These are the best sling bags to wear when travelling
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When all you need are your essentials close at hand, a tote can be cumbersome, and a backpack? Not great for grabbing things. A clutch? No free hands! The bag you’re looking for is a sling bag. Fashionable and practical, designed to be worn across your chest and often made with pockets dedicated to water bottles, sunglasses, keys and passports. If you’re done with rooting around in your luggage for your boarding pass and phone, this is a game-changer.
The sling bag is a must-have accessory we're adding to our wardrobes, whether we're travelling or not. They add an effortless, chic look to even the simplest airport outfit, and compared to their equally on-trend bag cousin, the bum bag, they tend to be a bit roomier. This is the simple solution all seasoned, stylish globetrotters need for keeping their passport, hand sanitiser, and phone exactly where they need them.
Below, we've rounded up the best sling bags to wear on all your upcoming trips to make travelling a breeze.
Beis's Sport Sling
The Beis sports sling isn’t only great for wearing in the airport – it’s built for more than that. Despite looking dinky, this crossbody has a water bottle pouch, protective pockets for your phone or sunglasses, three card slots and a decent-sized main compartment for all your bits and pieces. You can wear this on hikes, runs, or even on horseback, as one of our editors did when testing, and it’s only ever a help, not a hindrance, keeping everything safe and accessible and never getting in the way. It comes in a choice of six colours too, so you can match it to the rest of your Beis pieces.
Monos's Metro Sling
Aligning with the minimalist aesthetic of the Monos core luggage range, this chic sling bag goes above and beyond in both design and function. Take your pick from water-repellant nylon or vegan leather material to suit your look and prepare to be astonished by the hidden pockets and surprising capacity of this streamlined accessory. A selection of interior pockets gives you plenty of space for keeping all your essentials well organised, while the full-length back pocket makes the perfect place for keeping your passport, phone, and boarding pass to hand. Depending on your preference, you can style this as a crossbody bag or wear it on your shoulder, and choose from seven colours (or get a few for different outfits).
Roka Willesden Sling Bag
We love a brand that takes the environment into consideration, so immediately, Roka gets bonus points for making their Willesden B sling bag out of recycled material. This leans slightly more towards a mini backpack style than some of our other picks, which looks really cute (especially in the peachy pink, although there is a wide variety of colours to choose from) and provides a deceptive amount of room. As well as the main compartment, there are also two secret pockets inside in addition to the big external pocket. There’s a lot to like about Roka London’s vibrant bags. As well as being functional and eco-friendly, they’re also vegan-friendly and weather-resistant. The chunky shoulder strap makes it really comfortable to carry, too and, at under £40, they make a very purse-friendly option.
Aer's Day Sling 3 Max
You might not know it by looking at it, but the Aer Day Sling can fit an 11” tablet inside (perfect for all you e-reader fans), and the opening is unusually wide, so you can see right inside and not have to blindly rummage around. We were impressed by Aer’s cool carry-on in our suitcase tests, so trying their sling bag was a no-brainer, and we weren’t disappointed. This small but mighty pouch lives up to the sturdy, smart design we’ve come to expect from this brand - it has an interior tablet pocket for your iPad or Kindle, a hidden passport pocket and an easy-access pocket with a key ring. YKK zips and a tough nylon outer ensure it’ll stay in good shape for many outings to come.
Bellroy Venture Travel Crossbody
A little larger and a little smarter than most other sling bags, the Bellroy Venture Travel Crossbody with removable shoulder strap is our most sophisticated pick, made from smooth vegan leather and built for business. Divided back pockets for documents and twin pen slips can be found inside the main storage, as well as an RFID-blocked magnetic passport pocket – something other sling bags are missing. This has clearly been designed specifically with travellers in mind. We also really appreciated the internal slip pocket for an AirTag or other luggage tracker, for peace of mind, and the fact that it’s water-resistant, so it will keep all your belongings safe if you get caught in a shower. And of course, we love the three-year warranty – a testament to how well these products are made.
Uniqlo's round mini shoulder bag
Looking a little like a bum bag, because when it comes to fashion, Japanese style staple brand Uniqlo knows what’s up, this sling bag looks great with every outfit, and it’s an incredible bargain too. It’s easy to see why this bag blew up on TikTok last year when a 1.7-second video posted by @caitlinphillimore demonstrated how much it could fit inside. She captivated viewers as she smuggled away just about everything you might need on a travel day, from a pair of headphones to a large packet of biscuits. It's a real Mary Poppins bag, this one. One of our writers even put it to the test and took the viral £15 Uniqlo bag on holiday, deeming it ‘the perfect travel companion.’ Since then, Uniqlo has launched the bag in an array of colours and fabrics, including corduroy in time for winter. Be warned, though, the various colours tend to sell out quickly, so it's best to buy when you can.
Been London's Annis Sling Bag
If you’re not really into the casual, sporty look of a sling bag but now really feel like you need one in your life, the elegant Annis Sling Bag from Been London will make your heart sing. It’s a flawless black leather handbag, really, but with a sling bag style strap so you can wear it comfortably and conveniently across your chest, while also elevating your look. Concerned about the impact leather goods have on the planet? No need when it comes to Been London, as all of their leather goods are crafted from offcuts sourced from UK tanneries; pieces that would otherwise go to waste. That would be a real shame, given how smooth, supple and soft it is. Although it’s very minimalist, the amount you can slot into this bag isn’t. You’ll have no problem fitting in your purse, water bottle and small makeup bag, with an inside pocket for keeping a phone or boarding pass easily to hand. The adjustable strap helps keep a snug fit, whether wearing a bulky coat or not. It’s available in a choice of three colours and it’s personalisable for an extra £10.
