ALPAKA Go Sling & Elements Tote Review: Do These Bags Hold Up?

I get it, tote bags and sling bags probably aren’t the first things that come to mind when you think of adventure gear. Unless, of course, you’re like me and seem to be on a never-ending quest to find the “perfect” bag.

But I’m also pretty hard on my gear. I want something I can toss in the back of the car, drag along on a camping trip, take hiking, and generally not have to baby. And if I’m going to spend a little more on a bag, it better last longer than one season.

That’s exactly what I wanted to find out when I started testing the ALPAKA Go Sling and ALPAKA Elements Tote.

Over the last little while, these two bags have been on a LOT of adventures with me. They’ve been lugged up trails, squished between camping gear in the back of the car, dragged to the beach, and even strapped to the front of my paddleboard on a windy day. Neither has had a particularly cushy life.

So, this ALPAKA Go Sling and Elements Tote review isn’t based on how they look fresh out of the box. I’ve actually put them to work. Let’s get into what I love, what I don’t, how they’ve held up, and whether I think they’re actually worth the money.

Disclaimer: I received both bags as a gift from ALPAKA so I could test them out and share my thoughts. All opinions here are my own and getting them for free hasn’t changed what I think about them. I always aim to be honest in my reviews.

The Verdict: Are the ALPAKA Go Sling & Elements Tote Worth It?

Short answer? Yep. I really like both of these bags.

After dragging them along on hikes, camping trips, beach days, road trips, and plenty of everyday adventures, they’ve held up incredibly well. More importantly, I actually want to use them. The Elements Tote has become my go-to when I need to carry a ridiculous amount of stuff, while the Go Sling is perfect when I want the exact opposite and only need the essentials.

Neither bag is cheap, and there are definitely a few things I’d change (more on those below!), but the quality feels noticeably better than the random tote and sling bags I’ve gone through over the years. If you’re willing to spend a little more for something you’ll actually use again and again, I think both are worth considering.

ALPAKA Go Sling & Elements Tote: Pros & Cons

Want the quick version? After months of using both bags, here’s what I like and what I think could be better.

About ALPAKA, the Brand Behind the Bags

First things first, let’s talk about the company behind the gear. Too often, we just grab something cheap and quick without thinking about who we’re supporting, and I like to challenge that behaviour.

ALPAKA is an Australian brand that started in 2016 when two friends, Ramiro and Jin, got fed up with not finding a bag that actually worked for their lives (I get it). So, like any good gear nerds, they designed their own.

Their first bag, the 7ven Messenger, launched on Kickstarter and blew up! Since then, they’ve expanded into a huge range of slings, backpacks, totes, tech organizers, and other everyday carry gear.

One thing I particularly like about ALPAKA is the focus on making things that last. They use tough, weather-resistant materials like X-Pac, along with recycled fabrics throughout their collection. I’ll be honest, I don’t totally understand the ins and outs of all those technical fabric names (kudos if you do), but I can tell you that after months of dragging these two bags around, they still look basically brand new. No fraying, weird scuffs, or straps starting to fall apart.

They’re also a member of 1% for the Planet and have their own ALPAKA Marketplace where you can buy and sell used gear. I haven’t tried the resale program myself, but I love that it exists. If you’re going to make bags designed to last for years, giving them an easy way to have a second life just makes sense.

ALPAKA Elements Tote Review (20L)

The ALPAKA Elements Tote has basically become my designated “everything else” bag whenever we’re travelling or camping. Clothes go in a backpack, and this gets everything that doesn’t have a home: toiletries, Kindles, cards, snacks, sunscreen, bug spray, chargers, and yes… sometimes a bottle of wine.

It’s basically a Mary Poppins bag.

I went with the largest 20L Elements Tote because I specifically wanted something that could replace carrying a bunch of smaller bags, and I’m really glad I did. For the way I use it, I honestly couldn’t imagine going smaller.

That said, ALPAKA also makes 9L and 14.5L versions if you don’t need to haul half your life around with you.

Layout & Pockets

The large Elements Tote has a 20-litre capacity and a flat bottom, so it actually stands upright while I’m packing it. It sounds like a tiny detail, but I LOVE not having the sides constantly collapsing in on themselves.

Inside, there’s a semi-padded sleeve that fits my 16″ laptop, a couple of slip pockets, and two elasticized bottle sleeves. The laptop sleeve could definitely use more padding, but the bottle sleeves are brilliant. I use them for everything from drinks to bear spray, sunscreen, and dry shampoo.

There are also magnetic slip pockets on the front and back, plus a magnetic closure for the main compartment. My only complaint is that the main magnet is pretty weak, especially when I’ve stuffed the bag to the brim (which, let’s be real, is usually).

Materials & Build Quality

The Elements Tote uses Axoflux 210D ripstop nylon on the outside with a 300D honeycomb ripstop polyester lining. Do I know exactly what all of that means? Absolutely not. It sounds like something out of a spaceship manual.

What I can tell you is that the bag feels tough. It’s noticeably more substantial than the cotton and canvas totes I’ve owned, without being heavy or bulky. After months of camping trips, road trips, hikes, beach days, and generally not being particularly gentle with it, my Elements Tote still looks basically brand new.

It also folds almost completely flat when it’s empty, so it doesn’t take up much room in a closet or suitcase. The rolled-edge webbing handles have been surprisingly comfortable too, even when I’ve loaded the bag with way more stuff than I probably should.

How Water-Resistant Is It? My Paddleboard Test

Okay, this is where the Elements Tote really won me over.

On a trip to the Kootenays, we wanted to reach a little hidden beach and decided it would be more fun to paddleboard there instead of hiking in.

