Easily Pleased 1 — The Bellroy Sling
When something “just works” don’t mess with it.
I’m fairly easily pleased. A lot of reviews do a great job of highlighting the pros and cons of products and services. I can get all excited about something, then see a review that highlights a downside I go “back to the drawing board”.
I also like nice things, aka, expensive. So when I spend my money I don’t want to have buyer’s remorse based on the quality or functions of the item. I tend to overthink purchases so much that recently, I was doing my usual OCD research into new earphones, when my wife got sick of it and just purchased me the AirPods Pro 2. And, lo and behold, they have been fine and I immediately stopped looking at alternatives. I’m sure I am the only person on Earth who does this! 😉
I also like items that, once bought, I pay them no more attention other than using them. This means they are functional, meet my expectations and do the job I purchased them to do.
So, when I looked into the Bellroy Sling, I wondered if I’d be easily pleased.
And yes, I am.
It does its job, no more, no less. It has immediately become part of my day both work-wise and will, most likely, also become part of my day to day carry.
So, for others who may be “easily pleased” and don’t need all the technical stuff and just want the question, “Yes, but does it bloody work?” this is for you!
The Bellroy Sling
I purchased the 7 litre sling for AUD149. The colour I got was the brinze version (not apricot as my work colleague tried to tell me, not that I care! 😂)
It’s well made and the zips are great to use with a very solid and comforting mechanism, meaning they don’t feel cheap or about to break. They may “free up” over time with more use but I like them the way they are.
Inside
The sling has two compartments with some pockets with each.
One compartment has a zipped pocket with a softer inner lining that holds my glasses. The way I wear the sling, with the leather Bellroy logo facing out, the glasses are closest to my body which adds further protection from being bumped into or hitting something inadvertently. This compartment also has a key chain to hold your keys. The length is short and some have commented it is too short. I don’t find that, I just need access to the keys, which this provides.
See? Easily pleased.
The other, outer, compartment has two “pouches” rather than zipped pockets to hold smaller items. Super handy. I’ll talk about what I carry shortly.
The Strap
This is one area I was concerned about, as the strap has a magnetic connection. All the reviews I saw said the magnet as strong but I was doubtful. I shouldn’t have been. It takes a bit of force to separate the magnets so I’m very happy with the mechanism. In every day life, if the magnets separated, it would have to get jagged on something pretty hard, and that obviously, lets me know it’s happened and I can take care of it. It’s not an issue.
The strap can also be lengthened and shortened to your heart’s desire. I’m 5'10" (or 178cm) and I have room to spare to lengthen it further and also shorten it if I wanted to.
What Going On Inside?
One thing I need to mention is that I got this to replace my backpacks. I rarely carry my laptop anymore and if I need to I will still use them. But my work set up is pretty flexible so I’m rarely lugging it around.
In the outer compartment I carry odds and ends:
- my work pass
- a tab of paracetamol (just in case)
- iPhone cable
- Ruler (I like to be neat but I’m using physical notebooks less and less)
- Pens (Uni-Ball Jetstream 250 Rollerball Pen 0.7mm — Black)
- Airpods Pro
The inner compartment (closest to me)
- Sunglasses
- Notebook (Leuchtturm1917) or
- Ipad mini 6
- 500ml water bottle
- House/work keys on keychain
I don’t jam it full of stuff as that would defeat the purpose of a minimalist carry (for me, you do you!).
In Summary
As I said above, this does the job in such a way that I don’t “notice” it. Which I find great.
There are smaller and larger slings, based on your preference.
In this I may be easily pleased but I need tools that get the job done without too much fussing and fighting. This does that for me. Couldn’t be happier.
Go here to check them out. No affiliation. Bellroy don’t know about this article and have no idea who I am.
