DSPTCH Unit Sling RND Edition: Review

DSPTCH got their start in 2010 out of an apartment making camera straps. They’ve come a long way since then, with stores in San Francisco and NYC with a wide range of products. They’ve offered up a lot over the years, but their designs have always been about maintaining a modern and clean aesthetic with a quality technical material choice. Along with their standard line, DSPTCH also has their Research and Development division (or RND for short) which focuses on new materials and designs for carry goods, like DCF.

This specific sling was sought out exactly for that clean aesthetic and quality build that DSPTCH is known for – after all, I do love techwear. I also wanted a sling that would do well for just a pocket dump and maybe some extras without having to carry a bigger bag for quick trips around town. Also, after seeing some DCF fabric in person on a small pouch, I was became curious about this seemingly futuristic textile and how it faired on a bag. 

Tech Specs

	Metric	Imperial
Length	35.65 cm	14 in
Width	22.86 cm	9 in
Height	3.81 cm	1.5 in
Weight	198.4 g	7 oz
Volume	3.1 L	189 cu in

Primary Materials

5oz DCF, 410D liner, WooJin hardware, YKK Aquaguard zippers

Quality and Comfort

The quality of the Unit Sling is superb. Everything about this bag screams quality and attention to detail. The primary material is 5oz Dyneema Composite Fabric, a next level laminate textile. While the science behind it is extensive and interesting, we can summarize DCF as a very lightweight, waterproof, and wear resistant laminate stemming from a sheet of ultra-high-molecular-weight-polyethylene (aka the actual Dyneema) that is laminated between two layers of low denier polyester. Apart from the DCF, durable WooJin hardware is used for the plastic bits, YKK Aquaguard zippers help keep the water out of the interior of the bag, and some 410D packcloth is used for the smaller pocket. The Unit Sling also comes with a nice storage bag.

Due to its size, the Unit Sling is actually very comfortable. The comfort is partly due to the wide 1.5” strap, so there’s no digging in to the user’s shoulder. But even more so, is that the sling’s body has a slight curve to it rather than it just being completely flat. The curve allows the bag to hug the user’s body and depending on strap adjustment, it falls naturally in the underarm or the kidney area which keeps the bag out of the way but easily accessible. The light weight of the DCF also helps keep the weight down, ensuring a more comfortable carry. The current release of the Unit Sling features a shoulder strap with a swivel clip for even more contour and subsequently more comfort; this new strap is also sold separately at DSPTCH. Also offered are different straps with narrower webbing, or alternative materials, for a more minimal approach.

Organization and Access

The organization in the Unit Sling is very minimal, as might be expected. It has two pockets with no dividers, loops, etc. There is a cavernous main pocket accessible via the longer zipper and a smaller pocket lined with packcloth inside, accessible via the shorter zipper. Since there is no organization, it is advised to bring in smaller pouches and organizers if there’s a need to carry more than just a pocket dump or some essentials. For a bag this size, organization is not really needed, but would be appreciated. However this can be easily remedied by bringing your own EDC organizers or pouches. I used two of our Flowfold x TPP collaboration pouches and those helped filled the space after dumping my pockets. 

The outside of the pack is slick with no extra attachment points of any sort which leads to its incredibly clean look. If you’re into it, DSPTCH has released some new DCF pouches to attach to the strap for extra carrying space if need be.

What’s Perfect

• High end technical materials make this a very lightweight, weatherproof, and highly abrasion resistant bag
• The slight curve in the pattern makes the bag contour to the wearer a bit, leading to a very comfortable and out of the way carry. In fact, one can even swing the pack around up front while driving without having to take it off.
• The smaller size makes it ideal for pocket dumps plus a bit more for quick trips out of the house

What’s Not

• Organization is non existent. While it is understandable given the size, a key loop or a simple pen slot could be beneficial to the main compartment.
• It’s expensive. A price point of $164 USD may be a bit high for some.

Wrap Up

The DSPTCH Unit Sling is quite close to the perfect sling for those quick trips or a night around town where a pocket dump and maybe a couple extras like a power bank might be needed. The higher end material use and quality control inspires confidence and makes for a very lightweight and weather resistant pack to keep everything safe. The Unit Sling also rides super comfortably no matter how you carry it. While it may not be the most organized, it does lend itself to be decently modular with pouch options to add capacity and organization. So for those that like innovative technical slings, this is for you. It may end up being one of your perfect packs.

The Unit Sling is available direct from DSPTCH in various colors for $164 USD.

Disclaimer: The RND Unit Sling was purchased privately. The contents of this review was not shared with DSPTCH prior to publishing. Our reviews are unbiased and never modified to keep a brand happy.