My Dollar Sling Pack

Over the past few weeks, I’ve been thinking about some POTA/WWFF activations that would take advantage of the Elecraft KH1’s portability. In particular, I’ve been looking into locations that require a little hiking to reach. So, I had been looking for a small pack that will carry both my KH1 and a water bottle. I found one at an unbelievable price, which included free shipping from halfway around the world. 

I had been doing some casual searching on a few websites when I came across a pack from AliExpress that caught my eye. It appeared to be just what I had been looking for, and the price was a mere $0.99 USD with free shipping. According to the website, it was a special sale price for new customers. I hadn’t ordered from AliExpress in quite some time, so they must have considered me a new customer.

I assumed there had to be a catch, but I couldn’t see one. There was no minimum order and no mention of additional import charges. So, I took a chance. If it didn’t suit my needs, I could always pass it along to one of my grandkids. Still somewhat sceptical, I placed my order and paid a grand total of $1.05, which included the obligatory Pennsylvania sales tax. 

If the low price wasn’t enough, I had the package on my porch six days after I placed the order. My (far) better half brought the package in and said, “It’s another bag, isn’t it?” You see, she is well aware of my obsession with bags and packs and gives me a disapproving look when another one comes into the house. Even after I told her what I had paid for it, she remained unimpressed.

Fully expecting a piece of junk, I ripped open the package. I was pleasantly surprised by what I found inside. The 900D Oxford material seemed substantial. The stitching was decent with no loose threads, and the zippers worked smoothly. The overall construction seemed pretty good considering what I paid for it.

As I had hoped, the main compartment was the perfect size to hold the Pelican M50 Micro Case I keep my KH1 in. There’s also a little room for a few extras if needed. There’s a pouch on the front, which would be perfect for carrying wire antennas, some small coax, and the like. And finally, there’s another small compartment on the front that I’m currently using to hold a few first aid items and a copy of my amateur radio license. It also has a panel for a small Velcro morale patch. 

There’s a mesh bottle holder on the side, which is something I was looking for. It’s a little small, but it will still accommodate a 16.9 ounce (500mL) plastic water bottle. Of course, with a pack this small, I wouldn’t expect to carry a huge water bottle. I found a lightweight 17-ounce bottle on Amazon that fits nicely. 

These product offerings come and go frequently, so I’m always wary of providing links to websites like this. However, below is a screenshot from the AliExpress website showing the bag I purchased. 

Is this the greatest bag in the world? Not really. Time will tell how long it holds up. But for the paltry sum I paid for it, it won’t take long to get my money’s worth out of it. 

As usual, I have no financial interest in any products mentioned here, and there are no affiliate links. I’m just a sucker for a bargain.

72, Craig WB3GCK