffed it with a laptop and a denim jacket, among other things. And yet, the canvas material was so lightweight (not to be mistaken with flimsy) that we weren’t weighed down. Bonus: The fact that it’s knitted from recycled landfill plastic ups the cool, environmentally conscious factor.

Who It’s For: This sling bag is ideal for anyone with a minimalist approach to fashion and function. It's stylish but doesn't skimp on space and organization. When you’re not jetting off to your next adventure, it also works as a great work bag.

Materials: Global recycle standard-certifies landfill plastic | Dimensions: 18 (W) x 12.5 (H) x 6 (D) inches | Colors: 2

Why We Love It: This crossbody satchel hybrid isn’t just ideal because it’s wallet-friendly—it’s also incredibly functional. Three outside zippers and two compartments allow you to organize your travel must-haves, while two built-in RFID-protected slots shield your most valuable tech items and the info stored on them. While it’s roomy enough to hold the classic essentials, if you’re looking to bring a larger camera or notebook, you may want to look for a bigger option.

Who It’s For: Anyone looking to save money for their actual trip—but still seeking a purse that will complement any outfit—should consider this affordable hybrid.

Materials: Vegan leather | Dimensions: 7.5 (W) x 5.5 (H) x 3.75 (D) | Colors: 3

Why We Love It: If you crave the quality of a designer bag (but don’t want to spend thousands), we found this option to be equal in style and luxury at a fraction of the price. The woven bag is handcrafted in Italy using genuine leather, while the interior features a soft suede that looks opulent and protects our belongings from scratches. We’ve used this bag as a personal item to Palm Springs and got an incredible amount of use out of it. Because it carried just about anything—including laptops, books, cameras, change of clothes, and all our other essentials—it functioned both as a carry-on bag and a sightseeing purse.

Who It’s For: Due to the lack of a zip closure at the top, this bag may not be for the careless traveler. But if style is of utmost importance to you, this sleek and luxurious bag is perfect.

Materials: Leather | Dimensions: 20 (W) x 14 (H) x 3 (D) inches | Colors: 12

Why We Love It: Rain or shine, sightseeing in a new town is a must—and so is keeping any valuables you’re carrying dry and safe. Enter this Base Camp messenger bag. The water and abrasion-resistant exterior protects what’s inside and prevents the outside from looking worn. We appreciated the wide strap that distributed the weight equally on our shoulders. It also had just the right amount of compartments that allowed us to organize without feeling overwhelmed by the pocket options. Bonus points for the key strap!

Who It’s For: Heading to a tropical destination where the weather can be unpredictable and want to bring your camera? This water-resistant pick is for you.

Materials: Recycled polyester tarpaulin | Dimensions: 16.5 (W) x 10.8 (H) x 4.5 (D) inches | Colors: 2

Why We Love It: We’re big fans of Dagne Dover at InStyle. The brand’s belt bags, gym bags, and totes are worth every bit of hype they receive. So, it shouldn’t be a surprise that the viral Landon Caryall Bag also earned a spot on this list. Even though it comes in several sizes (and colors), for a purse, we recommend going for the small version as it will hold all your essentials and work as a personal item on the plane. It can be carried by its top handles or an adjustable, detachable crossbody strap, allowing for versatility while on the go. Like all of the Dagne Dover products, the neoprene fabric, while durable, needs to be reshaped if you plan to wash it.

Who It’s For: This unisex bag appeals to a wide aesthetic range while offering smart packing solutions. If you need a little less room, New York City-based fashion stylist Audree Kate López also recommends The Dagne Dover Micah Crossbody, which is a more traditional and slimmer purse silhouette.

Materials: Neoprene | Dimensions: 14 (W) x 9 (H) x 4.5 (D) inches | Colors: 4

Why We Love It: While not technically a purse, the Tokyo Work Bag was too good of a travel bag that we had to include it here. There’s a compartment for basically everything—including a padded laptop sleeve, tablet slip, pockets for notepads and sunglasses—and a water bottle holder on the exterior. If we needed to find something, it never took more than three seconds to do so. We continued to be impressed with the capacity and comfort of this work bag, deeming it a handy travel companion.

