THE NORTH FACE Borealis Sling Bag, Skylight Blue/LED Yellow, One Size

I am rewriting my original review that said this bag is too small to be useful. I have figured out how to make it useful. I also own both the Patagonia Atom and the Osprey Daylight Sling and all have their pros and cons but the Borealis comes closest for my very specific needs.Pros: The bag is small and pretty light for day use.The main compartment has two zips so it can load from the top or from the side which is very handy. I use it for a 16 oz Zojirushi thermos and a few other small things. There is a mesh zip compartment inside the main compartment that I use for cash, band aids, tissues, credit cards, etc. I could fit some sunglasses and other things into the main compartment as there is still some room.It is comfortable to wear and, since I wear it mostly in the front, easy to access and use.The smaller front zip compartment is handy for my phone.The tiny compartment on the strap is handy for keys.The side compartment is really narrow and fits some very small items like a tiny umbrella.ConsI do not know how anyone fits a phone into the strap compartment. It you want to jam one in there because you will not get it out often then I guess it works since it is stretchy.I do not know how anyone fits any water bottle into the side compartment. If it was all stretchy material with a rigid velcro or adjustable strap to keep it open then it would work well.YMMV since some people manage these things.It is a well thought-out bag that could use a few tweaks here and there. A dark grey/white color would also be nice.

It’s not really big, but it holds quite a bit. It does fit iPad mini and there are three or four pockets. I think one of them is lined.

I absolutely love this sling bag! The design is sleek, and the TNF Black/TNF White color combo goes with everything. It's compact yet surprisingly roomy, fitting all my essentials—phone, wallet, keys, a small water bottle, and even some snacks—with ease. The adjustable strap is super comfortable, making it great for long walks or traveling.The material feels durable and water-resistant, so I don't worry about light rain. The organizational compartments are a big plus, keeping everything easy to find. Overall, it's stylish, functional, and perfect for on-the-go use. Highly recommend for anyone looking for a versatile sling bag!

This is basically a cross body bag that fulfills the same function as something like a purse. It can carry the essentials if I'm in shorts and a t-shirt, so for me the small size is not really a negative, it's basically what I was looking for. You can wear it around a store without drawing too much attention like you might with a backpack or something larger, and it carries the basics without being overpacked to the point of being uncomfortably heavy, and it looks discreet and not too tactical. Plenty big for a full size pez depenser, IFAK, and more.One complaint some have is that the shoulder strap doesn't swap sides even though it would be easy to integrate this feature into the sling bag. I suspect it's a decision made because of the asymmetrical design, with the water bottle pocket on one side, and outside accessible pocket on the other; they want the outside pocket to be accessible when you swing the bag around front while wearing it.The water bottle pocket is small but it isn't useless, it's basically the perfect size for one of those little 16 oz water bottles. You can't really go bigger, which depending on your purposes may be adequate or may not. Alternatively something like a compact umbrella would work in this spot.Zippers are easy and smooth, build construction is light but fine. The exterior elastic straps worked okay for a packable puffer jacket or silnylon UL poncho, but I would carabiner them to the bag just as a precuation, and there are handy attachment points for this.Cons are that it is a little expensive for what it is. Organization is minimal. I appreciate the slip pocket, but what would really improve the bag would be the addition of hook and loop field on the inside so you can velcro organization panels inside in a way that makes the most sense for you, so things aren't just floating around loose or having to rely on organizer pouches.

It's a good pack, BUT... It's just not for me. Not because the pack is bad, I just don't like sling bags. I really tried to work with this, as it really is the perfect size. It fit a Kindle Fire 8 HD, a small med-kit (more of a boo-boo kit), keys, wallet, and has a pocket for my phone. Though the pocket I used for the phone is probably for sunglasses, as it was lined with this really soft material that made it difficult to get my phone in and out of said pocket. The phone would fit better if there was no case, but who's rocking an iphone w/no case these days? It's also just a touch too small for a iphone 13 pro max in a Otterbox Commuter case. The pocket on the strap that's meant for a phone DEFINITELY won't fit the iphone 13 pro max, but WILL fit a small can of pepper spray. I'm not sure what kind of water bottle they had in mind when they made this bag, but the "water bottle pocket" perfectly fits a full size CAT tourniquet. So that'll tell you how small the pocket is. Sure, there's more room, but not enough for even a typical 20 oz. drink bottle.