Best Sling Bags for Women in 2024: Top Picks for Every Occasion
The classic sling bag is seeing a real surge in popularity as of late, with women around the world falling in love with their versatility, convenience, and style. They're such a useful accessory for women in today's world, offering the space you need to carry lots of items, combined with a comfortable carrying experience as you simply sling the bag over your shoulder whenever you're ready to go.
For travel, work, and casual daily use, sling bags are a great go-to option, and plenty of brands compete to create the best sling bag for women, including standout names like Canvelle. Combining functionality, style, and quality, the best sling bags can quickly become the No. 1 piece in your accessory collection.
This guide will help you discover the best sling bag for women.
The Best Sling Bags for Women
Without any delay, let's dig into the best sling bags money can buy.
Best Sling Bag for Women Overall: Canvelle Sling Bags
Kicking off our list, we have the Canvelle Sling Bag, a standout choice for its premium materials, versatile design, and top -notch craftsmanship. Super stylish, with a universal design that fits in almost any environment, this is the ideal sling bag to bring along to work, for your day-to-day errands, or even on trips around the globe.
Canvelle also gives you options in terms of size and color when selecting your sling bag. You can go for something formal and versatile, like a chic black sling bag, or a more fun and funky choice, like cornflower blue or checkered white and gray pattern. Whatever you choose, you'll get a top-quality bag with quick-grab pockets for your most important items.
Best for Travel: Peak Design Everyday Sling 6L
With six liters of interior space, the Peak Design Everyday Sling is a travel-friendly sling for globe-trotting women. It features a weatherproof nylon exterior to guard against rainfall, along with comfy sling bag straps and customizable interior dividers that let you keep your items nice and tidy. This makes it a good fit for people like photographers, or anyone else needing to carry lots of items in a secure, organized fashion.
Best Budget Option: Waterfly Crossbody Sling Bag
Part of the beauty of sling bags is that you don't need to spend a fortune to get a decent one. If you're on a tight budget, this compact, light option from Waterfly might be all you need. It's made from anti-scratch nylon, with a simple oblong shape and crossbody style design. It's cheap yet surprisingly durable, suitable for both casual or more intensive use, like intense outdoor activities.
Best for Style: Kavu Rope Sling Bag
If you want a sling that screams style, look no further. The Kavu Rope Sling is one of the brightest, boldest, most colorful products on the market, with lots of different patterns and styles to choose from, including multicolored stripes, flowers, gradients, and more. It's also a massive bag, with a whopping 12-liter capacity for big and heavy items. You'll make a fashion statement while also staying super organized.
Best for Outdoor Use: The North Face Borealis Sling
Next up, a bag for outdoorsy types from one of the leading outdoor adventure brands: The North Face. The Borealis Sling comes with pockets on pockets and tons of organization potential for lots of essential outdoor items. It's exceptionally durable to cope with the rigors of the outdoors, like hikes and camping trips, and it also has a padded back panel and comfy shoulder strap for your convenience.
How to Choose the Best Sling Bag
You've seen some excellent contenders for the best sling bag for women. Now, let's look at how to pick just the one.
Consider the Occasion
No matter what type of bag you're buying, whether it's a fanny pack or a sling bag, it's important to think ahead to how you're going to use it. Different settings demand different sorts of bags. You probably wouldn't take backpack sling bags to a fancy formal gathering, for example, and certain sling bag styles are better for travel, fashion, or everyday utility.
If you're looking for a casual sling bag, look for one that's lightweight. For travel purposes, consider sling-style backpacks or big slings with space for all your everyday essentials. It helps if it's machine washable, too, to wash away dirt and stains. For work situations, meanwhile, focus on secure sling bags with additional security features, like secure zipper closures to keep your belongings safe.
Size and Capacity
Sling bags are typically pretty decently sized, much larger than the average toiletry pouch, for instance. Some can even carry larger items like a bottle of water or even a packable jacket. There are usually several sizes to choose between, from small (or even extra-small) to large.
To make the right call, think about what you want to store in your bag, i.e., your everyday carry for a typical day. A smaller bag will be just fine for those small essentials like wallets, credit cards, and keys, but bigger ones are useful if you intend to travel around with more stuff. If you do buy a bigger bag, look for adjustable straps and comfy materials, like supple leather that'll make the bag comfier to carry.
Material and Durability
Last, but surely not least, think about the quality of materials your sling is made from and how long it'll realistically last. There are lots of different materials used for sling bag models these days, including canvas, leather (vegan leather, too), nylon, and so on. Canvas is often regarded as the top pick for an awesome sling bag, thanks to its hard-wearing yet stylish nature.
For a more polished and professional vibe, consider leather as the primary material. Or, for a more casual and affordable sling, look towards nylon instead. Think, too, about the kinds of conditions your bag will be exposed to. If you intend to travel lots with it, for example, you'll want to focus on the most durable, longest-lasting options.
