A crossbody bag is the one thing you keep on you all day, which is why the details matter more than the size. Ours are built around the way things actually go wrong when you travel — zips that sit against your body rather than facing outward, straps that can't be cut through in a crowd, and an RFID-blocking pocket for cards and passports.

The smaller styles hold a phone, wallet and passport and disappear under a jacket. The larger ones take a water bottle, sunglasses and a compact camera without turning into a handbag. Both sit flat rather than swinging, which matters on a long day of walking.

Most people buy one for a trip and then keep wearing it at home, so we've kept the finishes plain enough to work with everyday clothes. If you want more capacity in the same format, the sling bags carry the same security features in a larger shape.