Pacsafe Eco 12L Anti-Theft Sling Backpack Review

The Pacsafe Eco 12L Anti-Theft Sling Backpack utilizes recycled materials, features that keep your gear safe from strangers, and a reversible strap system that will work whether you’re a righty or a lefty. We’re curious to see how these capabilities come together—let’s dive in and find out!

External Components

As a part of the Pacsafe ECO collection, this pack uses multiple recycled materials. We dig this initiative from Pacsafe and feel that this proves that just because materials are recycled doesn’t mean they’re any less durable or capable of keeping your gear safe.

The exterior is 320D ECONYL® nylon—which is PFC (perfluorochemical) free, which is a great shout, sustainably. This material is lightweight enough to wear on missions where you’re more active and durable for rugged adventures.

The pack utilizes YKK zippers with some added extras in true Pacsafe fashion. The interior uses KCC zippers.

The main compartment zipper uses the Roobar sport locking system. There’s a standard track with two zippers, but there’s also a mechanism you can lock the zippers to for safekeeping. That way, nobody can open your pack quickly to grab your gear. This technology has been out for a while now, so thieves have seen it; however, it takes long enough that you’d most likely notice before anyone could get away with your goodies.

The secondary compartment has a small tab of fabric that goes over the end of the track. You can feed the zipper head through there to make it more difficult to open quickly. It’s the same idea as the other mechanism, although it won’t slow a stranger down as much. If you’re worried about your gear, stow it inside the main compartment.

The hard plastic hardware and sternum strap buckle are from Woojin, a quality brand we’ve come to expect from Pacsafe and other top brands—there’s nothing negative to report here.

The shoulder strap uses a PopNLock security clip. We’ve come across these before; they take some getting used to, but they’re relatively easy to use and offer peace of mind that somebody can’t just yank the sling off your back and make a run for it. Plus, you can attach a lock for good measure.

The top handle is very thin and lacks padding, but for a 12-liter pack, this isn’t an issue. The handle material continues down the sides of the bag, forming a small daisy chain with a larger loop at the end. You can attach gear here with a carabiner or strap, which stays out of your way when you aren’t using it.

If you’re into hydration, you’re in luck! We’ve got dual water bottle pockets, and if you don’t have much inside the sling, you can fit a 30 oz Nalgene inside each one. Once you’ve got some gear in the pack, it’s harder to fit. The pockets are made of stretchy elastic, showing no signs of wearing out.

If you aren’t big on water bottles, you can stow a rain jacket or umbrella here instead.

Fit Notes

The shoulder strap is reversible, so you can wear this sling either way across your body comfortably. Unattach the PopNLock security clip from one side and attach it to the other to switch it. This process is quick and easy, so you can change things up if one shoulder gets tired.

The strap has dense padding and holes to let air pass through. There is mesh on the exterior for breathability, which is effective.

Near the top of the strap, there’s a piece of elastic fabric to lock down a pair of sunglasses or a water bladder hose. We’ll talk more about that when we get to the main compartment! A little further down, there’s a hard plastic eye. You can attach a carabiner here, which adds gear modularity.

A crossbody (or sternum) strap helps keep the sling in place while you’re on the move. It’s especially nice when moving quickly or on a bicycle, so the sling doesn’t slide around. This strap is reversible, too, so it works no matter where you’ve got the shoulder strap.

The part that attaches to the shoulder strap doesn’t stay in place when you aren’t using it, and it can fall off if you aren’t paying attention. You can remove the entire sternum strap if you want to, which we recommend doing if you aren’t actively using it since the other side becomes useless if you lose either piece.

The back panel has ample padding and channels for airflow. Similar to the shoulder strap, a mesh covering promotes airflow and reduces sweat.

Inside The Sling

The lining of this sling is a 75D recycled polyester ripstop, again showcasing Pacsafe’s sustainability angle and that these materials are quality enough for any adventure.

The secondary compartment takes up most of the front face of the pack—you can stow quite a bit of gear inside here. There’s no organization to speak of, which we dig since it’s not large enough to warrant it and would likely get in the way.

We’ve got a key clip long enough to unlock your door without taking your keys off the ring. This is great for cycle commuting and folks who don’t want to finagle with the clip every time they leave and come home.

This pocket is also a great spot to stow a packable rain jacket, a packable bag, or another sling for your partner, friend, or family member.

The main compartment has a ton of space to work with and isn’t cluttered with organization, but there is more than in the secondary pocket.

On the lid is a small zippered pocket, an excellent spot to lock down the gear you don’t want floating around or getting lost in the rest of the main compartment.

On the back panel, another zippered compartment works better for quick-use items, so the last one we reviewed is better for the gear you want to bring but don’t need to access all the time. This back-panel offering isn’t attached to the wall—it’s only attached at the top, so it acts like a tongue. It works well for holding your phone, waller, or other essential gear.

Because you can move this pocket around, you have better access to the elastic liner pocket below it on the back panel, which holds your water bladder. There’s a hook and loop fastener at the top of the compartment to hold up the hose, and you can feed it through the pass-through to stay hydrated while on the go.

If water bladders aren’t your thing, you can stow a tablet here. It will work for a tablet up to 11 inches to stay connected and entertained on the go. There isn’t any padding on the liner, so we wouldn’t stow a tablet here without a case.

The rest of the space is a free-for-all—and there’s a ton of room with. We dig that there isn’t too much organization; if you want more segmentation, you can bring small packing cubes, organizers, or pouches. However, the sling isn’t large enough that you necessarily need to use those.

Overall, we dig the comfort and sustainable materials used in this pack. It’s a great alternative to a packable daypack, and the extra safety features will give you peace of mind while exploring an unfamiliar place.