Travelon Anti-Theft Crossbody Bucket Bag Review

Product Review Summary

Travelon’s Anti-Theft Crossbody Bucket Bag may not be the best everyday bag, but it’s sure to come in handy while you’re traveling. It’s equipped with tons of secure features like slash-resistant mesh, locking compartments, and RFID-blocking card slots.

Ratings

  • ★★★★★

    While this design weighs just over a pound, it somehow felt like more than that; I wouldn’t necessarily call it heavy, but it seemed bulkier than 1.1 pounds (which is considerably lightweight). Even still, I didn’t mind the ‘bulk’ because I was too busy being in awe of the construction. There’s no question this bag is well-made, and I recognized its durability before I ever took it out on a test run. The craftsmanship is definitely commendable, and makes it easy to see why Travelon has earned such a positive reputation among its customers.

  • ★★★☆☆

    One of the many useful features of this bag is that its crossbody strap can be adjusted to your preference. For whatever reason, I find that this length is more comfortable and that it gives me easier access to each compartment. I will say that while I admire the quality of this bag, it does feel cumbersome to me. I think I might be better suited for Travelon’s Mini Shoulder Bag, though I realize I’d have less storage capacity with that style.

  • ★★★★☆

    Despite my hang ups about the bag’s size, there’s no way I could deny it’s a great deal. On top of its beautiful construction, it has substantial storage throughout. There’s a zippered pocket on the back, zippered and slip pockets on the front, expandable sections on the sides, plus an interior zippered pocket (and interior card holders to boot).

  • ★★★★☆

    Travelon focuses on ethical practices at every stage of their design, manufacturing, and supply chain processes. This involves conducting extensive testing to ensure the quality and durability of their (responsibly-sourced) materials. In turn, this testing extends the product life cycle, conserves material resources, and helps customers get the most of their purchase. In other words, Travelon’s bags are built to be used over and over again — thus reducing consumption (and the waste associated with it).

Pros:

  • Versatile design with ample storage

  • Quality materials and craftsmanship

  • Water- and dirt-resistant fabric

  • Adjustable, slash-resistant strap

  • RFID-blocking card organizer

Cons:

  • Shape is somewhat bulky and/or wide

  • Polyester may not suit everyone’s aesthetic


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Travelon has been delighting customers for decades with their functional designs and patented anti-theft technology. From their bags and wallets, to their accessories and electronics, each of Travelon’s products are thoughtfully created with your safety and mobility in mind. In this review, we’re doing a deep dive into Travelon’s Anti-Theft Crossbody Bucket Bag, which happens to be one of the signature pieces in the brand’s Classic Collection.

Travelon: What To Know About the Brand

Travelon’s mission is to ‘make products that solve real-world travel problems,’ and to help their customers ‘go further, see more, and have better travel experiences.’ The brand’s founder, Don Godshaw, has always been an avid traveler — and yet, he found that most of his travel bags weren’t really cutting it in terms of safety and functionality. That’s why he set out to create a line of bags with high performance, security, and organizational features that could easily withstand the rigors of travel. This also meant incorporating quality materials and construction standards into his designs, to ensure their durability across a wide range of conditions or climates. 

For the last 40+ years, Travelon has continued to uphold Godshaw’s original vision for the brand — one that embodies a spirit of both excellence and innovation. And it’s this desire to innovate that sets the company apart from its competitors; to date, Travelon has been awarded over 130 patents on its products (making them a real trailblazer in their field). Without a doubt, Travelon has *secured* its position as a go-to brand for safe, reliable travel bags and accessories.

Travelon Anti-Theft Crossbody Bucket Bag Review

We’ve read rave reviews about Travelon for a while now, so we were super excited to see whether one of their bestselling designs lived up to all its hype. The following is a review of Travelon’s Anti-Theft Crossbody Bucket Bag, purchased in the Midnight color.

