ALPAKA Vertex Pouch - All-in-One Sling Bag, EDC Pouch, and Desk Caddy - Fits an iPad Mini, Headphones, and More - Weatherproof Black X-Pac RX36 Fabric

If you’re on the hunt for the perfect sling bag, you’re not alone. After testing several options, I’ve finally found a winner. Here’s a breakdown of my experience with three popular sling bags: the Peak Design Sling, the Alpaka Mini, and the Vertex Pouch.Peak Design Sling: Stylish, but Lacking OrganizationThe Peak Design Sling is a popular choice, and it’s easy to see why. The design is sleek and modern, with a sturdy build that feels reliable for everyday use. The bag offers easy access and is comfortable to wear, making it a strong contender right out of the gate.However, after some time, I started noticing a significant flaw: the lack of organization. The interior of the bag, while spacious, doesn’t offer much in terms of dedicated compartments. Small items like keys, earbuds, and pens tend to get lost in the mix, turning the bag into a bit of a black hole. If you need to stay organized and want quick access to your essentials, the Peak Design Sling might leave you frustrated.Alpaka Mini: Great Size, Problematic StrapNext up was the Alpaka Mini, a compact sling bag that seemed perfect for lighter carry days. It’s made from high-quality, weather-resistant materials, and it does a much better job at organization than the Peak Design Sling. The dedicated pockets and compartments make it easier to keep things in place, which is a big plus.Unfortunately, the Alpaka Mini has one major downside: the strap. It just doesn’t hold up. The strap constantly loosens, requiring frequent adjustments, and it’s non-removable, so you’re stuck with it. This flaw became a dealbreaker for me. A good sling bag should be comfortable and stay in place, and this one simply didn’t.Vertex Pouch: The Perfect CombinationFinally, I came across the Vertex Pouch, a sling bag that seemed to offer everything I was looking for. The design is minimalistic but thoughtful, with excellent organizational features. The pockets are well-placed, making it easy to keep everything in order and accessible.The strap on the Vertex Pouch is where it truly shines. It’s comfortable, stays securely in place, and offers the flexibility to be removed or swapped out if needed. This level of customization was a game-changer for me, and it made the Vertex Pouch the clear winner in my search for the perfect sling.Conclusion: The Best Sling Bag for Everyday UseAfter testing these three sling bags, the Vertex Pouch stands out as the best option. It combines style, functionality, and comfort in a way that the others simply don’t. While the Peak Design Sling and Alpaka Mini each have their strengths, they fall short in crucial areas. If you’re looking for a sling bag that offers great organization, a reliable strap, and a sleek design, the Vertex Pouch is the way to go.

Just what I was looking for! Wanted a sling or pouch I could store in my large tote (I use the Marc Jacob’s large leather tote or the large nylon puffer tote) when commuting back and forth to school in case I want to do car vlogs or take photos when that creative spark strikes while out and about. This bag is literally perfect!Love that my Sony ZV E10II and the kit lens fits along with all of my vlogging equipment I use for my dji osmo pocket 3. The mic minis fit perfectly, the needed cords a long with my iPad mini that’s not pictured (I took it out originally to take photos for content), and the small necessities. Very spacious, durable quality, and love the versatility of this product. Everything zips up without hassle, with room to spare.Definitely recommend if you want a minimal setup and edc.

I think this product is very useful. Small and very organized for EDC.

Nice pockets inside and it comes with shoulder strap. The whole outside is weatherproofing including the zipper which is a little tough to zip but still great quality

I own many Alpaka products including wallets and bags in both X-pac and their new Axoflux fabric. The construction of all of their stuff is top-notch. There's rarely a concern there, but they can have usability design flaws that hamper their use...The shoulder strap is the killer here, and they include the same part with this pouch, the Metro Tote, and the Tech Brief Pro. There are two design flaws. Firstly, they are too short for 6ft+ tall person to wear cross-body with the item at the hip. I don't want this pouch or a briefcase worn at the bottom of my rib cage. Secondly, the shoulder pad is stitched in place and cannot be adjusted based on your usage. I believe they locked themselves into this decision by including a magnetic buckle. I'm a sucker for magnets in bag designs, but too many compromises were made. The saving grace is that the strap is detachable and you can replace it with a third-party solution. I've just appropriated a carry strap off of a Roark backpack that is working great.Now that I've covered the big letdown, let me tell you about the items I like. You can find this bag in X-pac and Axoflux editions -- this one happens to be the X-pac. The Axoflux edition is about 10% lighter, with a less weather-resistant exterior. Both include weather-sealed YKK zips, but X-pac is nearly impervious to leak-through. Note that the X-pac material is stiff and the Axoflux moves a bit more naturally. Only this version has an orange interior, and the others use grey. There's a nice selection of divided sections that can adjust back and forth a bit to add flexibility. A further organization feature is a half-height pocket between the folds with magnetic closure. It's good for lip balm, a pen, or other small quick-access items (photo). There's also a zip pocket with 3 separate sub-pockets that would be good for memory cards, lens wipes, or other items you don't want loose and shaking about. There's a mesh pocket on the front with exterior and interior access zips where you can see I stuffed some readers (photo). The main zip is a stetched u-shape that allows the front flap to fold down to be held by hidden magnets. I love this design, but the zippers stick a bit at the sharpest part of the corners (photo). There's a back handle that is padded and very robust for a pouch of this size. It's overkill to be honest, as this would easily be at home on a medium-sized backpack.Overall, I like this bag a lot and will probably use it as a slightly larger alternative to my Aer Day Sling 3. When I don't want it as a sling, I'll likely remove the strap and drop it into the bottom of my backpack. The fat handle should make it easy to retrieve, and it could make a decent if somewhat oversized desk caddy.

A well organized and sturdy EDC bag. I wanted something that could accommodate my iPad mini 6 . This bag holds that and so much more. Couldn’t recommend Alpaka products more highly

Waterproof and the camera fits nicely! Ready for my mission trip to Guatemala.

The organization and quality is top notch. I would just prefer another external zip pocket or two, a few attachment points more, and a smaller carry handle.