The trendy travelers are quite comfortable with the sling type backpacks on their tours. Such bags are extremely suitable to suffice the needs travelers who are sun bath lovers, surfing dudes, trekkers, and mountain climbers. They make slinging all your travel stuff over your shoulder quite comfortably.
A sling bag by definition is the one that has its one sling or a strap attached to the top while the other end is attached to the bottom. There are specific sling bags for both men and women while the most preferred ones among them are unisex.
The sling bags are desirable for dramatically lessening the backpack weight while storing all your travel essentials in it. The potential buyers are usually presented with the sleekest and chic sling bags to maximize their carrying bag storage in the most desirable manner.
Let us explore some top products in the market and how to choose the best sling bag for yourself to satisfy your needs.
This is an iconic sling bag from Gearslinger that is apt for travelers. It comes with an ergonomic style with excellent durable stuff which is its unique selling point. You may rotate this sling bag 270 degrees and to have it right in the front of your body, if so desired.
The bag has good enough space to carry your camera, cell phone, travel documents, money, credit cards, and other frequently required essentials. On top of that, the bag is water-resistant as well which will keep things dry inside if it is raining or you are involved in any water sport.
The bag comes with both external and internal pockets and this gives you the liberty to keep your things quite organized. The strap is comfortably padded which will allow you to carry it for long hours.
- There is a small dedicated section for carrying your water bottle separately from other stuff.
- The bag is quite comfortable and easy to carry with the well-padded shoulder strap.
- Several pockets on offer both internally and externally allow things to keep organized.
- The bag is water-resistant.
- The water bottle section is right at the bottom and carrying it that way may cause leakage.
Video Credit: Trail Aesthetics
Osprey is one of the most trusted brands for luggage bags and this sling bag lives up to its reputation. It is an ideal bag for a traveler in their commute. You will find it small enough to carry it with ease while spacious enough to hold almost everything that you may need.
The manufacturer has made it with top quality nylon fabric and it also features the patented durable, breathable, and soft mesh stuff on the shoulder. This adds to the comfort of the user when carried for a long time.
The stuff is water-resistant and comes with a useful key clip as well. There is also a productive front zip mesh pocket which is ideal for carrying your small valuable items.
You can get this bag in 4 different and attractive colors. It is a superior choice for all those travelers who are looking for a comfortable and top quality sling bag from a reputed manufacturer.
- It is a compact yet spacious sling bag with multiple compartments for better storage.
- The bag is made from top quality nylon which is water-resistant as well.
- The breathable mesh on the strap offers great comfort for travelers who carry it for a long.
- The bag is available in a variety of colors to suit the choice and preference of men and women.
- The main compartment is not big enough to store a large item.
This is a unisex sling bag and one of the most stylish ones that you can ever come across. The single shoulder sling bag comes with a signature teardrop shape that you will just adore. It is a popular option for travelers of all ages.
You will find this bag with multiple color and pattern combinations where one will surely meet your preference and liking. You can easily wear this bag in a cross-body style. External pockets are quite useful where one can be used for carrying your water bottle.
The inside compartments come with a mesh zipper. You will not need to dig much to find your keys as there is a useful key clip as well.
It stands apart from the other bags in the Rope family as the bag offers a few more inches comparatively. Comfort-wise, it is excellent with the softness of its strap over your shoulders. The bag is highly versatile and a great option for travelers.
- The bag comes with multiple pockets and has a dedicated section for carrying your water bottle.
- The bag comes with a useful key clip for holding your keys securely inside.
- The bag is spacious for storage while having extra space as compared to other bags in the range.
- It is a unisex sling bag with multiple color options to suit your needs.
- The bag can be worn on one shoulder only.
The sling bag comes with amazing water-resistant treatment and still maintains some excellent level of breathability to please travelers. The brand is quite reliable and this product specifically is a prime example of their great work. This one is a very popular choice among travelers and all those outdoor enthusiasts for its versatility and great comfort.
This is all thanks to its superior design which also allows you to carry some heavy stuff with the utmost ease. The shoulder pain or strain issue will not be a thing to worry about. The travelers find it quite productive with its storage and it may hold numerous things inside including snacks, books, and clothes even.
The lined space is one of the best features of this bag that gives you the option of keeping tablets, laptops, and other similar devices. This bag feels good on the shoulder and back. All the compartments are quite well placed and to have everything secure while creating a good balance while you move.
- The front zip pockets are quite good for easy access to your belongings.
- There is a lined space feature to store laptops up to 15 inches.
- The straps are fully adjustable and comfortably padded for superior comfort.
- The design puts minimal weight on the shoulder even if it is fully loaded.
- The quick-release buckle looks quite fragile and might not last long.
The bag offers a good storage space of 12 liters and travelers find it suitable for all their daytime adventures or while they are on the move anywhere. The stuff of this bag is lightweight nylon which makes it resilient and gives a comfortable user experience.
