KAVU Spectator Review

The KAVU Spectator doesn’t have the most comprehensive features list, even among tiny waist packs or slings. It has a simple two-compartment layout, an adjustable strap, and a punchy colorway. Other than that, it doesn’t feel particularly stand-out, even among the many slings and waist packs we’ve tested—and that’s okay.

The Spectator only really needs to nail the basics to get our approval: Is it comfortable to wear? Can it fit our everyday carry items? Will it be easy to access said items? And how well-built is it? The Spectator checks all of those boxes to some degree, though not all is perfect. Plus, if it were all just answered with a “yes,” there wouldn’t be a review to speak of, but here it is, so let’s dive in.

Materials & Aesthetic

If James Bond needed a waist pack, then Q probably won’t be issuing the Spectator anytime soon. No, the flashy colors and trippy pattern want to be noticed; it wants to turn heads and it’s meant to be spectated (which probably explains the name). We always rave about how stealthy black-on-black colorways are; this is for those who want the opposite of that.

The particular colorway we have here is called Purple Storm, and we can plainly see how they came up with that name. We like it, but at the same time, we understand that this sort of style isn’t going to be for everyone. The lack of plain colorway options will push some away. Then again, there’s not exactly a shortage of more conservative-looking slings out there.

Unfortunately, at the time of writing, Purple Storm isn’t available. The only two available are Unicorn Dreams and Night Gaze. Night Gaze is probably the closest to a black colorway the Spectator can come in. On the other hand, Unicorn Dreams is bright and cheerful and makes us want to eat berry and bubblegum-flavored ice cream.

Looks are only half the battle, and if you’re like us, we put even more emphasis on materials and build quality. Fortunately, there’s not much to complain about the Spectator as we’ve tested it. The zippers are unbranded, but they work just fine. Our more pressing complaint about them is how jingly they are. To mitigate this, we’d DIY some heat shrink or thread some paracord on the pulls.

The main fabric is 600-denier polyester with a water-resistant coating. It’s nothing too heavy-duty but will suffice for day-to-day use. The only noteworthy damage we observed is with the stitching around the logo. There are some loose threads that, thankfully, haven’t fully unraveled. Still, it’s never a good impression when the only noticeably scuff on a product is on the logo itself.

External Components

Weighing in at a humble 0.5-liters in capacity, the Spectator isn’t exactly a heavyweight among waist packs. It’s right up there with the likes of the NOMATIC Access Pouch and CODEOFBELL’s ANNEX 360. KAVU kept the Spectator’s strap design to a basic but capable one with that size in mind.

The strap is made of heavy nylon, making it feel rougher than the typical seat belt-like material we’re accustomed to. It’s wide enough that even a fully-loaded Spectator doesn’t feel like it digs in too badly on our shoulder or our hip. On that note, you can carry the Spectator in either waist pack or sling mode. We prefer to do the latter in a crossbody style since it’s easier to adjust.

In terms of adjustment, the strap can be lengthened or shortened on both sides. They’re simply fed through the buckle while built-in strap keepers keep the slack in check. The relatively big Woojin buckle in the middle is also easy to reach and undo. It’s not the most sophisticated design as far as straps go, but it’s easy to figure out and adjust on-the-fly.

Whenever we take a look at small slings, one of the usually missing features is a padded back panel. Surprisingly, the Spectator has one, and it’s relatively thick. It’s not completely necessary in most of the mini slings/waist packs we’ve tested, but it does make a difference in the Spectator. Once the bag’s fully loaded up, the padded back panel makes the bag wear very closely and securely. Plus, it’s also covered in mesh, so breathability isn’t a problem either.

Before we forget, if the strap’s 17-inch to 50-inch adjustment isn’t cutting it for you, a strap extension accessory is available, though sold separately. It’s a simple male-to-female extension that directly connects to the Woojin buckle of the Spectator; it doesn’t look very elegant, but it gets the job done.

Inside The Waist Pack

First up, let’s take a look at the front pocket. There’s not much room here (it is a 0.5-liter waist pack, after all), and by that, we mean it can’t fit our iPhone 13 even if it’s placed sideways. On the plus side, the opening is quite wide, and the interior fabric is bright white.

The front pocket is really only meant for the tiniest of our everyday carry items. Think transit cards, wireless earphones cases, coins, lip balm—that sort of EDC. You’ll have to go straight to the main compartment for anything bulkier. That said, the front pocket is the only secondary compartment in the Spectator, so you’ll want to make full use of it.

The main compartment gets the bulk of the meager 0.5 liters of space. Like the front pocket, the interior is lined with bright fabric, meaning sorting through our items takes no time at all. As mentioned earlier, there’s no additional organization inside, making it a straightforward dump pocket.

There’s only enough room for our wallet, iPhone 13, and bundle of keys inside. Admittedly, there’s some empty space between those items, but we wouldn’t recommend stuffing smaller accessories between bulky ones. If we have one minor nitpick here, it’s that the material care information tag can snag on sharp objects, but it’s nothing a pair of scissors can’t handle.

While space isn’t the Spectator’s specialty, its horizontal waist pack design means most of what’s available is easy to maximize. Once we have it loaded up, it feels like a dense unit that wears very securely. It’s a simple design that doesn’t feel lacking if you’re looking for a small everyday carry waist pack/sling—and one that has an aesthetic that’s a bit left field.