women’s big bags: how to choose well

take it from a busy business owner and mother: streamlining your life often begins with your bag. sometimes that means downsizing and carrying just the essentials… for your own liberation. other times it means finding a way to carry it all with organization and comfort… you know, for your sanity. as a bag designer, i’ve made it my job to problem-solve both scenarios. because in the real world, we face both challenges. so let’s take a look at three different ways i’ve tackled this common women’s issue by designing big bags that are not only smarter but intentionally varied — because women’s large crossbody bags, although extremely popular and for good reasons, don’t necessarily solve every problem. 

you’ve looked at designer bags, so you know there’s no rule that says big bags have to come one particular style. for shortyLOVE, i’ve designed a big bag that’s a crossbody, another that’s a backpack and also one that’s a supersized weekender tote. from this bag designer’s point of view, women’s varying needs call for different kinds of big bags. 

our crossbody and backpack keep you hands-free in different ways, and both feature a number of different details to keep you organized. our weekender tote, on the other hand, is primarily for carrying by hand and preferably for a short distance (home to car and car to airbnb, for example), with more open space and some organization. let’s take a closer look at each style and why you might choose one over another.

is a women’s large crossbody best?

among women’s first considerations when looking at big bags is whether or not we need our hands to be free while out in the world. if your answer is ‘yes’, definitely consider a crossbody! a well-made crossbody distributes the weight evenly across the torso, relieving pressure on your shoulder and back — perfect for times when you have more to carry. i designed our women’s large crossbody, the wonder, using a lightweight, soft but durable and vegan-friendly nylon twill (as with all shortyLOVE bags), because who wants a bag that weighs them down? not me. unless you wear your crossbody on your side or behind you, you will most likely carry your load in front of you. although our wonder is designed without bulk, sometimes having it in front might be awkward for you… with a kid on your hip, for instance. just swing that bag behind you and keep on living!

i combed through our large wonder crossbody reviews to see how people are using it. they’re taking this bag to work with a laptop and sundry other necessities — having their hands free to hold a coffee or open doors is key. they’re traveling and using this bag as an organized carry-on that allows them to quickly pull out credentials or their wallet from one of the many handy pockets located inside and out. they’re headed to the tennis court, gym or yoga studio and loading it with a water bottle, towel, change of clothes, etc. moms are using it as a stylish diaper bag or ‘everything’ bag for playdates. 

if you need a crossbody bag sized for everyday carry, take a look at the amuse — it’s not too big, not too small, just right! our jetty wallet/clutch fit nicely into the front outside pocket of either the wonder or the amuse. (and, you can change the whole look of your crossbody with a fun boardwalk strap! an option you don’t get with a backpack or tote.)

is a big backpack better for your load?

when you read the words ‘large backpack’, does that bring to mind hiking? middle school? no worries, i designed our large boxer backpack to be sleek, stylish, all grownup and for neither of those activities! there are two main reasons you might want to consider wearing this style of women’s big bag for your larger loads. 1. the weight is comfortably distributed across both shoulders and behind you, so it won’t get in your way. 2. because i designed our boxer backpack with a ton of clever compartments — a spacious interior, a hidden, padded laptop pocket, a separate shoe compartment, plus big and small pockets inside and out — you have more choices for organization. 

remember all the ways people use our wonder large crossbody bag? they also choose our boxer for those activities. this is a popular choice for commuting and workouts. the boxer is by far our most popular travel bag, as it fits perfectly under an airplane seat and makes a day of maneuvering airport lines much less of a struggle. it also has a strap that allows you to attach it to the handle of your rolling luggage. handy. i see from our reviews that a number of travelers like to pack our stevie cosmetic bag in their boxer, to keep their travel-sized beauty regimen on hand. the boxer is also great for that extra layer you almost always need on the plane. 

is a big crossbody tote bag for you?

there was a time when carrying a tote meant your hands would be occupied. not always ideal. but today you have options! our large, quilted ranger crossbody tote bag has handles for carrying by hand, yes, but also offers a removable, adjustable crossbody strap to free you up! even more encouraging: the ranger’s handy trolley sleeve/luggage pass-through lets you attach your bag to the handle of your rolling bag and breeze through airports and down the jetway like nobody’s business. with organization for a ton, including 2 water bottles and your laptop, you can’t go wrong. 

match your plans!

if you have just one takeaway from this blog post, i hope it’s that no single bag style is designed to slay every single activity — especially when it comes a big bag for holding everything you need comfortably and with a reasonable amount of organization. like any good tool, it makes sense to match the bag to your day. women’s large crossbody bags are stylish and solve many carrying issues, for sure, but sometimes a backpack or a tote is more practical. isn’t it a relief to know you have a choice when it comes to women’s big bags? 

xo — sloane