We Review the WANDRD ROGUE 6L Sling V2: Big Function in a Compact Sling

As a professional photographer, I am one of those people who carry at least one camera with me all the time. Because of this, I always bring a two-bag combo—a sling bag and a backpack—when shooting on location or traveling around. Having an additional sling bag with me offers immediate accessibility to things I need easily, while storing all the backups on my back, and that translates to higher efficiency when working. While I understand there is no such thing as a perfect bag, I do invest a lot of time in searching for a bag that is capable of serving multiple purposes when I need them in a certain way.

This is where I came across the WANDRD ROGUE 6L Sling V2 as I was searching for a mid-size sling bag. It immediately stood out to me as a maximalist option, providing multiple ways of use and combining practicality, ruggedness, and versatility with a level of customization that not every user can expect from a 6 L sling bag. After spending time with it in real-world scenarios, here is a closer look at how this bag performs and, most importantly, fits in as my daily carry.

Build Quality

As the brand name suggests, the ROGUE 6L sling V2 is clearly designed to wander around. With practical outdoor use in mind, WANDRD has covered most of the bag’s surface using tarpaulin and ballistic nylon, which makes cleaning dirt off extremely easy. It also does not attract fingerprints as much, which is a common annoyance among smooth-surface bags. Having a tarpaulin surface also allows the bag to behave hydrophobically, which is natural, as it is marketed as a water-resistant bag. On the downside, tarpaulin surfaces usually do not hold up well against scratches, and they will show marks through extended use over time.

At first glance, the 6 L bag looks larger than it should be, possibly due to how wide the bag looks. It has external dimensions of 18.4 cm × 30.5 cm × 14 cm and internal dimensions of 17.1 cm × 30.5 cm × 11.4 cm. An empty bag weighs about 1.5 lb (0.7 kg). Depending on how you customize the main compartment, it is capable of fitting one full frame DSLR with a big lens, or a compact mirrorless camera with two or three lenses, depending on size. There are also smaller compartments with elastic mesh for smaller accessories such as batteries, SD cards, filters, etc. Though I did find the smaller compartments (except for the one found on the flap) to be a little too tight once you fill the main compartment with a larger camera.

Structurally, it is quite a rigid bag. With the foam dividers installed, the bag holds its shape and will not crumple easily, which is great for protecting your gear. Though, if I have to be frank, the foam dividers are a little too thick, causing the internal space to be much smaller than it looks on the exterior. While they do their job well, I think they can be a little thinner, as there is no reason for them to be this thick as dividers—mainly because internal padding is mostly used to prevent scuffing. If anything, the outer layers of the bag should be slightly thicker to prevent external bumps, but how many times have you really unintentionally bumped your bag so hard that you destroy your gear? I would suggest removing the internal padding if you need maximum internal space. Also, while a “squarish” structural bag design allows you to easily store your gear, it also means you cannot flatten it to pack into your suitcase when needed.

I think by now you would understand why there is no such thing as a perfect bag, but the ROGUE 6L sling V2 still has the upper hand by being capable of catering to multiple uses beyond its capacity by strategically including two external expandable compartments. One of them is the collapsible pleated pocket that you can find at the bottom of the bag. This is a surprisingly thoughtful feature, as typically, with a strap-only base, there is always a risk of smaller objects falling out during transportation, and this flap prevents that. It stays flat when empty and expands when you need to carry a water bottle or small tripod—giving you options if you need to carry things that are bigger than the bag itself.

User tip by WANDRD: you can also opt to carry both a water bottle and a tripod by stashing your bottle in the expandable sleeve, then lengthening the webbing strap to the maximum length to wrap over the tripod legs on the front, while securing the G-hooks to the upper bar tacks and tightening the strap with the remaining webbing length.

The other expandable compartment is WANDRD’s patented laptop case integration that is capable of storing up to a 16-inch laptop. All you need to do is open the top and bottom zippers near the back panel and insert your laptop vertically (ideally with the WANDRD Laptop Case), pushing out the bottom expandable pocket. Finally, pull the laptop secure strap over the top of the laptop case and secure the G-hook to the webbing loop.

