They’re not quite backpacks. But they’re not quite shoulder bags, either. And they’re much more stylish than fanny packs.
What are they? They’re sling bags — the latest and greatest trend in everyday carry.
But in our opinion, the sling bag goes way beyond being a momentary fashion trend. They fit in a narrow category between backpacks and shoulder bags, with many of the benefits of both, slimmed down to a perfect size for more minimalist EDC. And they’re darned convenient too, with grab-and-go functionality that’s perfect for urban everyday carry.
Through the process of putting a ton of time into designing our own sling bag, we have been exposed to a huge range of brands that are doing this type of bag right. So we figured: Why not put them all to the test, head-to-head?
In this review of the best sling bags for everyday carry, we’ll give you the inside scoop on what each bag does best (starting with our own). And once you have an overview of the bags we’ve chosen to test, you can go deeper before deciding on your perfect sling by checking out our head-to-head reviews and our YouTube video showing how the bags work hands-on.
Stubble & Co — The Crossbody
About 2.75L · Recycled PET · Chest sling
A British brand, and this is the one that visually stands out. The color is distinctive. If orange isn’t your thing they make others, so don’t let it put you off the bag.
The material is a recycled PET with a genuinely unique feel — kind of rubberized, textured. Water-resistant zippers throughout, ripstop nylon inside. Three compartments, with side adjusters if you need a little more room.
The Crossbody is just an easy bag, both intuitive and comfortable. At two and three-quarter liters you’re not fitting the kitchen sink, but for a chest sling that’s more than adequate for your essentials and a little bit more.
Chrome Industries — Kadet Max
15L · Military-grade nylon · Large sling / messenger
Portland brand, and one of the bigger slings here. This is really a blend between a messenger bag and a sling.
Lots of capacity, a dedicated laptop compartment, plenty of organization — open pockets, panels — and that distinctive Chrome seatbelt buckle. The nylon is a bit crinkly and a bit loud, but it feels genuinely tough.
Be mindful that it’s beefy. The bag itself is lightweight; the buckle is not. The stabilizer strap is the weak point of the design for me. And while it is ambidextrous, it isn’t quickly convertible — swapping the strap over is a bit of a process.
It’s got nearly nine hundred reviews sitting at 4.7 stars, so it’s well-liked, and we get why. If fifteen liters is more bag than you want, the family runs down through the Kadet at nine liters, the Mini at five, and the Micro at three.
Bellroy — Venture Ready Sling
2.5L · Chest sling
Dimensionally the smallest bag here, and still a respectable two and a half liters.
It’s straightforward. Three compartments — front, middle, back — with a dedicated phone holder in the main compartment and room for your essentials. That’s about the gist of it. The strap is quick and easy, with a really nice magnetic clasp that’s very simple to use.
This is phone, wallet, keys, earbuds, done. For that job it’s a great option. If you want the same design language with more room, the Venture Sling 6L exists.
The NutSac Sling
Our take on a sling bag comes in two different materials: A rugged waxed canvas that will take a great patina, and a tactical-friendly 1000D Cordura that’s tough as nails.
We designed the NutSac sling with both the urban adventurer and the tactical operator in mind, equipping it with the right specs to hold an iPad Mini as well as an internal molle panel for modular customization. It has a vertical orientation that’s somewhat unique in this category of bag, and a padded back panel for more comfortable carry.
We’re especially proud of sewing all of our sling bags right here in the USA, and offer a lifetime guarantee to back them up.
- Dimensions/Capacity: 3.5" x 11.5" x 8", about 5 liters
- Materials: Waxed canvas OR 1000D Cordura
- Notable features: Internal molle panel, padded detachable strap, four-way zipper
- Best for: Urban or tactical EDC, buy-it-for-life quality
Black Ember — Grip Sling
6L (family runs to 12L) · EmberTex nylon · Technical sling
Here’s what we’ll say about Black Ember. As far as technical bags go, the level of construction, assembly, and materials is top tier. They’re not cheap, which is what you’d expect. But in this category they’re at the top of my list.
The Grip comes in three sizes, and this 6L is a big kit — a lot you can stuff in here, including a padded tech compartment of its own. The material is EmberTex, their own nylon, with AquaGuard zippers and bonded panels for structure.
Their strap system is worth pointing out. It’s unique, and we might even use the word impressive — the hardware makes it genuinely friendly to adjust.
If anything, their designs run stiff, but they do the technical bag well. If that’s your inclination, give them a look.
JSD Designs — Bombus Pack
Close to 4L · Modular chest sling
There’s a lot going on with this one. Compact design, big feature count.
