The 5.11 Allhaula Waist Pack 2L is a compact, water resistant waist/crossbody pack constructed from Tac-Lam-style 840D nylon with a TPU coating that handles drizzle, mud, and each day abuse like a professional. Over about three weeks of sunshine climbing, errands, and canine walks, worn strictly crossbody, though it may also be used across the waist, it labored nicely as a small, on a regular basis bag that was large enough for a big telephone, slim pockets, keys, a small med package, and snacks, however sufficiently small that you simply aren’t tempted (or obligated) to hold extra. Mainly, this pack is a sensible on a regular basis important for girls who journey gentle and wish to hold their fingers free.
At-a-Look Specs & What Issues
- Capability: 2 L permits you to carry true necessities solely, akin to a telephone, slim pockets, keys, passport, compact med package, or snacks. Jackets and large cameras keep house or go in an even bigger bag.
- Cloth: Waterproof, easy-to-clean nylon with TPU-style coating is constructed to deal with rain, dust, and sticky messes, then wipe clear, which follows the identical cloth philosophy because the Allhaula duffels
- Carry Choices: Fast-release adjustable strap as much as 50” is designed to run on the hip or crossbody
- Pockets & Structure:
- Major compartment with inner group and equipment loops
- Entrance zip pocket for quick-grab objects
- Rear zip pocket for hidden valuables
- MOLLE webbing on aspect wings for modular add-ons.
- Meant Use: Mild climbing, errands, journey, canine walks, and days whenever you simply need your telephone, pockets, keys, and some extras.
Total, this pack appears like a mini technical wearable duffel, not a style fanny pack which reveals in each supplies and habits.
Check Strategies & Circumstances
- Length: About three weeks of normal use.
- Actions: Mild climbing on native trails, errands, and canine walks the place it carried my telephone and keys as an alternative of shoving them in my pockets.
- Climate: Low 40s to mid-60s, principally dry with some cool, damp mornings—no heavy storm testing, however sufficient moisture and grit to see how the material behaves.
- Carry Type: Strictly crossbody since I don’t actually do conventional waist/hip carry. No pairing with backpacks or chest rigs for this assessment.
- Loadout: Massive smartphone, slim pockets, keys, chapstick, compact med package, and a few snack bars.
Unboxing & First Impressions
Out of the bag, the Allhaula Waist Pack 2L seems like a scaled-down technical journey bag, not a primary style fanny pack, particularly within the sage inexperienced coloration. The shell has that barely slick, structured really feel you affiliate with duffels that stay in truck beds and overhead bins, and it retains its form even when empty. Zippers run easily across the corners, with pulls which can be straightforward to seek out by really feel, and the branding is current however not overly daring, so it’s straightforward to pair with leggings and a hoodie with out feeling such as you’re carrying a billboard.
The pocket structure is nice for each day use. The entrance pocket is ideal for chapstick, hand sanitizer, and receipts. Inside the principle compartment, the inner group and equipment loops break up the “black gap” impact so keys, passport, and small instruments don’t turn out to be misplaced within the void. The rear pocket is precisely the place you need backup playing cards or money whenever you’re in a crowd or shifting via a metropolis.
On first try-on, worn crossbody on a 5’6” athletic, barely curvy body, it sits flatter than anticipated and doesn’t instantly attempt to migrate up towards the neck or throughout the chest. It feels extra like a small, structured organizer than a floppy pouch. I’m undecided how the match would really feel on somebody with a bigger chest circumference.
Score: 8 / 10
Efficiency within the Area
In precise use, the Allhaula acts as a small, organized pack in your must-haves. With the everyday necessities—telephone, slim pockets, keys, and a protein bar or two—it by no means felt cramped or overstuffed. There’s sufficient construction that objects are simply accessible, however not a lot bulk that it feels heavy or awkward in your entrance.
Crossbody stability is stable. Whereas strolling, climbing stairs, stepping off curbs, or strolling my canine, the pack stayed principally planted the place it was set. It doesn’t swing wildly or slam into your ribs with each step, which is a typical failure level for smaller crossbody baggage on feminine frames. On gentle hikes, it stayed out of the way in which when stepping over rocks or brushing via low vegetation.
Zipper entry is straightforward and easy. I might seize my telephone or keys one-handed with out having to pin the pack down with my different arm whereas carrying groceries, and the convenience of entry to the entrance pocket naturally made it a spot for small, regularly used objects, which saved the principle compartment good and arranged.
