The Tabinistas
Bellroy
Venture Ready
Review
Bellroy, a brand synonymous with quality and reliability. Can the Venture Ready stand up to it's brand legacy?
Ready to know? Read on friend.
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Quick Breakdown
8/10
We tested the standard model in black, overall material has lasted throughout our testing. The outer shell is comfortable to the touch and strap didn't irritate our necks, however, it's important to note that because it was so soft it slid around unless tightened to an snug fit.
7/10
For a soft, non-expanding bag this character does have some good dividers and pockets for organization. We especially like the center divider as we could put wallet or passes in them but once filled the soft membranes dividing the space become obsolete. The key ring holder is also meek and should only be meant for a very modest set of keys.
8/10
While it doesn't have RFID blocking the bag does feel secure on your person and zippers are not so easily tugged open. The pocket tucked in the back is perfect for a phone or tickets, keeping it secure and tight to your body.
9/10
Weighing in at probably the lightest sling we've tested at nearly 0.44lb stuffing this little guy will feel like you're just carrying your belongings. That said, the more weight you add the more you feel it as the soft structure of this bag combined with the slick strap material will move about, so tighten it up or ditch a few objects inside.
5/10
We tested the standard minimalist 3L model, while there are larger capacity models available in similar styling, this fit our travel form factor paired with a backpack. Being that we had a backpack capacity 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.
6/10
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
Bellroy is rather well known brand from Australia. You will find that we rather appreciate Australian products simply because they're usually quality made and responsibly sourced. This little guy caught our eye as not only a good looking piece but it's made from recycled plastic bottles. It's pleasing to know that all the plastic we consume get's reused into new products.
At first look we like that the bag was designed with the end user in mind by having an ergonomically designed bag. Judging by the soft materials you might have never guessed it was formerly a PET bottle. The strap is soft but not rigid well built for abuse, ready for your next adventure.
At first glance, it might be tiny only measuring in at 2.5l, but once we tried it on we knew this was gonna be a go to kind of sling.
Build Quality
The recycled PET outer shell is water resistant, well that comes as no surprise due being plastic, but what caught us off guard is just how broken in and comfortable it is. It looks like most of the polyester is for inner fabric and backing construction this little bag can handle fair amount of weather conditions and it's especially nice to have the silicone weather proofing on the zippers. The shell retains is shape we folded and stuffed away in another bag and the strap isn't completely removable you can stuff it in it's back pocket.
The strap is thinner than a seatbelt, and might be thinner than we like but it feels durable and more importantly it's yet soft. Like the Alpaka Bravo it has a magnetic clasp for the buckle, it's simple unlock and held in place while we swung it like a hula hoop. The left hand alignment of the buckle was a really great feature as many of the bags are secured in the center with a rather uncomfortable snap. The Tomtoc EDC has a honky snapping buckle and the same wholly unorthodox placement which we honestly feel that placement should just be common place on these things already.
It's also important to note that the strap is in a loop, meaning it's limited to how big it can get but that also means you won't have excess strap, flapping around. A large contrast to the Alpaka Bravo Mini V2, but that bag has a sweet magnetic buckle to it's advantage.
Security
The fabric itself is moderately durable, hard to tear unless done very intentionally with a razor. X-Pac might have been a better weave or have a coating on it to resist cuts, but given this is recycled PET you have to compromise somewhere. That said you could yank on the strap when another person is wearing it and the buckle will not come loose which gives us great peace of mind.
We might have given this bag higher score if it the strap adjustment buckle didn't move around when yanked on. Daily use it doesn't go anywhere but in a situation where it's yanked and tugged on it does come loose. The zippers, are smooth but do require intention to open because of the silicone coating so it's not going to let loose all your belongings. Unless your are obviously 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 but over all we felt safe knowing it wasn't simple to get into.
One key thing to note is that the more you have in here or the tighter it is on your body the harder it is to get in due to the unique way the straps holding the shoulder strap is designed.
