Everyday Carry Loadout: What's Inside the Alpaka Metro Sling Right Now

Introduction

Testing dozens of products every month means a rotating cast of gear, but only a handful of items actually earn a permanent spot in the bag. This loadout is built around one sling, the Alpaka Metro Sling in its 9th Anniversary Edition, and everything currently hanging off it or tucked inside it. It is a setup aimed at commuters, travelers, and anyone who likes carrying a little more than strictly necessary.

The through-line here is simple: compact gear with personality. Flashlights that double as desk lamps, watches that start conversations, and accessories that make ordinary objects feel special again.

The Bag: Alpaka Metro Sling 9th Anniversary Edition

The Alpaka Metro Sling has become the go-to carry of choice lately, specifically the special 9th Anniversary Edition. It is made of waterproof X-Pac fabric with sealed zippers and Fidlock buckles, and those magnetic buckles alone are oddly satisfying to snap together every time.

The main difference with the 9th Anniversary version is the Velcro patch out front. Otherwise, the bag remains readily available and holds up as a genuinely great choice for commuting, travel, and card shows alike. One of its best features is the abundance of mounting points for additional accessories, which is exactly what the rest of this loadout takes advantage of.

As a vertical-style bag it sits a little top-heavy, but Alpaka solved that with sidewalls that let you hold it wide open without anything falling out. The main pocket has soft-lined walls with plenty of space for larger items, and the organization options are more than enough for a pocket hoarder.

Everyday Carry Jewelry: RX-78-2 Ring

Usually jewelry is not part of this carry, unless it puts the face of a certain mobile suit on it. The RX-78-2 ring is machined from a chunk of solid metal, and it is as heavy as you would imagine. The details with darkened shaded areas are what make it worth wearing, and it joins a growing collection of similarly odd rings.

Flashlights That Earn Their Pocket Space

Flashlights used to seem boring and kind of useless, until spending time with some genuinely clever ones changed that opinion entirely.

Wuben X4

The Wuben X4 pushes 1,500 lumens of output, which is a lot of light for non-flashlight-experts, plus a strip of RGB lights on its face. It is comfortable to use one-handed, has easy-to-adjust controls, and a tough metal body that handles being tossed around.

It is small enough to go hands-free thanks to a magnetic plate on the bottom, which also lets it act as the coolest desk lamp around. Physical switches, buttons, and sliders just feel more satisfying than any touchscreen ever could, and this thing is surprisingly bright for such a small chunk of metal.

Wuben X3

Compared to the X4, the X3 is slightly shorter and skips the LED strip, but both are about the same thickness side by side. That shared toughness means either one can handle rough pocket duty without worrying about breakage, and the X3 remains a favorite for good reason.

A Watch Rotation Worth Talking About

There are several watches on rotation lately, each with a completely different personality.

Everest Rubber Watch Strap

Metal bracelets are not for everyone, so the first move on any new watch is swapping to rubber. Everest rubber straps are interesting because you get to keep the original Rolex buckle, which is a thoughtful detail. The only hard question is why two pieces of rubber cost $350.

Mad Hudson Watches

The Mad Hudson models are super nostalgic, and one looks like a CD player on your wrist. The spinning iridescent foil and play-pause buttons make it a guaranteed conversation starter and a fun way to guess the time.

Dogma x Bryce Wong Watch

The Dogma collaboration with Bryce Wong is a simple, clean watch that is basically a guaranteed way to connect with fellow millennials. It is a if-you-know-you-know kind of piece, and a subtle way to keep your hands entertained.

Spacer Spongebob I Spy Watch

The favorite pickup of the bunch is the Spacer Spongebob I Spy in the blackout colorway. It is sold out at retail, so finding one secondhand is the only realistic route. The hour and minute dials are his hands pointing at the numbers, which is a genuinely charming design detail.

RZ Titanium Watch

For clumsy DIY days, the RZ watch is made of titanium so you never have to think about it. It includes a built-in light with all the modes a cheap Casio would have, except this one will win in a fight and still remember your alarm the next morning.

The MagSafe SSD and USB Hub Combo

This MagSafe SSD and portable USB hub combo has one of the coolest designs seen on any smartphone accessory, packing 1 TB of storage into roughly the size of a credit card while barely adding any bulk. The built-in USB-C cable is just long enough to avoid extra cords, and transfer speeds reach up to 10 Gbps.

