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Original poster

Are any cross-body bags actually comfortable to wear?

24 replies

Wenchelda · 10/09/2014 13:34

I love the idea of cross body bags - I have 2 young children so having my hands free is a necessity. I own at least 6 bags in this style but none of them are actually comfortable for me to wear/carry. I have them in suede, leather, canvas & cotton, some have wider straps than others and all are small handbag sized so it's not like I'm carrying mountains of heavy stuff about. But all of them make my neck/shoulder hurt. What am I doing wrong?

OP posts:
Drquin · 10/09/2014 13:42

Dare I ask what sort of shape / size you are?

I am a size 18, so a few lumps and bumps and find them extremely uncomfortable. Strap feels like it's digging into my neck - my logic is that it needs to go "across" the body much more before it can go "down" iyswim! Whereas, if it could just go "down", there'd be no neck-attacks!

NannyPhlegm · 10/09/2014 13:46

Drquin, I am size 10 and the straps dig into my neck too. It's fine when empty but put anything heavier than a mint packet in it, and I end up with an aching shoulder. Neck-attack is brilliantly apt!

smellysocksandchickenpox · 10/09/2014 13:48

nope, they either have to be up high like a fanny pack or else they bang against your hips, they give you bad boobage and pull on one shoulder. Still look better than rucksacks though

pippistrelle · 10/09/2014 13:50

Maybe they're just not for you. It's my favourite style precisely because I find them more comfortable and am able to cart around all the stuff I think I need, and usually a bit of shopping added to it too. I can't do that with bags that go on one shoulder, and end up with a painful spot at the top of my spine if a bag is too heavy and I'm carrying it for too long on one shoulder.

Maybe a rucksack type if you want hands free. Not as easy in terms of access, but there are some quite nice ones around at the moment. They're not all sporty types.

Original poster
Wenchelda · 10/09/2014 13:55

I'm a size 12/14, but even when I was a size 10 I had the same problem. I find bags that hang from my shoulder but stay quite high under my arm are the most comfortable but this isn't an easy style to wear when I'm chasing after the children or trying to hold their hands. Rucksacks are the most comfortable but are then very awkward to access (and of course don't look that good either).

OP posts:
MsAdorabelleDearheartVonLipwig · 10/09/2014 13:56

I find my cross body bag fairly comfortable but if I've been out for a few hours I find it starts to pull at my shoulder a bit.

flowery · 10/09/2014 13:58

I find small ones don't give me neck/shoulder ache but larger ones definitely do, and the more the stuff there is in there the worse it is, obviously.

With my small cross body bags I can only fit keys phone purse, so they're fine.

TortoiseshellSpecs · 10/09/2014 14:01

I like them in theory but I hate the way the straps cut in the middle of boobs. Not flattering.

TortoiseshellSpecs · 10/09/2014 14:03

(I am sz8 so I don't think it is related to size at all)

Original poster
Wenchelda · 10/09/2014 14:26

I generally only have purse/keys/phone in mine but my neck and shoulder starts hurting pretty much straight away. Maybe I just have to admit defeat and accept this style of bag is no good for me :-(

There's no alternative but a rucksack, is there?

OP posts:
Sootgremlin · 10/09/2014 14:32

Kipling ones I find better for this problem as they are very lightweight before anything goes in them, they're the only cross body I can carry for any length of time without shoulder pain. As long as you don't overfill them.

Original poster
Wenchelda · 10/09/2014 14:43

I've got 2 kipling ones and have the same neck ache with them :-(

OP posts:
DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen · 10/09/2014 15:28

The only cross body bag that has a long enough strap and is comfy is a Radley. After years of scoffing at them I bought one when when I was on crutches and couldn't carry a bag-it's fantastic.

The Radley Grosvenor can be worn across the body too, it's a lovely bag.

JuneFromBethesda · 10/09/2014 16:54

I bought this Fat Face one a year ago and I love it. I've used it virtually every day and never found it uncomfortable. It's just big enough to hold my essentials, it's great.

www.fatface.com/bags/leather-flap-cross-body-bag/invt/43302

Turquoiseblue · 10/09/2014 17:25

Love cross body bags they look good and work well for me. Have had quite a few. Look towards more satchel type ones for a bit of structure.

Bunbaker · 10/09/2014 17:29

It must be to do with the body shape. I am very slim with no boobs and have never had a problem with cross body bags.

ThatBloodyWoman · 10/09/2014 17:31

No, unless you have a collar or scarf between you and it.

pinkfrocks · 10/09/2014 17:38

I'm keen to join in here.
Looking for a new bag at the moment.

Have the Radley cross body one- the basic one- but it doesn't hold that much for a day out. Even with very little in it, I find it feels heavy as if it's dragging me down. I only tend to use it when I need to take next to nothing- a small purse, a lippie, a phone, keys and my reading glasses.

I suppose I feel in principle that an across the body OUGHT to be comfy because the weight is distributed across the body evenly. I do not want a shoulder bag any more because my shoulder has dropped and that arm is longer due to carrying heavy bags.

I think my only option is a grab bag to sling over the arm, or carry, and with an optional long strap when need to be hands free.

pinkfrocks · 10/09/2014 17:39

Smelly they either have to be up high like a fanny pack or else they bang against your hips,

what is a fanny pack? Are you in the US because fanny has a very different meaning here.....

Redglitter · 10/09/2014 17:45

I have some Kipling ones and I find it very comfy and it holds a ton of stuff

Cheesymonster · 10/09/2014 18:03

Fanny pack is a bum bag.

HolgerDanske · 10/09/2014 19:07

I find them fine but it sounds like they just don't suit everyone

Oly4 · 10/09/2014 21:15

I have a few but this white stuff one is my favourite as it's so comfy

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