Styling Tips for Sling Bags
Once you've got your dream bag, you'll need to know how best to style it to create different looks and vibes.
Casual Everyday Look
Sling bags are the perfect accessory for casual, everyday aesthetics. They're perfect for throwing over your shoulder before you hit the gym or take a trip into the city, for example. To get a cool casual look, pair a simple black sling bag like the Canvelle Mini Sling with a classic jeans-and-tee combo, then finish the look with some simple sneakers. Your compact sling will be just right for doing daily errands, visiting friends or family, or working out.
Travel-Ready Style
If you're eager to include a sling bag as part of your travel gear, focus on practicality and functionality above all else. Your versatile travel companion will need plenty of interior space, like the Peak Design Everyday Sling 6L, but it helps to have hidden pockets for securing your valuables and exterior pockets to grab your essentials. A padded strap is handy for extra comfort, too. Pair your sling with a chic travel outfit or some athleisure wear for a comfortable ride.
Outdoor Adventure
Sling bags are a good choice for outdoor adventures, like hiking, cycling, and camping, too. But, if you're heading into the wilderness with your sling, you'll need to ensure it's tough enough to endure it. Designer slings may quickly lose their luster in forests and on the water. Outdoorsy slings, like The North Face Borealis, will keep their shape and offer the even weight distribution and high-quality materials you need. Pair your sling with activewear, hiking gear, or other outdoor outfits for an adventurous aesthetic.
Fashion-Forward Look
A sling can also provide a super stylish touch to your outfit, elevating your look while delivering handy functionality to your days. The Canvelle Sling Bag, for example, has that distinctive designer look to it, made of premium external materials and available in a mix of colors, from bright and bold cornflower blue to neutral hues of black and sand. Paired with a dress or jumpsuit, this kind of bag will give you an extra trendy look.
Common Mistakes to Avoid When Choosing a Sling Bag
To avoid wasting your money on a sling that's not quite right or using your sling ineffectively, pay attention to these common pitfalls.
Overloading the Bag
The best sling bags for women tend to be quite spacious, the perfect size for all your personal items, from water bottles to keys, phones, and more. However, there's a difference between filling that space and overloading your bag. If you stuff it with too many items, it may become awkward and uncomfortable to carry, putting strain on your shoulders and back. Pick a sling that's big enough for you, and always fill it with care.
Choosing the Wrong Size
Size really matters when you're selecting an effective, comfortable sling bag. The last thing you'll want is to waste your time and money on one that's simply too small to hold all your essential items. At the same time, there's no need to buy a bag that's excessively big, either, as that may be annoying to lug around with you all day. Think closely about what you want to put in your bag to work out an appropriate carrying capacity.
Ignoring Material and Comfort
When buying bags like waist packs and backpack slings, lots of people rush in and buy the first product they find, or whichever product looks prettiest. They ignore key criteria, like material, comfort, and durability. Don't make the same mistake. Assess your needs and pick a bag that's made just for you, with materials that are tough enough and comfortable to align with your day-to-day life, like leather for fashion and canvas for unchanging longevity. Canvelle offers a good mix of premium performance materials.
Conclusion
All in all, sling bags are so useful and versatile, they're more or less must-have accessories in every woman's wardrobe. It's so handy to have one of these bags when you need a little extra space compared to your crossbody or fanny pack, and they're so easy to simply toss over your shoulder before you hit the town, head to the office, or embark on a fun day trip with your family.
For the most enjoyable experience, it's important to invest in the best sling bag for women that fits your style and aligns with your needs. So, think closely about those needs before you buy. Think about how you want to use your sling bag and what color or material combination you need. Or, just go for an all-rounder that is comfy, stylish, and practical, like a Canvelle sling bag. Check out our full range to find your new favorite sling.
FAQs
Which is better, a sling bag or a crossbody?
That's entirely dependent on your personal tastes. Some people adore the extra space that often comes with a sling bag. Others favor the comfortable carry position and security of a crossbody bag. Ideally, it's good to have one of each to suit every situation.
Are sling bags still popular?
They absolutely are. Loads of people of all generations use sling bags daily, and they're regarded as trendy alternatives to crossbody bags and other sorts of bags. The key is to find one that matches your style and needs just right to get the most out of it.
What is the best color for sling bag?
There's no single "best color" for sling bags, as it's all a matter of personal preference. Lots of people like neutral tones, like a classic black sling that goes with pretty much everything and can work in formal and casual settings alike. Others prefer brighter and bolder hues that show off their personality.
Should you wear a sling bag on your right or left shoulder?
Whichever you prefer and whichever feels most comfy for you. Often, it's good to wear your sling on the opposite side to your dominant hand. So, if you're right-handed, put it on your left shoulder, so you can reach in with your right hand as needed. But feel free to swap shoulders as you like, as there's no rule that says you have to wear it on one particular shoulder all the time.