Inside the examined circumstances, climate resistance was greater than sufficient. Cool, damp mornings and a little bit of path mud wiped off simply, and the material didn’t take in moisture or present water spots. This isn’t a dry bag, however for on a regular basis errands and light-weight climbing, it carried out precisely like a water resistant pack ought to.
The limitation is predictable: in case you attempt to deal with it like a day pack, the pack’s restrict is reached rapidly. It’s wonderful for carrying necessities, however not designed for all of the “simply in case” objects that sometimes stay on the backside of a handbag.
Score: 8 / 10
Sturdiness, Supplies & Construct High quality
The Allhaula household leans into sturdiness, and the waist pack isn’t any exception. The nylon shell and coating really feel considerably more durable than the skinny, fashion-oriented hip packs you see in every single place. Over three weeks of use—car seats and flooring, concrete benches, gentle brush, and the standard “toss it away” therapy—there have been no apparent scuffs, unfastened threads, or areas the place it began shedding its form.
Stitching is clear and strengthened the place it issues: strap anchors, zipper ends, and MOLLE wings. The {hardware} feels extra duffel-grade than purse-grade, which provides it that tactical really feel. The side-release buckle closes with a reassuring click on and doesn’t loosen by itself; the strap adjuster holds place as an alternative of slowly creeping looser as you stroll. Zippers glide easily and really feel sturdy such as you’d anticipate from a tactical piece.
It’s too early to declare lifetime sturdiness, however the supplies and early put on counsel it is a long-lasting pack. For ladies who are typically onerous on gear, that’s a giant a part of the worth proposition.
Score: 9 / 10
Consolation & Ergonomics
Consolation-wise, that is the place a variety of small packs lose ladies. The Allhaula avoids a lot of the typical sins. Worn crossbody, it sits flat in opposition to the torso as an alternative of protruding like a lunchbox, which issues in case you’re curvy via the hips and waist. On a 5’6” athletic/curvy body, it rode comfortably slightly below the bust line with out consistently creeping up towards the neck. I additionally wore it a bit increased up throughout my higher chest, which was simply as comfy because it stayed in place.
The strap size and adjustability work nicely for this dimension vary. There’s sufficient room to run it over gentle and mid-weight layers, but it cinches down with out leaving a ridiculous tail on smaller settings. The webbing is comfortable sufficient to not dig into your shoulder however not so slick that it shifts with each transfer. The side-buckle placement retains onerous plastic off your backbone, which you actually recognize whenever you’re leaning again in a automotive seat or on a bench.
Underneath gentle masses, no sizzling spots or stress factors have been famous throughout errands or brief hikes. Overpacking will all the time make a small bag extra noticeable, however inside its meant use, the pack remained within the background.
Ladies on the very petite or plus-size ends of the spectrum will wish to pay nearer consideration to the 50” strap restrict and the place they like a crossbody bag to sit down, however for my construct, the ergonomics have been nice.
Score: 8 / 10
Comparisons & Alternate options
Inside 5.11’s personal lineup, the Allhaula Waist Pack 2L is the minimalist sibling to the bigger Allhaula duffels and cooler-style baggage—a shared cloth story however scaled right down to on a regular basis carry. In comparison with extra overtly tactical sling packs and waist rigs within the line, it has a cleaner and extra streamlined look which many ladies will recognize for each day use.
In opposition to basic outdoor-brand hip packs, the Allhaula is heavier and extra structured, however this interprets to a extra protecting shell that’s straightforward to wipe clear. These ultralight nylon hip packs win if you would like one thing that compresses right into a backpack pocket and weighs virtually nothing. The Allhaula wins in case your life consists of canine drool, espresso spills, and dusty trailheads.
Should you’re contemplating devoted CCW waist packs, there are extra specialised choices with built-in holster pockets and quicker draw entry (take into account testing my assessment on the Athene tactical leggings). The Allhaula has sufficient inside house to accommodate a micro/small pistol in a minimalist holster in case you select, however that use case wasn’t examined right here and it’s not the first design focus.
Who It’s For / Who Ought to Skip It
The Allhaula Waist Pack 2L is for girls who need their necessities with them with out committing to a full purse or backpack. In case your important objects embrace a telephone, slim pockets, keys, chapstick, small med package, and perhaps a snack, this pack is tuned for precisely that life-style—gentle hikes, farmers markets, Saturday errands, canine walks, journey days.
