Bellroy Laneway Sacoche Review

The Bellroy Laneway Sacoche blends style with practicality thanks to its innovative and eco-friendly design. Made from a blend of 100% recycled materials, it showcases Bellroy’s commitment to environmental sustainability. The sleek, sheen finish not only provides a unique aesthetic but also offers durability. The expandable design uses a gusseted bottom to allow the bag to condense or expand depending on how much gear you add. The built-in organization helps keep everything neat and tidy while providing a nice amount of separation. This bag is perfect for daily carry and travel as it can adapt to fit a variety of use cases while blending into professional or casual environments.

External Components

The Bellroy Laneway Sacoche is made from 100% recycled nylon, combining 50% recycled ocean waste and 50% industrial offcuts. Bellroy’s proprietary Seawave (sheen) fabric has a cross-like pattern that’s super smooth and incredibly comfortable to hold. The slightly shiny material is easy to brush off and clean if it gets dirty, ensuring it can stand up to whatever you throw at it. It is also lightweight and malleable, so it’s easy to fold or roll down for convenient packing or travel. Thanks to its construction, it can expand or condense, adapting to various use cases.

High-quality YKK zippers with metal hardware attached by flexible nylon make opening and closing any compartment super smooth. While there are no dedicated exterior attachment points, there are small loops where the shoulder straps attach that you could use to clip on additional gear. There are no grab handles, so short of the shoulder strap, the only other way to carry this bag is like a clutch. It is somewhat large but is still pretty comfortable.

Bellroy takes a minimal approach to branding, with just their logo rubber-stamped in the same color in the lower front right corner. It creates a subtle accent that is a nice touch but does not stand out too much. On a side note, this minimal approach and the bag’s design can sometimes make it challenging to identify which side is the front of the bag, something to keep in mind.

The non-removable shoulder strap is made of smooth nylon, similar to a seatbelt. It is pretty thin and minimal and uses metal accent loops for smooth adjustments. While we were initially concerned that such a thin strap would dig in over extended periods of time, the bag remains surprisingly comfortable even when full.

Fit Notes

The Bellroy Laneway Sacoche resembles a large pouch split into two dedicated compartments. It has a modern and simple appearance; Bellroy’s proprietary fabric adds a unique touch to its design, creating an almost glittery aesthetic without any sparkly mess. The unique aesthetic can be dressed up for more formal occasions or worn more casually, making it suitable for a variety of environments.
One of the bag’s key strengths is its adaptability. It functions as a dedicated travel pouch in transit and doubles as a sling at your destination. It does not draw unwanted attention, walking a delicate line between being aesthetically attractive and maintaining a low profile. This makes it perfect for those looking for a stylish and practical bag that can easily switch between travel and daily use.

Inside The Sling

The Bellroy Laneway Sacoche’s organization can initially be a bit confusing thanks to its design and construction. Specifically, we find it takes some getting used to how the compartments are set up. While it is not a significant concern, it may be something to keep in mind. The front pocket is slightly recessed with a decent opening to access the gear inside, giving it a slightly more discreet feel. It has a fairly simple organizational design, with just two floating slip pockets and a dedicated key clip with a carabiner.

The two floating slip pockets do not have any stretch but are a good spot for smaller items and stay out of the way up against the back wall when not in use. The key clip does not have any stretch but is long enough to still be able to use keys without having to detach them. The rest of the pocket has a decent amount of space for more gear. For daily use, this pocket would be perfect for essentials like a wallet, keys, a phone, and a passport. As a travel pouch, storing essentials like tickets, documentation, passports, and banknotes would make sense here, giving you quick access when needed.

The main compartment features a discrete rear zipper with a similar layout as the front pocket except with much more capacity and a wider opening for better visibility. This is also where the bag’s expandable design comes into play. The gusseted bottom allows for it to expand to fit as much gear as needed. When not in use, it can compress down to a super thin profile, making it perfect for packing in a suitcase. This design also allows it to expand as needed, giving you the slimmest profile possible with the gear inside.

This compartment also includes two identical floating slip pockets that lack stretch but are great for keeping smaller things secured and organized. They also do a great job of staying out of the way when not in use. One clever addition to this pocket is a hidden AirTag slip pocket attached to the side. It is designed to look like a basic product tag found in most bags, but this clever feature allows you to add discreet tracking to the bag without compromising aesthetics or sacrificing space.

The main compartment works well, storing larger, bulkier items like a travel wallet, battery bank, portable fan, or a small camera. However, it’s important to note that the thin nylon material that creates the bag’s slim profile does not offer any padding or protection. It’s something to keep in mind for those wanting to store sensitive electronics like phones or cameras here.

The Bellroy Laneway Sacoche’s versatility and environmentally-conscious construction do an excellent job of combining style and function. Its external materials give it a unique aesthetic that is lightweight, malleable, and adaptable to a variety of use cases and settings. The high-quality materials and hardware contribute to its aesthetic and also ensure durability. While the shoulder strap is thin, it is still pretty comfortable and easy to adjust while on the move. Its internal capacity and built-in organization make it easy and convenient to access gear once you get used to the layout. The hidden AirTag slip pocket is a clever and thoughtful touch for those in the Apple Ecosystem. Overall, this bag is an ideal option for those looking for a flexible bag that can easily transition between daily use and travel.