When I travel on vacation, I like to have a lightweight bag for sightseeing. While I sometimes carry a backpack for long days away from my hotel, I prefer a smaller, travel-friendly bag for touring. A backpack is often too heavy when I'm doing lots of walking, shopping, and sightseeing.
Any small travel handbag or bum bag I choose to use should be lightweight, anti-theft, and secure to my body. It also needs to be small, but large enough to hold essentials like medication, my wallet, a portable charger, tissues, and a lip balm. I recently received a sample of the Arden Cove Bum Bag for review, and it's a fantastic option for traveling, especially through crowded sightseeing areas.
Disclosure: I received a complimentary Arden Cove Anti-Theft Bum Bag for review. All opinions are my own. This post contains affiliate links and a purchase through one of these links may result in a commission paid to us at no additional cost to you.
Arden Cove Bum Bag Review
Arden Cove Bum Bag Features
When you purchase your Arden Cove Bum Bag, you'll have to choose a few options. First, you can choose from four color variations: black with gold, black with gunmetal, brown with gold, and taupe with gold.
Then, you can choose among the strap options. You can choose from seven options, including vegan leather and jacquard variations, plus size options. I chose the Slash-Resistant Jacquard Medium Strap, so I could wear it crossbody or as a bum bag (I'm 4'11'').
Features of this bag include:
- RFID-blocking built-in wallet
- Hidden pocket on the back
- Slash-resistant lining
- Water-resistant material
- Locking clasps on the strap
- Exterior pouch on the front
- Four mesh pockets on the interior main pouch
- Card slots in the front pouch
- Height: 6", width: 3.5 (tapers down smaller), length: 7.5-9.25".
- Weighs 0.732 lb
- Zippers can attach to metal clips on the bag, preventing someone from quickly unzipping the bag in a crowd
I especially love the locking clasps on the strap. On more than one occasion, the strap on a bag I was wearing has fallen off. I like that they add an extra layer of protection to keep that from happening.
Using the Arden Cove
The Arden Cove Bum Bag is great for travel, but it isn't just for traveling. It's a great everyday bag, especially if you don't have much to carry.
To pack it, I put my essential cards in the card slots in the front pouch. I also add my printed boarding pass in there and my driver's license. The back hidden pouch is best for your passport, since it seals tightly and stays closest to your body.
I wear my phone on a lanyard, so I can quickly take photos. But you can also slide a phone in the main pouch.
The main pouch is where you can add your daily essentials. I have a nail file, AirPods, my keys, a portable charger, a small sunscreen, my pill case, hand sanitizer, sunglasses, eye drops, and lip balm in mine.
I prefer to wear mine as a crossbody chest bag, so it sits close to my body. If I were wearing it over a coat, I would probably want a larger strap. You can also use it as a bum bag by shortening the strap.
Limitations
As a bum bag, there are some limitations to when you can use this. If you are carrying lots of things, like full-size sunscreen, snacks, water bottles, etc., it won't all fit in this bag. Large sunglass cases will also take up a lot of space.
Who the Arden Cove Bum Bag is Good For
The Arden Cove Bum Bag is good for the following:
- At the airport: Wear it around the airport and tuck it into your personal item when boarding the plane
- On city tours: Load up your essentials and just carry this. The anti-theft features make it useful for crowded destinations.
- On day trips: Pack a travel backpack to keep in the car/bus, and just carry this as you travel around
- For theme parks: This is a fantastic theme park bag if you aren't carrying stuff for the whole family.
You can purchase the Arden Cove Bum Bag on their website.
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