Wotancraft 3.5 L Sling V2 Review
Last year I was traveling in Taiwan to visit relatives and made a stop to the Wotancraft store in Taipei. It was quite the privilege because when I told them I was coming they arranged someone to welcome me and be available to answer any questions I had. My broken Chinese made it hard to have extended conversation, but I enjoyed the experience of the store and appreciate how the DNA of their branding and aesthetic is applied to the interior design to complement their products. After purchasing a couple small accessories, I was presented with a gift — their updated 3.5 L Sling. I ended up using the sling quite a bit on the next leg of my trip in Shanghai, and ever since it’s been a go-to sling for quick day trips and errands.
Overview
- 3.5 L volume
- 4 external zippered compartments — main compartment, back sleeve, front quick access, and top quick access.
- A pass-through space on the front, with a hidden zippered pocket inside
- Removable 1.5 inch wide adjustable shoulder strap webbing
- YKK #5 and #8 Aquaguard RC zippers
- $99 USD
The sling has a slight trapezoidal shape and is bigger than a typical fanny pack. The product page has extensive dimensions for each pocket so you can use that to see whether specific devices will fit. As I mentioned above, my primary use for this sling was for sightseeing during travel and for day trips or errands, so I never really needed to carry much tech with me.
Organization
For me, the sling offers plenty of organization without overdoing it. It’s usually more than I need, but I appreciate having a little extra for less common occasions where I might need it.
The top quick access pocket is where I put my keys, hand sanitizer, a pen, and maybe some mints. There is a metal key clip inside to prevent keys from sliding everywhere, which is nice because the pocket is quite long due to the proportions of the bag. Everything else stored inside might slide from side to side depending on how the bag is carried. It’s not a nuisance so long as there aren’t a large number of small items inside.
The front zipper pocket is surprisingly roomy as it can expand outwards. I usually store my AirPods or external charger here. When I was traveling in Shanghai, this is where I kept my train ticket/cards.
The hidden zipper pocket is probably my biggest critique of the sling. It can be opened from either side which is nice, but it’s quite difficult to fully open the zipper, I think because the fabric there easily bends/flexes. It’s a coordinated 2-handed effort to access, made even more difficult depending on how much the main compartment is packed out. I suppose it is useful to keep a passport secure but only if you don’t need to access it for awhile. In practice, I never put anything in this pocket because it was too inconvenient to access.
The back zippered pocket is large and flat. It’s great for a phone, Kindle, or a map if you’re sightseeing. I didn’t use it often, but on occasion I would store my phone there if my pants that day didn’t have deep enough pockets, i.e., if there was any risk of items falling out of my pockets.
The main compartment has maybe about 2 inches of depth, and can swallow up a sleek water bottle and then some. I typically would store snacks, wallet, and water bottle together. If I purchased any small souvenirs they would also go in the main compartment. There are 4 slip pockets against the back wall, 2 pockets layered on top of each other. They’re mesh and have some stretchiness, but the upper 2 are too close to the top of the bag making them difficult to access, so I never used them.
The “lid” of the main compartment doesn’t fully flip open since the zipper stops short of wrapping around the edges, so to get really wide access I would have to hold the top open. This rarely was an issue, but access to the 2 upper slip pockets might be easier if the lid could flip open more.
Finally, the “pass-through” compartment on the front is handy for stowing a light jacket or long sleeve layer when it gets warm. Admittedly, it doesn’t always look very flattering, but hey, when it’s hot, that’s generally not a priority.
Comfort
There is a highly adjustable strap that is 1.5 inches wide, which is just right for a sling this size. It’s wide enough to be comfortable, and the webbing itself is high quality/durable (feels like a 17337 or similar mil-spec). The adjustment is looped so there’s no dangling strap, and there is a plastic but robust cam buckle that can be released to loosen/tighten, then clamped down to lock adjustment in place.
The buckle itself works pretty well, but since there’s no padding, there are times when it’s resting in a sub-optimal position (e.g. on my shoulder when slinging the bag out front).
Other than that, the bag is comfortable to carry. The back of the sling is a soft air mesh that doesn’t feel like will abrade my shirts. Notably, the shoulder strap can be attached at 4 different lash points at the top corners, 2 on the top of the bag, and 2 on the side. This is nice because you can attach the strap at points where the bag will naturally rest based on how you carry. For example if you keep the strap long like a mini shoulder bag or purse, then it makes sense to attach to the top 2 lash points. If you carry cross-body with a tighter strap, you might attach to the 2 side lash points. Anywhere in the middle, you might attach to one top lash point and one side lash point.
Personally, I kind of like the longer strap carry since pockets are more at my natural arm’s length, and I don’t like how shorter slings tend to just rest at a lower corner above my waist, because you know, gravity.
Materials and Construction
The waxed Cordura nylon 6,6 fabric is great. It looks like regular Cordura with a bit of a denim patina to it, but doesn’t have the heavy weight of waxed canvas. It strikes a great balance of stiffness and flexibility, and feels durable. The cotton liner with soft mesh also feels nice and more refined than typical pack cloth. These are definitely curated materials that bring out the ethos of the Wotancraft brand.
Some minor details — the cotton lining is only in the main compartment and top quick access pocket. The front and back zippered pockets are either not lined, or partially lined with Cordura.
Around the rim of the main compartment zipper is some light foam to provide a bit of structure, which I appreciate. It makes the YKK zippers for the main compartment easier to open, and just makes the bag look better when either empty or full. Actually I was pleasantly surprised at how smoothly all the zippers (except for the hidden pocket zippers) operated, especially since they have that Aquaguard gusset.
My particular version of the bag has orange paracord pulls on the main compartment which give a pop of color and provide an easy mechanism to grab the zippers. I eventually added my own complementary blue paracord pulls on the other zippers, since they’re easier to grab than the metal tabs.
The quality of craftsmanship is apparent — no loose or dangling threads, very straight and consistent stitches, and neat binding/finishes. The products are made in small batch in Taiwan, where design and QC can happen in the same place.
Other Ease of Use Factors
It’s worth noting that the strap doesn’t separate in the middle or near the ends, which means you have to put the bag on/off over your head. This can be mildly annoying if you’re wearing a hoodie or thick jacket.
I do wish there was a top handle to easily transport the bag while not wearing it, but it’s also not that hard to just grab the whole bag.
Summary
I’ve tried only a couple slings before, and generally didn’t love using them, mostly because of how they carry or sit on my back. But I found myself enjoying the Wotancraft Sling more than I expected, in no small part due to the usable organization and smooth but secure zippers.
$99 is a lot for a sling, and given how infrequently I use them, it would be difficult to justify the expense for myself. But if you’re a big fan of the Wotancraft brand and aesthetic, you won’t find something that looks or feels the same.
