I need to start this off with a bit of a rant, if you don’t mind. Why is it that so many travel purses designed for security are just so… unattractive?
As someone who writes about travel for a living, and who has spent years exploring the globe, I’m constantly searching for the perfect travel accessories. But when it comes to anti-theft crossbody bags, it often feels like companies are designing for my grandmother, not for a modern traveler.
Seriously, think about it. The fashion world is full of stunning, functional purses that we adore. Designers pour resources into creating bags that are both beautiful and practical. Yet, when the focus shifts to travel and security, we’re often presented with options that look like this $60 monstrosity:
No offense, but this particular shade of berry and the overall shape just aren’t cutting it. As a woman who considers herself reasonably stylish, I really don’t want to be stuck carrying something that screams “I’m a vulnerable tourist!”
And honestly, this style of bag practically shouts “anti-theft bag,” which completely defeats the purpose. It’s almost like advertising that you have valuables worth protecting, making you a more appealing target for thieves. (And let’s be real, over $60 for this Travelon anti-theft berry bag is highway robbery itself.)
Traveling is a significant part of my life, and you can bet I’m not going to compromise my style with an unappealing anti-theft travel purse. And the same goes for ugly travel shoes, by the way!
Stylish and anti-theft travel purses are possible!
Stylish Travel Purses Do Exist, I Promise!
My firm belief is that you absolutely do not have to sacrifice style for security when you’re traveling. That’s why I’m excited to share my curated list of the 8 best travel purses available.
Each of these purses has been evaluated for both style and function. You can confidently explore European cities, knowing your bag is chic enough for photos in Paris and practical enough to hold all your essentials – including your camera – while minimizing the risk of theft.
Why should you trust my recommendations? Because I have personally used many of these purses, or I rely on the trusted opinions of my fellow travel expert friends who swear by these bags. We’ve put these bags to the test, so you can travel with confidence and style.
8 Top Travel Purses: Style and Function Tested
Let’s dive into my favorite stylish travel bags that are not only cute and fashionable but also incredibly functional for long days of exploring, without making you look like a tourist target.
1. Arden Cove: The Ultimate Anti-Theft Travel Purse
Arden Cove is, without a doubt, my top pick for an anti-theft travel purse. It’s truly the best travel purse for international adventures, but it’s so stylish you’ll want to use it even when you’re not traveling. I’ve even had the pleasure of meeting one of the founders – she’s incredibly passionate about creating women’s travel handbags that are both fashionable and practical.
Arden Cove started with crossbody bags and has since expanded to offer larger styles. What makes them exceptional is that they look like chic, everyday purses, not like typical anti-theft bags. You’d easily imagine a stylish local carrying one.
These purses come with adjustable shoulder straps and are packed with features perfect for any traveler. They include credit card slots with RFID blocking technology to protect against electronic theft.
The material is actually made from the same kind of fabric used in bulletproof vests, offering superior slash-resistance compared to standard anti-theft bags. (Forget stainless steel mesh lining; bulletproof material is where it’s at!)
Arden Cove stylish anti-theft travel purse in cream color, showcasing its fashionable design.
They feature two secure pockets: a locking main compartment and a smaller, easily accessible pocket, which I always use for my phone and train pass. The zipper lock adds an extra layer of security, making it difficult to unzip in crowded places. And, they are water-resistant too!
This company makes my absolute favorite stylish travel purses. I took my Arden Cove purse on my honeymoon across Europe, and it withstood rainy days, hikes in the Isle of Skye, Oktoberfest, and more.
I wholeheartedly recommend this cute and compact travel purse for all types of trips! (For travel, I suggest a darker color crossbody bag, like black, as my cream one did show some wear after a year of use.) The investment is worthwhile, and you can find them on Amazon and directly from Arden Cove!
2. Dagne Dover Micah Crossbody: Vegan and Versatile Travel Companion
Another fantastic crossbody travel purse is the Micah Crossbody from Dagne Dover. It’s incredibly stylish and comes in a wide array of colors to complement your personal style. A travel blogger friend of mine swears by this 100% vegan purse for all her travels.
A standout feature is the back slip pocket, perfect for your phone. This design makes it one of the best crossbody bags for travel because it keeps your phone secure and close to your body, significantly reducing the risk of theft.
This bag also boasts a comfortable, adjustable strap for all-day wear, an internal key clip, and ample space for your daily essentials.
Shop The Dagne Dover Bag
3. Pacsafe Anti-Theft Sling: The Trendy and Secure Fanny Pack
This Pacsafe anti-theft classic mini sling is our favorite fanny pack style bag, packed with security features. We are huge fans of slings and fanny packs for travel.
