Polène Shoulder Bags: Shuldo, Neyu, Nodde Hobo and Strap Lengths

Polène shoulder bags range from the huge, strapless Shuldo hobo to the small round Tonca, with the Neyu, Osmo, Nodde Hobo, Numéro Neuf East West, Mokki and Numéro Dix in between. The best everyday Polène shoulder bag for most people is the Numéro Neuf East West for capacity, the Neyu for a light sling, and the Numéro Dix when you want one bag that goes from shoulder to crossbody.

Polène is the Paris leather-goods house founded in 2016 by Antoine Mothay with Mathieu and Elsa Mothay, and its bags are made by artisans in Ubrique, Spain. This guide compares strap lengths, shapes and what each holds, and explains which Polène bag answers a search for a sling, a hobo, a saddle bag, a crescent bag and a dumpling bag. If you mostly wear your bag across the body, our existing guide to Polène crossbody bags goes further on that.

Polène shoulder bags compared

Strap length decides how a shoulder bag sits, so we list it beside the brand’s measurements. The figures are total strap lengths as Polène publishes them.

The Shuldo: the big Polène hobo

The Shuldo takes its name from the way it wraps around you on the shoulder. There is no strap at all, just a cut-out handle in textured Spanish calf, and the body falls in a soft slouch against your side. At 49 x 56 x 10 cm it carries a 13-inch laptop, an A4 notebook and a jumper, with a zipped pocket inside the suede lining for keys. It weighs 980 g, so it is a bag for people who carry a lot anyway.

The Shuldo in Ebony Bag is a dark chocolate that hides wear, the Shuldo in Black Cherry Bag is a deep red, and the Shuldo in Desert Bag is a sandy shade for warmer months. Our Polène tote bags guide shows how the Shuldo works as a work carry.

Neyu: the Polène sling bag

The Neyu is the closest thing Polène makes to a sling. It is cut from Dutch nappa calf, draped around a central fold and shaped to hug the body, with a wide strap that adjusts from 61 to 85 cm for shoulder and crossbody wear. The zip sits on the back, against you, which is reassuring in a crowd. At 40 x 15 x 8 cm and 350 g it takes a phone, a long wallet, keys and sunglasses without bulk.

Its long, curved outline also answers the crescent bag search: worn on the shoulder, the Neyu tucks under the arm in a soft half-moon. The Neyu in Black Bag is the safe choice, the Neyu in Cognac Bag shows the nappa’s sheen, and the Neyu in Smoky Green Bag is a muted green. For crescent shapes from other houses, see our crescent moon bags guide.

Osmo and Tonca: the baguette and the dumpling

The Osmo is a flap bag cut inside and out from smooth Dutch nappa calf, with two concealed magnets wrapped in leather and an engraved Polène buckle on the strap. It measures 25.5 x 12 x 5.5 cm and weighs 380 g. Worn short, baguette style, it sits right under the arm; it holds a phone, a cardholder and a lipstick. The Osmo in Sand Bag is a pale neutral, the Osmo in Black Bag the evening pick, and the Osmo Edition Smooth Black With Ecru Stitching Bag adds contrast thread.

The Tonca is the answer to a dumpling bag search. Its leather is shaped around a wooden mould, so the body is round and full, with folds that run into a twisted metal buckle. At 17 x 24 x 7 cm and 366 g, it carries a phone, keys and a cardholder. The strap adjusts from 32 to 59 cm, short as a baguette and longer on one arm. The Tonca in Cognac Bag and the Tonca in Chalk Bag show off the contrast of smooth and textured leather. We cover sizing and fit in the Polène Tonca guide.

Nodde Hobo: the zipped hobo

The Nodde Hobo is two interlocking pieces of smooth Italian calf, named after the French nœud, a bow and a knot. It measures 26 x 28 x 6 cm and weighs 725 g. The strap runs from 52 cm, a true shoulder length, to 105 cm for crossbody wear. A zip closes the top and a suede pocket sits inside. It takes a wallet, phone, sunglasses and a paperback.

