Bellroy Tokyo Side Bag Review

The Bellroy Tokyo Side Bag is a minimalist and professional bag designed to help carry small travel essentials in a stylish aesthetic. It’s a pouch-style bag that keeps everything neat, organized, and easily accessible, with additional internal organization in the main compartment. It has a slim profile that can expand when necessary to fit gear but reverts to its sleek profile when not in use. We’re not surprised to see such a design from Bellroy since it excels at making high-quality, innovative, functional bags and accessories that blend function and aesthetics well. 

Thanks to its removable shoulder straps, this sling can double as a pouch to keep things organized inside a larger bag. That’s perfect for a trip, as it keeps all your travel necessities organized and readily available. The high-quality materials and hardware give the bag an upscale aesthetic that not only looks good but also feels like it will last a while.

External Components

The Bellroy Tokyo Side Bag is constructed from Baida Ripstop, a unique blend of 100% recycled industrial nylon offcuts. This material gives the bag a durable crinkle-finished feel, added durability, and water resistance. It also features eco-tanned leather accents and incorporates metal hardware, including custom carabiner clips, contributing to the bag’s high-quality aesthetic and increased longevity. In the hand, the bag has a texture similar to a smooth canvas but sounds almost like a tarp.

Aside from crossbody, you can also carry this bag as a clutch. Either way, it is moderately comfortable thanks to the smooth exterior material. Its slim profile makes it ideal for this type of carry, as a grab handle on such a small bag might be overkill. It has detachable shoulder straps that connect to dedicated loops on the back. Due to the placement, it does mean that the bag will tend to lean at a slight angle but not enough for anything to fall out, thankfully. The straps are attached using durable leather accents, which we think will stand the test of time. 

The shoulder strap is made from an incredibly smooth seatbelt-like nylon, with metal hardware that is relatively easy to use and intuitive to adjust. The custom-made metal hardware and carabiners also contribute to the high-quality aesthetic. The length of the strap makes this bag easy to wear over one shoulder or across the body. The detachable strap also allows users to easily modify where the dedicated adjuster is so that you can carry it on either side.

Fit Notes

The overall aesthetic of the Bellroy Tokyo Side Bag is pretty versatile and can be dressed down for casual wear or dressed up for a more professional look. The bag feels like a giant pocket with added internal organization. It is super easy to use as a dedicated pouch while traveling, freeing up your pockets on your way to or upon arrival at your destination. One aspect we appreciate of this bag is that it can keep all your travel essentials, like a passport, plane tickets, wallet, hand sanitizer, etc., neatly organized and easily accessible even if thrown into a bigger bag.

Inside The Sling

The Bellroy Tokyo Side Bag is pretty minimal when it comes to secondary compartments. There’s a single compartment on the rear with a discreet zippered pocket that sits up against the body for added safekeeping and peace of mind. This pocket is ideal for storing items like a wallet or a phone. Even a bulkier wallet, such as Ekster’s Wallet for AirTag, in our experience, does not cause any discomfort when worn across the body. Nor does it protrude into the main compartment’s space, which was an initial concern. However, it is worth noting that this pocket is not completely hidden, even though it is discreet, due to the visible zipper pull. This is not a huge issue, but just something to keep in mind if you are looking for a sling or bag with a super secret hidden pocket.

The main compartment on the Bellroy Tokyo Side Bag expands thanks to a gusseted bottom, which allows it to fit more gear. Despite its 1-liter capacity, it feels like it can definitely hold more when fully expanded, but your results may vary.

The main compartment’s wide-mouth access makes it easy to get in and out. It has a single zipper that slides easily, though it’s somewhat loud. Although there’s only one zipper, the detachable shoulder strap allows you to configure it to your preference, ensuring the zipper is on the most convenient side. The zipper is somewhat chunky and lacks any covering or protective sealing. The chunky zipper adds to the aesthetic appeal of the bag and, in our opinion, still looks pretty nice. While the bag is not explicitly weather-proof or resistant, it should hold up fine in light rain.

One of the unique design elements of this bag is what they refer to as its “peep pocket .” This aptly named pocket features a well-designed construction that stays closed without a dedicated closure mechanism, making it quick and easy to access. It is perfect for storing flatter items like cash, a passport, and receipts or paperwork, depending on the size. This pocket also serves a dual purpose by dividing the main compartment into two separate compartments for added organization.

On one side of the “peep pocket,” there lies additional organization in the form of two stretch mesh pockets that provide easy access and organization for smaller items. Both mesh pockets are pretty stretchy and perfect for storing items like small headphones, keys, hand sanitizer, lip balm, or gum. They are built into the wall of the bag so they do not take up any storage capacity, similar to a floating pocket.

On the opposite side of the “peep pocket” lies an open space for storing larger items. In our testing, this area works well for a phone and can easily accommodate an iPhone 15 Pro Max. Even a small compact camera, like a Ricoh GR III, fits with plenty of additional room to spare. However, it is important to note that this compartment has minimal padding, so storing sensitive or delicate items here can cause damage if not handled carefully—just something to keep in mind.

The final unique design feature is an extremely discreet internal AirTag slip pocket. It can probably also accommodate a round Chipolo One Spot or other trackers of a similar size and shape. This clever little pocket is behind what looks like just a standard brand label tag, providing additional security and peace of mind without standing out. The pocket is effectively hidden and only noticeable if you know where and what to look for.

Overall, we find the Bellroy Tokyo Side Bag an easy-to-use versatile bag that provides a stylish and practical solution for carrying everyday essentials. Its clever design and efficient use of space provide easy access to everything you need. It can even double as a dedicated pouch for travel essentials, tech, or other loose items that must be accounted for. The bag’s durable materials and high-quality accents give it a nice, lasting aesthetic, and the adjustable, removable straps let you carry the bag in multiple ways, easily transitioning from a sling to a pouch inside larger bags. This bag is ideal for those who value organization, style, and quality in their everyday carry.