Thanks to Gen Z, fanny packs are back in style, and we’re here for it! Wearing a fanny pack on your front makes it much harder for thieves, as everything is right in your line of sight. Plus, it’s incredibly convenient to access your belongings.
This Pacsafe travel purse includes lockable zippers on the main compartment, an RFID blocking pocket for your cards, a key clip for organization, and a comfortable padded honeycomb fabric backing. It’s easily one of the best cute travel bags to take on any trip!
If you prefer a slightly larger travel fanny pack, I also highly recommend Baggu purses!
4. Beis Daytripper Backpack: Chic and Functional for Day Trips
Sometimes, a backpack is simply more practical than a purse. Our editor Taylor highly recommends the Beis Daytripper backpack travel purse bag, especially as a carry-on for day trips when you need to carry more – like a water bottle and a light jacket.
It features two side water bottle pockets, a trolley passthrough, three zippered pockets, and a padded laptop sleeve that fits a 13-inch laptop comfortably.
The generous front pocket offers plenty of space for day-trip essentials or work conference items.
The shoulder straps are comfortable, and the overall design is stylish and discreet, helping you blend in with the locals. While it doesn’t have anti-theft materials, its everyday backpack look makes it less of a tourist target.
To learn more about Beis, check out Taylor’s detailed Beis luggage review post here.
Longchamp tote bag in black, a stylish and practical travel purse option.
5. Longchamp Tote: The Working Traveler’s Best Friend
As a travel blogger, I often travel with my laptop. If you frequently travel for work or need a chic, office-appropriate tote bag to carry your laptop, look no further than the Longchamp tote. It’s a fantastic alternative to the Baggallini Everywhere Bagg, which, in my opinion, looks too much like a stereotypical anti-theft travel bag.
This large travel tote is perfect for traveling working professionals. The key feature is the top zipper, which fully closes the bag – a must-have in my book! Many laptop-sized totes lack this essential security feature.
Travel Tip: On crowded public transport, keep your hand on the zipper to prevent anyone from opening your bag unnoticed!
This shoulder bag is spacious enough for all your work and travel essentials, yet it folds down to the size of a paperback book when not in use, making it incredibly lightweight and packable!
Available in a wide range of colors, from classic black to vibrant pink and yellow, this bag is a popular choice for women on the go.
6. Double Compartment Crossbody: Affordable and Functional Security
If Arden Cove is beyond your budget, the Double Compartment crossbody is an excellent alternative.
This anti-theft classic mini purse isn’t as deep as the Arden Cove and doesn’t have all the advanced features, but it’s affordable, comes in many colors, and ticks my essential boxes: it zips completely closed, it’s a crossbody style, and it has a comfortable shoulder strap. It’s also spacious enough for daily essentials.
This crossbody purse is designed with two separate pockets or compartments. This is great for organizing your belongings, keeping your camera and phone separate from your wallet and smaller items.
It has a snap button closure on the flap, but the inside pockets are zippered, providing a decent level of security, making it harder for thieves to access your valuables without significant effort.
What I particularly love about these crossbody bags is the hidden back zipper pocket. Located on the side that rests against your body, this secret pocket is ideal for storing high-value items like cash or your ID! Skip the generic small crossbody bags – this one is cuter, cheaper, and the secret pocket is a major plus!
There are various designs available if this particular style isn’t your favorite. Most models retain the back zipper pocket, leather shoulder strap, and zippered internal pockets.
Double compartment crossbody bag in tan, showcasing its practical design and front pockets.
7. TravelSmith RFID Crossbody Bag: Lightweight and Tech-Savvy Security
Last but certainly not least, this charming baby blue purse is another fantastic travel purse equipped with anti-theft features! It includes a passport-sized RFID-blocking pocket to protect your credit cards and passport from digital theft.
The straps are slash-resistant, although not the entire bag body like the Arden Cove.
It also features a unique zipper locking system that attaches to an interior security hook, preventing thieves from easily unzipping your bag – something I’ve realized is a major travel concern!
It’s compact yet spacious enough for essentials and includes side pockets for quick access items. I love pockets; you can never have too many!
What I truly appreciate about this purse is its color and design. It doesn’t resemble an anti-theft purse at all, looking more like something you’d find at a mainstream fashion store.
It’s stylish and trendy, which I believe helps deter pickpockets. And yes, it also has that secret back pocket with a zipper, perfect for extra-valuable items like cash!
Lo & Sons Bond Sling in grey, a fashionable and functional sling bag for travel.
