Meru Sling Bag - Sling Backpack for Women & Men – Crossbody Bags for Women & Men

In October 2018 I bought the pink Meru bag. As of July 2019 it had faded a bit, needs a good wash, and I decided I would get a replacement/back up bag before attempting to wash my pink bag. (I still haven’t washed the pink bag.) I just got the olive bag and have been using it a few days. Since I’ve bought two, I thought I should review it.At first I thought I shouldn’t give a 5 start rating because of the fading, but as I researched bags, I considered the terrible abuse I put my pink bag through. The fading is due to sun exposure as the top is most faded and the back is the same pink as pictured on Amazon. While I have used it for daily running around, to work, and errands, this bag has also spent countless days in full sun from sunrise to sunset. Definitely more sun exposure than an average user, so as I went through the reviews I got the olive colored bag this time since there were fewer comments of fading. And since it may be because I have put this bag through so much, I decided I couldn’t fault the bag.I researched other bags, but the Meru wins the day with its design when it comes to my needs. It’s small enough to keep me from toting everything I own. Large enough to carry my iPad Pro 10.5 in a bulky Otterbox and I love the dedicated pocket. It has a water bottle pocket hidden in the bag, which is a must have for me. I don’t put my phone in the large outer pocket, but I use this for other quick access items like hand sanitizer, a pencil, etc.It’s comfortable to carry. I use it just over the shoulder or as a crossbody bag depending on what I’m doing. I also love that I can carry it without issue when I have a backpack or something else large on my back like a big gigbag. This is a huge deal for me as before the Meru bag I was having to move stuff bag to bag depending on my outing.It’s affordable and well made, so aside from some fading, I have no complaints.

I love my new Meru Sling. I haven't used it yet. Waiting for the quarterly season to change. It has a nice padded strap for my shoulder and plenty of pockets. I like the padded section for my tablet. I adjusted the strap to a perfect fit. Nice and sturdy and the color is perfect for the fall. This will be my work bag for the next 3 to 6 months. Then I will change again for spring. I like the inner mesh bottle holder. The outer pockets are great for my pass card keys, travel items and cell phone and badge. It is a nice size also. Not to small or big. I like that it is hands free. Leaving room to carry my lunch tote. Will be using it come October.

I needed something to take on an upcoming trip to Asia, and wanted a convenient way to haul my raincoat and umbrella, plus normal purse stuff, since we’re going in monsoon. A cotton bag might not be the best choice, I know, but I’d put it under the raincoat if need be. I looked at several brands and makers, and a few things about this one caught my eye. One was a great review about the pockets being super-convenient next to the Kavu, which I had already planned to try out, and it went into detail head to head.I’m going to keep it simple: it’s well made, well designed, but quite a bit smaller than the Kavu, which isn’t even that big, really. I used to have a Jansport that would have blown these away, but alas, I konmari’d it before I knew I might want it again someday. If you want it for a medium sized purse replacement, it’s really neat. All zippers along same side, so that you can get in and out without taking it off. Kavu and most of its knockoffs have a weird zipper on the wrong side that becomes useless unless you take the thing off. The Meru has a padded strap, but I thought it would get hot comparatively. There is a padded tablet pocket at the back, but I don’t like that for the heat, and it didn’t fit my 12 inch iPad Pro.The pocket design is where this one kicks butt over Kavu, so I wish it had been big enough for my purposes, but alas, it was not. Zipper quality looks about equal between both, as does fabric quality. The thing is, both have good looking patterns to choose from, though I liked the Kavu choices a bit better. And I got the Kavu for $9 less (not an imitation, the real thing) on Amazon, so that was a small point in its favor—though the normal retail is $50 for K and $33 for M usually, from what I saw.If you don’t need a bigger bag, this one is nicely designed overall, more practical than Kavu. I’m still debating if the latter will stay or be returned. Looked at other makers’ as well, but they’re all pretty darned small, all told. I saw a lady wearing one from Eddie Bauer the other day, and it was practical, sure, but did not sit well on her back. I’m hoping the teardrop shape of these two, though impractical for squared objects, sits better.

I've had the bag for almost a month. Terrific for hiking and day trips. I considered the Kavu, as my daughter has one and loves it, but decided on Meru for the price point. Comfortable, able to hold water bottle, light jacket, small purse, keys, and more. My iPhone 6Plus fits in phone pocket comfortably. I wore the bag with a winter coat for a 6 hour hike in the Midwest winter a few weeks ago and then over a tank top in the Southwest last week for some long hikes. Strap was comfortable on my skin as well as over the bulk of a coat. Quality materials - we just came home from a weeklong camping trip in the desert, I used it all day, every day, and it shows no wear. I loved being able to slide it to the front without taking it off to access the bag, especially in the airport. Will be ordering another one as a gift for my friend.

I am so glad I paid a little extra to get a sling bag that I really like. I tried it out bicycling and it's excellent. It stays on, doesn't bounce, holds just the right amount of stuff (a bottle of water, a snack, a scarf, my phone, etc.). the strap is soft, doesn't cut. The bag seems to be perfectly "balanced". And when you need something, just slide it around front and all is accessible. The design is cute. The bag seems very wholesome, canvas rather than nylon feel. I have a Galaxy Note 3 with a cover and it fits very well in the outside pocket. Only thing I can't figure out is how to wear the pack on the left shoulder without turning it upside down. Oh, and when I received it, there was no chemical smell like with some imported products.