ALPAKA Go Sling Nano Review

When you first put on the ALPAKA Go Sling Nano, it feels like the perfect size to take care of business. However, we’re curious if it’s large enough for travel, specifically as a digital nomad and for everyday gear. Let’s find out!

External Components

Depending on the colorway, the primary pack material is ALPAKA’s Axoflux, a recycled 600D polyester, or lightweight and durable X-Pac VX21. The X-Pac version has polyester on the backside, too. It comes in Blue, Sage Grey, Black, and Army Green, so there’s a colorway for every kind of traveler, so long as you aren’t looking for something vibrant. If you are, you might want to look for something else (or wait until you see the inside of the Go Sling Nano!).

The sling features YKK zippers with an AquaGuard finish, which we dig. They’ve got the same Hypalon-like pulls we’ve seen from ALPAKA lately, and we’re here for it. They’re easy to hang onto and don’t get in your way, which works well in most conditions.

The buckle on the strap is from MagLockz, which we think is another ALKAPA exclusive, but we can’t be sure. That said, we’ve only ever seen the brand utilized on ALPAKA gear, so that’s something. It works well, but getting used to the magnetic buckle takes some time if you haven’t used one before. Once you pass the learning curve, you’re good to go.

The G-hooks on the strap are unbranded but feel durable and are easy enough to use.

The back panel has two attachment loops for the strap. That said, you can use this as a pouch, and the attachment points don’t get in your way, which is nice.

Fit Notes

The back panel has no padding or aeration; however, we don’t mind too much because this sling is so small. The Axoflux material on the backside of the sling is thick enough to offer some inherent padding, and so long as you don’t overload the sling, it’s comfortable to war.

The strap is super thin, removable, and doesn’t have any padding or aeration, either. Similar to the back panel, we don’t mind this. The sling is just 1.6 liters, so we can’t stow a ton of gear inside. The strap can dig in if you load the space up with heavy tech items while wearing a thin shirt or tank top, but we didn’t have this issue often.

Overall, this thing fits like a glove. It feels natural to wear as a crossbody because it’s so small. As mentioned, the MagLockz can take some time to get used to, but that isn’t a huge deal.

Inside The Sling

There’s a slide pocket on the back panel that you can use to stow your wallet, passport, or other sensitive documents. We don’t recommend storing anything sensitive here for very long as there isn’t a top closure. We haven’t had anything tumble out; however, it’s possible. Also, whatever you stow here may impact comfort, as it’s on the back panel. A large, bulky item may poke you and cause discomfort.

There’s a secondary compartment on the front of the pack. It has a zipper and lacks organization, but it works well for a phone. It might be a tight squeeze if you have a plus-sized phone or a large case. There’s a key clip in here, too, which attaches using a magnet. It’s a ton of fun to play with; however, it fell off a few times in everyday use.

The main compartment is where the real party is for gear storage. On the front side, there are two mesh pockets. They’re on the smaller side but will work well for a travel wallet or a pair of foldable sunglasses you’d take on a trip. The mesh is stretchy, sturdy, and snappy.

On the back wall, a liner pocket with soft material inside protects electronic devices like your phone. There’s ample padding on the back side but not as much on the interior, so be careful packing gear here.

The rest of this sling is open space. It can accommodate larger items like over-ear headphones or combinations of smaller- to medium-sized gear.

One of the biggest perks about this pack is that you can use it as a sling or a pouch. If you’re going through the airport, load it up with things you’ll need during the flight and enjoy a few hours without reaching for your travel backpack. Or, stow it inside your bag while wandering across the city and use it to hold your charging goodies for when you juice up your devices at lunch.

For some users, the size might be prohibitive for what they need to bring along. However, for others, the petite footprint makes it more versatile and a great travel companion!