You’ve been thinking of getting a new bag. Your old backpack currently looks beat up and in desperate need of change. The problem is you don’t know what type of bag to buy, but you’ve fortunately narrowed it down to two—so it’s a crossbody vs shoulder bag.
When it comes to bags, of course, you want something practical but also have style. Both shoulder bags and crossbody bags fit this bill but with slight differences. We’ll talk more about these differences in the rest of this article.
For now, let’s answer the question, “What is a shoulder bag?”
What Is A Shoulder Bag?
Shoulder bags look the same as handbags but with a long strap. The strap is long enough that you should be able to sling the bag over your shoulder. Unlike handbags or pocketbooks, shoulder bags let you carry them hands-free.
However, there are also shoulder bags with a shorter strap along with the longer ones so you can carry the bag with your hands, wrist, or elbow. Here’s one thing to keep in mind—shoulder bags can also be crossbody bags, depending on the length of the strap.
Types Of Shoulder Bags
You got the answer to the question, “What is a shoulder bag?” Now, you’re wondering if there are other styles of this bag to choose from. You’re in luck because, yes, there are all kinds of shoulder bags to fit your unique tastes.
Here are some of the types of shoulder bags you’ll find:
Hobo Style
The hobo-style shoulder bag is crescent-shaped and large with large, longish straps. It’s also typically unstructured like a satchel and has a zip-top closure.
Flat Bag
Flat bags are slim and square-shaped. Unlike other shoulder bags, they have dual straps that make them similar to handbags.
One of the types of shoulder bags that also fall close to crossbody bags is the sling bag. But unlike the others, most slings contour to the body and have a diagonal strap.
Shoulder Satchels
Satchel-type shoulder bags are a smaller and medium-sized variety. They’re zip-top bags that can be either structured or unstructured with a top handle and a shoulder strap.
Camera Shoulder Bags
Camera shoulder bags are, just as the name suggests, shoulder bags where you can put your delicate camera. They are compact and typically only have one shoulder strap, but can fit a lot of camera gear.
Lady Camera Bags
Do you know that there’s another version of the camera bag designed for a handheld camera? That’s right and that’s the Lady Camera Bag, a stylish camera perfect for the ladies.
Haversack
This is a compact bag with one shoulder strap—how does it differ from other shoulder bags? Well, there’s the fact that it looks like a rucksack or a regular backpack.
Baguette Bag
This shoulder bag is curiously shaped like a French baguette, hence the name. It’s a long, narrow handbag with a long strap popularized by the TV show Sex and the City.
These aren’t all the types of shoulder bags you can find. There are also messenger bags, bucket bags, convertible shoulder bags, and more. Each of them has unique features, pros, and cons that make them ideal for whatever your purpose or need for them.
Pros And Cons Of Shoulder Bags
Before you decide to get a shoulder bag instead, let’s talk about its good points and bad points. They’ll help you figure out if a shoulder bag is indeed the type of bag you need.
Pros
Easy Access
It’s super easy to access the items you put in a shoulder bag since it only has a single strap. With this design, it’s also easy to wear and adjust the bag the way you want to wear it.
Hands-free Convenience
You wear shoulder bags simply by slinging them over the shoulder. This is a hands-free convenience that’s a really big benefit if you like to be able to do other things.
Stylish
It’s not a deal breaker, but surely, you like a stylish bag. Good thing shoulder bags are available in a wide array of colors, styles, and materials that suit different personalities.
Cons
Limited Space
Most shoulder bags are smaller than backpacks. Obviously, this means you can only carry a few things with it, making it not the ideal choice for longer than a day trip.
Uneven Weight Distribution
One of the biggest drawbacks of shoulder bags is weight distribution. Since you usually only carry the bag on one shoulder, you might experience muscle tightness, neck pain, and back pain as a result.
Security
Unfortunately, shoulder bags aren’t as secure as other crossbody bags or backpacks. It’s so much easier to grab a shoulder bag from your shoulder.
Materials
Manufacturers make shoulder bags from a wide variety of materials. Some of the most common materials include canvas, leather, nylon, polyester, and more.
But why is the material important? They’re important because they affect the aesthetic appeal and durability of the shoulder bags.
What Is A Crossbody Bag?
Now that you know shoulder bags a bit better, let’s answer the question, “What is a crossbody bag?” Crossbody bags are a type or a version of handbags with a long shoulder strap. As we mentioned before, shoulder bags are slightly different from crossbody bags.
This style of bag started back in the 1950s. Many women loved it and quickly became a staple in their fashion. Today, it remains one of the most popular types of bags, leading to the arrival of other types of bags, such as slings and messenger bags.
Try to compare crossbody vs shoulder bags, what do you think sets them apart? In the case of crossbody bags, the biggest distinction is how you wear them. Unlike shoulder bags, you typically wear a crossbody bag across the body.
Types Of Crossbody Bags
What are the different types of crossbody bags you can find? We have convertible crossbody bags, belt bags, messenger bags, minimal crossbody, and more. Ugh, but which one is which? Let’s find out!
Convertible Crossbody Bag
If you’re looking for a super versatile crossbody bag, the convertible style is perfect for you. This is because crossbody bags can be worn at least three ways—across the body, over the shoulders, or your arm.
Belt Bag
It’s as the name suggests, a belt crossbody bag is a belt bag you can wear across your body and your waist. If you like function and hands-free convenience, this style is an impeccable mix of that
Messenger Bag
Messenger bags are totes with a big main compartment and adjustable shoulder straps. It can have a flap closure or a zipped one. Either way, it’s a functional and practical bag for daily use.
Minimal Crossbody
Like simple but aesthetic bags? Minimal crossbody bags fit the bill. It suits the minimalist style since it is small enough to be a handbag. Minimal crossbody also doesn’t have many exterior details—it’s just a clean design ideal for a variety of styles.
Round Crossbody Bag
You can tell why this style is called ‘round crossbody bag’—it’s because it has a circular body shape. This makes the bag particularly trendy. So, if you want a bag that makes you stand out but is still comfortable and functional, then a round crossbody bag is it.
Oversized Crossbody
The oversized crossbody is the right fit if you need a crossbody bag with lots of space. As the name suggests, it’s big so it has plenty of storage space to carry your essentials.
Besides the types of crossbody bags we’ve mentioned, there are also the mini-bag crossbody, bucket bag, chain crossbody bag, and wallet crossbody. You’ve got plenty of styles to choose from that will match your unique needs and personal style.
Pros And Cons Of Crossbody Bags
There is a lot to love about crossbody bags, but they also have their disadvantages. Let’s talk about the pros and cons and figure out if they are more your speed than shoulder bags.
Pros
Hands-Free
You don’t need your hands to carry your bag with a crossbody bag, so that’s a big plus if you have stuff to do.
Secure
Since you wear the bag close to your body, theft and loss are two of the things you have less to worry about.
Practical
Didn’t we say your hands are free with crossbody bags? That’s because of the highly practical long strap they’re equipped with.
Versatile
Wear them across your body, in front, in the back, on your waist, or even on your shoulder—that’s how versatile crossbody bags are.
Fashionable
Crossbody bags come in all kinds of styles, materials, and colors. These make the bags a fashionable accessory that can easily match various outfits.
Cons
Limited Storage Capacity
Most crossbody bags are small, so there’s the problem of limited storage capacity. It’s definitely not ideal if you’re going on a few days trip
Strap Length
Not all crossbody bags have adjustable straps. This is a bummer if you’re taller or shorter than average because it will be difficult or uncomfortable to wear the bag.
Weight Distribution
Crossbody bags also have the same weight distribution issue as shoulder bags. The weight isn’t distributed evenly throughout the body, so it can be painful or uncomfortable to wear the bag if you carry heavy things for a while.
Materials
Depending on the design, style, and intended use, crossbody bags can be made using a variety of materials. Some of the most common materials used include leather, canvas, nylon, polyester, and suede.
Crossbody Vs Shoulder Bag: The Key Differences
Let’s talk about crossbody vs shoulder bags and explore the traits that make each of them stand out.
Wearing Style and Accessibility
Both shoulder bags and crossbody bags are accessible. You can easily access the contents of the bags either across the body or on the side by the shoulders. Aside from that, wearing either of the bags frees your hands to take a call or carry other things.
This is despite their different wearing styles. With crossbody bags, the diagonal strap means the bag stays close to your body. What’s the benefit of this?
Well, this style keeps your belongings secure, making the bag ideal to use in crowded places like the airport.
Some shoulder bags can also have this advantage, but it depends on the size, style, and the way you wear them. If you wear it traditionally, then it goes over your shoulder, which while accessible, is not as secure.
The bag can easily slip down your shoulder. If you’re in the airport and someone bumped your shoulder, the bag could easily slip.
Someone could easily grab it as well. If your shoulder bag has a long enough strap, you can wear it crossbody-style to prevent slip accidents.
Size And Capacity
In terms of size and capacity of crossbody vs shoulder bags, the former is typically smaller. Crossbody bags are generally more compact and thus, best only to carry your essentials. This minimalistic style is why many women prefer crossbody bags for daily use.
On the other hand, shoulder bags can carry more items. Of course, you’ll find smaller shoulder bags too but most of them have bigger capacity and some organizational features. Do you know that some shoulder bags can fit your essentials plus clothes and some snacks?
If you need a stylish bag as a daily carry but with enough space for more than your essentials, then the shoulder bag is a great choice.
Versatility And Usage
We love crossbody bags for a lot of things and one of them is their versatility. Shoulder bags are versatile as well. But since shoulder bags can also fall under crossbody bags, we think this crown belongs to the other bag.
It’s effortless to change the way you wear a crossbody. One time you wear it across the body, casual out front, the next time it’s on the back. 0r if it’s a belt bag, you can wear it on your waist like the go-getter that you are.
This is amazing because it makes the bag ideal for various occasions, from daily use to night parties. More than that, there’s the fact crossbody bags come in different designs that make it easy to match them with any outfit.
But what about shoulder bags? As we said, they’re versatile as well but not as much as crossbody. You can also easily switch them up between casual and formal settings, so you can definitely use them for just running an errand or going to work.
Comfort And Fit
When looking for the bag that fits you best, one of the factors you consider is comfort. Of course, you want a bag that won’t be painful or uncomfortable to wear throughout the day. Fortunately, that’s not a problem with either shoulder bags or crossbody bags.
The problem is the weight distribution, especially with shoulder bags. You can ensure you’re comfortable by fitting only the right amount of items in the bag. Also, we strongly advise you to choose a crossbody or shoulder bag with an adjustable strap.
If you get tired of wearing the bag in one way, don’t hesitate to change it another way. If you wear your bag on your shoulder and it gets tired, try switching to the other shoulder or draping it across your body instead—whatever fits your needs.
Style And Fashion
Let’s compare crossbody vs shoulder bags this time. Which one of them is someone fashion-forward like you? We think crossbody bags meet these requirements. A lot of these bags are trendy and modern while also super functional.
We have seen crossbody bags in bright, vibrant colors like red to more subdued, but stylish hues like charcoal. Besides the different styles like belt bags and chain crossbody bags, there are almost endless designs and materials to make this particular type of bag.
This is not to say that shoulder bags aren’t fashionable—they are as well. They are also diverse when it comes to style. But the colors and designs of these bags are not as preppy as a crossbody. Still, they are quite adaptable to different situations and styles.
Conclusion
So, in comparing crossbody vs shoulder bags, there’s really no winner. They are different but not in a way that makes them better than the other. If you think about it, the actual difference is just the way you wear them.
In that case, your preference matters most when deciding which one to choose. If you like to wear your bag across your body and in many different ways, then a crossbody is right for you. But if you just want to wear it on your shoulder, then shoulder bags are more your style.