It’s particularly compelling in case you’re outdoorsy sufficient that your bag frequently encounters dust, rain, and questionable surfaces. The flexibility to wipe the shell clear and never fear about harsh therapy is a giant quality-of-life characteristic.
You need to skip it in case you’re a ordinary over-packer who wants to hold further layers, full-size water, or different massive objects. You must also look elsewhere if you understand from the beginning {that a} 50” strap might be tight over your favourite winter coat—there are bigger, extra adjustable packs that may higher fit your wants.
Worth & Value-to-Efficiency
Sitting across the $50 mark at full value, the Allhaula Waist Pack 2L falls within the “technical however attainable” zone: dearer than big-box style hip packs, however lower than many premium outdoor-brand crossbodies. You’re paying for more durable supplies, climate resistance, and dependable each day usability relatively than fashionable colours or designer logos.
Should you’re going to make use of it a number of instances per week—errands, gentle hikes, canine walks, journey—the price is straightforward to justify. You’re successfully shopping for a small bag that retains you organized, that doesn’t thoughts getting soiled, and that received’t blow out a zipper the primary time you load it.
Should you solely put on a waist/crossbody pack twice a yr, the worth calculus modifications; a less expensive, much less sturdy choice would possibly scratch that itch. However for girls who stay out of a small bag, the Allhaula feels appropriately priced for what it delivers.
Score: 8 / 10
Execs & Cons
Execs
- Powerful, water resistant shell that wipes clear simply
- Easy however genuinely helpful group with rear safety pocket
- Crossbody-friendly form that sits flat on a feminine body
- Fast-release strap with aspect buckle retains {hardware} off your backbone
- MOLLE aspect wings add modularity with out overwhelming the design
- Feels equally at house on trails and round city
Cons
- 2 L capability limits carry to important objects solely
- 50” strap restrict could also be marginal over bulkier winter layers on bigger frames
- Extra structured and heavier than ultralight hip packs
- Not a purpose-built CCW rig, regardless that it might probably bodily match a small pistol
FAQs
Will it match a big smartphone in a case?
Sure. The principle compartment is sized with trendy massive telephones in thoughts, leaving room for a slim pockets and different small necessities beside it.
Is the material truly waterproof?
It’s extremely water resistant and really straightforward to wipe clear due to the coated nylon shell, but it surely’s not a totally sealed dry bag. Extended or heavy rain can nonetheless get in via zippers and seams.
Can ladies put on it comfortably crossbody?
On a 5’6” athletic, barely curvy body, it rode comfortably and stayed put throughout three weeks of use. Very petite or very busty ladies could must play with strap size and angle, however the flat physique and aspect buckle assist it sit nicely on most builds.
Does it work with a backpack on the similar time?
Though this assessment didn’t pair it with a backpack, the footprint is small and flat sufficient that carrying it crossbody with a small or mid-sized pack needs to be workable, particularly in case you run the strap barely increased on the torso.
Is it large enough to switch a full purse?
In case your purse is already minimalist, sure. In case your purse is an everything-bag with water bottles, notebooks, and “simply in case” objects, the Allhaula is healthier as a curated necessities pack, not a full purse alternative.
Care, Upkeep & Longevity Suggestions
Day-to-day, the Allhaula asks for little or no. Most dust, canine fur, and thriller gunk will come off with a humid material or wipe due to the coated shell. For a deeper clear, hand-wash flippantly in lukewarm water with gentle cleaning soap, rinse completely, and let it air dry away from direct, harsh daylight.
Keep away from machine drying or blasting it with excessive warmth; that’s what breaks down coatings lengthy earlier than the material itself fails. Strive to not retailer it crushed below heavy masses for lengthy durations, so the construction and padding don’t completely crease. A fast periodic verify of zipper pulls, strap stitching, and MOLLE slots will show you how to spot put on early and hold the pack within the rotation for years.
Score: 9 / 10
The Verdict
Should you’re a girl who likes to journey gentle however hates juggling a handbag each time you allow the home, the 5.11 Allhaula Waist Pack 2L makes a really robust case for being your on a regular basis small carry. It’s robust, straightforward to scrub, and is a genuinely comfy crossbody pack, with simply sufficient group to maintain issues tidy.
It’s not the reply in case you want one thing to hold a water bottle, jacket, and everybody else’s stuff in a single bag, and ladies who want further strap size over cumbersome winter layers will wish to measure fastidiously. But when life is gentle hikes, random errands, canine walks, and journey days the place you need your necessities safe and hands-free, the Allhaula is precisely the fitting match.
Total Score: 8 / 10
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