Great sling bag or fanny pack: Topo Designs Mini Quick Pack Review

Aug 17, 2024

The Mini Quick Pack by Topo Designs is a versatile bag made with outdoor function and sustainability in mind. I tested the Mini Quick Pack for about a month and determined that this pack will go with me on mountain micro adventures as well as on quick outings around town.
My first impression while unboxing the Mini Quick Pack was a good one. It was lightweight and made of durable materials with a beefy zipper was easy to open and close. The colorway that I requested from Topo Designs was eye catching as well. I also remember taking it out of the box and thinking, “It’s not so mini after all.”
Unboxing the Mini Quick Pack also reminded me of walking the streets in Beijing back in the early 2000’s and seeing businessmen carrying around a small billfold-like pouch with a shoulder strap. At the time, I thought they were strange and looked out of place. Today, their utility and aesthetics have changed and they are a very useful bag to have in your quiver of outdoor gear. Let’s talk more about the specifics of the Mini Quick Pack below.

The pack is visually appealing with either its five color design or one color design. I chose the Navy/Mustard color combination but it is also available in many other colors on TopoDesigns.com. Mine included other colors too, like the brown straps, green back panel, red key strap, and a bright yellow lining on the inside which is great when reaching into the bag to find things. The pack has a bit of a modern, hipster style to it, yet it is subtle and has some vintage vibes to it as well.
When I received the Mini Quick Pack, I could immediately tell that the materials and craftsmanship were top notch. I will talk a little more about the materials used for this pack in the next section.
The dimensions are 9.5"w x 5.5"h x 2"d with a volume of 103 cu. in. / 1.7 L.

The Mini Quick Pack is made from 100% recycled nylon that has a high resistance to abrasion. I like that because it means that this pack will last a very long time which is great for the environment and your wallet.
Durability comes in the form of the heavy duty, YKK zippers. They are smooth, effortless to operate, and feel good in the hand.
The recycled nylon is not completely waterproof but it is close. In my testing, I experienced some light rain outdoors and ran some indoor water tests. I found that this product is weather resistant and its ability to shed water is acceptable.

The main storage area is large enough to store a lightweight, packable jacket, a mobile phone, some snacks, a map, and a compass. One thing that I love is that it is lined inside with a bright yellow nylon. This makes finding items in the large storage an easy task. There’s even a “hidden” compartment inside the liner.
There is one outside compartment with a zipper for storing skinny items such as a wallet and an energy bar. Also included is a clip lanyard for storing car keys at the trailhead. The lanyard makes light work of retrieving car keys after a long day of hiking.

The Mini Quick Pack can be worn as a waist pack or sling. While wearing it as a waist pack works well when hiking, I found the sling mode great for walking through airports, grocery shopping, and events where there are a lot of people. It is very comfortable in both modes while walking and hiking. The easy to adjust strap makes it effortless to switch between wearing modes while accessing important items on the go.

Quality and functionality of the Mini Quick Pack straps is excellent. The waist/shoulder strap reminds me of seat belt material that is durable yet comfortable over the shoulder. The plastic buckle is burly and easy to clip and unclip. There is also a unique, plastic loop for quick strap adjustment. I haven’t seen this type of adjustment before on other bags but it works well on the Mini Quick Pack.
There are multiple attachment points on the pack. Topo Designs does an excellent job of utilizing webbing to create multi-functional points of attachment. There’s a looped, top handle that is flexible and gets out of the way when accessing the main compartment. There are multiple loops of webbing on the front of the pack for carabiners and a rear bike light. There are also two compressible straps on the bottom which are useful for more bulky items like a puffy jacket or trekking poles.
The closure system on the Mini Quick Pack is outstanding. With the already mentioned buckle and ultra durable YKK zippers, it is the perfect combination of functionality and durability.

Practically speaking, for daily activities such as commuting, hiking, or traveling, this pack is ideal. I did notice that when in sling mode, the strap got in the way of the sunglasses around my neck (Ombraz with neck strap).
My favorite two features of this pack are the adjustable strap ring and the yellow interior of the pack for quick visibility of stowed items.
Other than a quick dust wipe-off, I haven’t had to clean this pack yet. I imagine with some soapy water and a microfiber towel, dirt would lift right off of the material.

Pros: Design, build quality, comfort, and usability
Cons: At the time of this write up, there were limited colors. However, new fall colors have just arrived. I just wish the solid blue colorway was available as pictured on the Topo Designs website. They should probably take that down if they are not going to offer it to consumers in the future.

Overall impression of the Mini Quick Pack after thorough use and testing - It’s a great one! This pack is perfect for mountain micro adventures as well as quick outings around town.
If you are a person who likes to get out and about while carrying a few items with ease, this pack is for you.
At $49 this product is definitely worth its price.
Check out the Mini Quick Pack here
Get 20% off with my discount code JOHNLAGPHOTO_20OFF

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