For the sake of your comfort during traveling, you can switch the bag from one shoulder to the other for denying any strain on one shoulder only. You may also adjust the shoulder strap length to suit your comfort.
- The bag offers an anti-theft pocket in the strap for the security of travelers.
- The nylon stuff is quite durable and lightweight to have no real weigh of its own.
- The user will have the flexibility of shifting the bag from one shoulder to the other for comfort.
- The bag offers an ample amount of storage capacity of 12 liters.
- The bag has lesser slots than one could ideally expect to have in a sling bag.
Q: How many ways can I carry a slingback?
A: The most convenient way to carry it is over the shoulder. However, you may consider carrying it on the front that offers certain benefits of accessing things on the move. Some designs also offer to carry it as a waist sling.
Q: How can I avoid stressing my back while carrying a sling bag for long hours?
A: You need to keep a check on the weight of items that you wish to carry. Apart from that, make sure to switch the position of the sling from one shoulder to the other after every hour or so.
Q: Can I carry a laptop in my sling bag?
A: Yes, you may carry a laptop with your sling bag. But, make sure that you do not overstuff it with other items or it may become too heavy and can hurt your shoulders if carried for long.
No matter, you are looking for a sling bag for extreme sports during your trip or just for plain travel, there are a few key features that you must look for. Such bags vary a lot in style but a few key features are worth having a look at. Let us explore those top features below for making your decision easy and productive.
The Traditional Strap
The traditional sling bags for traveling are good if you are looking to hit the trails at your destination. They come with a thick strap that you may have seen with a backpack. But, it just sits on one shoulder only and it is worn asymmetrically across the body. However, they are a bit rigid and designed for one shoulder only and that puts the entire weight on one shoulder all the time.
New Wave Sling Bag
The Hip Pack Style Sling Bag
They are quite similar to the new wave type discussed above. The only major difference is that the hip pack style could be worn around the hips as well, apart from across the chest. They are quite versatile in their functionality.
Cross-body Sling Bag
It is a bag with a long piece of a strap that you can throw over one shoulder or wear it in a cross-body style. You may find it quite identical to a purse strap style, but it is quite thinner with far less decorative features.
Lefty Sling Bag
This is a sling bag designed especially for lefties. If you are a left-hander then this is the best sling bag style for you to consider. It is designed keeping in mind the comfort of left-handers with the straps.
The slings bags have the reputation of being quite compact as compared to the conventional backpacks. They come with a much weight watcher silhouette. You can look for a sling bag offering capacity anywhere between 5 to 30 liters.
The most popular ones come with a 10-liter capacity and could carry the majority of essentials that you wish to lug along while traveling.
A good part of the sling bag beauty lies in its sleek shape and streamlined looks. The downside is that a sling bag can’t hold that is closer to that of a backpack. It is a minimalist designed bag having its benefits.
Material
Sling bags need to be the one that is built to last and looks great as well. For durability, you need to have a bag that is manufactured using hard-wearing and strong stuff. The most desirable materials in this regard are heavy cotton or canvas.
If you are traveling to a place with rain expected or if you are into water sport activities then do consider a waterproof sling bag. A PVC or nylon sling bags are good as well for protecting against any sort of water damage.
Adjustable straps are good to carry your back as per your customized comfort. This will also give you several options while wearing it across your shoulder, waist, hip, back chest, or waist. The strap in these situations will clip differently. Moreover, you also want to have a strap here that is well-padded for comfort.
The closures or buckles are the most crucial part of any bag. You may get a sling bag with some sort of a clip if there is no buckle. You really cannot afford to have a sling bag with a broken buckle as it would make the entire bag useless. The metallic buckles are good with their durability but may add a bit of weight to the bag.
The majority of sling bags available comes with a single large compartment to store larger items. There are some small pockets as well to carry small stuff securely. You must look for a bag having smaller pockets that could be hidden for security but at the same time, easy to access.
The key to comfort is to keep your sling bag as light as possible. You can use it to carry your most essential belongings and the load would be quite less than what you might be carrying in a conventional backpack.
You must note here that the sling bags are not designed to distribute the weight evenly, just as you would expect with a backpack. If you try to overstuff it then there could be chances of shoulder pain if used for long.
The sling bags for travel offer flexibility but that comes at the price of the supplementary stability and some support features that you expect with a traditional backpack. You will not get sternum straps, waist belts, and a few other relieving features with a sling backpack.
Convenience is the main reason for preferring sling bag by travelers over all other available options. It is frequently seen with travelers who complain about shoulder pain due to carrying heavy bags with themselves all the time during travel.
The sling backpacks are designed in such a way that they allow you to maintain a posture that doesn’t put extra stress on your shoulders.
The sling bags are perfect for carrying all your in-flight essentials and also to keep you going with your frequently required stuff when you are on a foot tour. To get the best sling bag in hand, you must consider its preferred type, material, compartments and pockets, size, and flexibility with straps.
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