What To Look For When Buying A Sling Backpack For Travel

When you are looking at buying a sling backpack there are a few different sling backpacks to choose from.  I’ve compiled a list of buying criteria you should use to evaluate a sling backpack that you are looking at purchasing.

Comfort

When looking at buying a sling backpack for travel you are going to want to look for a sling backpack that is going to be comfortable to carry over one shoulder for a long time.  You may be carrying your sling backpack for hours on end so it’s going to be important that you buy one that is comfortable for you to hold. Below are a few criteria that you will want to review to make sure that your sling backpack is as comfortable as possible.

Comfort- Lightweight

Being lightweight is a crucial attribute to sling backpacks that you will want to consider.  If the sling backpack that you choose is too heavy it will be a burden to carry throughout the day.  

However, you will want to pick a sling backpack for travel that is somewhat durable at the same time. You don’t want to pick one that is going to fall apart after only a few uses. That’s why it’s important to know the materials that your sling backpack is made out of so that you know it will be durable and hold up over time.

Comfort- Padded back panel

It’s also helpful to have a padded back panel on the back of your sling backpack to help it be more comfortable to hold on your back during the day.  Having a padded back panel is going to be beneficial if you plan on carrying your sling backpack for more than an hour or so during the day.

If you pick one that doesn’t have padding whatever you carry in your sling backpack you will feel on your back if you are carrying it.  Do if you are carrying something that is not flat you will feel that up against your back while you have your sling backpack on.

Comfort- Padded strap

Like having a padded back panel having a padded strap on your sling backpack is also going to be a feature that you may want to look at.  If you choose a sling backpack without padding on the shoulder strap it will most likely become uncomfortable to carry over time. If you choose a sling backpack with a strap with padding and is wide then it should be easier to carry during the day.

Materials

When looking at a sling backpack you will want to pay attention to the materials used to make the backpack.  If you plan on taking your sling backpack with you on outdoor trips it would be a good idea to get a sling backpack that is made with water resistant or waterproof materials to help keep your stuff inside of the sling backpack dry in the event of a rainstorm.

Be careful when selecting your sling backpack as materials marketed as water resistant will feature materials that will be able to wick away moisture but will not fully protect your valuables in the event of continuous rain.  If you are planning on using your sling backpack outdoors a lot it would be wise to get one that is waterproof or is designed to function as a dry bag.

The other option is to buy a dry bag that you could then carry in your sling backpack to make sure that the valuables within the dry bag stay dry even if your sling backpack gets soaked with water.   

Carrying Capacity

The other main consideration to make when selecting a sling backpack is how it is designed and how much you can carry within it.  Most sling backpacks will feature external pockets that you can use to store your stuff that is easily accessible and many of them will also feature internal pockets to keep your stuff from moving around too much inside your sling backpack.  

If you are planning on carrying a laptop with you in your sling backpack it would be wise to get one that is designed with a laptop carrying pocket that is large enough to fit your laptop, that way the sling backpack is designed to protect your laptop with extra padding.

Price

Most sling backpacks are going to be on the cheaper side as they are going to be designed to be light and will be designed using lighter materials.  If you are going to be traveling with your sling backpack or just want it to be durable then you would want to get one that uses thicker materials. 

Just know that this will probably increase the price that you will pay for your sling backpack.  The other main factor with the price of choosing a sling backpack is going to be the brand that you go with. Higher end brand sling backpack manufacturers such as North Face and Patagonia usually charge more for their products than a lesser known brand.

Organization

If you are going to be using your sling backpack for school or short trips it may be beneficial to find one that offers multiple pockets on the inside of the backpack to help you keep your things organized within the backpack.  The more pockets the sling backpack offers the better you would be able to keep your stuff organized.

Ease of Access

One of the main benefits of sling backpacks is that they are easily accessible while you are on the go. Make sure that you pick one that is going to be easy to be able to get your things in and out of it without too much hassle.

Design or color scheme

When choosing a sling backpack for travel you will also want to choose one that you think looks cool as if you don’t like the design or color scheme of the backpack you will be less likely to use it on your journeys.  

The new look that I think is pretty cool is the heather look which basically takes different colors of fabric and intertwines them together to create a cool pattern. Most of the color schemes that I have seen use this type of pattern usually use grey, blue, or red to mix their colors so there is a wide range to pick from.