RE:FORM XB:01 Crossbody 3L Review

Some slings are designed to hold just the essentials, some to make a statement, and some to be efficient while looking sophisticated and technical. The RE:FORM XB:01 CROSSBODY 3L is the latter, with space for more than just the essentials and materials that work well while looking great.

Every sling isn’t for everybody, though, so we’ve been testing this bag with an eye on functionality, ease of use, and comfort. RE:FORM is known for using durable materials and crafting sleek-looking accessories, like wallets (which we love), and it’s obvious that the company put the same care and attention into choosing quality materials for this sling as it does for its wallets. However, while it looks sharp and definitely feels durable, that doesn’t always translate into ease of use. So, let’s dive into the details.

External Components

The RE:FORM XB:01 CROSSBODY 3L is made from the brand’s H₂ORIZON™ ripstop fabric, a nylon coated for weather-resistance and durability. It sheds moisture well and protects your gear inside, though it is rather stiff. That helps it retain its structure, but it also means you have to use a little more muscle to open it widely, and it doesn’t really conform well to your body.

However, the ripstop design looks super sleek, as does the muted RE:FORM brand name in the bottom right corner of the bag’s front. There’s also a split running horizontally through the center; it conceals a daisy chain of loops you can use to connect other gear to the sling. The stiff material fights you here, and we don’t love the look of the loop sticking out the front of the bag when you use it, but if you’re the type who wants to attach hand sanitizer or your earbuds case to the exterior of your bag, it’s a useful feature. We’d just recommend using it for something you’ll connect once and leave in place rather than for something you’ll want to disconnect and reconnect.

The weather-resistant materials extend to the zipper, a self-locking AquaGuard YKK model. It’s dual-headed, so you can open it anywhere along the track, which we appreciate, and while it’s stiff (as we expect with AquaGuard zippers), the rigid materials surrounding it work with you in this case. We find it easier to open this zipper than AquaGuard zippers on more flexible fabric. The H₂ORIZON™ ripstop helps keep it in place, preventing the zipper from flexing as you pull. We’ve been able to open it one-handed while the sling is on the seat next to us, though we couldn’t close it again.

However, if you want to grab something quickly, you’re better off using the rear pocket, since it closes with a magnet. Not just one magnet, but an entire strip that RE:FORM calls its MAGNASEAL™ closure technology. In keeping with the theme of this bag, it’s extremely durable and definitely protects and holds the gear inside, but it’s stiff to use.

Luckily, the magnetic buckle on the satiny webbing strap is easier to use, as long as you grab it with two hands. It allows you to remove the sling quickly without pulling it over your head, which users with ponytails or buns will appreciate.

The strap is a self-contained loop that allows you to adjust it without dangling, but we find it easier to do so off your body than while you’re wearing it. The buckle is close to the bag’s right side, so you can pretty much set it and forget it, unless you’re going between puffy jackets and T-shirts and need to tighten or loosen things.

There’s no padding or breathable mesh on the back panel. That’s not unexpected in a sling, but it means you’ll feel anything you stow in the magnetic pocket on the back, so opt for flatter gear rather than bulky if you can, or you’ll want to wear the sling looser.

Fit Notes

It may come as no surprise that we have a similar issue with the comfort of the RE:FORM XB:01 CROSSBODY 3L as we did with the RE:FORM ES:01 Essential Sling 1.2L. After all, both slings are made from the same stiff materials, and we already noted that the smaller bag is fairly wide and doesn’t contour to your body as well as softer slings do. The XB:01 is only 1 cm (0.4 in) wider than the ES:01, a negligible difference, and it’s 5 cm (1.9 in) taller. Instead of wrapping naturally around your body, both slings maintain their structured shape, which can create small gaps between the bag and your chest when worn across the front. It also makes the slings look slightly larger than their capacity might suggest.

When worn on the chest, the buckle can press into your shoulder if you have the strap cinched tightly, depending on your body type. Plus, it can end up in an awkward position on your body, making it more difficult to undo the magnetic buckle.

As with the ES:01, we find that the XB:01 sits a bit better on the back, since the wider area of your back gives the sling more surface to rest against. Even then, the rigid edges don’t fold or flex much, so it still sits somewhat away from the body. The sling may feel more natural on larger frames, while users with smaller builds will notice the stiffness and shape more often.

Inside The Crossbody

As we alluded to above, there is one exterior pocket on the RE:FORM XB:01 CROSSBODY 3L, and it’s on the back. The magnetic pocket is a large slip pocket that spans most of the back panel but doesn’t have much depth.

To open it, you pull a Hypalon-style tab away from the bag and slide in your preferred accessory, whether that’s your phone, a passport, or something else. We recommend using it for something slimmer rather than bulky, since it won’t close at the top if you stick something fatter inside. For example, we had the MOFT Snap Field Wallet on the back of an iPhone for most of our testing period. While you can push the top closed, it was a tight squeeze. On the other hand, when we were using the Nomad Goods Leather Mag Wallet instead, the pocket snapped shut on its own. It’s definitely a great option for your passport while traveling, as we don’t doubt the security of anything in this pocket, as long as it snaps tightly shut. Even the fatter phone/wallet combination stays put as you shake the sling upside down when you push the magnet shut.

Now, onto the main compartment, which is gusseted on each side. Unlike some other slings, however, the gusset doesn’t expand and contract; it’s permanently cinched at both sides of the bag, creating more space in the center than at either end.

There’s a zipper pocket on the back panel to secure smaller gear, like your wallet and keys. There’s a key leash inside for those, and the pocket closes with an AquaGuard zipper to protect your gear if you open it in the rain. It locks into place when you push the tab down just like the exterior zipper, too, so you can leave it open just slightly to keep your keys hanging out of the pocket if you prefer.

On the opposite side of the sling are two large stretchy mesh pockets. We typically use pockets like these for smaller gear, but they swallow our AirPods, hand sanitizer, and lip balm. They work well for battery banks and cords, however, and they do hold smaller gear in place—you’ll just have to rifle through them to grab the item you need.

The space remaining in the center is less than we’d expect for a sling of this size. To put it into context, we transferred the gear we were carrying in an Orbitkey Urban Sling Mini (2L) into this 3L sling, and it doesn’t feel much more accessible than it was in the smaller bag. You have to be more intentional when packing the 2L bag than you do with this one, but there isn’t a ton of extra space remaining in this sling, and it has a much larger footprint.

However, if you like a technical, minimalist aesthetic, the RE:FORM XB:01 CROSSBODY 3L doesn’t disappoint. It keeps what you need within easy reach throughout your day, and if you have a broader torso, it will look much better on your frame than on our smaller users.