Colorado Special Ops Sling Bag Review

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Here’s the bag’s description printed on its tag:
Durable Moisture Resistant Fabric
Large Storage Compartment
Cell Phone Pocket
Audio Pocket and Portal
Key Clip
Zippered Accessory Pocket

The Colorado Special Ops Sling Bag has a padded zippered pocket that rests
against your back or side. It’s fairly thin, but I use it to hold my wallet, ID,
and a few thin magazines. The seams, stitching, zippers and pockets are of high
quality.

special ops1

There is a removable cell phone pocket that runs directly across the chest
area for easy access. It’s held on by a metal clip and buttoned belt loop. There
are 2 accessory rings and (shell holders?) that run across the strap. There is
also a nifty rubberized American flag on the strap.

special ops2  
special ops3  

There is an exterior zippered mesh pocket directly beneath the audio portal
that you can run your headphones through. I use it to directly store the bud
headphones for easy access without having to disconnect them from my device.  

special ops4

There is also a zippered pocket that runs on the fat part of the strap that
you can put things in. This rests on your hip, so it’s fairly easy to get to
without removing the bag.

The inside of the bag is covered by a rain fly that closes via two clips.
(There is also a clip that you can secure around your waist for extra
stability.) Directly underneath the fly, but outside of the large interior
pocket is another ID sized pocket that has a slot for cards (I use it for my
pager), a zippered mesh pocket for other small things, and an elasticized mesh
pocket.

special ops5   
special ops6

Inside the bag is a large interior pocket that is divided into three
additional pockets. First there is the interior audio pocket. There are
reinforced rivets that serve as holes for the headphones accessory. The second
is a liner pocket that parallels that larger exterior pocket that I spoke of
earlier. Finally, there is an interior mesh pocket for lip balm, gum, and
smaller items that you need to see to get to.

Oh, the bag also has an exterior rubber handle on the top so you can carry it
without having to sling it if necessary. It is probably the most comfortable
rubberized handle that I have seen. It also seems very durable.

special ops7

So far, this bag has been working great! It holds all my daily gear and
gadgets, including: Palm M515, T-Mobile Sidekick/ Danger Hip top, My new Dell
Axim X5, Rio Volt Mp3 Player, Viking 256 MB SD Card, Kingston 64 MB Compact
Flash Card,  Epson Photo PC 850z Camera, my wallet, pens, umbrella,
personal care accessories, and the various power and interface cords that I tend
to carry with room to spare! It’s a great bag. 

The Colorado Special Ops Sling Bag is available from
Champs Sports and other retailers.

Price: $34.99

Pros:
Can hold a lot of gear safely (I added a Gameboy advance SP to my gear
collection with no noticeable difference)
3 pockets are easily accessible while wearing the bag (Good for phone, id, keys,
headphones, wallet, etc.)
Can also be draped over one shoulder for quicker access Padded back is
comfortable
Built in riveted headphone pass through Additional hooks for quick clipping
items

Cons:
Depending on your size the bag can be a tad bit uncomfortable in the
neck/shoulder blade area (also depends how heavy your load is)
Velcro on the main strap can be loud because it is so strong
Slinging the bag over your head when loaded with gear takes getting used to

 

Product Information

Price:34.99
Manufacturer:N/A
Pros:
  • Can hold a lot of gear safely (I added a Gameboy advance SP to my gear
  • collection with no noticeable difference)
  • 3 pockets are easily accessible while wearing the bag (Good for phone, id, keys,
  • headphones, wallet, etc.)
  • Can also be draped over one shoulder for quicker access Padded back is
  • comfortable
  • Built in riveted headphone pass through Additional hooks for quick clipping
  • items
Cons:
  • Depending on your size the bag can be a tad bit uncomfortable in the
  • neck/shoulder blade area (also depends how heavy your load is)
  • Velcro on the main strap can be loud because it is so strong
  • Slinging the bag over your head when loaded with gear takes getting used to

38 thoughts on “Colorado Special Ops Sling Bag Review”




  1. Gadgeteer Comment Policy - Please read before commenting
  2. If anyone happens to find this bag on the net somewhere please post a link here:

    I searched ebags.com….ebay…champs…i’m just not finding this bag which pretty much looks perfect to me….

