Mantis 1 Recycled Polyester Belt Bag

This used to be one of my favorite bags, but the revision means that it no longer easily holds my big iPhone (the one from two years ago did). It can fit, but it’s doesn’t easily slide in. Also the strap is narrow, less comfortable, and has sharper edges that are very abrasive to clothing. My poor Atom is full of micro tears after wearing it three times, and Arc’teryx won’t cover damage from the mantis bag under their warranty. Nothing super heavy. Not even my phone in there. The older one had no problem. Please change these things back! Otherwise it’s very well laid out and a great size. But that doesn’t matter if a 1l bag shreds your clothes.

Upon delivery, I thought the bag was too small to be useful. But it has turned out to be perfect for my use case. I use the bag mainly when traveling/flying, which I do frequently. The external slot for the phone is a game-changer and makes the whole bag work. I can quickly slide the phone in the slot and not bother with the inside pockets, but still have the phone readily accessible. Larger phones may not fit, but it is fine for my iPhone 14 Pro. It is a snug fit, but that is good as i don't have to worry about the phone falling out. Another great feature is that the bag is just tall enough that it can hold a passport placed vertically in the main compartment - also handy when at an airport and I must keep pulling the passport out to show to various officials. The front zippered compartment is the right size for a driver's license when travelling domestically. Otherwise, I have space for ear buds (in the case), a bit of cash, house keys, a small pill container, a charging cable for my phone, lip balm, toothpicks, and a mint or two. I do wish that the strap was a bit wider, but it gets the job done. The bag is surprisingly small, yet its smart design allows me to hold much more than expected and fits my needs perfectly.