Getting an EDC bag is a great way to address those pesky items that are too big to fit in your pocket and not big enough to demand being put in a backpack.
This is especially helpful when traveling. So let’s take a look at the 7 best EDC bags in 2024.
What’s the Best EDC Bag?
The best EDC bag is the one that can effectively carry everything that you need it to daily for an extended period. Finding the right bag for your needs is not always straightforward.
But don’t worry — this guide will give you an overview of what to look for in a quality product. Below you’ll find a short list featuring our top 7 picks for the best EDC bags and the central areas each specializes in.
Our Top 7 Picks for the Best EDC Bags:
- Best Overall: OZUKO Sling Backpack
- Best Sling Bag: REEBOW Gear Tactical Sling Bag
- Best for Hiking: WATERFLY Crossbody Sling Backpack
- Best for Laptops: WENIG Laptop Backpack
- Best for Weather: BANGE Sling Bag
- Best for College Students: BAGSMART Expandable School Backpack
- Best for Budget: D’yallee Sling Bag For Men
While each of these EDC bags specializes in a specific area, they also excel in more nuanced ways that we’ll delve into in the individual product reviews. But before that, it’s essential to understand the general purpose they fulfill and why you should invest in one.
Why You Need an EDC Bag
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If you venture out every day, be it for work-related or personal reasons, getting yourself an EDC bag is a move you won’t regret.
As we mentioned earlier, an EDC bag brings a much-needed middle ground when storing your possessions whenever you leave your home. It has more room to offer than the pockets of your pants and jackets while not being overly large like a regular backpack.
This makes it ideal for carrying hand sanitizer, lotion, gum, phone chargers, and other miscellaneous items.
And as a bonus, EDC bags can make a great fashion statement if you pair them with the right outfit. Thanks to the vast number of EDC bags you can find online, it’s intimidating to look through them all in search of one that’s right for you.
Our list of the 7 best EDC bags will give you a place to start your search and inform you of the most important features you should look for in any bag.
Best EDC Bag: Our Top 7 Picks
Here are our top 7 picks for the best EDC bags. You can find all of these products on Amazon.
1. Best Overall: OZUKO Sling Backpack
- Decompression Carrying System.
- Made of high-density oxford fabric.
- Anti-theft system.
- Not big enough for laptops and some tablets.
- The zipper lock can be confusing to use.
The OZUKO Sling Backpack takes the best overall spot on our list because it’s well-rounded in its design.
With this bag, you’ll have access to multiple storage areas, including a zipper pocket, inner patch pocket, back zip pocket, side pocket, and shoulder strap card pocket, offering more than enough space to store everyday items.
Thanks to the breathable mesh and high-density foam, this backpack won’t grow hot against your body over time and will always feel like a nice cushion. The strap also features a two-side wearing design, so you can switch which side of your body you carry the bag on without feeling uncomfortable.
As great as this backpack is, it doesn’t have a whole lot of size, and this is what many customer reviews paid attention to.
Many people find the bag much smaller in person than they expect based on the images online, and some of them describe it as the size of a small purse. So, keep this in mind if you’re looking for a bag to carry more than just small items.
2. Best Sling Bag: REEBOW Gear Tactical Sling Bag
- Made with 600D polyester.
- Fully adjustable shoulder strap.
- Material can handle abrasion with rough surfaces.
- The top outside zipper has questionable durability.
- Shoulder strap stitching is fragile.
The REEBOW Gear Tactical Sling Bag is a military-style bag that can hold a more significant number of items than many other sling bags.
The fully adjustable shoulder strap on this bag makes it a good fit regardless of whether you have broad or slim shoulders, and the buckle allows you to remove it quickly.
Whereas some sling bags are so small that they struggle to leave some space between compartments that keeps all your items from crowding together, this sling bag doesn’t have that issue.
It has multiple compartments with enough space to keep everything nice and separate at all times, even when fully packed.
While the overall polyester material of this bag holds up well, some customer reviews report having issues with certain zippers jamming, most notably the outside zippers.
The shoulder strap stitching is also not the best, so you want to be careful not to overload the sling bag with too many items that put an overabundance of stress on the shoulder strap.
3. Best for Hiking: WATERFLY Crossbody Sling Backpack
- Great color variety for personalization.
