The Short Version
Thirty-four dollars, a pound and a half, water resistant nylon, four zippered pockets and a switchable padded strap.
| Amazon rating | 4.4/5 |
| Best for | A day bag for a laptop and a few accessories, for somebody who would rather not wear two straps. |
| Skip if | Anyone carrying a laptop over 14 inches, or anything that needs to be fully waterproof. |
How it was tested, and where the method is written down: How We Review.
A sling bag is the answer to a specific problem: you do not want to carry a backpack, and you do not want to carry nothing. The NICGID sling fits a 14.1 inch laptop, weighs about a pound and a half, and crosses your body on a strap that clips to either shoulder. It is the bag for a day with more than a phone in it and a short walk to wherever you are going. Thirty-four dollars and 4.4 out of 5 across more than eleven hundred ratings is a well-trodden product, and the spec sheet is where the actual value is.
The Spec
| Type | sling bag, crossbody messenger backpack |
|---|---|
| Material | water resistant nylon with a smooth inner lining, not fully waterproof |
| Laptop | fits up to 14.1 inches, without a sleeve or case |
| Size | 12.2 by 16.5 by 5.1 inches |
| Weight | about 1.54 pounds |
| Pockets | 4 zippered compartments, 3 external, multiple internal |
| Strap | adjustable padded, clips to the left or right shoulder |
| Price | $34, rated 4.4 out of 5 across 1,127 ratings |
The Laptop Fit
Fourteen point one inches is the number to check, and the listing is precise about it: it fits a 14.1 inch laptop without a sleeve or case. That qualifier is doing real work, because a bag that takes a bare laptop is smaller than one that takes a laptop in a sleeve, and this one takes the bare laptop. If your machine is a 16 inch, it does not go in. The dimensions, twelve point two by sixteen and five by five point one inches, give you the rest of the picture: it is tall rather than wide, which is the shape of a bag that goes on your back with a laptop in it.
The Strap
Two details make the strap work. It is padded, which is the difference between a bag you can wear for four hours and one you cannot, and it clips to either shoulder, so you can switch it to the side that is not under your arm if you are carrying a camera or a bag in one hand. The listing also notes there is no limited backward arm movement, which is the polite way of saying you can reach behind you without the strap fighting you. It adjusts in length, so it fits different body shapes, and the whole thing weighs about a pound and a half.
The Organization
Four zippered compartments, three of them external, plus multiple internal pockets and a large main zippered compartment with a pull. That is a real amount of organization for a bag this size, and the point of a sling is that you can find things in it without unpacking it on a bench. The inner lining is smooth, which matters more than it sounds, because a rough lining catches on cables and keys. Water resistant nylon is the honest description: it handles a shower of rain or a spilled coffee, and it is not a bag to take swimming.
Who It Is For
A day bag for a laptop and a few accessories, for somebody who would rather not wear two straps. A carry-on personal item that is not a rolling case. A camera bag, because the adjustable strap and the side switch are exactly what you want when one hand is on a lens. It is not for a laptop over 14 inches, not for a bad-weather hike, and not for somebody who needs a bottle compartment, because the listing describes a utility pocket and four zippered compartments with no mention of one.
The Verdict
Thirty-four dollars, a pound and a half, water resistant nylon, four zippered pockets and a switchable padded strap, rated 4.4 out of 5 across more than eleven hundred ratings. The rating count is what makes this a confident recommendation rather than a hopeful one: this is a product with a lot of owners and not many complaints. It is not the most beautiful bag and it is not the most weatherproof, but for the job it is built for, the price to quality ratio is hard to argue with.
Common Questions
What size laptop fits the NICGID sling bag?
Up to 14.1 inches, and the listing is specific that it fits without a sleeve or case. A 16 inch laptop will not go in. The bag itself measures 12.2 by 16.5 by 5.1 inches and weighs about 1.54 pounds.
Is it waterproof?
Water resistant, not waterproof. The listing says water resistant nylon that is not completely waterproof, so it will handle rain and a spill, and it is not the bag for a downpour or a swim.
Can the strap be switched to the other shoulder?
Yes. The strap clip lets you switch it between the left and right hand side, which matters if you are carrying something in one hand and want the strap out of the way on the other.
How many pockets does it have?
Four zippered compartments, three of them external, plus multiple internal pockets and a large main zippered compartment with a pull. The inner lining is smooth so it does not catch on cables and keys.
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