TRAKKE KELSO : REVIEW
FOREWORD
Trakke is a small team based in Glasgow, Scotland. They are responsible for some of the best handmade bags on the market offering simple timeless designs with supreme quality. Even though their gear brings to mind outdoor heritage pieces, it is unmistakably modern.
Trakke’s products have proven to be great for EDC, travel and any kind of adventure you can imagine. To me, the brand should be considered by anyone who is ready for more mature, professional and sleek items in their life.
Thanks to a number of feature articles on Carryology, collaborations and annual awards nominations Trakke has gathered a global following which is well-deserved. I have personally bought multiple Trakke products as gifts (notably their Banana Sling in the outstanding Cumin color for my sister-in-law) but have not used their products myself. I was very happy to finally have a chance to review Trakke gear! Meet the hero of today’s review: the Trakke Kelso, a simple lightweight sling. My friends in the US call it an undeniable man purse. Let’s dissect this small, yet capable, bag together.
WHO IT SUITS
Anyone who finds 1-3L slings limiting and not very useful.
Someone who does not want to bring a bag, but still wants to free their pockets from keys, wallet, phone, etc.
Someone who is looking for a modern classic look and is not interested in technical items.
WHO IT DOESN’T
Those who might consider the look too feminine, I personally had no issues with it
ABOUT THE BAG
PRICE: 70 GBP (~$95)
DIMENSIONS: W 23cm x H 24cm x D 10cm
WEIGHT: 320 gramm
CAPACITY: 5L
COLOR OPTIONS: Black, Olive, Cumin, Pink, Whisky
The Kelso is a simple rectangular bag, with a non-removable strap and one main compartment. To me, this is the smallest bag I can possibly carry.
Frankly, I do not get the idea of 1-3L slings and only bigger bags actually become useful to me. The Kelso manages to be compact, yet very useful thanks to its subtle look and plethora of pockets inside the main compartment to organize your things.
COMFORT
No matter how much you cram inside the Kelso, thanks to its size, weight and overall form factor it’s basically impossible for the bag to become uncomfortable. The shoulder strap is simple, sturdy and succeeds in securing the sling on your body. In my experience, I preferred carrying the Kelso across my body so I could be totally handsfree and avoid needing to hold the bag with one hand (standard issue for bags carried on one shoulder).
Keep in mind that the Kelso is meant to be worn on the left shoulder; this way the bag will be positioned with the logo facing out and, more importantly, the grab handle on the side of the bag will be easily accessible.
As someone who wears 90% of his messenger/sling bags on the right shoulder, I did find this a bit unusual and had to build a new habit of wearing the Kelso on my left shoulder (I am a lefty, if this helps understand where I am coming from). You can of course wear the Kelso on the right shoulder with the logo facing your body and the grab handle will be available too, but it feels a bit off due to the shoulder strap attachment.
Long story short: be prepared to wear this on your left shoulder, for better or worse.
DESIGN & FEATURES
One of the things that I know many people appreciate about their bags is the ability to stand on its own and I am happy to report that the Kelso has no issues staying upright when placed on a flat surface.
The shoulder strap is non-removable. You can unbuckle it from one side and I wish it was fully removable, turning the Kelso into a convertible bag (org pouch to sling to Dopp kit, etc).
The side of the bag has a nice grab handle that makes slinging the bag from the back to the front a very simple and satisfying motion.
MATERIALS & ORGANIZATION
The organization is quite nice considering the size. There is only one main opening to the bag and you have a generous main compartment with a gorgeous bright orange liner. There are 6 identical pockets (3 on each side), smaller pockets for a pen and also a metal ring to attach your keys. The pockets don’t have much volume but they also don’t get in the way of using the main compartment, which is a fair trade-off.
I did find myself wanting a bigger flat pocket that would hold my wallet or phone. My iPhone 11 with case was able to tightly squeeze into one of the pockets but it was a bit of a pain to put it in and take it out. I would much prefer if on one side Trakke would introduce 2 wider pockets instead of the current 3. This way each pocket would fit a specific item, instead of all 6 being identical.
The outer fabric is a beautiful waxed canvas with a minimalist logo on the front. Tasteful and stylish.
The zipper is a YKK aquaguard with a signature o-ring for the puller. Perhaps blasphemy but I found this ring a bit on the thin side and would prefer a different puller. The o-ring does remind me of the brass pullers used on classic Barbour jackets.
As mentioned already, I strongly believe the Kelso would benefit from having the shoulder strap completely removable. This way it would become an even more versatile travel companion. When inside a bigger bag it could serve as an additional organizer/Dopp kit and when on the go you could attach the shoulder strap and use it as a standalone sling. Unfortunately, only one side allows detachment of the strap while the second one is secured with the metal and non-removable o-ring.
The bag looks like a man purse and not everyone will be sold on the sling form factor of the Kelso, but it is a remarkably well-made, middle-sized pouch that could have been indispensable for enhanced EDC and travel organization.
WHAT’S HOT
Handmade in Scotland with exceptional quality, durability, and build.
Simple yet functional form factor.
The gorgeous bright orange inner liner.
Custom metal hardware.
Can be used as a Dopp kit or an organizer inside a larger EDC or travel bag in case you are not sold on the sling idea.
Tasteful minimal branding.
Totally unisex and unassuming profile makes it extremely versatile and fit to basically anyone.
WHAT’S NOT
I was left wanting a slightly different internal organization: fewer pockets but with different sizes that would accommodate a larger phone and wallet better.
Perhaps just me, but I was not in love with the zipper puller used on the Kelso. A thicker puller would be a better fit for my bear paws.
I wish the shoulder strap would be fully removable to allow using the Kelso as an additional organizer pouch.
VERDICT
The Trakke Kelso has been a real joy to use and has carved itself a very special place in my heart. It has become my go-to bag for days when I don’t want to bring any bag at all. It is sleek, light, stylish, comfortable and just a pleasure to interact with. The tactile feel of waxed canvas, metal hardware and the pure joy I feel when looking at the bright orange liner make this bag a permanent addition to my collection.
Despite the shoulder strap not being removable (Trakke please revisit this in future iterations!) I can still throw the Kelso inside a bigger bag when I travel or commute and use it as a tech organizer, Dopp kit or even a medkit if I wanted to.
The bag is fairly priced and looks great on both men and women. Considering its usefulness and versatility it’s an instant buy in my books and should be in everyone's collection.
Let me make life easier for you with the upcoming holidays, the Kelso is a perfect gift to anyone. It can be the first bag for your 10-year-old kid, a perfect EDC for your girlfriend or boyfriend and even a surprising revelation for your parents/grandparents who would appreciate its simple look and outstanding quality.
Simply put, everyone should have a Kelso in their life and I cannot recommend it highly enough. So go ahead and order yours at https://trakke.co.uk/collections/waxed-canvas-messenger-bags/products/kelso-sling, there is no affiliate link or anything, just making it easier for you to make the right choice.
Disclaimer
Kelso was provided by Trakke as a sample for review purposes, the content of this review was not shared with Trakke before publishing.
My goal is to share an honest, unbiased review that is not tailored to keep the brand happy.