There is no single best travel purse for every trip. If capacity and compartments matter most, Travel + Leisure names the Baggallini Modern Everywhere its best overall pick; if you want a lighter bag with reported security features, it selects the Sherpani Mina; and if slash-resistant construction is a priority, its Baggallini Securtex Anti-Theft Memento combines several security-oriented features in a smaller crossbody. These are Travel + Leisure’s evaluations, not an independent test by The Finance Base. Its published roundup does not substantiate the title’s claim of 360+ hours of testing.
How to choose a travel purse
Start with what you actually carry, then weigh that against comfort and security. A roomy bag can hold more but feel bulky when full; a compact crossbody can stay close to your body but leave less space for a book, glasses case, or other extras.
- Capacity and shape: Consider whether your usual essentials include a phone, wallet, passport, glasses, water bottle, or book. Check the bag’s dimensions and usable capacity, and consider how its shape may feel when loaded.
- Organization: Look for pockets in useful locations, quick-access storage, a key leash, or an included wristlet. More compartments can help keep items in place, but pocket count alone does not tell you whether the layout suits you.
- Comfort: Compare the bag’s empty weight, strap adjustability and padding, and any reviewer notes about how it feels to carry. Weight and strap comfort matter more over a long sightseeing day than they may during a short airport transfer.
- Security: Locking zippers, slash-resistant panels or straps, and RFID pockets are different features. They can address particular concerns, but none should be treated as a guarantee against theft or data misuse.
- Material and weather: A water-resistant bag is not necessarily waterproof. Nylon, recycled polyester, and leather also differ in appearance and feel; choose based on your practical needs and preferred style.
- Price and availability: Retail prices and listings can change. Check the current retailer listing before buying rather than relying on an older roundup’s availability note.
Three picks with published measurements and tradeoffs
Travel + Leisure says its team tested over 100 purses in U.S. city commuting, sightseeing abroad, and busy airports, assessing design, organization, capacity, quality, and value. That is the publisher’s stated methodology; it is not an independently audited test. Its roundup was updated September 14, 2026. The measurements and evaluations below are attributed to Travel + Leisure’s 2026 coverage.
| Bag | Published size, capacity, and weight | Reported strengths | Reported tradeoff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baggallini Modern Everywhere Crossbody Bag | 11 × 9 × 5 inches; 6.2 liters; 12 ounces | Water-resistant nylon, 10 pockets, and a removable RFID-blocking wristlet; reviewer found it roomy enough for a glasses case or book. | Its wide shape can feel bulky when full. |
| Sherpani Mina Medium Nylon Crescent Bag | 11 × 9 × 3 inches; 4 liters; 6.9 ounces | Adjustable shoulder or crossbody wear, locking zippers, an RFID pocket, a key leash, and water-resistant recycled polyester; reported room for a wallet, phone, glasses case, and passport. | Travel + Leisure says the polyester may look less polished than other materials. |
| Baggallini Securtex Anti-Theft Memento Crossbody | 9.75 × 7 × 1.5 inches; 8 ounces; capacity not stated by Travel + Leisure. | RFID protection, locking zippers, slash-resistant panels and straps, and water-resistant nylon; reviewer fit a phone and small wallet. | The reviewer wanted a more comfortable strap. |
Which of the three suits your trip?
Choose the Modern Everywhere for room and organization
This is the most capacity-oriented of the three measured options. Its 6.2-liter volume and 10 pockets may appeal if you want to separate several everyday items or bring a book or glasses case. The compromise is its width: Travel + Leisure’s reviewer says it can feel bulky when packed. Writer Julia Morlino described the organization this way: “Without those extra compartments, I don’t think I would’ve been able to pack as much as I did while keeping everything in place,”
#1 Best Overall
Choose the Mina for a lighter carry with security features
At 6.9 ounces, the Mina is the lightest of these three according to Travel + Leisure’s listed measurements. It combines locking zippers and an RFID pocket with a key leash and adjustable carry options. Its recycled-polyester appearance may be less polished than you want for a dressier trip, according to the roundup.
Choose the Securtex Memento for slash-resistant construction
The Memento is the smallest by listed dimensions, and the roundup describes it as fitting a phone and small wallet. Its reported combination of locking zippers, RFID protection, and slash-resistant panels and straps makes it the most feature-rich option here for travelers seeking added physical-security measures. The reviewer’s comfort caveat is the strap.
Rank #2
- Ideal for Gifting
- Ideal for a bookworm
- Compact for travelling
What the published roundup does—and does not—establish
Travel + Leisure’s roundup also lists a Longchamp Tote Bag, Tumi Persia Crossbody, and Portland Leather Koala Sling Bag, but the available published details do not establish enough about their features to compare or rank them here. The three bags above have the clearest combination of reported features, tradeoffs, and measurements in the coverage summarized.
The roundup’s statements describe the publisher’s testing and assessments. They do not establish that every named bag was personally tested by the article’s writer, that testing took 360+ hours, or that RFID and anti-theft features prevent theft in real-world use. The published figures also do not independently verify current prices, availability, or long-term durability.
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Best Value
- It can be a gift option
- Comes with secure packaging
- Helpful in various ways
Rank #4
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
