There’s something effortlessly casual about a cross-body sling pack. Somewhere between a backpack and a messenger bag, it’s easy to slip over your shoulder but doesn’t slide about like a satchel, making it a top pick for urban adventures. This sling pack from Seattle-based KAVU is one of the best, featuring a comfortable bound rope strap with a clip buckle. The KAVU Rope Bag has two vertical zip pockets – one with an internal stash pocket – plus two external pockets for smaller items. This version is made in a durable 12oz cotton canvas that’ll wear in beautifully, but it’s also available in polyester as the ‘Rope Sling’ if you’d like more water-resistance.
Now here’s an origin story for you. Back in the early nineties, fishing boat skipper Barry Barr was fed up with wearing cheap trucker caps that got snatched off his head in storms, never to be seen again. He decided to make a super-durable cap that wouldn’t blow off whatever the weather, and he did it by stitching the webbing material from a Teva sandal all the way around the crown. Turned out his ‘Strapcap’ was a hit, and KAVU was born.
From humble beginnings flogging Strapcaps out of the boot of his car in Seattle, Barry’s since expanded to produce a whole array of durable outdoor kit with a laid-back, van-lifer vibe. The KAVU range takes in everything from sling bags to swim shorts, and while they’re serious about producing great gear that’s made to last, they’re also not afraid to have a laugh. Their prints are bold, playful, and in some cases so loud that they’ll take some considerable chutzpah to carry off – but that’s what makes them so much fun.
-Betty, Verified Buyer