Tumi's Compact Sling
Just like the most robust soft-sided luggage, the Tumi Compact Sling is made out of ballistic nylon, one of the toughest materials out there for lightweight fabric luggage. The effect is the same, of course – a seriously robust piece of kit that will no doubt see you through many years of travelling and adventure. This is one of the smaller sling bags on the list, with just enough space for your daily essentials, with a handy exterior pocket for your phone to claw back more room inside. But the design is generous on features, including a key chain, luggage tag, pen loops and a tracer, so you can make the most of the storage you have.
July's Carry Me
The daintiest of the lot, with a look a little like a classic vanity bag and colour-matched detachable straps, zips and tags. The July Carry Me, which we've reviewed before, is elegant and feminine, but made from the same German polycarbonate shell as the brand’s hardside luggage, so extremely durable. If you’ve already purchased the luggage set, you need to treat yourself to this handy extra for the complete effect. There’s loads of room in here to keep all your daily and travel essentials within immediate, easy reach, as well as two pockets and a detachable open flat, so you can get everything out in one go if you need to.
Coach's Gotham Pack
Gone are the days when sling bags were cheap and cheerful throwaway items bought for one holiday or a secluded hike, but never to make an appearance in public or daily life. This luxury option from Coach has changed the game, with their refined multi-texture leather offering that would look as at home in the office or rooftop bar as it would wandering around open-air markets or moving through security. This is the perfect in-flight bag: sleek, streamlined, and large enough to fit your iPad, book and some snacks. The two exterior pockets are a thoughtful touch for keeping your most needed items to hand at all times, and the strap is adjustable for shoulder or crossbody wear.
Lululemon's Everywhere Belt Bag
Lululemon is a favourite in the Traveller office – we love their loungewear, their trainers, their gym gear and now, their Everywhere Belt Bag too. The abstract paint design makes this one of the most beautiful to look at, and it’s partly this that has earned this sling bag’s cult status as one of the best to wear while on the move. If you’re into the bum bag trend, you can adjust the strap to wear this around your waist, or you can keep it on your chest or back. As well as the spacious interior, you’ve also got an exterior zipped pocket to play with – ideal for packing small essentials like your favourite lip balm. If you love this design but need more room, this bag comes in a larger two-litre size as well.
Bellroy's Lite Sling
Bellroy really know their jetsetters. When you’re choosing a sling bag to take on hikes, adventure holidays or just to make the airport process straightforward, sometimes the most important thing is weight. No one wants a bag that is bulky or heavy when already lugging around a suitcase or challenging themselves physically, so it’s a real joy that this one is made out of a fabric that is three times lighter than all of the other fabrics used across the Bellroy range. Even though this is a convenient size for wearing across your back or chest, it actually has an impressive seven-litre capacity, which comfortably allows space for a water bottle and daily essentials, plus there are a couple of hidden slip pockets for smaller items like keys, and a specialised sunglasses pouch. Unlike other sling bags, which can have a more rigid structure, this one is also designed to roll up very small to be put away in your carry-on when you’re done with it. The magnetic clasp, which can be opened and closed one-handedly, is a clever upgrade, too.
Away's The Everywhere Sling Bag
Away makes a range of featherlight bags, and this sling bag is the smallest in the collection. It’s made to be so light that you can barely feel you’re wearing it, a dream for filling up with a water bottle, earbuds, keys and sun lotion before heading down to the beach or pool on your holiday. It’s water-repellent too, so you don’t have to worry about your belongings being splashed. The main compartment is deceptively roomy with two separate areas inside and an additional front pocket for your phone or passport. This one comes in a selection of pleasing shades, including a few that match Away’s suitcase range.
Rimowa's Sling Clutch
Yes, it’s pricey, everything from celebrity-favourite luggage brand Rimowa tends to be. But the quality is second to none, and the design? Flawless. Looking just like a mini version of the famed rigid aluminium suitcases, the aluminium sling clutch is just about as premium as it gets for a sling bag, with a hard-wearing aluminium shell, full-grain Italian leather interior, mechanical lock and a comfortable, wide shoulder strap. Most of the storage space is within the main compartment, but you’ve also got a couple of card slots, so you won’t need to pack an additional wallet. This is a statement-making piece that will last a lifetime, and won’t spend most of its time languishing in the hold.
Free People's Hudson Sling Bag
Of course, Free People has made an incredibly stylish sling bag – everything they make exudes cool, always the height of fashion, always the recipient of endless compliments. This slouchy suede pouch is a fantastic addition to almost any outfit, delivering a dose of boho aesthetic in 13 colours, along with all the functionality you need. You can fit an all-important water bottle in here, along with other travel essentials like your keys, phone, wallet and passport. The main storage space has a small pocket inside, too: a place to keep your valuables or anything you might need to grab in a hurry.