All that speed generates heat, so there is a built-in fan and cooling solution that turns on automatically, with a turbo mode activated by a button click. Add dual USB-A ports, a 100W USB-C charging port, and an HDMI 2.1 port supporting up to an 8K monitor, and it dramatically cuts down the accessories you need to pack with a laptop. The MagSafe attachment plus a transparent design is the cherry on top.

Bag Add-Ons and Attachments

The sling’s exterior mounting points turn it into a platform for extras.

Griffin Rover AirTag Holder

The Griffin Rover AirTag holder disguises itself as a Velcro patch holder, but underneath, an AirTag hides neatly in a wicked chunk of blacked-out metal. Once attached to a strap it holds everything in place and survives a serious shake test, and it makes the bag look considerably cooler in the process.

Skanarma Mecca 56 AirPods Case

The Skanarma Mecca 56 AirPods case is a collaboration with cyberpunk brand Machine 56. The ridges, two-tone silver and red finish, and graphics transform AirPods into a tiny suitcase. It is made mostly of plastic, includes a sliding latch that prevents the lid from opening when dropped, a lanyard attachment, and edges that make it feel great in hand. The latch can occasionally be tricky to open even when you want it to, but otherwise this looks fantastic.

Lucky Vault Slab Case

Unlike other slab cases, the Lucky Vault slab case comes with a lanyard hole, which means it is actually meant to be carried around. If you are going to spend money on graded cards, you may as well take one for a walk occasionally.

Key-Bak Retractable Cord

Paired with the slab case is the Key-Bak retractable cord, which on its own is one of the best EDC upgrades available for your keys. It is also highly addictive to fidget with.

Inside the Front Pocket

Unzipping the front quick-access pocket reveals a lifted mesh pocket for smaller items so they do not get lost.

Cyber EDC Phase V 1.5

The fidget toy of choice here is the Cyber EDC Phase V 1.5, a 16-in-one fidget that uses a metal ball and a variety of sliding paths. Some are clickier, some are more silent, and patterned variants each give a different feel, with a spinning top on top of that. There is even an Ultima button on top for pen-clicking needs. It is compact enough to feel like a tiny eraser in your hand and stay hidden.

Distill Union Wally Micro

This wallet has been the go-to for several years: the Distill Union Wally Micro, kept shut by a flap of thick leather and a giant elastic. Restocks have been quiet lately, but the brand makes some of the best minimal, functional, clean wallets thanks to smart use of magnets, and their other models are worth a look.

Bick Lighter Fidget Case

The Bick lighter fidget case fits a mini Bic and expands to fit a regular-size one. Sometimes making an ordinary object look futuristic is all it takes, and it brings a small dopamine hit with every flick, which probably saves on gas too.

Triu Brickhammer Retro Console

Tucked in the front sleeve is the Triu Brickhammer retro console, an updated emulator of a previous favorite now in a full metal body that feels like an actual console rather than a toy. Buttons are clickier than before, accent lights add a nice glow, and the speakers are claimed to be better, though nothing noticeably different in practice. At roughly the width and weight of a phone, with strong gaming performance, it deserves a spot in any pocket.

Inside the Main Pocket

The deep main pocket holds the larger items in this loadout.

Rokid Smart Glasses

The Rokid smart glasses are the first pair used with built-in displays inside the lenses that only the wearer can see. They have continued earning daily use for documenting routines and shooting content on the go, and they are an easy recommendation for anyone curious about smart glasses.

Elroy Industries Apple Watch Case

A first of its kind: a 3D-printed Apple Watch case from Elroy Industries that converts the watch into a tiny handheld phone. It can make calls, send texts, and play music, making it a good way to doom-scroll less. The case provides an ergonomic handle, the shell screws in place so the watch cannot fall out, and charging still works through the back. The lanyard hole on the bottom is the favorite part, begging for a fun bead.

Conclusion

The Alpaka Metro Sling ties this whole setup together with a focus on quick access, making it a strong commuter, travel, and card-show companion with more than enough organization. Around it, each piece earns its place by being either genuinely useful or genuinely fun, and ideally both. If only one or two items here fit your daily routine, start with the sling itself, the Key-Bak cord, or the Wuben X4, and build out from there.