The ROGUE 6L sling V2 also offers three ways to carry the bag, giving users a lot of flexibility—sling across the body/shoulder, wear around the waist, or carry by hand via the three integrated top and side grab handles. The strap itself has a length of 56.51 cm to 133.35 cm, which isn’t very long, so taller users may find it slightly short, especially in sling mode. It is not an issue if you are carrying it around the waist, where you may find the lack of excessive strap length useful for maintaining a cleaner setup. WANDRD has also designed a 5-point strap adjustment system that caters to multiple uses and body sizes for maximum comfort. With some careful adjustment, you can really get the bag to stay comfortably close to your body, and the airmesh back panel also helps elevate the entire experience.

My favorite feature of this 5-point strap adjustment is the Stow-Away Lock Down Strap, as it helps secure the bag against the body during larger movements. The shoulder strap can also be easily detached using the Center-Release Swivel Buckles to reverse the strap when you need to carry it over your preferred shoulder. Practically, I rarely use this, as we tend to carry on the same side. Therefore, I only use it to remove the strap when I do not need it.

There is, however, one structural concern with the strap attachment point. I noticed that the straps are stitched into the tarpaulin material without a solid anchor. Though tarpaulin is known to be strong and durable, there are still risks involved. If that area tears, the strap could fail, which is likely the weakest link of the bag in the long run.

Lastly, the bag also comes with dual water-resistant YKK zippers with custom WANDRD pullers that feel premium, run smoothly and can easily be operated one-handedly either direction. A massive plus to me personally.

Key Features

Interior and Organization

• Customizable main interior compartment — comes with two padded, removable foam dividers plus two elastic keepers, letting you configure the interior space as needed (camera gear, everyday items, tech gear, etc.).
• Strong set of internal compartments — mesh pockets, elastic keepers, pen loop, dedicated key hook (in an accordion-style rear pocket), three-slot SD card storage, and internal mesh pockets help manage small items neatly.
• Hidden pocket for AirTag — discreetly tucked in the back panel for extra security and peace of mind when traveling.
• Patented laptop-carry capability — despite being a medium-sized 6 L sling, it is capable of carrying up to a 16-inch laptop when paired with the laptop case for maximum protection.

External

• Expandable water-bottle/tripod pocket — collapsible pleated pocket that stays flat when empty and expands when needed.
• Dual water-resistant YKK zippers with custom WANDRD pullers — for easier access to the main compartment.
• Padded strap and airmesh back panel — improved comfort, especially for longer wear or heavier loads.
• Weather-resistant build — exterior made with water-resistant tarpaulin/ballistic nylon, which is good for travel, street photography, or everyday use in unpredictable weather.
• Flexible carrying modes (“Three Ways to Carry”) — sling across the body, wear around the waist, or carry by hand via grab handles.
• 5-point adjustable, detachable strap system — lets you adjust the fit nicely, whether wearing crossbody, hip, or waist carry.

Real-World User Experience

Being such a functional bag, the Rogue 6L sling V2 is far from being the most sleek-looking bag, but with its array of color options available, it does help make the camera bag look less boring. Personally, I do like the Wasatch green option, as it is slightly muted, which looks quite stylish without being so loud that it attracts attention.

One of the main selling points of the bag is its ability to be used in multiple ways while on the go. This unfortunately also means having too many straps inside and outside of the bag. While some can be neatly tucked away or rolled up with the included elastic webbing keepers, some still snag onto something occasionally if you are clumsy. I also found that the shoulder strap does get twisted a little too easily. I suspect this is probably due to the softness of the strap toward the end, near the detachable release buckle, and could easily be solved if the strap were half an inch wider. That being said, I do love having side grab handles on both sides of the bag, as it is great for quick grabs. Also, the external elastic mesh pockets on the sides are extremely useful for quick access.

