Lanyard and Crossbody Cases

Wear the phone, do not hold it

A crossbody case lets you wear your phone on a strap across your body or round your neck, so it is to hand without holding it or reaching into a pocket. It suits travel, shopping, festivals, walking the dog and days with the children, and anyone who has left a phone on a café table. The phone hangs at your side, ready for a photo or a map, and is harder to put down and forget.

A case with a strap, or a strap for your case

This range has both. Some are cases with a strap that comes with them, such as a soft TPU shockproof case with a braided crossbody cord. Others are straps on their own that fit the case you already have:

• Straps for cases with holes. A strap with two loops fits a case that has two small holes at the bottom edge. See cases with lanyard holes.
• Straps with a universal clip or tab. A thin tab sits between the phone and the case, with its loop out through the charging-port opening, so it works with almost any case. See lanyard patches and tethers.
• Adjustable straps change length to wear across the body or round the neck. See adjustable crossbody lanyards.
• Beaded and braided straps are as much jewellery as strap, from pearl beads to braided cord. See beaded and braided crossbody lanyards.

Getting the length right

Across the body, the phone should sit at your hip, where it is easy to lift and look at. Round the neck it hangs at your chest. An adjustable strap lets you change between the two. The guide to crossbody phone lanyards explains strap types and fitting in full.

Questions people ask about lanyard and crossbody cases

Will a strap fit my case?

A strap with a tab fits almost any case, because the tab sits inside it. A strap with loops needs a case with holes for them.

Is a crossbody strap safer in the street?

It is harder to drop, and harder to leave behind on a seat or a counter. The Metropolitan Police's advice on phone snatching is still worth following: look up, watch for bikes and mopeds, and stand back from the kerb when you use your phone.

Can I charge with the tab in place?

Usually, yes, because the tab has a gap for the plug. Check the opening on your case is wide enough.

More to look at

• Adjustable crossbody lanyards
• Beaded crossbody lanyards
• Lanyard patches and tethers
• Cases with lanyard holes
• Crossbody phone bags
• Phone charms, straps and lanyards
• Guide: How to choose a phone case: the UK buying guide
• Guide: Crossbody phone lanyards: how to choose and fit one