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If you’ve ever left the house and wished you didn’t have to carry a bag for your phone and wallet, then the favorite accessory brand for celebrities Shoulder strap might have a solution we’ve all been waiting for.
Bandolier makes wallet phone cases with crossbody straps and wrist straps so you can carry your phone and cards hands-free. Blake Lively and Selena Gomez have been spotted wearing them, so naturally we couldn’t wait to try them on.
And after a few weeks of using it, I can say one thing: it’s like having pockets! I no longer have to play the balancing game of holding my phone and a coffee in one hand as I struggle to open the door. It may not sound like much, but for a person wearing women’s clothing, the convenience of a pocket is a small miracle.
Our executive editor, Sally Kaplan, has also become a case devotee: “I use my Bandolier phone case and carrying strap literally every day. I’ve always used phone cases with wallets attached, so I was familiar with the convenience, but once I added the leash, it was game over.”
This case is a godsend for walking my dog and keeping my hands free.
Samantha Crozier/Insider Information
I have the Lena Crossbody Bag in Bordeaux Patent Leather, which comes with elegant gold chain details that make it a bit more formal than other options. I chose this one because I loved the color and wanted to be able to pair it with a wider range of outfits.
Sally Kaplan, executive editor at Insider Reviews, has also worn two styles, including the Kimberly crossbody bag set in tan and gold that comes with a detachable bagand the black and gold grained leather crossbody bag.
Two or three cards fit in the snap pocket.
Samantha Crozier/Insider Information
The phone case comes on almost all iPhone models available starting from the iPhone 6. If you have an Android, you can go for the Sheath, which fits almost all models. However, it’s more of a small bag than a phone case, as it’s not designed to fit devices other than iPhones.
The bottom of the case has loops so you can take the strap on and off when you need it.
Samantha Crozier/Insider Information
There are other types of attachments as well, including wristbands and straps with zippered pockets that look like a stylish modern utility belt.
Bandolier also sells lots of little accessories that you can clip onto your case. For example, you can add a chic hand sanitizer holderto lipstick bag with a small mirror, or a Case for AirPods It comes in almost 40 colors.
Sally has a game that comes with a simple bag accessory. “It fits my sunglasses, lip balm, gum, and sunscreen) and that the phone case itself has enough room for everything I’d carry in a wallet,” she says.
The bag is a great addition for travel.
Sally Kaplan/Insider Information
I have a couple of these cases and straps, including the one above with a Gucci-esque design, and this one a grained leather one that has a slightly longer strap. I literally never carry a bag with me again unless I’m going to a formal event, and I never lose my phone again!”
Cons to consider
You should note that Bandolier phone cases are a bit bulkier than regular phone cases, which could be a disadvantage for people who want to keep the case on their phone all the time. Where the straps connect makes the bottom a bit thicker than you might be used to.
If you, like me, want to keep a regular, slimmer case on your phone and then switch to the Bandolier case when needed, it can be a little tricky to open and close at first. The case is super sturdy so it holds your phone tight, but after using it for a while and taking it in and out, it became loose enough that it wasn’t hard to put it on my phone anymore.
The bottom line
If you are someone who always wishes to have pockets, then this is the case for you. It is very convenient to carry your phone and wallet while you are hands-free. There are also plenty of useful add-ons if you want to carry accessories like your AirPods.