The Nodde Hobo Edition Smooth Black Cherry Bag and the Nodde Hobo Edition Smooth Stone Bag are two of our favourite shades. The full family is in our Polène Nodde guide, and our round-up of small hobo bags compares it with hobos from other designers.

Numéro Neuf East West and Mokki: the roomy shoulder bags

The Numéro Neuf East West is a zipped shoulder bag at 32 x 37 x 13.5 cm and 540 g. It is light for its size, with an interior patch pocket and a cotton lining. An A4 notebook fits on its height, along with a wallet, a water bottle and a small umbrella. The Numéro Neuf East West in Chalk Bag is the summer neutral, the Numéro Neuf East West in Black Bag the office bag, and the Numéro Neuf East West in Camel Bag the autumn one. See our Numéro Neuf guide for the Mini and Large.

The Mokki has two compartments and a strap with two lengths, 43 cm for the shoulder and 54.5 cm for crossbody wear. At 24.5 x 32.5 x 11 cm and 860 g, it holds a day’s things split between the two sides. The Mokki in Taupe Bag and the Mokki in Chalk Bag are both easy to wear. The Polène Mokki guide compares it with the Mokki Mini.

Numéro Dix on the long strap: the saddle option

The Numéro Dix comes with two straps: a 138 cm long one and a 106 cm short one for waist and baguette wear. On the long strap, its rounded body sits at the hip the way a saddle bag does, which is why it is the Polène bag we suggest for anyone searching for a saddle shape. It measures 24 x 20 x 7.5 cm, weighs 386 g and closes with a zip. It takes a phone, a cardholder, keys and sunglasses. The Numéro Dix in Cognac Bag is the warm classic and the Numéro Dix in Black Bag goes with everything. Our Numéro Dix guide covers the Micro and Galop versions.

You can browse every shape in our designer shoulder bags category.

Polène shoulder bags around the world

United States

For New York walking days, the Numéro Dix on its long strap and the zipped Neyu are the practical picks. The brand lists boutiques in New York on Broadway and in SoHo, and has leased a space on Oak Street in Chicago.

United Kingdom

Zipped bags such as the Numéro Neuf East West and Nodde Hobo suit British rain. The brand lists a boutique in London.

France

The brand lists boutiques in Paris on Rue de Richelieu and the Champs-Élysées. The Osmo worn short under the arm is a very Parisian way to carry a small bag.

Germany and Europe

The brand lists boutiques in Hamburg on Neuer Wall, Milan on Via Manzoni and in Copenhagen. In northern European winters, the longer straps of the Nodde Hobo and Numéro Dix go over a thick coat.

Japan

The Minami-Aoyama boutique in Tokyo opened in 2023 as Polène’s first in Asia. Light shoulder bags like the Neyu and Tonca suit crowded trains and Tokyo’s humid summers.

Australia and Canada

In Australia, summer starts in December, the moment for Chalk and Sand shades. Canadian winters call for a strap long enough to go over a parka, which points to the Nodde Hobo.

Polène shoulder bags: common questions

What is the best Polène shoulder bag?

For capacity, the Polène Numéro Neuf East West is our pick; for a light sling, the Polène Neyu. The Polène Numéro Dix is the most versatile, with two straps for shoulder and crossbody.

Does Polène make a hobo bag?

Yes. Polène makes the Shuldo, a large strapless hobo, and the Nodde Hobo, a zipped hobo with a 52 to 105 cm strap.

Which Polène bag is a sling bag?

The Polène Neyu works as a sling. It has a wide strap that adjusts from 61 to 85 cm and a shape that hugs the body.

Does Polène make a crescent bag?

The Polène Neyu has the closest crescent outline, a long curved shape that tucks under the arm. It measures 40 x 15 x 8 cm.

Is the Polène Tonca a dumpling bag?

The Polène Tonca has the round, full shape people mean by a dumpling bag, formed around a wooden mould. It measures 17 x 24 x 7 cm with a 32 to 59 cm strap.

How long is the Polène Numéro Dix strap?

The Polène Numéro Dix comes with two straps, one 138 cm long and one 106 cm for waist and baguette wear.