- Hidden earphone hole for easy access to earphones.
- Mesh pocket for carrying umbrellas.
- Not many compartments for carrying items.
- The cell phone pocket is bulky.
The WATERFLY Crossbody Sling Backpack is among the best sling backpacks we found for hiking trips that last several hours.
It’s small, compact, lightweight, and perfect for safely carrying your phone, wallet, keys, and other small items, so you don’t have to worry about them falling out of your pocket.
There is one main compartment, several smaller storage areas inside that can hold an iPad mini, and a front compartment that can hold a few small items. You can store a small umbrella in the mesh pocket and a water bottle in the side holder.
The earphone hole on the bag’s frontside also allows you to listen to music on the go with ease. This bag is smaller than most other options on this list, but it’s not necessarily a con unless you’re looking to use it for more than just hiking purposes, as it cannot store many larger items.
The main complaint of some customer reviews was the cell phone pocket, which feels bulky against the chest and isn’t adjustable, so you may dislike that feature.
4. Best for Laptops: WENIG Laptop Backpack
- Large pockets are great for holding laptops.
- USB Port and headphone jack support.
- Water-resistant fabric.
- Large size that's not very compact.
- Side pockets are a bit too snug for some.
Suppose you’re looking for an EDC bag that’s a bit closer to a backpack without being a hassle to carry around all day. In that case, the WENIG Laptop Backpack is a perfect choice.
Its main compartment can carry a laptop or tablet, and the second slightly smaller compartment can store phone chargers, small notebooks, and other small items. The top of the backpack features an anti-theft lock for the zippers to keep anyone from opening it should it get stolen.
There’s also an anti-theft back pocket where you can store items out of sight while wearing the backpack. Just remember to read the instructions carefully for the anti-theft lock to avoid accidentally locking yourself out.
The side pockets on this backpack are a bit difficult to use for things like water bottles because of how tight they are. Some customer reviews have pointed this out, but it’s far from a deal-breaker regarding design flaws.
Due to its large size, you won’t want to get this backpack if you’re looking for something compact to carry around daily. However, it’s a great EDC backpack that’s still relatively small while having the capacity for a regular-sized laptop.
5. Best for Weather: BANGE Sling Bag
- Holds up well against inclement weather.
- Made of high-quality water-resistant oxford cloth.
- Durable and anti-scratch.
- The side zipper can get stuck.
- The USB port is sometimes faulty.
Not all sling bags can handle harsh weather conditions, but the BANGE Sling Bag is one whose design is excellent at withstanding the punishment of rain, snow, ice, and any other inclement weather.
If you have any worries about your belongings not being well enough protected, then this sling bag is the one that can ease those worries.
The shoulder strap is adjustable at the buckle and features a left/right strap system for carrying on either side. Its two main compartments can fit medium-sized items like a 9.7 inch iPad, camera, and power bank.
There are also top, middle, bottom, and side pockets, which can store cards, charging cables, earbud cases, and other small items. Where downsides are concerned, customer reviews touch on how the side zipper on the bag can get stuck easily.
There’s also the USB port, which is a nice addition, but sometimes goes faulty and fails to charge. Overall, these are not huge cons, so don’t fret over them too much if you like what this bag offers.
6. Best for College Students: BAGSMART Expandable School Backpack
- Three main pockets and 12 inner pockets.
- Unique expansion system.
- USB charging port for power banks.
- The charging port requires individual charging.
- Limited color variety.
College is a busy time regardless of what area of study you’re delving into, and every college student needs a backpack that they can rely on daily.
The BAGSMART Expandable School Backpack succeeds with flying colors in this area, as it features three main pockets and 12 inner pockets. The unique expansion system allows the backpack to expand from 28L to 35L, which is great for creating extra space if you ever need it.
On the side of the backpack is a USB charging port that power banks can connect to, and you can then connect your phone for on-the-go charging.
For cons, the charging port needs charging before use, which is unfortunate because it means you can’t use it at all times. Some customer reviews also mention the lack of variety in color options, as this backpack only comes in baby pink and black.
7. Best for Budgets: D’yallee Sling Bag for Men
- Has an affordable price.
- Extremely compact design.
- Has four compartments and eight pockets.
- Relatively limited storage space overall.
- Not made with the highest quality material.
