Meru Sling Bag - Sling Backpack for Women & Men – Crossbody Bags for Women & Men

I originally ordered a Kavu Rope Bag. I was looking for a purse/backpack hybrid that wasn't too outdoorsy and Kavu's rope sling and cool patterned fabric fit the bill. After 2 weeks of light use there was significant wearing off of the color on the corners and edges, not something I would expect on a 50.00 bag! So, I returned it and tried the Meru. Although they look identical in photos, there are some design differences in the Meru that I find preferable. I will detail them below in case anyone is trying to decide between the two.First is the small combination zipper/Velcro pocket on the outside. The zipper is more secure imo than Kavu's Velcro closure and it also has a key tether sown in. Plus, you still get a small Velcro pocket that sits on top of the zippered compartment. The larger of the two outside pockets is the same size as the Kavu's and will fit a large cell phone.Second is the orientation and placement of compartments/zippers. The main compartment opens just to the left of the two outer pockets and its zipper runs the full length of the bag. It has a smaller zippered pocket inside that is larger than the Kavu's. The second compartment with the padded back is just to the left of the main one. Its zipper is slightly shorter but the compartment is roomy and runs the full width and length of the bag (the Kavu's second compartment only went halfway). The orientation of compartments/zippers means that you can swing the bag around from back to front and access all compartments from the top securely without anything falling out.The third perk is the mesh water bottle holder inside the main compartment. It easily holds a standard plastic water bottle as well as my FiftyFifty insulated bottle (3" in diameter). There are two grommeted holes below the holder to deal with accidental spills or condensation which is smart.I chose a solid color hoping to minimize the appearance of any potential color fading. The Olive Green I ordered is great, more akin to a grey/sage green than a drab olive color. The fabric of my bag is soft canvas and is not "crunchy" like some reviewers described. The strap is less of an issue than I thought. It is comfortable and unobtrusive in appearance. It lacks the nifty elastic band of the Kavu which allows you to roll up the excess but I fashioned my own by rolling up the excess strap around an elastic hair tie and attaching it to the buckle (see pic). It was an easy hack that seems to also prevent any slipping of the adjustment.Size-wise, the Meru is slightly smaller than the Kavu (8.5 liters compared to Kavu's 10.8). Since I was just looking for a large-ish purse that could carry a few extras while hiking/walking around town, this is fine with me. I don't like to carry a lot of weight anyway. All in all, I'm happy with this bag. My only real complaint and the reason I knocked off a star is all the loose threads that needed trimming. These did not appear to involve the integrity of the seams but were strands of fabric edge that got caught in the stitching. This does indicate sloppier assembly that hopefully will not compromise the utility of the bag long term. The price was substantially less than the Kavu so for a bag under 30.00 I'm OK with trimming a few threads.

This bag appears very well-made. The canvas seems like it would hold up under heavy use and the zippers slide smoothly. The strap is well-padded and has a strong quick-release buckle.There are two main storage areas:1) The back storage area is padded on one side (to protect a laptop or tablet?). My full-sized iPad fits nicely.2) The other main storage area has a zippered pocket inside it; perfect for securely storing a wallet; even a large wallet will fit with room to spare. Also inside this storage area is a mesh pocket for storing a water bottle. I'd have preferred to have this on the outside for easier access.On the outside there are two zippered pockets for smaller items:3) The lower one seems large enough for even a large phone.4) The upper pocket is smaller and would be good for keys, change, etc.5) On top of the upper pocket is a flap with Velcro where you could put a few credit cards or bills.There are no dividers inside any of the pockets for storing pencils, pens, small note pads, etc.There is no convenient place to quickly hook a carabiner on the outside of the bag.There is no pocket on the strap for storing something you want to access quickly without removing the bag.There are no special security features or hidden pockets unless you count the zippered pocket noted in 2 above.

My daughter had been raving about her "K"-competitor rope handle bag. I liked the casual flair too, so I looked at some at a local gift shop. I was not really into the designs offered--and the price, geez!! SO--I decided to shop online and I noticed a link to the MERU bags! I had not heard of MERU before! I chose the 'Aztec' design, perfect for me for casual, everyday use. I really love this bag! I won't describe all the pockets, zip ups, inner pockets and hidden pockets -- those have already been covered. Trust me when I say that this bag has PLENTY of space as a purse, a diaper bag, a tote, a messenger bag -- room for everything I carry and even room for my tablet or a book or 2. I am hoping MERU will add some more unique fabric designs, because I will definitely buy more. Perfect for gifts too.

I ordered this backpack for an upcoming trip to Vietnam. I wanted something light and durable with multiple pockets. This bag is awesome! It can hold a surprising amount and it actually does have a water bottle mesh pocket on the inside which is great because you run no risk of your water bottle falling out and losing it (which I have had happen with other bags). I ordered the green bag and the color is as it appears online. The strap has a nice cushion too. I was worried the fabric might irritate my shoulder but so far so good! I looked at a lot of other bags before purchasing this one, some a lot more expensive but after receiving this bag I have no idea why anyone would pay more. This bag is comfortable, holds a good amount for not being a full sized backpack and is cute! I can't wait to use it on my trip!

I have been using a Kavu rope sling bag for 2 years now (the same one). The zipper started having a bit of trouble and it has some wear, so I was going to purchase another. This came up as a suggested purchase for me and I went with it. It's less costly than Kavu and looked to be very similar. So far, I do like it, but there has been one annoying issue. The zippers are sometimes difficult to open. Not very smooth.This is especially annoying while trying to get my wallet out to pay for something. I'm afraid if I pull too hard it will break the zipper. I like the color of the bag and like the material. The pockets also seem to be much larger than the Kavu bag. The memory foam strap is comfortable, but sits much higher up on my chest than the Kavu bag. I would suggest trying it, although I wish the zipper was a bit easier!