Greenroom136 Sidekeep RDX VX42: Premium X-Pac EDC Sling Review

The Sidekeep RDX from Greenroom136 isn't the kind of sling that just holds your gear until you need it. Built around a rugged X-Pac shell and thoughtful compartments, it's designed to become part of your loadout, whether you're commuting across a city or living out of a plane seat on a long haul.

Build and Materials

The version reviewed here is the regular edition in black VX42 X-Pac. X-Pac is a sailcloth-based fabric, and while it isn't fully waterproof, it will keep water from getting inside the pack. The result is a shell that feels overbuilt in the best way: weather-resistant, structured, and ready to take abuse without leaning into a heavy tactical aesthetic.

Other build details:

• Oversized YKK zippers that wrap around the main compartment
• A middle carry handle for grab-and-go use
• Custom zipper pulls sourced from Etsy (a personal touch, not stock)
• Gold-yellow internal lining on this edition, which is highly visible for finding gear; the Wildcard edition may come with an exclusive gray lining

Greenroom136 has a reputation for using Cordura well across its lineup, and that carries through here with quality piping and protective touches inside the tech area.

Organization

The Sidekeep RDX uses a three-pocket configuration, and each section has a clear purpose.

Front Pocket

The front pocket has its own dedicated capacity and swallows a surprising amount. In this pack-out it held tissues, alcohol wipes, a lens cleaner, a small accessory pouch (with a microfiber cloth and an AirTag), a Nitecore battery pack, and a compact gaming console. There's also a keyleash stitched inside, plus room up top once the pocket is loaded.

Inside, a small organization panel holds a pen and is sized well for a passport.

Tech Compartment

The middle tech pocket uses Greenroom136's quad dry fabric with corduroy on both sides. It isn't padded, but the corduroy and piping around the opening help protect what's inside. It's sized for an iPad mini or a Kindle, and in this setup it was used to carry a Peak Design passport wallet with some cash tucked behind it.

One thing to note: this compartment offers roughly half an inch of usable depth once the rest of the pack is full.

Main Compartment

The main cavity is the largest space. The zippers run around the sides and open down to about two inches from the bottom, so it isn't a full clamshell. It's padded on the back panel but not underneath.

In this configuration it carried an iPad mini in a protective case, two charging cables (USB and USB-C), a compact Soundcore headset, and a Lock B Venture pouch holding travel extras like an inflatable pillow, an eye mask, an Anker travel charger, a MagSafe stand, an AirFly Bluetooth adapter, and a backup cable.

The owner confirmed a capacity of roughly 4 liters, which isn't published on the website.

Comfort and Carry

Once it's on the body, the fit is the standout. The sling hugs close, moves naturally, and stays locked in whether you're commuting, traveling, or running errands. It's compact enough to stay out of the way but still carries a full day's worth of gear.

The strap system is a strong point:

• Comes with a generous, strong two-inch strap
• The straps are detachable and replaceable
• D-rings on the side allow you to attach custom straps, including rotatable swivel D-ring setups available from Etsy
• It can also be carried by the middle handle as a tech pouch

The back-panel padding matters more than it sounds. When you slide the pack into an airplane seat pocket, the strong resistance tends to squish everything inside, and the padding helps protect your gear.

Versatility

The Sidekeep RDX is built to shift roles depending on how you travel:

• A metro sling for getting around a city
• A flight caddy that keeps essentials accessible at your seat, small enough to fit in the back seat pocket so you don't reach the overhead bin
• A tech pouch that can drop inside a larger backpack and come back out as a sling once you land

That flexibility is the core of its appeal.

Room for Improvement

A few honest drawbacks worth flagging:

• The internal organization pockets sit low and feel underused. Raising them up would let you place a pouch beneath them while still using the pockets above.
• There's no back pocket, which would be a natural spot for an RFID-protected passport slot.
• No dedicated AirTag pocket, something increasingly common on comparable bags.
• Adding a roughly one-inch false bottom under the tech section, plus a rear pocket with its own capacity, would make it close to ideal for travel.

Who It's For

This is a strong pick for travelers and EDC users who want one organizer that can pull triple duty as a sling, an in-flight caddy, and a tech pouch. If you value X-Pac durability, replaceable straps, and a compact footprint that still carries a full loadout, the Sidekeep RDX earns a place in the rotation. Buyers who want more customization may want to watch for the Wildcard or exclusive editions.