Based on the iconic Kadet Sling Bag that has been popular with bicycle couriers, commuters and travellers for many years, the Mini Kadet is the super compact sibling—offering five litres of storage capacity in a robust and durable design. This is the perfect way to carry your valuables and essentials next time you hit the road, on or off the bike.

The strap itself has a good amount of padding and breathable mesh, helping keep the carry comfortable even when the bag’s fully loaded out. There’s also a removable strap that comes up under your arm to hold the bag tighter to your body. We like that this strap is removable since we haven’t really needed to use it during testing. To be frank, we think it’s unnecessary for a bag of this size and weight (at least for most circumstances). It’s better for a larger bag like the Chrome Industries Citizen messenger bag. I’m thinking of this bag as a “sling plus.” It’s not as minimal as the Aer City Sling, not as big as a Chrome Vale. It is a perfect day bag if you don’t carry much. I found the 9-liter limit a strength in the long run. Like the regular Kadet, it has many of the same features. There are still two zippered compartments – a large main compartment and a smaller compartment for thinner items. There’s also a D-ring at the top of the compartment. You can use it for your keys or hook a carabiner to it and hang up smaller items that you don’t want to go digging for. Durability & Testing While riding, the Chrome Kadet Sling Bag is beautifully secure, with the additional stabilisation strap negating any tendency the bag has to slide around. This strap is also covered in subtle reflective detailing, which is a great touch for the safety conscious. Even when fully loaded it never flopped about, and given its small size it’s never going to be so full as to tire the carrying shoulder, as is often the case with larger capacity messenger bags. A neat camera carrying solution?

Reader's Review

The build quality is fantastic, and I fully expect it to last for years. I’ve carried some truly daft things in my other Chrome bags, including entire bikes, and the Chrome Kadet looks like it could take similar punishment. If it does fail though, it’s good to know that it is covered by a lifetime warranty. The sling design gained popularity in San Franciso for cycle delivers for the crossbody wear that allowed for an easy swing around access. The Mini Kadet improves upon the original design with a stowable stabilizing sternum strap for extra stability when on the go. The additional stabilisation strap means that the Kadet Sling Bag stays right in place while riding As for the smaller compartment, it’s slimmer now, so I would probably suggest using this for something like your phone or wallet, or whatever is thinner.

Marketed as a messenger-style sling bag that is not only compact but durable, the Kadet lives up to this statement. Constructed from military-grade nylon that is abrasion resistant, this is a product that will endure whatever you throw at it, whilst keeping your kit safe. In this review I will be taking a look at one of Chrome’s more popular offerings, the Kadet. When Chrome released the Kadet in 2015, their gamble of expanding their market had seemed to pay off. They had found a way to pair their bike messenger roots with mainstream offerings. The idea behind a sling goes counter to the usual bike messenger “bigger is better” mindset but they managed the marriage beautifully. Who It Suits

Day two, we took to Glen Feshie with lots of stream and river crossings, bog and more hike-a-bike but it’s a very pretty place to spend time in. Is the Chrome Industries Kadet a sling bag? A messenger bag? We’re not 100% sure what to call it (the folks at Chrome say it’s a messenger sling. Slingenger?). Either way, we’ve enjoyed testing this 9L bag as a daily driver in the Motor City for two weeks. Chrome Industries Kadet In Detroit

That said, if you often ride your bike along a bumpy commute you’ll probably appreciate this addition. Chrome Industries Kadet Compression Straps A camp by the Linn of Dee was lovely, beautiful sunshine at sunset and a few whiskies were had, it also is in the middle of a figure of eight route wise so you have options. The Chrome Industries Mini Kadet Sling might look like a little like a miniature satchel to the uneducated eye; but in fact, this sling bag is far from begin a masculine handbag. Rather, it is a robust and incredibly useful everyday carry—based on Chrome's prestigious heritage producing some of the best urban cycle courier bags in the world.