The squarish main compartment, with a slightly narrower bottom and wider top design, is great, as the shape naturally accommodates camera bodies very well, making it easy to fit most cameras. The lack of depth is also made up for with the width of the bag. Depending on your preference, you might prefer one over the other.

Accessing your gear is also pleasant thanks to a key design choice where the main flap opens away from your body, not toward it. This makes it extremely easy to reach for equipment quickly—and also reduces the chance of pickpocketing, since the zipper will be closer to your body, making it harder for external reaches. As a side benefit, the bag can also be lifted while it’s unzipped, since the center of gravity will pull the main compartment down, preventing things from spilling out. WANDRD further includes two small elastic keepers with Velcro to help keep things in place.

Diving deeper into the main compartment, I do like that the Rogue 6L sling V2 has a darker color-shade interior lining, as this prevents it from getting dirty too quickly. There are plenty of thoughtful small compartments and sleeves for smaller accessories. While they are good at segregating things to prevent them from mixing, I do find them a little tight once the main compartment is filled. Your only useful option will be the compartment on the flap itself or the laptop compartment found at the back of the bag.

Now let’s take a closer look at its laptop compartment. Frankly, it is quite a clever idea, and I could not think of any better way to make a smaller bag carry more than it should. I do applaud WANDRD for trying hard to design a bag with an “envelope” that is capable of doing everything. I would say its biggest strength is that this compartment itself is an external-expanding design, meaning it pushes outward instead of eating into your internal storage, keeping the main compartment space untouched.

But because of this, it does expose the bag to weaknesses that it did not have previously. While it allows you to store up to a 16-inch laptop vertically, the bottom compartment that extends out is not padded, leaving your device vulnerable. There are also small openings at the lower end of the extended pocket, which I assume are for water drainage when used with the official WANDRD Laptop Case, as you will not be able to zip the compartment. Realistically, this compartment feels like a “hard sell” and is only somewhat useful when combined with a WANDRD Laptop Case.

What I do hope for is for the expandable compartment to have some form of light padding so we could also use it to safely store smaller devices like a 10-inch iPad without the sleeve while still having the top part zipped up. As of now, you could still do that, but I would recommend having a protective case on and being careful when putting down your bag. You should also be mindful of where you place your bag now that it is not completely water-resistant.

Summary

What I Liked

• Minimal use of metal parts (apart from the zippers and G-hooks), which helps prevent long-term scratching and discoloration.
• Clever elastic webbing keepers that neatly tuck away excess strap length.
• The airmesh back panel provides maximum comfort.
• Multiple carrying configurations depending on your needs.
• External expandable compartments that effectively increase the bag’s carrying capacity.
• 5-point strap adjustment system, especially the Stow-Away Lock Down Strap.
• Hidden AirTag pocket for added peace of mind.
• Solid, sturdy overall construction.
• Water-resistant surface that also cleans off dirt easily.
• A range of attractive color options.
• The main flap opens away from the body for easier access and added security.
• Collapsible pleated pocket at the bottom that adds to its versatility.

What Could Be Improved

• Interior pockets would benefit from magnetic closures for quicker access.
• A slightly narrower and deeper profile could help the bag look sleeker as a shoulder bag, though this would compromise its waist-bag capability—a trade-off to consider.
• Fewer straps overall to reduce snagging and make the bag visually cleaner.
• Thinner interior foam dividers to free up more usable internal space.
• Light padding on the expandable laptop pocket for better device protection.
• A wider strap base to prevent twisting at the bottom.

Final Closing Thoughts

Lastly, I do think that the 6 L capacity offers a sweet spot as an everyday carry, especially with camera sizes shrinking these days. Personally, it is big enough to carry one camera with two lenses and a few personal items, and there is also expandable space for a water bottle, a foldable umbrella, or a laptop if I need to carry it. If you are in the market for a medium-sized bag, the

might be an option that interests you.