I first encountered the crossbody phone holder that would revolutionize my life overseas, through a European friend. While I irritably carried my cell by hand and tried to stuff it into my too-small pockets, she used the long straps of her phone case to wear her phone effortlessly around her body like a chic phone necklace.

As someone committed to — nay, hellbent on — convenience, especially of the practical variety, this contraption had my full attention. The case kept my friend’s cell readily accessible yet secure: She’d pick her phone up to type out a message or take a call, and then let the device drop, where it would land back at her side, secured by the strap.

When I returned to the States, I immediately started looking into crossbody phone cases. As I had suspected, the trend was most popular overseas and had yet to make its way to the United States.

The holder was cheap and I had a feeling I’d make good use of it, so I ordered a clear crossbody case from an Etsy store based in London. Since then, it has been a mainstay in my life. I’m able to talk on speakerphone hands-free; I can easily listen to music with my corded headphones without it being a pain; and best of all, I never drop my phone — if I do fumble it, my cell is caught by the strap before hitting the ground.

I never misplace my phone anymore — instead of being lost in the abyss of my bag, it’s right on my person. I also love that the strap is adjustable, which allows me to tighten or loosen it depending on the activity (tighter for chores, looser while lounging).

I especially appreciate my case while I’m traveling or traversing crowded spaces. Since the holder keeps my phone secured around my body, I no longer feel that my phone is simply a sitting duck. Basically, if anyone tries to snag my phone, they won’t be able to do so without taking me and the lanyard along with them. It’s a true anti-theft item.

Plus, the case is impressively sturdy for being so lightweight: The first holder I bought lasted four years of daily use, until the day I gravely chose to use my phone without wearing the crossbody strap. Alarmingly quickly, I managed to drop my phone down a storm drain, an event that I regrettably cannot blame on the lanyard or my phone. I repurchased the same case, which has since held strong for nearly two years.

I’m convinced this crossbody case is the best of simple yet utterly helpful innovations, and rest assured, I will be using mine until the day I no longer own a phone. (A day which will probably never come.)

While I love my case from AccessoriesForLifeLTD at Etsy, Etsy offers other great options. We’ve rounded up some more picks for you to consider, below.

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