I really don’t need another sling bag, but I was so drawn to the multi-wear aspect of the FP Movement Cakewalk Sling that I bought it last fall after stalking it all summer. I’ve used it frequently for close to a year now, and finally feel ready to share my thoughts on the bag.
While the ease of convertibility is what I find most appealing about the Cakewalk Sling–its sling strap can be unzipped to reveal backpack straps–this multi-use bag is also surprisingly capacious, allowing it to serve as a daypack for hiking or a personal item for travel.
MATERIAL & QUALITY
The Cakewalk Sling is constructed from a puffy 100% polyester ripstop fabric that’s easy to clean and maintain. The bag is surprisingly well-made considering its $78 price tag; I once stuffed it with four (smaller) bottles of water and a box’s worth of candy bars and it survived being overloaded just fine.
While there are a concerning number of reviews that call out the bag’s quality, I can’t personally corroborate the issues with the bag’s many zippers that some reviewers experienced. But it is an issue that I am preparing for, and feel the price point is reasonable enough that I was willing to take that risk.
ORGANIZATION
As a lover of zippered pockets, the Cakewalk Sling has the perfect number and assortment of pockets. While they are not equal in usefulness, I have found unique uses for them all for both everyday and travel. The two front zippered pockets are on the small side, but can be used to store charging cables, a small power bank, and various loose items; the compartment on top is the only pocket I consider impractical as it’s narrow and long, which makes pulling out smaller items a pain.
The mesh pocket on the back is roomy enough to hold a water bottle, but I like to keep low-value items (e.g., hand wipes, lip balm, sunscreen, Band-Aids, etc.) that I need to access quickly there. The two major zippered side components are also really useful: the larger of the two can house a travel umbrella, a packable rain jacket, a water bottle, snacks, a full-size wallet, keys, and a makeup kit.
Free People is currently running a limited time promotion: Get a $50 e-Code toward a future purchase when you spend $150 on FP Movement styles, including the Hit The Slopes Fleece Jacket (reviewed here) that I am a huge fan of. This promotion is not quite as sweet as the gift code promotion that you’ll find at Free People during the holiday season, but I still think it’s a good time to pick up styles that don’t normally go on sale, like the Cakewalk Sling.
My picks:
