The Tabinistas
Alpaka Bravo
Mini V2
The Alpaka Bravo Mini V2 is a lightweight, well organized mid-sized sling that is built with dense structure and keeps a ergonomic, stylish person in mind.
Find out why.
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Quick Breakdown
8/10
I tested the X- Pac model and overall material has lasted throughout our testing. The outer shell is comfortable to the touch but strap irritated our sensibility, however, it's important to note that because it was so soft it slid around unless tightened to an snug fit.
8/10
For a skeletal, non-expanding bag we were really impressed at dividers and pockets for organization. We especially like the center divider as we could put wallet or passes in them and as wasily as they are taken out you can put them right back. The key ring holder is peak magnetic tech and blows our mind how we lived out it.
8/10
No RFID blocking but the bag does feel secure on your person and zippers are not near impossible to open without intention. The pocket tucked in the back is perfect for a phone or tickets, keeping it secure and tight to your body.
8/10
Weighing in at 0.84lb stuffing this little guy will feel like you're just carrying your belongings. That said, the more weight you add the less you feel it as structure of this bag distributes the weight evenly but strangely its more comfortable on your back with more weight.
8/10
This bag was the Mini V2 model which dialed down makes it a 5L model, the Bravo Max is a 10L, but this fit our travel form factor. Being that we had a backpack capacity with it, space wasn't an issue but if this is for travel the interior space should only really be meant for passport, wallet, phones and power bank.
8/10
Sporting a more minimalist style, this bag gets points for matching with more of a city street style. While not a rugged bag it is uniquely built for either back or front wear making it ideal for every situation.
In-Depth Review
First Impressions
Alpaka's Bravo Mini V2, in X-Pac is lightweight, and exceedingly well organized large-ish mid-sized sling that is built for capacity. It has a well laid out structured divider in the middle with attached pockets and a magnetic lanyard in the front pocket meant for keys or even a badge holder with key card.
Made of a blend of inner materials, mainly Polyester, Nylon but with an outer shell of X-Pac Fabric this bag is light, comfortable and very, very water proof. It boasts a skeletal structure and it's rigid, making it formidable to folding and crumpling.
We've had the pleasure of testing out this bag in Japan, Disneyland California and Arizona, as well as around town in our hometown of Kona, Hawaii. It's really a good go to bag and being waterproof it's perfect to hang on our lounge chairs at the beach.
Build Quality
X-Pac is a no joke, protect your stuff kind of outer shell and this medium bag can handle fair amount of weather conditions while keeping your belongings dry and safe. The extremely well woven X-Pac exterior is smooth to touch and really retains it's shape. We couldn't really fold and stuff it away in another bag and the strap isn't completely removable so you can't stuff it in it's back pocket.
The strap is slick, durable and yet soft. My only complaint is that how the straps, adjustable on both sides of the buckle are built. The straps are look and not in an infinite loop which leads to the elastic bands meant to hold them in place (see above image). These guys move around a lot if you're slinging the bag back and forth. if you're keeping the bag stationary, either on your back or chest it won't be too much of an issue. Alpaka did give this guy a honky magnetic buckle that is cool as hell. A wholly orthodox placement but that placement was key for customer choice in location of bag.
Security
The fabric itself is exceedingly durable, hard to cut or tear unless done very intentionally with a razor it's tough to get through but not impossible. An adult could yank on the strap when another person is wearing it and the buckle will not come loose which is a great peace of mind if you ask us, especially since it's a magnet. With a magnetic buckle it will not warp like plastics with stretch or get brittle over time.
We might have given this bag higher score if it had RFID inhibitors. If you have a wallet that has the blockers already it might be overkill. The zippers are taught and require some real intention to open so it's not going to let loose all your belongings all over the ground after a few years of abuse.
The company boasts that the zippers are made from YKK, a serious name in the zipper industry, and yes a zipper does make a difference. Paired with a waterproof lip I'd say unless you are a professional pick pocket or you are able to get your hands on this bag for more than a few minutes you could work a ball point pen into it.
Capacity
There is much to be desired about how much we could stuff in this 5L bag. Although you can store a Nintendo Switch or a iPad Mini in there it takes up all of the space leaving little room left for a wallet or power bank. That said, at peak use: I shoved my phone in the interior most pocket, along with pack of travel sized tissues.
