Bellroy Cinch Mini Messenger Review

To say that Bellroy has an extensive lineup of slings would be an understatement, but that doesn’t mean they can’t develop more ideas for one. Case in point, they’ve taken their Cinch Messenger, ran it through a shrink ray (or at least, that’s what we think they did), and came up with a pretty unique sling, at least amidst their own lineup.

But, just because a design is unique doesn’t automatically make it inherently functional. Testing a lot of slings—not just from Bellroy—has given us an interesting perspective on why the Cinch Mini Messenger isn’t ideal. Namely, its flap-style opening is tedious to open and close compared to slings with a simple zippered main compartment. And if you’re curious about our full findings, dive into the review below.

External Components

When a brand leans heavily on aesthetics, there’s a good chance they’ll eventually come up with something divisive and polarizing. While we generally dig Bellroy’s classy aesthetics, the baggy look of the Cinch Mini Messenger isn’t doing it any favors. Theoretically, a wrinkly satchel-style sling should work with, but the Cinch Mini Messenger just ends up a bit too messy and unkempt. Also worth noting is the Bellroy tag at the front. It is notably different from how Bellroy brands their other gear, as they’ll usually put a central print logo that’s not too noticeable. In this case, it’s a very prominent tag off to the side. It’s interesting and different, to say the least.

All in all, the Pack Hacker team is split on whether this is a good-looking sling or not. Those vibing with the late Steve Irwin’s style will like it, but those who don’t dig “The Crocodile Hunter” might not. If there’s any consolation for those on the fence, you’ll be happy to know there are a handful of other colorway options. We’re testing Sand Dune, but Denim Blue definitely has that cutesy personality. And if you want to mask some of the Cinch Mini Messenger’s wrinkles, there is also Charcoal, though it’s not a totally black colorway.

If nothing else, the Cinch Mini Messenger’s Relaxo Weave fabric is interesting in and of itself. It’s light and thin, kind of like their textured diamond ripstop polyester, but this time made of recycled nylon. It has a water-resistant matte finish (we’re guessing it’s some sort of a DWR coating). Interestingly enough, Bellroy specifically says this fabric is “designed to drape, slouch, and flow.” In other words, the baggy look we complained about above is intentional, though it doesn’t change how we feel about it.

Hardware-wise, two Woojin buckles secure the flap at the front, while the strap’s slider and mounts are made of metal. Both are solid choices and perfectly in line with how we’d expect Bellroy to balance aesthetics and quality. Other than that though, there are not many external features to talk about, nor is there much room to put them anyway since the entire bag is only 6 liters.

As you might expect, a sling this small doesn’t require much of a strap to support it. It’s a silky-smooth closed-loop strap with a simple length adjustment. The mounts are along the back edge near the top, so no fancy angling is here; you’re meant to wear it crossbody hanging around your hip.

Fit Notes

We gave the Cinch Mini Messenger a fair shake and wore it like a messenger with tighter adjustments (it’s in the name, after all). However, it just feels too small to treat it like one. Instead, we find it more comfortable hanging relatively loosely behind, in front, or off to your side.

This way, it’s also much easier to grab whatever gear you need from inside since it’s not too in-your-face. Overall, this is definitely a sling that you’re meant to wear casually.

Inside The Sling

Access is generally the Cinch Mini Messenger’s biggest flaw since all of its storage resides underneath the flap, with no secondary pockets. The two Woojin buckles mentioned above secure the flap, and while they’re easy to unlock since they’re side-release buckles, it’s quite tedious to re-engage them each time. This design works well on a large messenger, which the Cinch Mini Messenger is technically a derivative of, but for a small everyday sling, there are simply way more convenient ones out there.

It’s a shame because Bellroy actually packed a fair amount of organization into a relatively small package in the Cinch Mini Messenger. At the front is a drop pocket for your everyday carry accessories. There’s a built-in key leash made of a relatively beefy paracord and clip. What’s interesting about this key leash is how its other end loops out of the bag. Bellroy doesn’t really specify why it’s mounted this way, but we can speculate. First, you can fish out your keys more easily if you pull on it. Second, it acts as a mounting loop to attach an accessory, such as a key chain.

The lack of a secondary pocket outside the flap makes this front pocket a dumping area for a lot of our gear. You can kind of pull it out by the elastic from underneath the flap. Were you meant to do this? Not really, but it certainly puts the “hacker” in Pack Hacker, so that’s how we solve not having a secondary pocket.

Next is the zippered pocket directly in front and adjacent to the main compartment. Since it’s properly sealed, this is where we store most of our really small accessories, such as a stick of lip balm, earphones, and spare change. This pocket’s rear lining isn’t fabric but rather a see-through mesh, which lets you view what’s inside directly from the main compartment. It is a thoughtful touch that eliminates a lot of guesswork when trying to find something you’re not quite sure where you put.

The main compartment gets the bulk of the six-liter capacity, of course, and Bellroy did a good job spreading that out horizontally and vertically. The entire space is triangular, giving you enough room to fit relatively bulky and rounded gear without feeling too constrained. In our case, we fit a Snow Peak Milk Bottle 350 ml alongside a packable pillow and a pack of tissues, and leaving some open space for a few other accessories. Mind you, the more you pack, the more exacerbated the bag’s wrinkly and saggy looks are.

Lastly, there’s also a security pocket accessible via a zippered opening underneath the flap itself. Flip the flap upwards, and you’ll find that the pocket spans the sling’s entire height. In other words, it’s a pretty deep pocket, relatively hidden, and thus ideal for hiding sensitive items such as travel documents, cards, photos, etc. However, anything you put inside this pocket can bulge out of the sling’s backside, so we advise you not to use it for anything too bulky, lest you compromise comfort.