Sling vs. Crossbody: What's The Difference?
In short, a sling is a type of crossbody bag, but not every crossbody is a sling.
A sling typically refers to a compact, casual bag designed to keep your everyday essentials close at hand and easy to access. The term crossbody, on the other hand, describes how a bag is worn: across the body with the strap resting on the opposite shoulder.
While the terms are often used interchangeably, we like to distinguish between them based on form, function, and carrying capacity. Whether you’re looking for a streamlined sling for your daily essentials or a roomier crossbody for carrying more throughout the day, there’s an option to fit your routine.
Explore our Sling & Crossbody Collection below to find the size, style, and carry that works best for you.
Check out this short for more information.
JUST THE ESSENTIALS
ESSENTIAL iPHONE POUCH
Best for: Ultra-minimalists, travelers, and anyone who wants completely empty pockets.
This is the smallest and simplest option in the lineup: just enough room for your phone, wallet, earbuds, keys, and a passport. At only 0.8 liters, it practically disappears while you're wearing it. It’s especially useful for traveling, sightseeing, navigating airports, or simply for days when you don't have access to jacket pockets.
SHINJUKU SLING
Best for: Everyday carry when your pockets aren't quite enough.
Compact, lightweight, and easy to keep close, the Shinjuku Sling is sized for your phone, wallet, keys, earbuds, sunglasses, and a few extras. It’s a natural choice for walking around town, dog walks, and other grab-and-go outings.
GRAMERCY LEATHER SLING
Best for: Minimalists who want their everyday carry to look a little more sophisticated.
The all-leather Gramercy Sling keeps your phone, wallet, keys, sunglasses, and other essentials organized without weighing you down. Its refined full-grain leather construction makes it particularly well suited to dinners, city outings, travel, or everyday situations where a sporty sling feels too casual.
ESSENTIALS + MORE ROOM
SHINJUKU CROSSBODY
Best for: Urban explorers who carry a tablet or e-reader along with their everyday essentials.
Made for navigating busy streets and crowded spaces, the Shinjuku Crossbody gives you more breathing room than our smaller sling offerings without feeling too bulky. It fits an iPad mini or Kindle along with your everyday essentials, making it a versatile companion for commuting, coffee-shop hopping, or a full day exploring the city.
HUDSON LEATHER CROSSBODY
Best for: Anyone who wants the refinement of a leather bag with more room than a minimalist sling.
The Hudson bridges the gap between compact everyday carry and a traditional shoulder bag. At 3.5 liters, there’s room for an iPad mini, phone, wallet, keys, and other daily gear, while the full-grain leather construction dresses up easily. Reach for it whenever you want to carry more without stepping up to a messenger bag.
TABLET/LAPTOP CARRY
SUTTER TECH SLING
Best for: Tech-heavy commuters and creatives who want good carrying capacity in a more agile form-factor.
The Sutter Tech Sling is a WaterField classic. It's the perfect choice when your everyday carry includes more than just pocket essentials. The padded device compartment accommodates tablets and small laptops, while the sling design lets you swing your gear around for quick access. Great for commuting, sketching at a café, working remotely, or spending the day around town with your tech in tow.
ESSENTIAL CROSSBODY
Best for: Anyone who wants the lightest, most streamlined way to carry an iPad or MacBook.
Available in multiple device-specific sizes, the Essential Crossbody scales from an iPad mini size all the way up to a 14-inch MacBook Pro. Dedicated device storage and an easy-access exterior pocket keep everything organized without the bulk of a traditional laptop bag. Ideal for commuting, meetings, campus, coffee-shop work sessions.
SPECIALTY CROSSBODIES
VERSUS GAMING SLING
Best for: Handheld gamers who want to have their consoles close at hand.
Designed specifically around portable gaming devices, the Versus Gaming Sling gives your handheld a padded compartment while organizing chargers, cables, headphones, and other accessories up front. It can even accommodate two handheld consoles. Ideal for flights, conventions, commuting, or simply bringing your setup along for the day.
PACKABLE MESSENGER
Best for: Travelers who want an extra everyday bag without sacrificing suitcase space.
Pack it for the flight, then pull it out when you arrive. The Packable Messenger folds into its own pocket but opens into a polished everyday bag with room for an 11-inch iPad, small camera, and daily essentials. It’s an especially good choice for sightseeing, urban exploration, and trips where you want a lightweight second bag for daily use.