8. Lo & Sons Bond Sling: Sleek and Secure Sling for Everyday Adventures
I’ve been using a Lo & Sons OG bag as my carry-on for a year and love it. Recently, I tried out the Lo & Sons Bond fanny pack sling.
“Obsessed” is an understatement. For errands around San Francisco, I often grab a sling bag or fanny pack. I love my Baggu, but my Baggu and Crescent bag are quite basic and not ideal for deterring pickpockets while traveling.
However, The Bond sling is sleek and packed with pockets – including a hidden back zipper pocket where you can securely stash your phone or cash against your body! It also has card slots, perfect for metro cards when traveling, eliminating the need to pull out your wallet on public transport.
The Bond comes in three materials: premium sheepskin leather, Tyvek, and recycled poly with an antimicrobial lining, all with durable hardware (it is a Lo & Sons bag, after all!).
One of my favorite features is the interior key string, perfect for attaching house keys, hotel keys, or even your wallet for extra security against pickpockets.
It’s an instant favorite.
What Makes a Truly Great Travel Purse?
Before we get deeper into my top 8 travel purse recommendations, let’s quickly discuss what qualities define a great travel purse.
Having traveled extensively around the world, from iconic landmarks to remote jungles and bustling cities, I’ve learned that the ideal travel bag shares certain key characteristics.
First and foremost, it must have a zipper or secure closure. While I appreciate a stylish bucket bag for everyday use, these are simply not practical for travel.
An open-top bag is practically an invitation for thieves to reach in and grab your belongings unnoticed. Open tops also lead to items falling out during travel, like on planes or while getting luggage from taxis.
That’s why my first criterion is always a bag that can be completely sealed with a zipper.
Woman in Edinburgh with a crossbody travel purse, showcasing its practicality and style.
The second essential quality is a crossbody bag with a comfortable shoulder strap.
While backpacks and large messenger bags have their place, I find crossbody bags more convenient. They sit at waist level, making it easy to quickly access my wallet, phone for photos, lip balm, camera, etc., without the hassle of constantly removing a backpack.
I also believe anti-theft crossbody purses are more secure. In crowded areas, I can easily swing it to the front and keep a hand on it, ensuring no one can tamper with my bag behind my back.
The third crucial aspect is space – how much can the bag actually hold? The ideal bag size depends on the type of trip.
Work trips often require a larger travel purse to accommodate a laptop and work documents. Sightseeing days in cities like London need a smaller bag, but still large enough for a camera and perhaps a small souvenir.
A mini shoulder purse suitable for a date or party is impractical for travel, barely holding daily essentials. You need a purse that can fit some or all of the following:
- ID and/or passport
- Credit card + cash (wallet)
- Train card
- Camera
- Sunglasses
- Water bottle or space for a small bottle
- Hand lotion
- Lip balm
- Hair ties
- Phone
- Portable phone charger
- Small umbrella or packable rain jacket
- Occasionally, a book or souvenir!
When choosing the perfect travel purse for an upcoming trip, I prioritize these three features to narrow down my options.
Now, let’s talk about my favorite travel bags currently available! These are truly the best purses for travel, period.
Extra Tips to Avoid Pickpockets While Traveling
The most important first step is choosing one of these excellent travel bags for women and utilizing their security features. But as a seasoned traveler, I’ve also learned other essential strategies to prevent theft.
Carry a Dummy Wallet
During a study abroad experience in Mexico (yes, I studied abroad twice – travel is an addiction!), one of our professors was extremely passionate about pickpocket prevention. He gave an extensive lecture detailing common pickpocketing techniques and shared personal stories of being targeted.
His top tip was the “fake travel wallet.” My professor, a typical-looking tourist, understood why he might be a target in a busy city in Mexico.
But he was prepared!
He travels with two wallets: his real wallet in his front pocket and a dummy wallet in his back pocket.
This dummy wallet, bought cheaply, contains a few dollars to appear real. He keeps it in his back pocket, a common place for men to carry wallets. When a thief targets him, they grab the back pocket wallet and run off, only to find a few dollars. Genius!
While I’m too low-maintenance to set up fake wallets for every trip, I invest in good travel purses to protect my belongings. The key takeaway is that thieves are skilled at identifying and targeting tourists.
Avoid using an obviously “anti-theft” looking purse (like the berry one I mentioned earlier).
Ditch the American Sports Apparel
If you dress like a tourist (I’m looking at those who pack sports team t-shirts for European trips!), you’re much more likely to become a target.
That’s why a purse that’s both functional and stylish is so crucial! Blend in like a local!
I remember when my now-husband Robin visited me in Italy in 2013. We started in Rome and traveled throughout Italy.
This was before I started Whimsy Soul, so no blog posts to share from that trip!
