Alternatively, if you’re usually a pocket kind of person, you can avoid overly-full pockets and think less about what you’re bringing, tossing all sorts of fun goodies into your sling bag just because you can. Although Osprey is an outdoorsy brand, it could’ve been better if there was a dedicated mesh side pocket outside for water bottles like WATERFLY Sling Bag and OutdoorMaster Sling Bag have. So it’s equally important to consider the shape of the sling bag, the internal organization, and the thickness of the material—all of which will impact the amount of usable space available.

It won’t do you any good to wear the sling on your left shoulder if all the pockets will be facing the ground. It can overwhelm smaller frames—particularly when full—but it’ll hold all of the essentials and then some.

There’s no visible branding on this clip, but we don’t care—it works well, and, unlike the original Daylite Sling, it allows us to switch which shoulder carries the bag. We know we just said judging a sling bag by liters isn’t the most accurate way to determine volume, but it still works well as a benchmark.

CORDURA® is a brand, not a fabric, but it’s still worth mentioning since you’ll likely run into it more than a few times. Generally speaking, they’re not going to hold up to everyday use as well as other fabrics (more on that below), and they may not look as nice or feel as comfortable on your back/chest.We proudly stand behind this guarantee, so much so that it bears the signature of company founder and head designer, Mike Pfotenhauer. Along with its sibling fanny packs, sling bags are one of the most practical options for everyday use. Unless you’ve got special powers that allow you to avoid rain and snow indefinitely, a bit of weather resistance is a major plus, as it will protect those essential items from damage.