Three compartments, and the back one is lined entirely with loop. JSD sells inserts with hook backing for a range of purposes, so you can configure this however you want — or bring your own hook accessories. There’s a Fidlock on the shoulder strap that’s quick, easy, and satisfying to use.
It might be too much bag for someone who wants quick and simple. But if compartments and organization are the whole point for you, this is very attractive. It’s also small-batch, so lead times run around twenty days and colorways come and go.
If you enjoy building a loadout and adapting your sling, this is a great option — and for what it offers in design and materials, the price is good.
Vertx — Transit Sling
17L · Large sling / CCW
The second biggest bag here. Like the Kadet, it’s got an internal laptop sleeve, this one fitting up to fifteen inches. The back compartment is fully decked out in loop — similar idea to the Bombus, with a lot more surface area. Very customizable; attach whatever accessory panel you want and strap it in.
No surprise from Vertx, the design is concealed-carry focused, with a rapid-access rear compartment. But even if you’re not using it for that, the organization stands on its own.
So: a bigger sling, comparable in size to the Kadet Max. Vertx just leans harder into the tactical aesthetic, the CCW capability, and the customization. If that’s your tune, that’s the Transit.
Elite Survival Systems — Sentinel
Vertical sling / CCW
I’ll say up front, this isn’t the highest quality bag here. That’s not a dig — that’s the price point.
It’s another vertical sling, similar in shape to our Sling and Sling Plus, but a totally different concept. Heavy emphasis on concealed carry: the back pocket is lined with loop so you can strap in a holster or another accessory, with a quick pull tab at the top. A couple of other zippered compartments, including a diagonal zip on the front for fast access.
Ambidextrous, left or right shoulder, no fuss. It has a very similar feel to the Stubble & Co — same sort of rubberized texture.
More than adequate for daily essentials, with some unique design elements geared toward CCW.
Roaring Fire — Slingshot Tactical
18L published · 1000D Cordura · Budget tactical
Wrapping up. This one comes in around eighteen liters — that’s the published capacity, and it doesn’t feel that big to me. Both the Vertx and the Kadet Max feel bigger in hand.
This falls into what I’d call budget tactical. Thousand-denier Cordura, YKK zippers, MOLLE on the front and sides, a dedicated CCW compartment, and a high-vis liner.
What you’re getting is a lot of space per dollar, so it’s a good value in that sense. Obviously a design for people who carry more than the essentials and don’t mind the tactical lean. If that’s what you’re after and you’re on a budget, it’s attractive.
Alpaca Bravo Sling Max (Pro)
If you’re looking for a minimalist sling bag, look elsewhere—but if you’d like to replace your usual backpack setup with a slimmed-down bag, Alpaca’s Bravo Sling Max (Pro) will do the trick.
The Bravo sling is one of the largest we’ve tested, and it’s big enough to hold a 14-inch MacBook Pro comfortably. A lot of the interior is lined with microfiber cloth, and there are plenty of pockets. It seems pretty clear that this sling is designed for the tech-centric urban professional.
- Dimensions/Capacity: 15.35" x 10.24" x 5.51", 10 liters
- Materials: 1000D ballistic nylon OR 750D nylon/polyester blend
- Notable features: Aqua guard zippers, magnetic buckle, large capacity
- Best for: Tech-centric everyday carry
Tomtoc Compact EDC Sling Bag
The most budget-friendly of the sling bags we’ve tested here, Tomtoc’s Compact EDC Sling Bag feels very “standard issue”. It’s neither outstanding in its field nor particularly troublesome.
Tomtoc’s sling comes in three sizes, from a petite 4.5 liters to a larger 9 liters that can fit a small laptop or tablet. Most of the hardware is plastic, and the zippers have a tendency to be a little tough to work with. But we like its fast and easy access, as well as the approachable price point.
- Dimensions/Capacity: Three sizes, ranging from 4.5 to 9 liters; 8 inches at the smallest size, 14 inches at the largest.
- Materials: Cordura (no denier specified)
- Notable features: Three sizes to choose from, plenty of internal pockets
- Best for: Budget-conscious buyers
Black Ember TKS Sling
Small but packed with features, the Black Ember TKS Sling seems like a very good fit for someone who always needs to stay connected. It’s made with a tough but flexible material that’s entirely waterproof, and aqua guard zippers just for good measure.
Overall, we like the general design of Black Ember’s sling. The magnetic buckle system is particularly cool. The zippers can be a little bit hard to work because of their locking system — but if you’re traveling in a new city, that added security might be just what you need.
