While I disagree with you in the end, what I like about your video is that you give us your honest view which made me think twice about getting this bag and you respect different opinions. So 👍

I love mine Atom Sling. Going on 4 years now. For travel, I use it for phone, chargers, 8" tablet. Only thing I wish it had was a small side pocket for water bottle. In winter, i also use the front straps for my vest. I roll it up tight and then tighten straps on it. Works great. Everything on the sling is still performing and no issues at all. I love it.

I used this bag while on vacation walking around town. Carried my diabetes supplies, water bottle, sunglasses, cap, windbreaker, and phone. What I liked the most was not having to take it off to access the pockets; just slide it to the side or front; perfect when sitting in restaurants or bars. I suppose the same can be said for any sling bag, but I found the size of this one to be just right. If I needed to carry an iPad or anything more, I’d opt for a backpack.

Great video. The testing of the devices helps everyone. Thank you

I have one and I like it. I see many of these sling videos where people complain about the product. I think many people treat a sling bag like a regular backpack, and they expect it to work that way too. It is a sling bag to carry only essentials. If you are going to carry a laptop or games, use a backpack. I have the first release and it works great. I don't need to carry all the stuff you bring out, but if I do, I just pull out my back pack. No worries. Oh and I do exist!!:)

I think you may not be the right customer, but it isn't a case of your use case is the only one. I come to bags from hiking experience, and that carries over to my wants and needs for a sling. The Atom is small because sometimes small is the right choice. It has compression straps to put external cargo on, like a poncho or windbreaker. I can clip runners' belt bottles to the straps for water (when did putting water in your bag with your gear become a thing, anyway? Asking for expensive accidents). Likewise, a cheap carabiner lets me give a ball cap a home if I need that off. The front pocket is for quick small items. The main divider lets you put your tablet in with something between it and all the other things. The water resistant material is a plus. It isn't a big cargo carrier, but it serves a purpose. I appreciate your review. There isn't only 1 right application for a bag.

This bag is actually on the short list for me for a sling bag of this size. My use case is basically: empty my pockets, but also carry a packable jacket, small first aid pouch, memobottle a6, and pair of work gloves. I don't honestly need much more. Outside secondary pocket gets gloves and nothing else. The trouble is the compartment lacking any form of organization beyond that divider. I have no use for it at all and would rather the older version with the more traditional tablet sleeve. Competitive options: Northface Borealis sling, Hydro Flask Slingback sling, maybe the 7L Tomtoc edc sling. The Hydro Flask seems like the best organization, but worst strap. Maybe I can transplant the strap from another bag.

I use this for walking the dog - I put a water bottle, ball, lead in the main compartment, treats in the front pocket and poo bags fit nicely in the carry strap pocket. The best thing about it is that it is easy to swing to the front and open while on the move. I have also used it for light EDC use when on Jury duty - it was great for dumping stuff into when going through security at the court. It may not have a specific purpose but I think that’s the point - it is a versatile, multi purpose bag.

I guess if you have bigger things, just put in a bigger bag or a backpack.. 😂 but this bag served me very well

I found this bag most useful when snowboarding/skiing. It's nice to be able to quickly swing the bag to the front when getting on the ski lift. It holds the right amount of stuff I need for a day trip on the mountain. I use it when flying too. Usually this doesn't get counted as a bag. It could definitely use more organization but I do like the quality/construction of the bag.

This is a bag I'm looking at currently. I want a smaller pack with quick access to the bag without taking it off for the medical bs I have to take around with me. Thank you for showing a nalgene in it as that was one of the specific items I was wondering how it would fit.

I went with the same size Patagonia Black Hole Sling with its larger opening, it’s packable so I can use it when I need to and it’s more comfortable. I’m in a major city and have a backpack on me 99% of the time so I wanted an alternative, specially when walking the dog. I can fit a decent sized thermos for the dog + my water bottle and whatever else I need.

I think you need a backpack instead of a sling bag for all the stuff you want to carry.

The purpose of the bag is a light pack for hikers who prefer a sling to a two strap backpack. That is sole purpose. It is a specialized bag.

