Review: Boundary Supply Rennen X-Pac Crossbody Sling Bag

Since the success of their Prima and Errant backpacks, Boundary Supply has added smaller bags like slings to their collection. Boundary Supply has a sling called the Rennen, which is available in one that is made from recycled materials (at S$69) or the other which is made from X-Pac material (at S$89). StreamCast Asia is the official distributor for Boundary Supply products in Singapore through their Lazada store, which has a lower pricing overall.

Specifications

Design and build quality

The unit of Rennen Sling I have is the X-Pac variant, which is S$20 more than the regular model. I have the Urbane Grey Rennen X-Pac Sling, which is closer to a light grey and has very obvious texture X-Pac texturing across the whole bag. Rennen X-Pac Sling has a symmetrical design, with one large zipper across the top part of the sling. It is a simple design that I do appreciate.

The X-Pac material is tough, and has that textured paper like feel to it which reminds me of thick waterproof ground mats. Due to the thick structured texture of the X-Pac material, it holds its shape well compared to other canvas material slings. As the material is quite unique, I feel some people might like X-Pac material and some might not. Do note that X-Pac offers water-resistance, which the canvas variant does not have.

You also get YKK AquaGuard zippers looped with a bright yellow nylon which offers nice contrast and grip, as well as protection against rain. There are also lash points along the strap which is useful for looping a cap via a carabiner. The carrying straps come with a quick release buckle, which is large and of good quality. When carrying, it is nicely located along my chest for easy access. There are two plastic strap keepers that hold and managed the loose straps well.

Compartments

There are just two two main areas of storage in the Rennen X-Pac Sling – (1) main via the top zipper, and (2) at the back.

The interior of the Rennen X-Pac Sling has a vibrant yellow panel which I like as it lets you spot items quickly. The main compartment has a total of 4 sections to store your things. There is a large main space, followed by two back pockets, and a small zipper pocket along the front of the sling. The main space is wide enough to store a 500ml bottle of mineral water, which is surprisingly convenient for a 2.5 litre sling. But do not that it you might not have any more space to store anything in the two back pockets if they are too think (eg. a wallet).

The two back pockets are not elastic so it can be a slight squeeze if the item is too thick. The small zipper pocket is useful for keeping small things separate from the contents in the bag, so you don’t have to comb through the sling to find it. It is not lined with cushion so I wouldn’t recommend keeping your sunglasses in it.

Lastly, there is also a lash point in the main compartment which you can loop your keys or sanitizer via a carabiner. Flipping the Rennen X-Pac Sling around, you will find a zipped pocket along the length of the back panel. The is pocket does not have much depth, so I found it best to keep my passport or phone safe against my back while travelling.

Carrying and user experience

Due to the tough texture of the X-Pac material, I initially found the zippers of the Rennen X-Pac Sling quite hard to unzip as it seemed to require some precision to ensure it doesn’t get jammed. However, after breaking in the bag after a week of use, the zippers are now much easier to unzip and zip. Though I’d still recommend holding on to corners when zipping.

As for comfort, Rennen X-Pac Sling has some padding on the back panel which provides some cushioning against my back. I did notice that given the straps are anchored in the middle as opposed to the corners of the bag, the Rennen X-Pac Sling can sometimes sit at an off-angle against my body especially if the bag is quite full. The reason why the Rennen X-Pac Sling use a middle anchoring is because you can choose to use it as a waist pack if you wish to.

When it comes to usability, the Rennen X-Pac Sling is quite straightforward with one main access which you can open it either from the left or right depending on where you place the zippers. I mainly use the 3 main areas to organise my gear, which are the main space and the two pockets. There is also a back pocket which I feel is best used for keeping things separate like a passport or phone.

Conclusion

The Boundary Supply Rennen X-Pac Sling works great if you’re looking for a small sling bag, with some level of organisation. I like how even with its 2.5 litres capacity, you can still store a bottle of mineral water. The materials used on the Rennen X-Pac Sling are also top quality, especially the X-Pac material which offers water resistance and some structure for the bag. At S$89, I think the Rennen X-Pac Sling is fairly priced for the simple but useful features that it offers.