Best Travel Sling Bags in 2024: Top Picks for Comfort and Style

If you're a frequent traveler, you know the importance of having the right type of bag by your side. It's so much easier to keep your stuff organized and make your way about from place to place with a quality, spacious, and comfortable bag. That's why, rather than an awkward heavy backpack or clunky suitcase, many modern travelers opt for simple sling bags instead.

Ideal for carrying onto flights, trains, buses, and beyond, the best sling bags are ready for anything. With their simplicity, ease of use, and universal appeal, it's no wonder the popularity of sling bags is higher than ever, especially among travel enthusiasts. But, to get the most out of your sling bag, you have to find the right one.

This guide explores the best travel sling bag models on the market, featuring leading brands like Canvelle, while also covering some helpful usage and styling tips.

How to Choose the Best Travel Sling Bag

Before we examine the best travel sling bag models, let's first discuss how to pick them.

Consider the Size and Capacity

First, think about what size bag suits you best. Sling bags come in all sorts of sizes, from miniature models that look like a toiletry pouch, such as the Patagonia Ultralight Black Hole Mini Hip Pack, to medium-sized options and much larger packs that can store all sorts of stuff. Naturally, you'll want to pick a bag that's a good fit for the kinds of items you need to carry.

So, think about what sort of stuff you'll put in your bag on a day-to-day basis. Is it just for daily errands and trips around town? Then you might only need a little bag, like a 1-liter size model for your phone, wallet, and keys. Planning to take your bag on vacation? Look for a larger one that will be able to store devices, documents, food, water, and more.

Material and Durability

Depending on how you use your sling bag, it might get exposed to all sorts of different conditions, like changing weather and temperatures. It might also suffer from occasional stains and spills or have to cope with a bit of weight if you put some heavy stuff inside, like chunky camera batteries or a full water bottle.

As such, it also makes sense to focus on slings that are designed with tough, hard-wearing material that'll last a long time. Canvas is amazing for this, as featured in Canvelle's comfortable sling bags, as it can last for years and is super hard to tear or puncture. Real leather is tough, too, though nylon and cotton are slightly weaker materials that might not be quite as ready for adventure.

Comfort and Fit

Ideally, you want your sling bag to be comfortable to toss over your right or left shoulder, not weighing you down, digging into you, or causing any sort of unnecessary strain, pain, or discomfort. This is especially true if you'll be sporting your sling for extended periods, but even for quick jaunts, it helps to have a comfy, easy-to-carry bag.

With this in mind, look for bags that have comfortable features, like breathable mesh sections to prevent overheating, adjustable sling bag straps you can lengthen or shorten as desired, and intuitive pockets that aren't a pain to reach in and out of. Extra padding here and there, like on the back panel and along the straps, also helps to promote comfort, as featured in Canvelle's sling bags.

Top Travel Sling Bags for Women

That's the basics done. Now, let's look at some of the best travel sling bag models for women to buy today.

Best Overall: Canvelle Sling Bags

 

 

 

Topping our best travel sling bag list, we have the ever-popular Canvelle Sling Bag. Available in numerous sizes and various colors, this bag has all that's needed to satisfy every kind of user, from travelers to parents to outdoor adventurers. Plus, with all those options, you can pick the exact style to fit your needs, from a classic black sling bag to a more colorful or quirky option.

Crafted from high-end, premium materials, the Canvelle Sling Bag is built to go the distance. It's got lots of smart features to make your life easier, too, like an air-cushioned back panel for comfort, an extra-wide strap to suit even the tallest users, and easy-clean lining on the inside. You'll also find several exterior pockets to store quick-access items, as well as a key clip, and the entire bag is machine washable to save you time.

Pros:

• Premium construction, with high-quality fabric that won't let you down.
• A stylish choice, with numerous colors to suit every preference.
• Versatile to fit in anywhere, from airports to big cities to offices, beaches, forests, and beyond.

Best For: Almost anyone, from passionate travelers to business users and even those seeking a versatile, everyday sling they can fill up and take anywhere.

