I used to hate crossbody bags until I tried Peak Design’s Travel Crossbody 3L
I don’t like the word ‘ick’, but if I had to say it, it’s men in tracksuits with small manbags on their chests. I can’t think of a more depressing sight, which is why I was hesitant when Peak Design offered me their 3 liter Crossbody bag to test.
Part of the company’s new travel bag collection, the Crossbody 3L takes the DNA of Peak Design’s award-winning Tech Pouch, with origami-style pockets and sleek construction. Its 8-pocket structure allows you to carry your daily essentials such as keys, phone, wallet, etc., without having to resort to packing a full-sized backpack.
Despite my initial fears, my experience with the Peak Design Travel Weekender 25L convinced me to give the Crossbody bag a try. After all, it’s a smaller duffel version, and it looks as good as all Peak Design gear – why not give it a go? Reluctantly, I loaded the Travel Crossbody 3L, slung it across my chest, and set off.
(Photo credit: Matt Kollat)
After letting go of the thought that people might think I look ridiculous with a bag across my chest, I began to appreciate the design and features of the bag. Attention to detail is as expected of a product, meaning the bag is carefully crafted with tons of thoughtful details.
These include an anti-theft zipper pull, a hidden stash pocket on the back with a magnetic closure and a quick grab handle. Peak Design has even included a smart AirTag pocket inside, similar to the Travel Weekender, for added peace of mind.
(Photo credit: Matt Kollat)
The Crossbody uses the same UltraZip, Versa Shell 400 outer fabric and proprietary abrasion-resistant thread as its bigger siblings, which means it’s weatherproof and should last for decades, at least according to Peak Design (as a long-time Peak Design user, I tend to agree).
Not only is it packed with features, but the Crossbody 3L is also compact and lightweight, weighing only 350g and measuring 27cm x 8.5cm x 18cm. As its name suggests, it has an internal capacity of three liters, plenty of room for everyday essentials and even a small camera.
I couldn’t squeeze my Fujifilm X-T30 Mark II with a 24-70mm lens into a bag next to all my other bits, but a small camera with a cake lens should fit just fine. You shouldn’t have any problems hiding a digital camera in one of the many pockets, though!
(Photo credit: Matt Kollat)
It’s hard to deny that the Crossbody looks like a men’s wallet, in the best way. I’m not much of a small bag person – I hope I made that clear above – and I tried to stuff all my essentials into my pockets, but using a Peak Design bag made me realize there was a better way.
I can see the benefits of having a Crossbody with me, especially on tours and concerts. I recently faced this issue at the Winter Olympics in Milan with Nike, where security did not allow me to enter the speed skating arena with a small backpack. A compact crossbody like this would have saved me the walk of shame back to the car.
I recently had the opportunity to check out the Winter Olympics in Milan, and they didn’t let me into the venue with my small backpack. Having a Crossbody would prevent me from making the walk of shame back to the car to drop off my stuff.
(Photo credit: Matt Kollat)
When I used the Peak Design Crossbody 3L, it grew on me. Having all my essentials nearby, and, more importantly, organized, can make all the difference on travel days, when minor annoyances can feel much bigger than they really are. And, if you’re happy not to wear a full tracksuit setup, you won’t look ridiculous, either.
Peak Design’s little travel companion changed my mind about crossbody bags. Now, instead of dreading it, I’m actually looking forward to using the Crossbody 3L Moreboth as an everyday carry-on and as a small travel bag.
Best of all, the Travel Crossbody 3L is the most affordable option in the new range, priced at just $99.95 (~£75 / €86 / AU$142). If you pre-order within the next 29 days, you can get it for even less: $79 (~£59 / €68 / AU$112). Head over to Peak Design’s Kickstarter page to find out more.
