How To Wear a Crossbody Bag Comfortably

Place the strap diagonally across the opposite shoulder, keep your shoulders square and alternate sides.

Published November 3, 2026 · 3 min read · Topic: Size, Fit & Comfort · Size & fit

Typical situation

You wear your shoulder bag on one side, and the strap keeps sliding down while the shoulder starts to ache.

Main answer · berabags Editorial Team · Fit view

Place the strap diagonally across the opposite shoulder, square your shoulders and avoid lifting them, and switch sides from time to time. That is what AOTA advises for bags with shoulder straps, and the Ontario Chiropractic Association says that wearing the strap across the chest is ideal.

What the sources say

AOTA: for purses with shoulder straps, place the strap diagonally across the opposite shoulder to help distribute weight evenly across the back.
AOTA: square your shoulders and avoid lifting your shoulders to keep the straps from slipping.
AOTA: alternate shoulders by switching the bag from side to side.
The Ontario Chiropractic Association: do not always carry the bag on the same shoulder, and ideally wear the strap across your chest.
AAOS OrthoInfo, writing about school bags, says a crossbody bag is a good alternative for carrying books and supplies.

How to wear one

Put the strap over your head and onto the opposite shoulder.
Adjust the length so the bag sits at about hip height.
Keep your shoulders level.
Move the bag to the other side after a time.
Check that the strap is not pressing on your neck.

Why the strap slips

A strap that is too short, a raised shoulder or an uneven load can make it slip. Fix the cause and you will not need to grip the strap.

A common problem

Bags worn across the body can twist the strap against the neck, or press on the chest if the bag is heavy. If this happens, lighten the bag, move the strap to sit on the shoulder and collarbone rather than the neck, and try a wider strap. A strap that cuts in is a sign to change something rather than to put up with it.

Where this answer stops

The hip-height tip is a practical suggestion from us and not from the sources. The sources do not set a strap length, so adjust for comfort.

Sources and further reading

Three more perspectives

berabags Editorial Team · Fit view

Adjust the strap so the bag rests at about hip height. Too short and it presses under the arm, too long and it bumps against the thigh when you walk.

berabags Editorial Team · Use view

Keep the bag in front or at your side where you can see it. This also helps with the quick access you need in crowded places.

berabags Editorial Team · Purchasing view

Check the strap length range. If you are tall, or you wear thick coats, a strap with a longer adjustment range may suit you better.

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