- Dimensions/Capacity: 11" x 5.5" x 3", 2.5 liters
- Materials: Microhex HTX, a high tensile strength waterproof fabric
- Notable features: Magnetic key ring, magnetic buckle, aqua guard zippers, waterproof shell
- Best for: Digital nomads and other tech-centric carriers
Nomatic Navigator Sling
In both its shape and its dimensions, Nomatic’s Navigator Sling is very similar to our NutSac Sling. And it has the same vertical orientation that we’ve come to love, too — heck, it’s even made in America as well.
The main difference between the two bags is the materials used. The Navigator is made from a water-resistant polyester and nylon blend, which combines nicely with the tech pockets inside to keep your gear safe and dry. Thanks to the addition of reflective bars on the outside of the sling, we could see this one being quite a good choice for anyone who commutes by bike.
- Dimensions/Capacity: 13.5" x 9" x 4", 6 liters
- Materials: 80/20 nylon/polyester blend
- Notable features: Water-resistant and tamper-proof zippers, reflective bars for nighttime visibility
- Best for: Urban commuters
Waterfly Crossbody Sling
Okay, we won’t pull any punches here: Waterfly’s Crossbody Sling is the least expensive sling bag in this review, and also the lowest quality. If you like the look of this bag and don’t know if you want to really invest in a sling bag yet, it could be a good way to test this bag style. Other than that, we would give it a pass.
- Dimensions/Capacity: 12.4" x 2.3" x 6.3", capacity unknown
- Materials: Nylon, denier unknown
- Notable features: Lowest price sling bag in this review
- Best for: No comment
PacSafe Vibe 325 Sling
It’s an unfortunate reality that when you’re out traveling in a new city, you’re a target for petty theft. A lot of bags aren’t made of tough enough stuff to resist the most common way of doing this either: A slash and grab, where the thief will simply cut your bag off at the strap and run.
PacSafe’s Vibe 325 Sling is specifically designed to prevent this, with a whole host of anti-theft and slash-resistant features. That’s the main draw here: Keeping your valuables (up to an 11 inch tablet) safe from harm while you’re out and about.
- Dimensions/Capacity: 15.7" x 9" x 3.1", 10 liters
- Materials: 400D Econyl Nylon and recycled polyester
- Notable features: RFID blocking internal pocket, slash guard strap, locking zippers
- Best for: Travelers who need anti-theft protections
How to Choose a Sling Bag for Everyday Carry
Now that you have a general overview of the sling bag styles available to you, it’s time to narrow down your options.
When we’re looking for the perfect sling bag for ourselves or a friend, we pay attention to these qualities and categories:
Capacity and dimensions
How big is the sling? If you’re using it just for your phone, wallet, and keys, you don’t need more than about 3 liters of space. But if you’re packing a book, tablet, or water bottle, you’ll need a larger bag.
Strap or carry style
Is the bag vertically or horizontally oriented? Does that make it easy to access what you need to carry with you? And how comfortable/padded is the strap?
Waterproof
Do you need water resistance? We certainly recommend it. And if you’re carrying some expensive tech gear, you may need to go all the way to waterproofed zippers, too.
Country of origin
Aside from national pride, a bag’s country of origin determines a lot about the quality of its manufacturing. We’re biased, of course, but strongly prefer American-made bags.
Durability and warranty
How long is this bag supposed to last? If you’re going to invest any substantial amount of cash in a sling bag, you should have a guarantee that you’ll be using it for decades to come.
Take all of those into account, compare them to your budget, and you should get a clear picture of which bag is best for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
And to round things out here, we’d like to take just a moment to answer the most common questions we hear guys asking about sling bags.
How should a man wear a sling bag?
So you can find either vertically- or horizontally-oriented sling bags, and each one has its own wear style. We prefer the vertically-oriented style as a general rule, since it fits almost more like a backpack. Horizontal slings are usually smaller and provide quick access to your keys, phone, and wallet.
Is a sling bag the same as a crossbody bag?
Yes and no. All slings are crossbody bags, but not all crossbody bags are slings. If you wear a messenger bag across your body, it could also be called a crossbody bag.
Are sling bags a good look for men?
It really comes down to the sling itself. Is a high-quality, thoughtfully designed sling a good look for men? Heck yeah. Is a cheap, mass-produced nylon bag? Probably not so much.
Why are sling bags becoming so popular?
We think sling bags have taken off in popularity because they combine the best of backpacks and messenger bags in a more convenient, travel-ready size. They wear comfortably and allow quick access to your essentials, which is pretty awesome.