Anyway, I had clothing rules for him. (He didn’t entirely listen, but he mostly did.) He wasn’t allowed to pack any sports t-shirts, which made up most of his wardrobe at the time.
His baseball cap was also banned. It might seem extreme, but I also didn’t let him keep his wallet or phone in his pockets while we were out – I carried them in my purse!
I was convinced he would show up dressed in an outfit that screamed “I’M A TOURIST FROM THE USA AND PROBABLY HAVE CASH AND A NICE PHONE IN MY POCKETS.”
Back then, he wasn’t the most travel-savvy, and after hearing stories of classmates getting phones and wallets stolen, I was determined to prevent it from happening to us.
My goal was to enjoy wine, relax in Italy, and eat pizza, not spend days at the embassy replacing a stolen passport.
He did bring a couple of sports t-shirts anyway. Sigh. But we made it through the trip without anything being stolen! I attribute it mainly to my purse.
I used a large crossbody tote with a top zipper, which I kept my hand on in crowded places. Wallets and phones were in the top interior pocket, so even if someone tried to slash the bag (which never happened), the valuables wouldn’t fall out. Mostly, I was just very aware of my surroundings.
Be Alert to Common Scams
Awareness is half the battle, along with a cute, functional, and secure purse. My professor in Mexico taught me many common scams, making me much more vigilant.
One common con is the “lost tourist.” Someone approaches you with a large map, placing it in front of you at waist height and asking for directions. While you’re distracted, a second person comes from behind to steal your purse or wallet, hidden by the map.
Now, whenever someone asks for directions, I instinctively grab my purse, just in case. So far, they’ve always been genuinely lost, but you never know.
Another trick involves spills. Imagine a crowded bar or restaurant. Someone “accidentally” bumps into you, spilling a drink or sauce.
While they profusely apologize and try to clean up, an accomplice is making off with your unattended purse! It can be disorienting, making it easy to lose sight of your bag.
A common pickpocket scam occurs on trains. As you try to exit, people – often children – will block the doorway. As you push past them to get off, they steal your wallet or phone. Now, when I see people crowding train doors, especially when it’s not crowded enough to justify it, I’m on high alert.
That’s why I appreciate Arden Cove’s detachable straps – you can wrap it around a chair to prevent bag snatching! Arden Cove also offers a travel backpack if you need more space!
Denim jacket and crossbody bag in Dublin, Ireland, showcasing stylish travel attire.
Keep a Firm Grip on Your Purse
Sometimes, pickpockets are brazen enough to simply grab your bag. Here in San Francisco, I witnessed a man walk up to a backpacker, rip the backpack off his shoulders, and run down the street. I was in heels and couldn’t chase after him, and no one else intervened. I don’t know if the backpacker recovered his bag.
When it comes to travel bags, function and space are also crucial.
In airport security lines, I love having a small pocket to quickly stash my boarding pass and phone while going through security.
(Yes, I call it the beeper because it almost always beeps at me, and I get a pat-down because I often wear skirts to the airport!)
The same goes for trains. I appreciate a small, secure side pocket separate from my main belongings, so I can quickly access my train pass without worrying about dropping anything while rushing.
Pro-tip: Consider a separate airport belt bag, like the Baggu or Uniqlo Round Mini Shoulder Bag, for easy access to your passport, boarding pass, and phone during flights. Then, switch to a more secure, water-resistant, and slash-proof purse once you reach your destination.
Opt for a Waterproof Travel Purse
And of course, rain! We’ve been caught in many downpours while traveling, especially in Portland, Washington, and Ireland.
Before I started using my Arden Cove purse, I used to worry about my phone and camera getting wet and damaged. But with a waterproof purse, rain is no longer a concern, even if you forget an umbrella or raincoat!
And finally, style is important to me. Did my rant about that berry purse make that clear? Travel has been a part of my life since my first trip abroad at 14.
Travel is a lifestyle, and expressing my personal style while traveling is just as important as at home.
I’ve never understood why some people travel in yoga pants and athletic wear but dress more stylishly at home.
Functionality is probably a factor, but I find joy in wearing a pretty floral dress in New Orleans or a chic little black dress for a date night in London.
Woman wearing black crossbody bag in Vancouver, Canada, highlighting the style and practicality of travel purses.
An ugly purse just kills my travel vibe. That’s why I wanted to share my top purse recommendations for women who, like me, refuse to compromise style for function.
I hope this guide helps you choose the best anti-theft travel purse for your next adventure! If you have any questions, leave a comment below or DM me on Instagram @thewhimsysoul, and I’ll be happy to assist!
