A backpack as we all know is a bag that rests on your back and has two straps that run over your shoulders so you can easily carry it without having to use your hands. While this might be nothing new to you there’s another sort of backpack that got rather popular over the last years.

This “other type of backpack” has a single strap that runs across your chest from your left shoulder to your right hip or vice versa. Almost every manufacturer has their own name like “sling backpack” “slingpack” or “gearslinger”.

So why would you place all the weight of your gear on one shoulder when you could use both? These packs have one big benefit over traditional backpacks: You can just draw them from your back to your front and access the contents in one smooth movement. You don’t have to put down the whole pack or have it dangling over one shoulder if you’re searching for stuff in it.

Most manufacturers build their slingbacks a bit different to traditional backpacks. While backpacks normally open at the top or at the front, this kind of bags mostly have two-way-zippers that go around the whole bag so you can open them just so much that things won’t fall out no matter the current orientation. They will always be accessible from the top – it’s worth noting that “top” is what normally is the side when you look at it like a regular backpack. Some manufacturers even go so far that they build the inner pockets and loops in a way that they are easily accessible from the top and from the sides. Some packs have slanted pockets, some have pockets with access from both sides.

You can move Slingbags easily to the front of your body. That helps with sitting down, keeping an eye on in crowds and reach for its contents
You don’t have to put a Slingbag down to reach for its contents

Being able to move a backpack easily from your back to your front might come in handy in other situations as well. Think of commuting by public transport. When you’re able to grab a seat you don’t want to remove your backpack, stow it in the luggage bin (if there is any) and then take a seat just to do the reverse 10 minutes after when you leave the bus. A slingpack can just be moved around so you can take your seat and be moved back when you get off the bus. Because the bag sits on your chest you won’t annoy anyone around you by “sidebagging” (it’s a thing, search for it on the internet) and you don’t have to be on the lookout if someone likes your bag so much that they just take it with them. Speaking of potential theft: In crowded places some people tend to move their backpack to their front so they can keep them safe. Of course that’s more easily done as well with a slingpack.

Like with any benefit there are drawbacks, too. That’s why there are still traditional backpacks around. Carrying loads across your back while they rest solely on one shoulder is by far not as comfortable as a two-strap-bag. That’s the reason why there are only rather small bags with only one strap. There are different ways to mitigate that issue – just find the one that fit’s best for you.

  • The most obvious solution is to have only small bags that fit light loads. If you can live with that: great
  • Another solution is to have wider straps with better padding. Just beware that wider belts with softer padding produce more friction and you might have a harder time moving the bag to your front and back
  • Same goes for ample padding at the back of the bag. Some packs just stick to your back and don’t place as much load on your shoulder. They are harder to move, too
  • Ambidextrous straps can help with spreading the load. Some models bring the option to change how the strap is routed so you can change them from your right to your left shoulder and back. Since most solutions need a bit of fiddling you won’t do this too often. The more extreme version of this is a single strap that can be split up so you will end up with a traditional backpack. Take a look at the description if a slingbag is more than meets the eye
  • Some models have an additional strap that goes from the “free” side of your hip to the main strap. Think of it as a relative of the sternum strap on other backpacks. This really helps with stabilizing the ride and spreading the load. Just remember that you have to undo it (and have it dangling around) when you move the pack.
Some Slingbags have extra stabilizer straps to keep them from moving. This helps with fast moving and makes carrying them more comfortable
Stabilizer straps help with holding slingbags in place

How I use it

Well, mostly as intended. So when I think I can get along with a small daypack I sometimes go for a regular backpack and sometimes for a single strap bag. Since I’m more a tactical gear nerd than a mere user I just use the make and model I’m currently in a mood for. I don’t always chose it by what I could use the most but just what tickles my fancy right now. I like the option to grab things from inside without having to put it down and I think they are easier to put on and off, too. So when I run errands and I know I have to actually put it off regularly (like when driving a car) I like how easy that’s possible. In that case I normally stow the stabilizing strap (if there is any) and only get it out when I know I’ll be carrying the pack for an extended time.

So in short, when do I use it? I use bigger slingpacks when I go to the gym. All sizes of slingbags for errands/shopping trips or walks into the city. I don’t use them for traveling or business trips because my notebook alone is big enough to not fit into most slingbags and I carry too much gear on these trips so I won’t put that all on one shoulder.

 

About the author

widhalmt is what you might call a tactical gearhead with a focus on collecting. Like your average nerd he likes to dig into topics he’s interested in and learn as much about them as possible. Then he tries to get hold of his items of interest (he’s quite picky about brand and model when he chose a certain item) and put them to the test. Be it while walking the dog in the woods or go for overnighters outdoors.

In his daytime job he works as lead support engineer for an open source IT consulting company. Since his work involves a lot of travelling and going to customers he has quite some experience in choosing items that are rugged enough for constant travelling but still work in an office environment without offending anyone by being “too tactical” (although he tends to stretch that last part a bit). It’s safe to say that he has some tactical gear on him when he walks out the door (and sometimes even when he stays at home).

In tactical gear he has very widespread interests but if he had to pick something, it’s be knives, bags/backpacks and camo patterns (especially PenCott)