Review: Bellroy Venture Ready Sling (2.5L)
Disclaimer
I bought the Bellroy Venture Ready Sling with my own money. The opinions in this review are entirely my own. The links to Amazon are affiliate links. I receive a commission if you make a purchase using my link. Thank you for considering.
Packed out Bellroy Venture Ready Sling (2.5L) worn on my back. I’m 173 cm (5’7”), 66 kg (145 lbs).
Introduction
Bellroy is an Australian brand that has been around since 2010. They make travel and EDC gear with personality. Bellroy is not afraid to experiment with aesthetics; their gear always stands out from the crowd of similar-looking bags.
The Venture Ready Sling 2.5L is part of Bellroy’s Venture collection, which leans into a more outdoorsy look while still being perfectly suitable for the city. The sling is made from a durable mix of polyester and nylon (older versions are made entirely from ripstop nylon, while newer ones are a mix). It uses high-quality, PU-coated YKK zippers, has a well-made, non-slippery webbing strap with a magnetic clasp, has three practical compartments, and features a unique compression system, making it one of the most comfortable slings I’ve tried.
For all that, the Bellroy Venture Ready Sling 2.5L comes in at 89 USD and is covered under a 6-year warranty.
Experience
I walked out of the Boarding Gate store in Kuala Lumpur with a brand-new Bellroy Venture Ready sling back in June 2024. Ever since that moment, I’ve been carrying it with me daily. I don’t like having anything in my pockets, so every time I went further than the nearest 7-Eleven, I had the sling with me. It’s been my trusty companion for the past 1.5 years, and I’ve gotten a ton of use out of it.
Aesthetics
As with a lot of Bellroy gear, the look of the Venture Ready Sling is going to be divisive; you either like it or you don’t. Boasting glossy PU coating on the zippers, long dangly zipper pulls, and dual-color thread on the webbing, the sling’s aesthetics are slightly playful and differ from the minimal technical look of brands such as Alpaka or Aer.
Personally, I’m a big fan of the sling’s look, and if you don’t take yourself too seriously, you’re likely going to love it as well.
Organization
The Venture Ready Sling has three compartments: the front compartment for smaller items, a voluminous main compartment, and a hidden back pocket.
The front compartment is divided into two sections with a gusset. One of the sections features a key leash. I find this configuration clever, as other bags have key leashes attached in the same pocket where you would store your other potentially scratch-prone items. Here, on the Venture Ready Sling, keys have their own dedicated space that can be accessed quickly and where keys won’t mingle with other stuff. The second section is a good place for smaller items, such as AirPods and a pack of tissues.
The hidden back pocket is a secure place to store your most valued but rarely accessed items. I’ve usually had a cardholder with my insurance card and driver’s license, as well as some cash. When traveling, it’s a good place for a passport.
The main compartment opens wide and can really be stuffed with a bunch of smaller things. But the whole sling is not tall and curves to the sides, so the it won’t accommodate larger items like a full-size Traveler’s Company notebook. At its tallest points the bag is only 13.5 cm tall (5.3 inches).
There is a phone sleeve in the back of the main compartment. It easily fits even larger phones, but things like a Kindle are a tight fit. I scratched my Kindle with a zipper once and don’t carry it in this sling anymore.
The stretchy mesh pocket in the front is convenient for tiny stuff you don’t want flying around in your sling, but I wouldn’t put my sunglasses there, as the compressible nature of the sling might press other stuff against this pocket.
Speaking of the compression system, the bag is designed to compact when it is not packed out but opens up when filled with stuff. It makes a big difference compared to some other, more structured slings, as you don’t have to wear a brick on your chest all the time. If you only have smaller, slimmer bits of gear with you, the sling will adjust accordingly and keep a slim silhouette. Empty sling compresses down to roughly 5 cm (2 in), fully packed out depth is 10 cm (4 in).
The dual-strap adjustment that makes up the sling’s compression system is also a good place to clip a carabiner.
The strap itself can be unclipped using a satisfying magnet. The magnet is strong, and I’ve never had doubts that it would unclip by itself while still being useful for taking the sling off and putting it back on, especially when wearing a hat.
Here is what I had in the fully packed sling: Muji medication pouch, iPhone 15 Pro, AirPods Pro, wet wipes, a packable tote, Bellroy Hide & Seek wallet, cardholder, hand sanitizer, Nitecore Tiny 2 TI flashlight on Nite Ize #1 carabiner, Nite Ize DoohicKey multitool, Nitecore NTK05 knife.
Materials, Hardware, and Build Quality
My (older) version of the sling is made entirely of ripstop nylon that feels durable and can be easily cleaned with a wet cloth. The newer versions of the sling use a mix of polyester and nylon that I personally have no experience with.
Internal lining fabrics are different for every compartment, but each looks and feels premium.
All zippers are YKK zippers, with the zippers on the front and main compartments having PU coating, while the zipper on the back pocket does not. PU coating does make the zippers a bit sticky, and sometimes I’ve had trouble opening the sling with one hand. The zippers themselves started to accumulate some patina after long use. Personally, I feel like it adds to the personality of the bag, but you might think otherwise.
Do note that I have spilled some coffee on this sling once. PU coated zippers didn’t completely save the sling; there is a bit of staining in the main compartment, but I feel it could have been worse without them.
The zipper pulls are long and made of material similar to a thick shoelace with rubber endings. I have not had any functional issues with the zipper pulls, but I’ve noticed that they start to wear out after 1.5 years of use. While it is something that is easily replaced, I feel like it should be noted.
The strap is made from an extremely durable material that is quite different from your usual seatbelt-like material. It feels coarser and grippier, and that is a great thing. Thanks to that choice of webbing, the bag does not slide around your body and does not cause any discomfort.
The weight of the sling is 200 grams (0.44 lbs).
Comfort
The Venture Ready Sling is by far the most comfortable sling I’ve had. The shape of the bag, its compression systems and the way the strap is attached make the sling flow with you body. When not packed out, I almost forget that the sling is there.
The strap webbing is grippy, helping the sling stay locked in place and not slide around my body. I’ve almost never had to readjust the sling while wearing it. The strap width is 3 cm (over 1 inch), which further contributes to the already excellent comfort of the bag.
Pros and Cons
Pros
Casual aesthetic with personality. Like many other Bellroy products, it does not try to appeal to everyone, but if you resonate with the design, you're going to love wearing it.
Organization that features spaces for your essentials while still leaving room to dump smaller stuff.
Variety of high-quality materials, with each compartment featuring its own lining.
Extreme comfort. The combination of a smart compression system, malleable materials, grippy strap webbing, and light weight makes this one of the most comfortable slings ever.
Cons
Pricey. 90 USD for 2.5L sling is not cheap.
The zipper pulls started to wear out after 1.5 years of use.
PU coating makes the zippers a bit sticky.
Conclusion
The Bellroy Venture Ready Sling 2.5L is one of the most comfortable slings ever. If you resonate with its aesthetics and don’t carry a lot, it can become the go-to everyday carry sling you’ve been looking for.