Who It’s For: For the organization-obsessed traveler who can’t stand to lose yet another item in their black hole of a purse, this is a must-have.

Materials: Recycled polyester | Dimensions: 17.3 (W) x 14.2 (H) x 6.3 (D) inches | Colors: 3

Why We Love It: When you’re on the move, it feels good to know you have an extra layer of protection for your most precious belongings. Equipped with RFID protection, locking zippers, and a thick, cut-proof strap, this crossbody all but guarantees security for your essentials. There’s also a scratch-resistant phone pocket, ensuring your tie to the world back home doesn’t get damaged along the way.

Who It’s For: If you’re looking for a little extra security and like having multiple compartments to organize your essentials, try this bag as your next travel companion.

Materials: Nylon | Dimensions: 7 (W) x 12 (H) x 2 (D) inches | Colors: 9

Why We Love It: You may think that just any backpack will do for travel, but this pick from Paravel may just change your mind. It’s made of lightweight, durable nylon that not only feels as light as a feather but has a water-resistant finish to it. (So, even if you’re schlepping your way through the rain to your Airbnb, you don’t have to worry about your essentials getting soiled). It also comes with a convenient little pouch that you can fold the backpack into, making it extremely easy to transport when not in use.

Who It’s For: Lightweight, durable, waterproof, and monogrammable, this cute pack is perfect for those who want an option that can get a lot done while taking up minimal space.

Materials: Recycled plastic bottled nylon | Dimensions: 10 (W) x 12 (H) x 6 (D) inches | Colors: 6

Why We Love It: Fun fact: InStyle contributor Rebecca Norris owns this belt bag in six colors—that’s how much she loves and uses it. Most recently, it accompanied her on a 12-day trip through Europe, allowing her to zip through the airport and explore new cities without any trouble. At home, she still uses it for casual errands, shopping trips, and gym seshes (so it’s useful even when not in transit). She especially appreciated how roomy it is compared to other belt bags. This spacious pick features a trendy puffy exterior with a back zip pocket that can sit on the chest or waist. Inside, there’s a front mesh zip pocket and a back opaque zip pocket, which makes organization a cinch.

Who It’s For: Anyone who likes the idea of a waist bag (but still needs some extra space) would do well to choose this roomy hands-free pouch.

Materials: Polyester | Dimensions: 11 (W) x 5.5 (H) x 3.5 (D) inches | Colors: 23

Why We Love It: This Parisian label has become somewhat of a superstar on social media, thanks to its luxurious materials (in this case, Italian textured calf leather) and designs. Despite its crescent shape and smaller size, the Numéro Dix fits an impressive number of items in it—a range of essentials, from AirPods to hand creams, fit in like a dream. An extended strap is included, so it can also be worn as a crossbody bag if you’d rather keep your hands free.

Who It’s For: If you long to travel in style, don’t mind splurging a bit, and want a bag that complements all your outfits, this pick is for you.

Materials: Italian pebbled calf leather | Dimensions: 9.4 (W) x 7.9 (H) x 3 (D) inches | Colors: 17

Why We Love It: We’ve used this tote bag for the office as well as on business trips because its sleek exterior and spacious interior make it ideal for a multitude of occasions. It’s made of smooth Italian leather and features one slip pocket on the interior. This pick is also big enough to fit our 15-inch laptop, a sweater, books, snacks, a toiletry bag, and more, which is why it’s been so useful (and has weathered well) during our recent long hauls across the country.

Who It’s For: If you want to bring a lot with you but avoid the bulky appearance of a bag with a million zippers and pockets, try this chic option.

Materials: Italian leather | Dimensions: 20.8 (W) x 12.8 (H) x 7 (D) inches | Colors: 2

Why We Love It: For 365 days, this was the bag former InStyle writer Bianca Kratky used to carry all her travel essentials, which was ideal because it came with both a top handle and a crossbody strap. The bag opens up impressively wide as well—she never had to leave anything behind as everything always miraculously fit. When it’s half empty, however, the bag looks less rectangular, collapsing into itself a bit.

Who It’s For: Anyone who appreciates quality leather work and wants a bag that fits a ton of items (without weighing you down) should consider this crossbody.

