Venture Ready Sling 2.5L, Unisex Crossbody Bag, Water-resistant Materials, Perfect for Travel

I'm new to the sling bag world, and am old enough to remember the less than stellar fanny packs of childhood. Needless to say, I've been apprehensible and self-conscious about them. But, I also hate carrying stuff in my pockets all of the time and also like to bring my camera with me places so it was time to find a small bag so that I didn't have to bring my bigger camera bags with me. After doing as much research and video watching as I could stomach I settled on trying this bellroy sling. Here's how it shakes out: It's definitely more expensive than it needs to be. It's nice, don't get me wrong, but I can't say that I feel that the price totally makes sense to me. It's nice and slim, easy and comfy to wear, but also has plenty of space for my needs. I typically only carry a wallet, phone, keys and chapstick (and a camera) and I've got plenty of space in this bag to comfortably use. The strap is plenty long, and the buckle design actually is pretty dang cool. I was worried about it coming undone and dropping the bag, but it's been very secure thus far (knock on wood). There are multiple zippered pockets with different sections, so you can keep your stuff organized and easily accessible. If you're looking for a small yet roomy and usable bag and aren't worried about the higher price of this one I would actually recommend this one - especially if you carry a small camera like an x100v, Ricoh, etc and want something to carry it in!

This bag fits my need to carry my everyday stuff perfectly! It's comfortable to carry, it is nice looking and great quality. I no longer forget things, I leave everything in the bag when I get home except for my phone. When I leave I put in the phone and know I have everything.

This is a lovely little pack -- materials, stitching, etc. all first class -- but I bought it primarily as a fanny pack and it does not adjust to a small enough size to fit the waist of a slimmish sort of woman. Again, super nice, and if I wanted a cross body bag I'd have kept it, but as a fanny pack it didn't work for me.

UPDATE: 9/3/2025 - I've tried other smaller slings since wring this review to try to get to a "perfect" one, figuring I'm kind of wasting space the extra space I'm not using. I always end up coming back to this one, and I've finally settled with it. This is the "goldilocks" sling for me. Because of this, I decided to order the new DeepOcean color for an upcoming trip, and more importantly because I heard they updated the strap to a coarser material that doesn't slide as much (I use it a lot on walks and this is really the one small thing I would change on it). And they did! It's an interesting roughish ribbed material that seems like it does indeed slide less. But they also changed a couple other small things that may be of interest which compelled me to write this review. So if you are a prospective buyer of the DeepOcean, Fog, Safari, and potentially the Black one: the glasses pouch in the main pocket seems like it holds closer to the inside of the sling rather than kind of flopping around, the magnet on the buckle seems much tighter, the zipper pulls sit floppy on the bag rather than rigidly pointing out like the original, and the metal loops that the bag uses in its compression are subtly different (slimmer?). Overall feels like a good upgrade, but obviously I will still be using both! ORIGINAL REVIEW - I've looked at many a sling, and have always resisted this one because of the advertised 2.5L capacity when all I really need is a pocket reliever, and a 1L sling was already very close to what I wanted (it was just VERY packed out for my tastes, so I figured I needed 1.5 max). Finally after many misses I gave in to the Venture Ready Sling and I'm SO glad I did. This thing is perfect. I was worried about the sewn in strap, but the built-in compression makes total sense and it's super comfy with lots of room to expand. It packs a lot if needed, but stays about as small as possible and I love it for that. The color in the product images is also very accurate, which is surprisingly rare, it looks amazing in dark "Nightsky" blue. Barring it being a bit expensive, I wouldn't recommend anything else for anyone in the same situation.

This sling has become a near-daily companion—for errands, short travel, and especially concerts. It’s compact yet highly functional, with durable construction and modest water resistance (not waterproof, but fine for light rain). Why It Stands Out: After comparing several models (e.g., Timbuk2 Catapult, Orbitkey Crossbody), Bellroy’s tri-pocket layout, clean aesthetic, and magnetic clip made it the top pick. The clip’s lateral lock holds securely, even under tension, but it’s not entirely theft-proof—best kept near the upper shoulder when traveling. Capacity & Fit: Carries more than expected: I routinely fit phone, keys, sunglasses, gloves, earplugs, earbuds, gaiter, and a 12 oz water bottle—comfortably. The weight sits well off the chest, improving airflow and movement. Access and ease of use is apparent. Only Drawback: The shoulder strap is thin and can cause abrasion with heavier loads. A padded insert or wider band would improve comfort significantly on long wear days. Verdict: A high-function, low-profile carry for everyday use. Ideal for minimalists with variable needs—as long as you’re not loading it too heavy. Price is worth the money for a crossbody I expect to last 10 years at least.

Three pockets hold all my daily essentials I carry. Great design and superb quality of the product worth the money spent.

J'ai longuement hésité et je ne regrette pas mon choix. Je l'utilise tous les jours, de très bonne facture, il résiste à l'eau. Je peux y mettre mon trousseau de clés, batterie, câbles, téléphone, lunettes, portefeuille etc, vraiment génial.

Didn’t expect to love this bag as much as I do. It looks small but somehow fits my phone, wallet, charger, car key and even my sunglasses. Super comfy to wear and the magnetic clip is addictive . Definitely worth it.”

Davvero di ottima fattura, capiente al punto giusto senza sacrificare la comodità indossandola, molto comodo lo sgancio a calamità.

This is the perfect everyday bag! The unique magnetic strap buckle makes for a secure connection, yet still easy to undo when needed! Been used a travel personal item plenty of space for all your travel essentials, the back zip pocket perfect to keep your safe and secure! Would recommend grabbing one for your next trip!