Best for Organization: Peak Design Everyday Sling 6L

 

Boasting a six-liter capacity, Peak Design's Everyday Sling is more than big enough for most users. Not only does it have a good amount of inner space, but it also features dividers and pockets on pockets to keep all your different items separate and neatly organized. This is perfect for business users or travelers, for instance, who want one slot for their passport, another for tickets, another for food, and so on.

Pros:

• Plenty of room for internal organization of all your items.
• Compact on the outside, yet surprisingly spacious inside.
• Several color options for different fashion styles.

Best For: Busy travelers who have lots of different items to store and like to keep everything neat and tidy in their bags.

Best Budget Option: Waterfly Crossbody Sling Bag

 

Let's say you're looking for a good-quality sling bag to store your pocketable items, like keys and phone, but don't want to spend a small fortune for the convenience. Don't worry, Waterfly has you covered with this classic crossbody sling. It boasts a lightweight design, compact form factor, and an impressively roomy interior, with multiple separate pockets and compartments for keeping all your gear safe, secure, and organized.

Pros:

• One of the most affordable crossbody sling bags on the market.
• Offers good value and durability on a budget.
• A fine choice for casual, everyday use, like doing daily errands.

Best For: Budget-conscious buyers who don't necessarily want to spend a lot, but still need a reliable, handy bag that won't let them down.

Best for Style: Kavu Rope Sling Bag

 

Next, meet the Kavu Rope Sling Bag. This one features a classy rope strap that immediately sets it apart from the crowd, from an aesthetic point of view. It's also sold in numerous colors and patterns, so you can pick and choose the look that matches you best. It's sizable, too, with 12 liters of room for your various items, and it successfully fuses style and function, with handy bonuses like a pair of key or cell phone pockets and a cushioned back panel.

Pros:

• A very stylish sling bag that looks a cut above the rest.
• Comfortable to carry around, with handy side and rear pockets for your stuff.
• A functional water-resistant choice.

Best For: Fashion-focused buyers who want a bag with a super sense of style that'll elevate their outfits and turn heads, wherever they go.

Best for Outdoor Use: The North Face Borealis Sling

 

Finally, a bag from one of the world's top outdoorsy brands: The North Face. The Borealis sling comes with lots of great design elements, including plenty of pockets to help you stay organized with all your stuff, a padded rear section for comfort when you're on the move, even on tricky terrain, and a cozy shoulder strap, too. With such an impressive design, this could quickly become one of your favorite slings for outdoor fun.

Pros:

• One of the best travel sling bags for the outdoors.
• Comfy design, even for periods of extended use.
• Durable enough to withstand changing weather conditions and temperatures.

Best For: People who spend a lot of time outdoors and need a tough, hard-wearing bag to accompany them, like hikers and cyclists.

Styling Tips for Travel Sling Bags

You've seen some of the best travel sling bags on the market. Now, let's see how to wear and use them effectively.

Effortless Airport Style

If you're looking for the best travel sling bag, you likely spend plenty of time in and around airports on your various voyages and vacations. For a cool and functional airport look, it's best to focus on a relatively compact, stylish type of sling bag, like the Canvelle Mini Slang.

It's ideal for storing your travel essentials and quick-access items, like lip balm, tickets, passport and ID, and so on. Combine it with comfy travel clothes, like baggy hoodies, pants, and slip-on shoes for an easy, hassle-free flight to your destination.

Exploring New Cities

Let's say you're heading somewhere entirely new, a big city destination you've never visited before. It's an exciting time, for sure. But, to make the most of your limited time and feel safe as you roam around, you need a good quality sling.

Opt for a medium-sized one, like the Peak Design Everyday Sling, which gives you enough room for everyday essentials. Consider secure sling bags with zippered pockets, too, to keep your stuff safe from pickpockets, and pair your bag with a casual chic ensemble, like a flowery sundress or jeans and blouse combo for comfort and style.

