Best Products Style Shopping Sling Bags Are a Surprisingly Helpful Accessory During the Pandemic — Here Are 8 We Love Say "hello" to your new favorite accessory. By Madeline Diamond Madeline Diamond Twitter Madeline Diamond is an Associate Commerce Editor for Travel + Leisure, where she covers news and deals about travel products, such as luggage, fashion, and tech. Originally from California, she now lives in Brooklyn and can often be found in her favorite park with a cappuccino in hand. She brings her lifelong love of travel to her role, especially when it comes to researching and reviewing the best travel products on the market.Madeline Diamond has been with Travel + Leisure since 2019, where she started as an Associate Digital Editor, then joined the commerce team in 2021.In addition to her work on the commerce team, she also frequently writes features, profiles, and trend pieces about the culture of travel.Madeline has also been published in Apartment Therapy, The Huffington Post, and Business Insider.Madeline attended Bucknell University, where she studied creative writing and American history. She was on staff of The Bucknellian student newspaper all four years and was named editor-in-chief during her junior year. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines Updated on March 11, 2021 Share Tweet Pin Email We independently research, test, review, and recommend the best products—learn more about our process. If you buy something through our links, we may earn a commission. Photo: Courtesy of of Caraa From wearing face coverings in public to keeping a bottle of hand sanitizer nearby at all times, there are many ways we've adjusted to life amid the pandemic over the course of the last year. One of the adjustments I've made in my everyday life is changing the type of bag I carry while doing everyday tasks. I've long been a fan of the canvas tote, but after realizing how easily these bags get dirty, I've become an unsuspecting fan of the sling bag. Other variations include belt bags, fanny packs, and waist packs, but these bags all serve one main purpose: they're designed for close-to-the-body, hands-free carrying. Related: More must-have bags I realized recently just how much sense sling bags make for everyday life in the midst of a pandemic, as well as how functional they'll be for future travel. Whether I'm doing errands around my neighborhood or going for a bike ride, a sling (in particular, the Small Sling from Caraa) has been my go-to bag recently. It keeps my essentials close, and, most importantly, prevents me from having to set my bag down anywhere, whether I'm on the subway or sitting in the park. There are a ton of options when it comes to these bags, from sporty packs that avid hikers will love to modern, stylish options that beg to be worn with a pair of chic bike shorts or thrown over a stylish puffer coat, so we rounded up a variety of sling bags to showcase how versatile they are. Keep reading for my favorite sling bag, and seven other stylish options that will become your go-to. Caraa Small Sling Courtesy of Caraa Caraa offers a sling bag in two sizes, although I prefer the convenience of the smaller one. It has a total of six pockets, including four on the exterior that keep essentials within close reach. The adjustable strap allows you to wear the bag three ways — on your chest, on your back, or around your waist. Plus, it's made from water-repellant nylon, so I know my belongings are safe and sound while I'm out and about, no matter what the weather throws at me. To buy: caraasport.com, $95 Rothy's Belt Bag Courtesy of Rothy's To buy: rothys.com, $165 Everlane ReNew Transit Bag Courtesy of Everlane To buy: everlane.com, $35 Baggu Fanny Pack Courtesy of Baggu To buy: baggu.com, $48 Lululemon Everywhere Belt Bag 1L Courtesy of Lululemon To buy: lululemon.com, $38 Bellroy Sling Bag Courtesy of Amazon To buy: amazon.com, from $79 Fjällräven Kånken Sling Crossbody Bag Courtesy of Nordstrom To buy: nordstrom.com, $65 Cotopaxi 3L Bataan Fanny Pack Courtesy of Amazon To buy: amazon.com, $30 Love a great deal? Sign up for our T+L Recommends newsletter and we'll send you our favorite travel products each week. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit