This crossbody bag was my VIP travel bag in Italy and it’s on sale for just $22

Summer is in full swing, and that means it’s time to travel. Whether you’re hopping on a plane and heading out of the country or simply driving to your favorite campsite for the weekend, you need the right luggage. And that’s where this crossbody bag comes in handy—and at a very reasonable price.

I recently embarked on an adventure through Italy, where I got to test out what shoppers called “the perfect solution” for on-the-go storage: the Waterfly Crossbody Sling Backpack. And readers, I’m here to tell you that this bag is in fact Ideal for day trips to theme parks, landmarks, and more. Right now, Amazon’s best-selling super sling is discounted to $22, over 30% off.

Why is this a good deal?💰

Right now, you can get this travel companion for $22 instead of $35 (don’t miss the coupon on the page), and I can assure you it’s totally worth it. It comes in 20 colors, but we haven’t seen this crossbody bag discounted since January. (Note that prices vary by color.) Now’s the time to grab one at a discount if you’re getting ready to hit the road.

Why do I need this? 🤔

This crossbody backpack was the only “bag” I took on our whirlwind trip through Italy—including Rome, Cinque Terre, Florence, and Pompeii—and it held up remarkably well during our 10-day adventure. That’s no small feat: It was raining heavily for much of our time there, and on some days, we walked 20,000 steps or more. Not only did the bag have to withstand the wet conditions, but it also had to endure the rigors of heavy use: me constantly putting it on and taking it off, adjusting the strap, and undoing it multiple times a day. It also had to carry enough gear to get me through up to 12 hours of sightseeing.

And guys: He did wonderfully.

The real value here: The level of organization and storage space offered by such a deceptively sleek and compact bag. There are a ton of compartments: a larger main zippered compartment, a slip pocket that closes with the bag, a small zippered compartment in the front, two mesh side water bottle holders, a small zippered pocket on the strap, and more. With all of this, I was able to be prepared for anything. Some days I could fit a travel umbrella, reusable water bottle, wallet, passport, guidebook (thanks, Rick Steves), snacks, sunglasses, scarf, Kindle, extra battery and cables, headphones, iPhone, toiletries and medications, selfie stick, and even more. Phew! That’s an absurd amount considering the bag isn’t exactly huge, at 15 by 7 by 3.5 inches.

Oh, yes: it was comfortable. The shoulder strap is well padded, but if your shoulder gets tired, the bag converts into a fanny pack (not necessarily done to do this, but it works perfectly fine). It also washes easily — my trusty sugar-free Red Bull spilled into one of the pockets, but I simply rinsed the bag at the hotel and let it air dry, and it was fine the next day.

What the critics say 💬

Nearly 30,000 Amazon reviewers have also given the Waterfly crossbody backpack a travel-ready five-star rating, with many highlighting its size, compartments, and lack of bulk.

Pros 👍

“I bought this bag for a trip to Universal Orlando with my son for his 11th birthday. This bag was perfect!” raved one shopper. “It held everything we needed: snacks, rain gear, sunscreen, hand sanitizer, wipes, and even water bottles (I used 9oz S’Well bottles, which I highly recommend). I even threw in a pair of plastic Birkenstocks one day for the water rides. The bag on the strap fit my iPhone 15 Pro as well as my sunglasses.”

One Disney fan shared: “Based on several positive recommendations from various Disney blogs and discussion forums, I purchased this for my trip to Disneyland. It was truly the perfect size, with enough storage to hold everything I needed to store. … It’s easy to put on and take off, and with a quick change of clips, you can switch which shoulder it’s on. You can wear it on your front or back. It’s durable and keeps your contents dry in the rain or on a wet ride through a park. … I highly recommend this backpack, and this is from someone who also owns other day packs from Osprey and Camelback.”

“As a frequent traveler, especially now retired, finding the perfect bag for my needs has been a priority,” another fan wrote. “This backpack is impeccably designed, striking the right balance between size and functionality. … It’s a reliable travel companion, making organization and accessibility a breeze.”

Cons 👎

One Disney parent gave the bag a five-star rating, but noted a few areas where even this fan favorite could be improved: “One: Add a flap, lock, elastic strap, or something similar to the outer mesh pouches so nothing can fall out. Two: Add a second clip (like the one for keys), buried in the ‘roof’ of the main bag or somewhere else so I can attach an Apple AirTag to it.”

Another shopper wrote: “This is a great bag for traveling. My only wish is that the phone pocket on the strap could be adjusted in position.”

The analyses cited above reflect the most recent versions at the time of publication.

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