Best REI Sling Bag for Travel? Ruckpack Sling Full Review

A Budget Travel Sling That Punches Above Its Price

At around $60, the REI Ruckpack Sling positions itself as an affordable entry into the travel and adventure sling category. It borrows a familiar layout, keeps the weight low, and offers a surprising amount of capacity. Here's how it holds up once you start packing it out.

Build and Materials

The Ruckpack Sling is made from 100% recycled nylon on both the external shell and the internal lining. There appears to be a DWR finish on the outer fabric, which adds some water-repellent capability, and the zippers are verified YKK.

A few build notes worth calling out:

• The internal lining is thin. It's transparent enough that you can see the mesh through it, and it's not double-lined. REI doesn't list a denier, but it feels like roughly 200D or less.
• When the zippers are closed, the design creates a small storm flap along the top, which helps in the rain.
• The tech pocket is 360-degree padded, with piping underneath for protection.

For comparison, premium brands in this space often use 250D to 420D nylon or materials like Cordura or X-Pac, along with a fully lined interior. The Ruckpack doesn't reach that level, but that tradeoff is reflected in the price.

Specs at a Glance

• Capacity: 7 liters
• Weight: approximately 12.5 ounces
• Dimensions: about 11.75 x 8 x 3 inches
• Colors: black and raisin
• Removable stabilizer strap and removable primary strap (can double as a packing cube)

Organization

The Ruckpack Sling is organized into three main zones.

Front Pocket

A generously sized pocket with a key leash, but no internal dividers, so it functions more like a dump pocket. It works well for quick-access items, though you have to pack it strategically to keep smaller things from getting lost. In testing, it held hand sanitizer, alcohol wipes, and a nose inhaler.

Main Compartment

This is where the 7-liter capacity shows itself. Inside you'll find:

• A mesh pocket (not stretch mesh, but usable)
• Two fabric pockets
• One large dump pocket in the back that snugs down to hold flatter items like a book or notebook

During the pack-out, the main compartment swallowed a Soundcore noise-canceling headset, a Matador inflatable pillow, an eye mask, a phone stand, charging cables, an emergency cable, a Nitecore charger, an Anker travel charger, a Kindle, an AirFly, and AirPods.

Rear Tech Pocket

Advertised as a tech pocket and 360-degree padded, this compartment is a good fit for an iPad mini, and likely an iPad Air as well. It can also hold gum, small accessory pouches, or serve as a secure spot for a Kindle.

External Carry

The sling includes external carry capabilities. There's room to strap a water bottle on the side for use on the trail, along with a key leash on the front that opens up options for small external mods or pouches.

Comfort and Fit

The shoulder strap and back panel both use air mesh, and the padding on the shoulder strap is well done. According to REI, the strap adjusts to fit t-shirt sizes from extra small up to 4XL.

A removable stabilizer strap adds stability and can be hooked on either side depending on how you wear the sling. There's also a grab handle in the middle for easy carrying.

Who It's For

The Ruckpack Sling suits travelers and day-adventurers who want a roomy 7-liter carry without spending premium-brand money. It's a strong pick if you value capacity, YKK zippers, a padded tech pocket, and the flexibility of a removable strap system that lets it work as a packing cube.

If your priority is high-denier fabric and a fully lined, more durable interior, you may want to look at premium alternatives. But for the price, the Ruckpack delivers a well-designed layout and solid feature set.