Materials: Leather, polyurethane | Dimensions: 10 (W) x 8 (H) x 5.5 (D) inches | Colors: 2

Why We Love It: Few bags these days can be worn as both a sling and a backpack, but that’s exactly what this rugged leather convertible sling from Free People can do. “I love the zippered details and all the color options,” says Alli Talley, a travel content creator. Aside from looks, the bag has three compartments, so you can easily keep your items organized. The vaguely triangular shape might make storing larger items inside a bit more challenging, but we promise it’s still pretty roomy—and it allows you to easily go hands-free.

Who It’s For: If you appreciate the idea of a belt bag but realistically need more space for essentials like your camera gear, this sling is a great alternative.

Materials: Leather | Dimensions: 10 (W) x 14 (H) x 5.5 (D) inches | Colors: 8

Why We Love It: Whoever says fanny packs aren’t ‘cool’ has clearly never seen this option from Baggu. The durability and lightweight feel of the materials of the brand’s bags always impress us, and this one has the bonus of being extremely spacious despite its compact size. Not unlike a Mary Poppins bag, you can keep placing items in it, and it always seems to be able to take in more, be it books, wallets, makeup, and more. It can also be worn across the hips, chest, and over your shoulders, all of which leave your hands free for exploration.

Who It’s For: Lightweight, durable, and seemingly endless in space, this bag is perfect for those who have trouble deciding which items to leave at home—but still want to remain hands-free.

Materials: Nylon, recycled nylon | Dimensions: 8 (W) x 6.5 (H) x 2 (D) inches | Colors: 8

Why We Love It: On some trips—especially hiking or camping-based ones—the only essential you may really need is your water bottle. Luckily, this Lululemon crossbody is made specifically for that purpose (though don’t worry, it also has space for your phone, wallet, and keys). This pouch fits water bottles up to 32 ounces and is made from water-resistant polyester and nylon, so there’s no need to fret about condensation ruining your look. A cinchable opening makes for ready access any time you need a hydration boost.

Who It’s For: Hiking and camping enthusiasts will find this bag helpful for keeping their much-needed water bottles at the ready.

Material: Polyester, nylon | Dimensions: 4.7 (W) x 2.4 (H) x 9.3 (D) inches | Colors: 4

To determine which travel purses would be best to bring along on our next big trip, we assessed a range of the most popular options available, ranking each based on capacity, portability, ease of use, durability, and value. Only those who scored highly in each category made the cut of which options we’ll be using to store our essentials.

While the pickpocketing horror stories swirling around social media are a legitimate concern, Moore says that anti-theft purses aren’t generally necessary. “It’s better to know how to protect your purse and belongings no matter the bag you decide to bring, because a lot of the anti-theft bags are just not the most attractive,” she admits. “Doing things like not leaving your purse on the back of the chair, on the seat next to you, or at a table—especially in situations where you’re easily distracted, like a restaurant or nightclub—are important.” She says it’s also important to be mindful of how you’re carrying your bag. While it may be more comfortable to sling it over your shoulder, on your back, or behind your hip, keeping a purse tucked under your arm or held closely to your body in front offers the best chance of protection. Even just choosing something that zips will help you avoid getting pickpocketed since it makes getting into your bag more challenging.

Generally speaking, a purse is often considered an item in itself. If you’re not checking a bag, it’s important to find a silhouette that can easily fit into a larger personal item (a.k.a. not your carry-on) to maximize your packing imprint. Still, it depends on the airline and who’s working the desk when you start to board. “I travel with both a backpack and a purse/crossbody bag on every trip, and I’m not usually stopped on standard airlines like Delta or United for having too many personal items,” says Moore. “If I’m flying with a budget airline that’s pretty strict, I opt for a cute crossbody sling bag. Those bags lay flat against your body and are rarely seen as ‘extra baggage.’”

Bianca Kratky is a former InStyle writer with over three years of experience covering fashion and beauty. She’s also an avid traveler, having wandered around the world by herself for a year, and therefore knows a thing or two about smart packing and travel purses. For this story, she reviewed our testing insights and interviewed the following experts:

Allison Lax is an InStyle writer who often relies on her favorite travel bag when spending the day in New York City. She updated this story with additional product research and market picks.