Despite the D’yallee Sling Bag For Men being the least expensive option on our list, it’s an excellent choice for an EDC bag to use every other day.
The four compartments and eight pockets provide solid storage space capable of handling basic things you’d need while out and about for a few hours. With this bag, you’ll have enough space to store a tablet and other items.
The top of the bag also has a headphone port detail, while the bottom has a USB charging port that you can use for charging your phone. You won’t have the largest amount of storage space to work with if you buy this sling bag.
And as some customer reviews mention, it might not last you incredibly long if you use it every day because its materials are not the most durable. Still, the D’yallee Sling Bag is hard to beat as far as affordable options go.
Finding the Best EDC Bag for You
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Here are a few points to consider when looking for an EDC bag to make your search less complicated.
Overall Size
One of the primary purposes behind buying an EDC bag is to have something you can carry around that won’t become bothersome over time due to its size. Regular backpacks have this issue where they’re too big and cumbersome to haul around daily.
In contrast, an EDC bag is typically smaller and weighs less than the average backpack. However, some backpacks classify as EDC bags because they are small in size while retaining most of the capabilities one expects to find in a backpack.
This is especially the case with many EDC bags that have enough room to carry laptops, so always ensure you pay attention to the size of any EDC bag and see if it’s appropriate for you before buying it.
Number of Compartments and Pockets
Regardless of the size of an EDC bag, it would help if you aimed to get one with two or three compartments and a few pockets inside the compartments.
While you don’t want an overzealous amount of storage space, you do want enough space to carry your phone, wallet, keys, and other items. Also, pay attention to how big the compartments and pockets are.
Often, the images on the product page aren’t the most accurate when representing how much storage space an EDC bag provides. Because of this, you should check the customer reviews to see if there are any images that better showcase how the bag looks in person.
Adjustability of Straps
Most EDC bags come with straps that have some degree of adjustability. That said, some don’t, and these are the ones you want to make special note of because that means they are essentially a one-size-fits-all bag.
If it fits comfortably, there won’t be an issue, but if it doesn’t, you’ll be out of luck and looking for a new bag. In addition to this, prioritize bags that have some level of padding on their straps.
It may not seem like a huge deal, but when a bag’s shoulder strap lacks good padding, it can start to feel irritable after it spends enough time grinding against your shoulder throughout the day.
Consider What Items You Need To Carry
Knowing what items will go into your EDC bag is the ultimate deciding factor when it comes to which bag you’ll buy. Suppose you don’t know what items you’ll need to carry and need some ideas.
In that case, many people like having an EDC bag for specific things they don’t feel like putting in a backpack but can’t fit into their pockets. Consider books, phone chargers, glasses cases, hand sanitizer, lotion, self-defense weapons, and similar items.
Those are the sorts of things that commonly go into an EDC bag, so if any of them come to mind, you’ll likely want a smaller EDC bag. If you have a mini-tablet or small laptop, you’ll want a bigger EDC bag.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Here are answers to some questions about EDC bags that you may still have:
Should I get an EDC bag if I already have a backpack?
Yes, you should get an EDC bag even if you have a backpack. EDC bags are smaller and more compact than backpacks, making them much better for everyday use.
How big should an EDC bag be?
An EDC bag should be somewhere in the 15-25L range. This is generally big enough to carry most items you’ll need daily and small enough not to be cumbersome.
Are sling bags worth it?
Yes, sling bags bring an added level of freedom that bags with dual straps don’t. They also happen to look quite stylish when worn the right way.
Can you wear a sling bag in front?
You can wear a sling bag on the front, back, waist, or shoulders. It primarily depends on your preference and which wearing method feels most comfortable.
How do I organize my EDC bag?
Put your smallest items in the pockets and your biggest items in the compartments. This way, you’ll make the most optimal use of the limited space while keeping track of where everything is.
Our Personal Favorite EDC Bag
Of all the EDC bags we reviewed, our favorite is the OZUKO Sling Backpack because it checks all the right boxes.
- Decompression Carrying System.
- Made of high-density oxford fabric.
- Anti-theft system.
- Not big enough for laptops and some tablets.
- The zipper lock can be confusing to use.
However, if you still want to look elsewhere after going through our top 7 picks, then use our tips on what features to look for in an EDC bag, and you’ll find the perfect one for you. Happy travels!