The skeletal structure of this bag is similar to a pair of new basketball sneakers. It is extremely rigid and without constant use it will not loosen up making your carying cpacityy quite a bit less than the advertised 5L, not to mention uncomfortable to wear. At most I would say look at the image under 'Weight' section and don't add any more than that.
An older Anker 20k mAh Power Bank, 0.5m Lightning Cord, wallet and Japanese Pocket Wifi (mobile hotspot) and it was a very snug fit not to mention very heavy. In my opinion you are not wearing one of these to replace a backpack but rather for convenience and peace of mind so it shouldn't weigh you down. However, if you're trying to take one bag on a day trip, don't take this one. Instead try the larger Max 10L sling as it looks just the same.
Organization
If you're not over stuffing this bag it's super easy to get in and out of the bag what you need and put it back in the same spot. The front pocket has an amazingly strong magnet that can hold car keys and any assortment of loaded down accessories that Alpaka carries to further push the organization envelope. The center divider has pockets that border on flexible but remain rigid so getting your wallet, or other items stored in there, out, is a breeze.
We did have some gripe with getting items out of the back, however, that does give me peace of mind to how hard it would be to get it out of there as a pickpocket.
Weight
Weighing in at 0.84lbs its a very light bag and what's great is that it distributes the weight very well across the bag when fully loaded. While not the lightest bag we've tested we get some rest at night knowing that the weight is also attributed to build quality.
The one peculiarity is that with the location of the straps to front of bag the tighter it holds to your body. It's a strnge combination of physics and material but it does seem more secure the heavier it gets but if you have to loosen the straps to make it more comfortable that's ok because the weight still is very well distributed to your body. It is important to note. thatthe heavier it is the more comfortable it is on the back versus the front given it's more structural design.
Style
For this review we got the bag in X-Pac, essentially black matching more of a city street style. I liked that it had two different blacks and two different olives, either model I think would look fantastic. The bright orange interior fabric was a huge selling point to us. Not only could we see the items in the bag better but the sheer shock of the orange on the black was very appealing. I am liking X-Pac it's a great option when looking for more of a Metro Techwear look.
The buckle release is cool as hell and the center alignment will hit a broad audience. It works for wearing it over either shoulder but it makes it convenient to wear either on your back or your front. It's got a large profile than most bags and on your body it takes up a medium amount of real estate making it ideal to wear by itself or with a backpack. Overall it's stylish bag with great organization, good for smooth in and outs but damn, does look good with the right ensemble.
The
Verdict
This is undoubtedly what you came for, Is this bag worth it?
This is an absolute, YES. For all it's shortcomings it finds it's place near the top but not without it's limits. This bag is really for people who want a stylish bag that they can access what they need without any difficulty. The zippers are secure, your belongings waterproofed and the magnetic facets are impossible to live without. So, the unsecured strap made me feel like this bag never sat right on my chest because I constantly wanted to secure them after moving the bag around. Yet, the material is dependable and the hidden pockets with zippers are a fantastic added peace of mind making this bag kinda hard to pass up.
Score Summary
8/10
This is a really good choice, but it's not without it's quirks. This bag is a must if on sale especially if you consider this is a sub $100 sling with water resistant fabric, 5L capacity and it's lightweight.
Our Opinion
A 8 of 10 is a rocking score, if the strap did not annoy me so much and if it were to be an infinite loop we think it would be more like a 10 out of 10. Priced reasonably at $79.99 or as low as $58.99 on sale this is a great option for those who want a medium sized bag (on the larger size) that won't stir up financial drama with the spouse. That said, if you are looking under $100 for a bag there are much better options. See Aer SF City Sling or our Best Slings under $100.00 comparison if you want see different options and how the Alpaka stands up.
Having used this bag for about a year I have to say it has definitely held up to the abuse of travel, beach and gym. The material isn't flaking off but the strap tends to slide around and I feel like I'm constantly fixing it. There were plenty of times I was thinking to just go back to the Tomtoc EDC, which was easier to unbuckle from the side. Again, this bag is under $50.00 which is an amazing deal for a mid-level versatile sling.
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