Capacity
There is much to be desired about how much we could stuff in this 2.5L bag. Although you can all your daily needs in there it takes up 80-85% 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, the OHOVIV 50k mAh Power Bank, 0.5m Lightning Cord, slim wallet and Passort and some Purell and it was a very snug fit not to mention kinda 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 something in the large sling category.
Organization
Capacity aside, even when weighed down and barely any room to budge I was able to access everything fairly easy. Thanks to the cellular build of the main compartment it was easy to put back what you took. If, like me you will be utilizing the center compartment for your phone keep in mind as these things are usually at an angle on your body, whatever object is above will inevitably slide down, especially given the slick rayon interior fabric of this bag.
The numerous mesh pockets in the center are a fabulous touch if you have an object, like a moderate sized wallet to smash in there. If you don't well, the cellular walls are divided by the same elastic bands covered by rayon fabric as the interior lining and will be hard to replace your thing in the exact same place if you over stuff it. The lanyard was great for flat objects, but when tested at home with a large key fob I found that it was cumbersome and awkward getting them in and out.
Weight
This very well may be the lightest sling we've tested. Weighing no more than 200g or 0.44lbs it is a bantamweight champion. It should go without saying that what you put in here is what it weighs and you could easily just put everything in here that you need for a day and honestly never feel the weight. It is almost like wearing nothing when by itself. Even when fully packed it definitely distributes the weight nicely over the straps and really what are you going to stuff into a little 2.5l bag?
The key to this extremely light bag is in the materials. PET plastics are super light and even when woven back into existence by master manufacturers weights a lot less than other materials. The fabric itself is water resistant being made of old bottles so it doesn't need layers upon layers of fabric to naturally wick off liquids. This is a very smart choice made by Bellroy and our shoulders thank them for it.
Style
We tested this sling in Nightsky, a kind of navy blue but it comes in several colors to match every style. It's rugged looking to match more of a camper style but it really shines with a clean, city street style. I liked the black but that couldn't be found when we were searching online. The tiny knotted accents and details give the bag character reminds me more of a outdoors-man style pack than something we'd use in the city.
The left side buckle is not aimed well for a broad audience but if it works for wearing it over the right shoulder but it makes it convenient to wear either on your back or your front. It's got a smaller profile than most bags in it's carrying capacity so it has a lower impact on your body making it ideal to wear by itself or with a backpack. Overall it's more of a pragmatic bag over style but it does look good with the right ensemble.
The
Verdict
This is undoubtedly what you came for, Is this bag worth it?
Well, this is a close to Yes but more of a Maybe. For all it's shortcomings it finds it's become on of our favorites especially for daily use, as it's ridiculously light and is water resistant. This bag is really for people who want a smaller bag that they can access what they need without any difficulty. The zippers move easily enough with enough weight in bag but then you're carrying more weight which makes the bag shift around. The material is dependable and the hidden pockets with zippers are a fantastic added peace of mind.
Score Summary
7/10
Better than average but we wish it came in a 3 or 3.5l. This bag is a must if on sale especially if you consider it's close to a $100 sling. The water resistant fabric is a plus and it's super lightweight.
Our Opinion
A 7 of 10 is a decent score, had it not been so small for $89.99 it might have been more of a win with everyone else.That said, if you are looking under $100 for a bag there are much better options especially if you're looking for capacity. See Aer SF City Sling or our Best Slings under $100.00 comparison if you want see different options and how the Bellroy Venture Ready stands up.
Looking at other Bellroy products, it was a Goldilocks situation. The Venture Sling 6L and the 9L were just too big. You might want to check out the Sling Mini Bag 4L which would have been our first choice had it not really matched my style at the moment. There were plenty of times I wanted to go back to the Aer SF City Sling, which expanded and really did a great job of holding all my daily needs and then some. Again, this bag is under $100.00 which is an amazing deal for a mid-level versatile sling.
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Reviewed by
Darin
Style, convenience and aesthetics are a huge game changer when it comes to travel. The more efficient you can carry your gear with style and finesse the better only because you know, you are getting your money's worth. It's just like gaming, the more complicated you make it the less you like what you're playing.