Nalgene can be clipped on the back using the straps, flip it upside down and it works a treat.

I got it because I walk to the gym and don't want to take my purse and a separate gym bag. This fits my water bottle, towel, locker lock, wallet, a couple resistance bands, keys and phone. I don't need a full size backpack for just that stuff.

Great bag for a day out or for commuting to work to have some bits n bobs in and a spare jacket. If you wanna carry round 3 games consoles and litres of water i agree this isn’t the bag for you but i feel like most people with common sense would get a larger bag for that…

Buena Review, muy sincero.

My mom got me one as a gift and I wish she hadn't spent the money. I appreciate that the phone pocket is stretchy but the zipper is absolutely too small for me to get in my phone (Galaxy S22 Ultra, which is fractions of an inch longer than the other current Galaxy S-series phones....)

I would probably cinch the nalegene down with those straps on the front.

Couldn’t agree more! Patagonia Atom Sling 8L just sucks due to a lot of reasons! Put it straight in more details, just take a look on my regular mandatory EDC: 1. Wallet with bank cards, some cash, office pass and ID = no place to securely keep it inside Patagonia Atom Sling away from thieves and it’s the major flaw!!! 2. Thermo flask with some drink, hot or cold according to the season = no external pocket so you risk every time you put such flask inside right next to any gadget, cause even the best flasks in the world sometimes leak and could literally kill your iPad or Kindle! 3. Smartphone, keys, iPad and/or Kindle = no problem to find a right place for them inside Atom Sling, wow, great done! 4. Power bank with cables and in-ear Bluetooth headset = no organisation small pockets in Patagonia Atom Sling, once again a huge problem!!! …cause I don’t like small items are flying across the whole space inside the sling and no way to keep them and find them exactly where you put them!!! Keep them within pocket with key holder - it’s still way too big for it, not to mention the keys are going to hit and scratch such stuff like power bank or headset case, while stretch pocket on the strap of the sling already occupied with your smartphone! 5. Sunglasses in the hard case = once again, the second external is a must not to waste the space inside and to keep them at hand to use right away if need it! As a matter of fact to conclude with: 1. If sometimes I don’t need water bottle with me for short urban trips cause I have easily find where to buy any small drink anytime I want and drink it all at once not keeping it with me plus gadget wise I don’t bring iPad with me as well (only smartphone, power bank and in-ear headset)… Well, nice small waist bag is my preferable choice in this case!!! …something like Deuter Organizer Belt 1.8L or Osprey Daylite Waist 2L solve the task much better than Atom Sling 8L! 2. If I need to carry with me bigger gadgets like iPad and/or on-ear headsets, and still no flask though… Well, it’s anyway the waist bag like Fjallraven Ulvo Large 4L / Thule Tact waist bag 5L or even something like small messenger bag aka Mammut Shoulder Bag Round 4L / Thule Crossover 2 Crossbody 8L bag! 3. If I need water bottle anyway - I will have some small and light backpack with appropriate external stretch pocket, Thule Crossover Sling 17L or Deuter Stepout backpack 16L… 4. Finally, if I have big gadgets with me = laptop as a must and/or some extra cloth layer like hoodie or rain jacket or even change of cloth for gym = welcome to the big urban backpacks area, The North Face Kaban 2.0 27L or Gregory Border 25L or Deuter Giga 28L or Kelty Redwing 22L and so on!!! Where, in which category from above to put this nonsense aka Patagonia Atom Sling 8L - I just don’t know, it doesn’t fit any!!!

“We have a front pocket of indeterminate use” - No no, it’s very determinate. That’s where your keys and other quick access items like a wallet can go. Hence the internal key clip and general wallet-size of the pocket. “The back pocket has a divider in the middle for an unknown reason” - No no, it’s actually there for an exceptionally known reason. It’s a tablet sleeve. Like Patagonia states on the website description for this product. This type of sassy faux-uneducated review style is so cringey. We get it, you personally don’t happen to like this bag. Don’t pretend like there aren’t good reasons for why certain features exist. Lame.

It's the price for me.... what a joke.