This Clever Bag Hack Helps Save Me So Much Legroom in Coach — and It’s Only $20 at Amazon

Prior to making the cross-country move from Texas to New York City, my long-distance boyfriend and I would have to travel four hours by plane just to see each other. Besides missing each other for weeks on end, one of the more difficult tribulations of our relationship was the frequent travel: One of us would fly to the other every other month or so. By the end of our long-distance period, I had become a pro at navigating JFK and DFW — two of the largest international airports in the United States — and packing for carry-on-only travel.

Considering how often I was flying back and forth, paying the checked bag fee time and time again just wasn’t an option for my budget. And since most flights only allow you to bring on board a carry-on bag suited for the overhead bins and a personal item that can fit below the seat in front of you, I was desperate for ways to pack more items with me. I soon discovered that I could pack more stuff for my NYC trips by maximizing my on-person storage; just a few flights into our cross-country love story, I began saving valuable carry-on thanks to this small-yet-roomy $20 Lecxci sling bag. 

Lecxci Crossbody Sling Bag

Much like a belt bag or fanny pack, this sling bag sits close to the body; therefore, it’s usually seen as part of your outfit versus an additional bag, which is why I bought it in the first place. Funnily enough, I actually bought my first Lecxci bag second-hand. I had stumbled upon the purple shade while browsing for travel-friendly sling bags at my local thrift store back in Texas, and I was quickly impressed by its retro, color-blocked style and its functional bells and whistles. It’s incredibly lightweight thanks to the scratch-resistant nylon and mesh materials, and it lays completely flat when empty, making it easy to stash in my suitcase when not in use. 

After using it as an airport travel bag, I fell in love, and ultimately decided to hunt online to see how much it costs to buy new. Once I found out it was just $20 on Amazon, I scooped up a second one in the teal color. It was at this point that I learned that it came in a larger size, too; the space and size of the small version had been so convenient, however, that I ended up buying the small version again. Now, it’s my go-to bag for just about everything.

Lecxci Crossbody Sling Bag

Just how much can this small sling bag carry, you may ask? A lot, actually: I’m able to carry my chunky over-ear Bluetooth headphones, my keys, my bifold wallet, sunglasses, a water bottle, hand lotion, lip balm, my iPhone, a bag of trail mix, and charging cables all at once. I even found out that it’s long enough to hold an expandable umbrella (a genius discovery I made while on a particularly rainy trip to NYC). 

This impressive amount of storage space is all thanks to the multiple pockets stitched into the bag, including a small zippered front compartment, a large zippered main compartment, and an expandable, discreet zippered pocket on the crossbody strap that’s big enough to hold my must-have essentials for long-haul flights. The storage options don’t stop here, though: Inside the front pocket is a mesh zippered pocket perfect for housing loose change, hair ties, or cough drops, and the main compartment has a built-in padded sleeve that’s big enough to hold an iPad Mini.   

Lecxci Crossbody Sling Bag

Outside of the storage possibilities, I love that this sling bag has a loop at the top, a great feature for keeping it up and off of airport bathroom floors. I also love the padded, adjustable crossbody strap. Being able to tighten and loosen it has been huge for keeping my back and shoulders comfortable. Outside of travel, it’s proven to be an invaluable “everyday” bag: So far, I’ve taken this bag to music festivals and Disney World, plus on day hikes and across the city while running errands. 

This bag quickly became my secret space-saver for all things travel, and apparently, over 2,000 Amazon shoppers love it just as much as I do. Many five-star reviewers echo how much space it holds, with one shopper sharing that it’s “cute,” “comfortable,” and big enough to hold snacks for three kids. One reviewer even loved their first one so much, they bought it in another color — just like I did!

The Lecxci sling bag is hardly the only option on Amazon, though. Ahead are five crossbody bags worth checking out, too, starting at just $10. 

More Amazon Sling Bags to Shop:

Ododos Daily Sling Bag

Loowoko Crossbody Sling Bag

G4Free Sling Bag

Waterfly Crossbody Sling Bag

Banelu Small Sling Bag

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