Tomtoc Compact EDC Sling Bag Review
IT's small and carries a 13-inch laptop, what more do you need?
Purchase Price: $59.99
What Ben Packed
Ben packed in an 11-inch Apple iPad Pro with its keyboard, a Sony A6000 camera, a Hydro Flask, a Zoom H1 recorder, a jacket and a bevy of charging cables all within the main compartment.Minimalistic Size
As my travel companion to CES 2024, the Tomtoc Compact EDC Sling Bag provided me with a simple, cleanly designed, and compact single shouldered bag to haul all the items I could need. I was tasked by the Sypnotix to interview and report on major product announcements and needed a bag that could hold the bare necessities for my work while not restricting my movements on the showfloor. I made it successfully through the large tradeshow and surprisingly found the bag to be so enjoyable to use that it has now become my daily driver.
The EDC Sling features a compact minimalistic design that's versatile and provides good protection for certain electronics and accessories. Tomtoc offers this bag in either a 5L or 7L size. The 5L bag costs $59.99 and the 7L bag costs $69.99. Both sizes feature many different sized pockets for organizing a wide range of items. The pockets are lined with thick padding that ensures sensitive electronics are protected at all times. For reference, the 5L version can accommodate a 11-inch laptop and the 7L bag can fit a 14-inch laptop, according to Tomtoc.
What It Can Pack
I have the 7L bag in the Khaki color and I think it looks pleasant with the two different tones of beige. The bag features a front quick access pocket and a hidden back pocket for more important items. The bag is finished in a durable and flexible material that is water-resistant.
The EDC makes pulling things in and out of the bag super easy
The Tomtoc EDC Sling Bag accommodates a wide range of uses. From using it to haul filming equipment to carrying everyday essentials and personal items for work, the bag's compact and simple design allows it to be used in a variety of scenarios. Since I had the larger of the two models, I packed in an 11-inch Apple iPad Pro with its keyboard, a Sony A6000 camera, a Hydro Flask, a Zoom H1 recorder, a jacket and a bevy of charging cables all within the main compartment. I was able to store my badge, a notebook, and other press materials in the other compartments. That’s a decent haul for something that looks this small on the outside. The bag actually occupies about 45% of your back. It’s honestly bigger than it looks and feels.
Lack of Safety
I appreciated the one shoulder design as I was able to put on and take off the bag very quickly. This proved to be very convenient for those who have to take off and on the bag often such as at security checkpoints or just happen to be always on the go. Time is valuable and I felt very comfortable with the Tomtoc coming on and off my body at the airport and at the convention halls during security checks. I never once felt worried about losing items as everything was contained neatly inside the bag.
While there are many use cases for this bag, one point of concern is in its travel safety precautions. It is missing physical and electronic security features to prevent or deter theft. The zippers do not have any features to lock and there is no RFID blocking technology for electronically sensitive items. While you can store sensitive documents like passports on the hidden back pocket, I would have liked to see these additional amenities as this would be a terrific bag to be relied upon when traveling. It’s better to be safe than sorry in certain places.
Minor Gripes
I enjoy using this bag whenever I need to carry my everyday belongings. As of now, I use it for my day job commuting to my office. I find the thick, adjustable straps to be very comfortable on my shoulder and back for longer commutes. There are 2 buckles at the bottom of the bag that allows for either wearing the bag on the left or right shoulder. It is worth noting that wearing the bag on the left shoulder results in the front quick access pocket facing downwards. This makes it difficult to access as the opening would potentially allow items to fall out onto the ground. Having the pocket be accessed from the top would allow items to be taken out much easier since people tend to have the bag in the upright position when doing so.
So, if I am taking items out of the main pocket, the bag is in its upright position. At the same time, when I reach for the quick access pocket that has the zipper opening to the side, items tend to end up falling out. I would then have to flip the bag to its side whenever I have to open the quick access pocket. It can be a hassle if you're constantly going back and forth between the top main pocket and the side opening quick access pocket. The easy access front pocket does have a key-strap so at least your keys will stay with the bag no matter how you open it.
final thoughts
All in all, the bag fits my everyday needs. Could I have wished that all the zippers to the pockets faced up? Sure, but since I know this one shortcoming, I quickly adapted to it. I find the various sizes of its compartments to be very useful in organizing the contents. As compact as the bag looks, I was surprised that it was able to carry a good number of items. There is also a little pocket to secure a small water bottle inside in the bag. The Tomtoc Compact EDC Sling Bag fulfills its purpose nicely and will continue to be my daily bag.
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