Unpacking and First Impressions

My Travelon order arrived super fast and plainly packed; it was shipped in a nondescript poly mailer, and inside, the product was wrapped in a clear plastic bag. Although the packaging wasn’t very memorable, I still appreciated the no-fuss approach using minimum materials. The bag was significantly wider than I was expecting, but I suppose it’s on par with similar bucket styles. I did like that Travelon included a small informational tag, which gave some insight into the product’s five-point anti-theft security system: locking compartments, locking straps, slash-resistant strap, slash-resistant body panels, and RFID-blocking technology.

Quality of Materials

This crossbody is made from a durable polyester that is water- and dirt-resistant to keep your bag looking new. But while this design weighs just over a pound, it somehow felt like more than that; I wouldn’t necessarily call it heavy, but it seemed bulkier than 1.1 pounds (which is considerably lightweight). Even still, I didn’t mind the ‘bulk’ because I was too busy being in awe of the construction. There’s no question this bag is well-made, and I recognized its durability before I ever took it out on a test run. The craftsmanship is definitely commendable, and makes it easy to see why Travelon has earned such a positive reputation among its customers.

Sizing and Fit

One of the many useful features of this bag is that its crossbody strap can be adjusted to your preference. I’m sure there are travelers who favor a low-slung look, but I’m prone to wearing this bag a little higher (where it rests on my hip). For whatever reason, I find that this length is more comfortable and that it gives me easier access to each compartment. I will say that while I admire the quality of this bag, it does feel cumbersome to me. I think I might be better suited for Travelon’s Mini Shoulder Bag, though I realize I’d have less storage capacity with that style.

Value for Money

Amazon shoppers can purchase this bag in Nutmeg for under $40, though the other colors run a few dollars more. Despite my hang ups about the bag’s size, there’s no way I could deny it’s a great deal. On top of its beautiful construction, it has substantial storage throughout. There’s a zippered pocket on the back, zippered and slip pockets on the front, expandable sections on the sides, plus an interior zippered pocket (and interior card holders to boot).

But that all goes without mentioning this bag’s amazing security features: slash-resistant mesh barrier in all four sides (and bottom body panels), slash-resistant and lock-down strap, locking compartments, and RFID-blocking technology to protect your credit cards. It’s difficult to put a price on your peace of mind, but this bag is a pretty worthy investment all the same.

Sustainability Efforts

Travelon focuses on ethical practices at every stage of their design, manufacturing, and supply chain processes. This involves conducting extensive testing to ensure the quality and durability of their (responsibly-sourced) materials. In turn, this testing extends the product life cycle, conserves material resources, and helps customers get the most of their purchase. In other words, Travelon’s bags are built to be used over and over again — thus reducing consumption (and the waste associated with it). 

In addition, Travelon only partners with vendors who value ethical treatment for workers, safe working conditions, and sustainable manufacturing practices. This means vendors must provide fair compensation and a safe work environment, as well as limit the hours worked each week.

The Bottom Line

Travelon has thousands of positive reviews (and loyal customers) for good reason — their bags are versatile, well-constructed, and guaranteed to keep your belongings safe. Although their crossbody bucket bag isn’t something I’ll wear on a daily basis, I will certainly use it while traveling. It has tons of smart features and thoughtful details that make it a good value for the money, and it can hold everything from a tablet to your water bottle to those must-have souvenirs you can’t live without. The bottom line: this bag is a Grade A travel companion.


Travelon Bags FAQs

What are the safety features of Travelon bags?

The safety features of Travelon bags may differ slightly (depending on the specific product), but many of their designs include anti-slash fabric and straps, locking zippers, and RFID-blocking pockets. These details protect your belongings from pickpockets or potential security threats.

How do I clean my Travelon bag?

Travelon bags made from polyester, nylon, and cotton can be spot cleaned with a clean, damp cloth (but should not be machine washed). Similarly, if you purchased a leather or vegan leather bag, it can also be spot cleaned but kept out of conventional washing machines.

Do Travelon bags come with a warranty?

Though Travelon bags have been manufactured to provide years of trouble-free use, they do come with a two-year warranty from the original purchase date. Keep in mind, this warranty only applies to customers in the U.S. and Canada, and is limited to the retail value of the product.

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