tomtoc Aviator-T33 Sling Bag (1.5L) Review

The tomtoc Aviator-T33 Chest Bag 1.5L is the smallest of three sizes but still utilizes the same materials and general design as its larger siblings. We’re curious if this format works for a sling this small, or if we’ll be left wanting more storage options. Let’s dive in and find out!

External Components

The sling is crafted from ripstop nylon. The fabric is thin and lightweight but retains some durability thanks to its ripstop design. It’s not going to hold a candle to a CORDURA® crossbody sling; however, this one is much lighter and portable, which is handy while traveling.

At the time of writing, there are three colorways available. We have Gray on hand at Pack Hacker HQ, which we appreciate for its clean looks and feel. Additionally, there’s a Black option, which is sleek, and Brown, which adds some color to the fold compared to the other two options.

The zippers are from YKK, which has become a staple of tomtoc gear in recent years. This is a good thing because YKK zippers are the best brand we’ve come across to date, and that is also true for the Aviator-T33 Chest Bag 1.5L. These things are smooth and durable!

The hardware is from Duraflex, another quality brand we’ve used dozens of times in testing bags. The buckle is snappy, and the adjuster is easy to use. Both feel durable, so you won’t have to worry about them breaking anytime soon.

The sling’s front face has two small loops on either side, which you can attach gear to or use to help you open the zippered compartments. This adds a nice color contrast, too, which we dig.

There isn’t much going on with this sling externally, but there’s plenty of room for gear inside, which we’ll get to shortly.

Fit Notes

The back panel lacks padding and aeration, though it isn’t much of an issue for a sling of this size. For larger crossbody bags, daypacks, and travel backpacks, padding and mesh to keep you cool are essential for comfort, but at just 1.5 liters, this isn’t as much of a problem.

The biggest thing you can do to ensure this pack is comfortable is to load only flat gear into the back compartment so nothing pokes you when you wear it. We’ll get to that later, though!

The strap is thin and lacks padding, similar to the back panel. Again, this isn’t an issue so long as you don’t load a ton of heavy gear inside the sling. Even if you have a load full of tech, at 1.5 liters, you will struggle to make it heavy enough to cause discomfort.

Inside The Sling

The front pocket is small and flat. A small phone fits here, but plus-sized models or those with a large case won’t fit into the compartment. This is a solid spot to stow a snack, phone, wallet, or similar-sized items. The only feature here is a key leash, which is quite long and has a metal clip on the end.

The back pocket is too small to handle a phone, but it works well for smaller, thin items like a passport or other travel documents. It is essential to only stow flat items here, as whatever you put inside becomes the back panel. If you put something lumpy, the back panel becomes lumpy, and you won’t be as comfortable walking around with the sling.

The main compartment is significantly larger than the other two pockets, though it’s still relatively small. On the back wall is a liner pocket that works well for a phone or similar-sized flat items. There’s no padding on the inside portion, so keep that in mind when stowing items here.

The middle section of this compartment is roomy and works well for tech gear, like a battery bank, sunglasses, or a large snack bar. There isn’t enough room for bulky items, like large, noise-canceling headphones, but we could stow smaller, non-ANC, over-ear headphones here. The more gear you pack inside the other pockets and the main compartment’s organization, the less space you have to work with here.

On the front side, there’s a zippered pocket crafted from mesh. It’s stretchy so that you can stow large items inside. We dig this pocket because you can stash smaller gear you don’t want to get lost elsewhere in the main compartment. Smaller things like a dongle, adapter, or SD card might get lost in the folds elsewhere, but they’re easy to find here.

Despite liking the organization options in this sling, you can’t make a small crossbody bag bigger, so some travelers might want something with more capacity. Lucky for those folks, three versions of this sling are available at the time of writing. The small version we’re writing about is 1.5 liters, the medium is 2.5 liters, and the large is 3.5 liters.

Another perk of this sling family is that all three versions are less than $50 at the time of writing, making them a solid value option for those on a budget or looking to get their first sling without breaking the bank to see whether they like the carry method.

For the price, it’s hard to beat the durability, functionality, and usability of the tomtoc Aviator-T33 Chest Bag 1.5L!