Outdoor Adventures

Next, let's focus on outdoor adventures for all the hikers, cyclists, campers, climbers, and other adrenaline addicts and nature lovers out there. These sorts of activities and settings practically require a sling bag that's built to last, made of durable fabrics, and also one that's water-resistant. Outdoorsy slings like The North Face Borealis Sling are ideal options.

Look, too, for a pack with mesh pockets for organization and protection, and quick-grab pockets around the outside so you can grab essential items on the fly. Pair your bag with activewear, hiking gear, or other outdoorsy attire.

Common Mistakes to Avoid When Choosing a Travel Sling Bag

Finally, let's review a few typical mistakes to watch out for and avoid making when selecting your sling bag

Overpacking the Bag

This applies to every kind of bag, whether it's a fanny pack or toiletry pouch: it's never a good idea to put too much into your bag. If you overstuff, you'll end up with a bag that's awkward or even painful to carry around, as well as being more likely to tear or wear down.

So, try not to fill your bag to the brim with an excessive amount of travel gear. Instead, pick one that's a good size for your everyday carry gear, and try to leave at least a little room for you to rummage around inside, move items into more comfortable places, and add any extra bits you might buy or find on your travels.

Ignoring the Fit

Again, this is a good tip for all sorts of bags: get the fit right. There's such a big difference between carrying a comfortable, well-fitting bag compared to one that doesn't fit your frame quite right. An ill-fitting bag can put tons of strain on your body, especially when carrying heavy gear, and it'll usually wear out quicker, as a result.

To avoid this, invest in good-quality bags from trusted brands that should feel comfy and pleasant to carry, with balanced weight distribution and extra strap material that you can adjust accordingly to suit your height and body type. Canvelle's sling bag, for example, comes with completely adjustable straps.

Choosing Style Over Functionality

A lot of people make the mistake of picking bags like waist packs and designer slings purely based on how they look. They see the fancy asymmetrical designs and big brand logos and don't tend to dig any deeper than that to find out how the bag was made, what features, like outer pockets, it has, or what quality of materials were used to make it.

Look deeper than the surface. Read the details and descriptions of slings and shoulder bags before buying them. Find out what kinds of internal and external materials each model has, what security features (if any) it includes, how many pockets it contains, and so on, to find a choice that fuses style with functionality.

Conclusion

As you can see, there's a lot that goes into choosing the best travel sling bag. It's never a good idea to just rush in and buy the first one you find, or order something without thinking about all the angles. Instead, take your time and think ahead. Consider how you intend to use your bag, what you want to store in it, and how much the look and style of your bag matter compared to its size and functionality.

Ideally, you want to find one that covers all the bases, being both stylish and practical at the same time. For that, the Canvelle collection is a cut above the rest, fusing style, comfort, and utility, with bags that are sure to serve you well for years to come. Check out the complete Canvelle sling bag range today and find your new favorite.

FAQs

Which is better, a sling bag or a crossbody for traveling?

Both work very well for traveling, and the right option for you will usually end up being more about personal preference than anything else. Lots of people favor slings, as they're more comfortable to wear for extended periods, thanks to their adjustable, padded straps. Slings are also a bit roomier, most of the time, with space for lots of essential items.

Is a sling bag allowed in flight?

It all depends on specific airline policies, but in general, you'll have no issue taking a sling bag on a flight. They're great carry-on travel bags, giving you the room you need to store your favorite travel products. Plus, slings offer extra security compared to other travel bags, since you hold them so close to your body, keeping personal items and fragile items extra safe.

What is the correct way to wear a sling bag?

There's no single right way to wear a sling bag. The most traditional way is to sling it over your shoulder, like the name implies, with the body of the bag on your back. You can also position the bag across your chest or at your side, which may provide easier access to stuff you need to grab on the go.

Do people still use sling bags?

Absolutely! In fact, sling bags are seeing a bit of a surge in popularity lately, similar to how the fanny pack has made a big comeback. People use them for all sorts of reasons, like storing everyday items, travel supplies, or more specific stuff, like photography gear. They're great for numerous reasons, from their simple design and roomy interiors to a comfortable carrying experience.