Pacsafe W Anti-Theft 3-in-1 Sling Review

The Pacsafe W Anti-Theft 3-in-1 Sling is part of the brand’s line for women (hence the not-so-subtle W in the name). You may find that noticeable in the shinier details on the sling, from the hardware to the logo. Yet, with a rectangular shape, easy-to-use locking features, and recycled, water-resistant materials, it doesn’t have to be pigeonholed. Who doesn’t like a bit of bling from time to time? And who’s to say that only women want features like a built-in RFID wallet?

So, while our primary tester for this bag is female, she’s taken it places anyone would go and used it in ways anyone may. From the park to a restaurant to the store, commuting to and from work, and chasing down participants in a cross country meet, this bag has been everywhere, and we’re here to fill you in on how it performs.

External Components

The first thing you’ll notice on the Anti-Theft 3-in-1 Sling is the external materials, specifically 75D recycled polyester. It’s water-resistant to 1,000 mm, thanks to a PFC-free DWR, so it’s OK to get caught in light rain, though since none of the zippers feature AquaGuard coatings, some moisture can potentially seep through in a downpour.

However, it will protect your belongings from theft should someone try to cut their way inside, as it’s beefed up with eXomesh slashguard, which are cut-resistant panels with steel mesh inside. You don’t feel the steel poking up against you, which is great, but rest assured it’s there.

There’s also a small, silver Pacsafe logo in the bottom right corner of the bag’s front. It looks like the top of a snap, so it’s subtle but adds a bit of flair if that’s your style.

The YKK zippers used throughout the bag are the same silver, whether you choose the Taupe colorway we’re testing or opt for Navy or Black. The silver accents stand out more against the darker hues than the more neutral tone, but we like the accents on the Taupe, too, which we didn’t think we would from the PDP. So, if you’re not sold on the combination but want a lighter color, trust us: it looks better together in person than on a screen.

Before we move on, though, let’s chat a little more about those zippers. They both feature built-in locking mechanisms. There’s a zip tab on the front pocket zipper and a Zip Clip on the main compartment fastener. Perhaps it’s because of the angle on the main compartment zipper—it meets the Zip Clip on the way down from a corner instead of coming at it from the side—but we find it easier to use this type of lock on this bag than we did on the larger Pacsafe W Anti-Theft Crossbody. We have less trouble with this front pocket zip tab, as well, but in that case, it seems to be due more to practice than a change in the design. So, as we say with nearly all Pacsafe bags, if you’re investing in an anti-theft bag before your next trip, order it in enough time to fiddle around with all the locks before leaving home so you don’t lock yourself out of your pack or sling.

The remaining hardware is all part of the harness system, if you want to call it that. The eXomesh slashguard provides some structure to the sling, slightly blunting the feeling of your gear. Other than that, though, there’s no specific back panel padding or breathable mesh, but since this bag lays lightly against you instead of pressing tightly to your body, we don’t mind.

An adjustable shoulder strap appears to be simple, satiny webbing, yet hides another security feature. It has a stripe running down the middle, highlighting the Dyneema wire reinforcing the Carrysafe strap. It’s there to keep someone from cutting the strap to steal your bag, which they may want to do if you lock it around a chair, table leg, or other fixed object. You can do that thanks to the TurnNLock clips on either end of the straps, which connect to silver rings atop the back corners of the bag. A small plastic piece stops someone from quickly depressing the clip, but you can shift it easily to the right to use the toggle switch. It won’t stop a dedicated thief, but we hope it will at least slow them down. You can also remove the strap entirely to use the sling as a clutch or a pouch, though we prefer the convenience of hands-free carry, especially since there’s a built-in strap keeper to prevent any extra from dangling around.

Fit Notes

Since this is only a 1L bag, it’s unsurprising that it’s comfortable to carry. You just can’t stuff that much gear inside to weigh it down. However, we appreciate that you can carry it over one shoulder just as easily as crossbody, and it won’t slip off as you walk around. The strap is soft and doesn’t dig into your shoulder, and the metal adjuster is easy to use to shorten it up (which we do for one-shoulder carry) or lengthen (which we prefer for crossbody).

No matter how you wear it (or carry it, in the case of a clutch) it has a polished style that should work well with most clothing styles, from casual to professional and even somewhat dressier fashions. It’s not red-carpet ready, but you could probably get away with bringing it to a wedding, if you get the difference.

Inside The Sling

Now it’s time to dive inside the Anti-Theft 3-in-1 Sling. We’ll start at the front pocket, which you access by sliding the zipper through the zip tab. It’s pretty straightforward, as long as you realize that you have to push the zipper pull backward through the tab instead of trying to feed through the webbing loop at the end of the metal pull (you’ll quickly discover that it can’t make the turn if you do). There are tabs at either end of the zipper track if you need to get a grip to open or close it, but we didn’t often need to use them.

It’s a shallow pocket that’s good for keys or your phone, though not both. Depending on what you pack inside the bag, you’ll lose capacity here quite quickly, so we find the sweet spot to be using it for one thing or another—unless you’re only throwing lip balm or gum in here, then you can do both. It’s also good for flat gear like a wallet and passport, though there are better spots inside the main compartment for them.

You must depress the Zip Clip to release the zipper pull to get into that space. If you don’t need to lock the bag, the clip retracts into a small pocket. We appreciate that because we don’t often use this feature, and it’s nice not to have the clip sticking out all the time if we’re not. The zipper track runs in a U-shape around the top of the bag; that is, it extends a couple of inches down each side to give you better access to your gear.

Along the back wall, you’ll find a large zippered pocket to tuck tiny travel accessories, a small notebook, or cash. We use it for lip balm and lipstick, a scrunchie, and a nail file to keep them from getting lost in the bottom of the bag or falling out, but there’s plenty of space to stick hand sanitizer, lotion and AirPods, for example. It all depends on what you want to contain.

The opposite side has a wallet-like organization protected with RFID blocking to keep your data safe. On the right is a slip pocket that can hold a minimalist wallet or a passport, although the latter is nearly as tall as the bag, so it will be close to the zipper when you close it. On the left are four card slots with a taller pocket behind them so you can use the bag itself like a large wallet instead of putting one inside. Since it all includes RFID safe protection, you don’t have to worry about data thieves skimming your information as you make your way through the airport.

If you switch bags often, as we do, you might not find the card slots very useful, but if this is your everyday sling or you have some extra cards that don’t fit in your minimalist wallet, like store rewards or gift cards, it can come in handy.

The remaining space works for your phone and a few other travel essentials, like sunglasses, but not much else. It’s only a 1L bag, so there isn’t a ton of space to fill, yet we found it to be enough for daily use at home and on a trip. Depending on how much you regularly carry, you may initially find it a tight squeeze, but once you get to know the organization, we think you’ll find it has a place for everything you actually need.