If you've ever walked past an AmeriBag display and thought, "What exactly is that thing? A purse? A backpack? Some kind of crossbody?" you're not alone.
The Healthy Back Bag (or HBB, as the AmeriBag folks call it) is genuinely one-of-a-kind. It isn't quite a purse, isn't quite a backpack, and isn't quite a sling. It's its own teardrop-shaped category, and once you understand the appeal, it's hard to go back.
The catch is that AmeriBag makes the Healthy Back Bag in a few different sizes, and the right one for you depends a lot on how much you actually carry, how you like to wear a bag, and what you're using it for. At U.N. Luggage, we carry four of them: the Extra Small, the Small, the Medium, and the Carry-All. Here's how to figure out which one fits your life best.
First, A Quick Word on Why These Bags Exist
Most bags pull away from your body. That tug on one shoulder is why you end up hiking your shoulder up, twisting your spine sideways, or shifting the bag from arm to arm like you're carrying a sack of potatoes. Over time, that's not great news for your back, your neck, or your mood.
The Healthy Back Bag is shaped like a teardrop on purpose. That shape lets the bag contour to your back instead of dangling off your shoulder, distributing the weight along the length of your spine rather than hanging from one single, suffering pressure point. The more of your body the bag touches, the lighter it actually feels. It's a clever bit of design, and it's the reason these bags have such a devoted following. Once people try one, they tend to stick with the brand for life.
You can wear it on either shoulder or crossbody, and the strap adjusts to suit. Comfort aside, AmeriBag also offers them in a huge range of materials, including microfiber, nylon, leather, and prints, and backs them with a 2-year warranty against manufacturing defects.
Alright, on to the sizes.
Things to Think About Before Picking a Size
Before you start eyeballing dimensions, ask yourself a few questions:
- What do I actually carry day-to-day? Be honest. If you haven't cleaned out your current bag in six months, dump it onto the kitchen table and take a look. That pile is your real answer.
- Will I wear it crossbody, on one shoulder, or both? All four sizes work either way, but bigger bags worn crossbody on a smaller frame can feel like a lot.
- What's my frame? The HBB scales with your build. A Medium on a petite person can swallow them up, and an Extra Small on someone tall can look a little dainty. Not a deal-breaker, just something to keep in mind.
- Is this for one purpose, or all the purposes? Daily errands, work bag, travel companion, weekend overnight — these are very different jobs, and the right size differs accordingly.
Got your answers? Good. Let's match you up.
The Extra Small (15") - The Compact Everyday
Dimensions: 15" x 8" x 5.5"
Capacity: 4.5 litres
The Extra Small is the bag for people who've trimmed their daily carry down to the essentials. Think phone, wallet, keys, sunglasses, lip balm, and maybe a slim paperback or a small water bottle. That's about it. AmeriBag describes it as replacing a small to medium handbag, which sounds about right.
We recommend the Extra Small for:
- Petite frames who find that larger bags overwhelm them
- Minimalists who don't want extra real estate tempting them to overpack
- Evenings out, brunches, light errands, walks
- Travellers who want a small, comfortable bag to take out of their carry-on once they've reached their destination
If your current handbag is the size of a small grocery tote and weighs ten pounds, this probably isn't your bag. But if you've been quietly considering downsizing, the Extra Small is a beautiful place to land.
The Small (17") - The Everyday Workhorse
Dimensions: 17" x 9" x 6"
Capacity: 6 litres
The Small is AmeriBag's most popular size, and for good reason. It hits the sweet spot for the largest number of people, holding all your daily essentials with comfortable room to spare, replacing a medium-to-large handbag, and working equally well at the grocery store, at the office, or boarding a plane.
We recommend the Small for:
- The everyday user who carries a sensible amount and doesn't want to think about it
- People who want a bag that handles work, errands, and weekends without swapping
- Anyone who currently uses a medium-to-large handbag and wants something more comfortable
- First-time AmeriBag buyers who aren't sure where to land — if you're stuck, this is the safest bet
If we had to pick the "if in doubt, get this one" size, this would be it.
The Medium (19") - The Do-It-All
Dimensions: 19" x 11" x 7"
Capacity: 9 litres
The Medium is for people whose bag tends to be, in AmeriBag's own words, "well-stocked." You know who you are. You're the friend everyone asks for a Band-Aid, a pen, a snack, a phone charger, or a tissue, and you produce all of them without missing a beat. The Medium gives you the room to keep being that hero, without the shoulder strain.
It's also a fantastic size for day trips and sightseeing, when you want to bring a packable jacket, snacks, a water bottle, your camera, and maybe a small umbrella, all without committing to a full backpack.
We recommend the Medium for:
- Parents and grandparents ferrying around the small-human supply kit
- Day-trippers and sightseers who need room for layers, water, and snacks
- Commuters carrying a tablet, lunch, and the daily accoutrements
- People who want one bag that flexes between everyday and travel
A note: the Medium is the size where frame really starts to matter. On a smaller person worn crossbody, it can look and feel a bit bulky. On a taller person or worn over one shoulder, it sits beautifully. If you're between the Small and the Medium and on the petite side, the Small is usually the right call.
The Carry-All (21") - The Ultimate
Dimensions: 21" x 13.5" x 8"
Capacity: 20 litres
The Carry-All is the biggest of the bunch, and the leap in capacity is significant. We're talking 20 litres, more than double the Medium. This isn't a bag, it's a travel companion. AmeriBag positions it as an overnight bag or carry-on, and it absolutely earns that title.
We recommend the Carry-All for:
- Travellers using it as a personal item on a flight (it slides under the seat in front of you on most airlines, though always double-check your airline's dimensions)
- Overnight trips when you don't need a full suitcase but want more than a daypack
- Gym days with a change of clothes, shoes, towel, and a water bottle
- Teachers, nurses, and anyone whose workday requires hauling a bit of everything
- Day trips that involve a packed lunch, layers for changing weather, and gear
The Carry-All is also a smart pick for travellers who want the comfort of a crossbody bag while still having the capacity of a small daypack. If your shoulders have ever staged a quiet protest against your usual travel bag, this is worth a serious look.
Still Not Sure?
The honest answer is that for many people, the Small is the right starting point, and the Medium is the right second bag once they're hooked. But everyone carries differently, and the only real way to know which one fits your life is to handle them in person, or to talk it through with someone who knows the line inside and out.
Drop into our store, give us a call at 1-855-943-1068, or take a look at our full AmeriBag collection online. We're happy to help you land on the right one, and we'd much rather take five minutes on the phone than have you guess and end up with the wrong size.
Happy carrying!