I strapped the tote to the front of my paddleboard with my Kindle, towel, and everything else inside. The water was pretty choppy, so I assumed at least something would get wet along the way, but everything was completely dry when we got to the beach!

Obviously, the Elements Tote is water-resistant, not waterproof, so I wouldn’t go throwing it in the lake with your electronics inside. But considering how much water splashed onto it during the paddle, I was very impressed.

ALPAKA’s Go Sling Review

Alrighty, on to the next bag! The ALPAKA Go Sling is more of an adventure bag for me. I don’t really wear sling bags around town, but I’ve found myself bringing it along for hikes, camping trips, road trips, and basically any day where I want a few things with me but really don’t feel like carrying a backpack.

And that’s probably what I like most about it. It’s only 2L, so it’s not meant to carry a ton of stuff, but you’d be surprised by how much you can cram in there. For shorter adventures in particular, it’s a really handy little bag.

What Fits Inside the ALPAKA Go Sling?

For a 2L bag, the Go Sling holds a surprising amount. Obviously, you’re not packing for the day in here, but I can fit pretty much everything I want easy access to while we’re hiking or out exploring.

I usually have snacks, bear spray, sunglasses, a battery bank and charging cords, plus my Joey Pouch wallet clipped inside. My Kindle also fits nicely in the padded sleeve, which I LOVE for road trips or travel days when I don’t want to keep digging through my bigger bag to find it.

There’s no dedicated water bottle pocket like some of ALPAKA’s other bags, which is probably the biggest thing I’d like to have. That said, a bottle obviously wouldn’t fit inside a 2L sling without taking up the entire bag anyway. I usually clip mine to the outside, which has worked well and means I can grab it without taking the sling off.

You definitely have to be a little strategic once you start filling it up, but for such a small bag, I’m pretty impressed by what I can squeeze into it.

Pockets & Organization

For such a small bag, the Go Sling has a good amount of organization without going crazy with a million tiny pockets. I hate knowing I put something somewhere in a bag and then having to open six different zippers to find it, so this is a good balance for me.

The front pocket has a MOD key tether, which is a little magnetic clip where I usually attach my wallet. Inside, there are a few smaller pockets and the padded sleeve where I keep my Kindle, while the zippered pocket against the back is handy for things you want to keep extra secure, like a phone or passport.

I actually found some older reviews complaining that the rear pocket wasn’t zippered, so apparently ALPAKA listened! Mine has a full zipper now, and I always appreciate seeing a brand actually fix the little things people complain about.

The Strap & Carry

The Go Sling has an adjustable strap with a magnetic buckle that makes it really easy to get on and off. I’ll admit, the buckle confused me at first, but once I figured it out, I really liked it.

It’s also surprisingly comfortable while hiking. I wear it fairly close to my body and it stays put without bouncing around, even when I’ve stuffed it full. I can easily slide it around to the front when I need something and push it back out of the way when I don’t.

There’s also a little handle on top that I somehow didn’t notice for the first month. I rarely use it, but it’s handy for grabbing the bag out of the car.

One weird thing: ALPAKA’s website says the strap can be removed, but mine is VERY securely attached and definitely isn’t going anywhere. Maybe the design has changed since I got mine? I have no idea. If a removable strap is important to you, I’d double-check the current version before buying.

Materials & Build

The Go Sling is made from water-resistant Axoflux 210D ripstop nylon with Aquaguard zippers, which is a whole lot of tech talk. If you understand all those fabric words, that’s impressive. I’m just here to tell you whether they actually work.

And after taking this bag through a very rainy trip to Banff, I can say they do! It got rained on while we waited for sunrise at Moraine Lake, came along on the Bear Creek Falls trail, and generally spent a lot more time getting wet than I would have liked. Everything inside stayed dry.

The fabric itself feels sturdy without making the bag bulky, and after months of hiking, camping, and travelling with it, mine still looks great. Like the Elements Tote, it’s water-resistant rather than waterproof, so I wouldn’t submerge it, but I have zero hesitation bringing it along when there’s rain in the forecast.

Which Bag Is Right for You?

Not sure which one makes more sense? They’re pretty different bags, so it really comes down to how much stuff you tend to drag around with you.

• The Elements Tote: Go with the tote if you’re like me and somehow end up travelling with a million random things that don’t really belong in your backpack. It’s great for camping trips, road trips, beach days, or just having one big bag you can throw everything into. Basically, if your backpack needs a sidekick, this is it.
• The Go Sling: Go with the sling if you’re trying to carry less. I like it for shorter hikes, sightseeing, and travel days when my pockets aren’t quite enough, but bringing a whole backpack feels ridiculous. There’s enough room for the important stuff without having another big bag to lug around.

Are ALPAKA Bags Worth It?

For me, yes.

ALPAKA bags definitely aren’t the cheapest option out there, but after months of using the Elements Tote and Go Sling, I can see where the extra money goes. Both still look basically brand new after camping trips, rainy hikes, road trips, and even being strapped to the front of my paddleboard.

The Elements Tote has replaced the second backpack I used to bring on trips, and it’s actually the first tote I’ve owned since our house fire. I didn’t realize how much I missed having one until this bag came along. Now it gets filled with all the random stuff that doesn’t belong anywhere else and tossed in the car pretty much every time we go camping.

The Go Sling has a more specific purpose for me. I don’t really use it for everyday errands, but I really like it for hiking and travel when I want more than my pockets can handle but don’t need a full backpack.

Neither bag is perfect, but that’s kind of the point of this whole review. I’ve found little things I’d change about both, yet I keep using them.

👉 Check the latest price for the ALPAKA Elements Tote
👉 Check the latest price for the ALPAKA Go Sling

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