    Thanks.

  3. Can’t even find on Google….help!!! This bag does look perfect for what I’m looking for. I want one….but I can’t find one!!! :rolleyes:

  4. Sorry everyone! I forgot to mention that I actually went into the Champs store in the mall to find this bag. I did not find it at their online store.

    Here’s the information from the tag:

    Model Number: PB30087R
    UPC: 400000639277
    Name: CS Special Ops Black Bag

    I’ll do some checking, but if I can’t find online, I can pick up a couple if anyone is interested.

    Thanks!

  5. Yes, this is a great bag a a GREAT price..

    i will contact my local CHAMPS sports store to see if i can get one from there.. otherwise.. will let you know about getting one from you gals..

  6. Woo yeah, “SPECIAL OPERATIONS” bag!!! Perfect for all you Navy Seals wannabe’s!! Now you can conduct “special” operations while wearing this bag! And you’d look like you are cool too because without it you’d look like a yourself.

  7. Hi Im from the Philippines. Ive been using this bag for a year now, very durable. This bag is made by Oakley (the eyewear makers). If you live in the U.S., you can buy it tru their O-store http://www.oakley.com they call it SANDBAG. They make gears for the US military, check out the Oakley Assault Boot! Kewl!!

  8. Icekendi, I don’t think the Colorado SpecOps Bag is exactly identical to the Oakley Sandbag, but they are indeed very similar- maybe made in the same factory or something. Plus the Oakley is about three times the price (brand name = $)! I have been eyeballing the Sandbag at one of my favorite sites since they came out:
    http://www.tadgear.com/x-treme%20gear/packs%20main/oakley_sandbag.htm
    But I’ve held back cause I’m cheap. 😡 Also, I need another bag like I need a hole in my head- we seem to have a whole closet full at my house. Still, for $35 I am going to hit the Champs in Fort Worth tonight and I’ll report back…:cool:

  9. Yes, I noticed the price was about 3 times higher as well. I have only had one request for a bag from someone in Chicago. I was looking for a few more before I make my trip to Champs. If anyone else is interested and doesn’t want to post here, PM me and we can work out the details.

    Thanks!

  10. Champs in Fort Worth’s Hulen Mall had a black one (got it!), a blue one that was really cool, and two silver ones. Just playing with it for 15 minutes in the office it seems pretty nice- real sporty though, which I knid of expected- so I am not sure it will work for carrying to my office. YMMV. (I currently carry a Coach tan leather soft attache with a strap- it’s pretty but only has like 2 pockets and no padding- not real “gear friendly”.) This may have to be my weekend “man’s tac purse” or it may go back (has to get the Mrs. Redhed Seal of Approval, and I have to finish playing). The main compartment seems a little tough to access though. A full size Sony CD player will fit in the “tunes device” pocket in case anyone was wondering like me… Seeing it in person though, and comparing it to that one Sandbag pic, (Check Google images for “Oakley Sandbag”- there’s only a couple pics out there) it seems like it might be exactly like the Sandbag… More later.:p

  11. When checking the pics of the Sandbag, I noticed that it looks like it may not have a top clip on the rain hood that covers the inner pockets of the bag. I agree with you that having to open 2 clips and a zipped to get to the inner pocket seems a little irritating, but I generally only get in there when I’m not wearing the bag. Plus I feel like my items are a littler safer when they are in the inner pockets.

    The look of the bag is sporty, but the only “fashionable” bag that I could come up with that holds mulitple gadgets is the Coach Hamptons Carryall series. They seem to have 3 pockets in the lining that can hold pda’s, phones, etc. Not to mention a $270 price tag.

    The Special Ops bag has replaced my purse altogether. I also have the added benefit of carrying all my gear. I recommended this bag because of its price, value, pockets, etc. I still have other bags for other functions, but this one beats all when I’m riding the train and don’t want to be bogged down by purse, backpack, etc.

    I hope you like and keep it! For $35, my husband has said that he will take it off my hands if I don’t want to carry it anymore.

    Cheers! 🙂

  12. Hi Julie,
    No dice on the Colorado web address. Front side just has a logo and a couple lines of marketing hoo ha. Back side has the price and lists the features, made in China (you know it’s quality now! :p), etc. Then, interestingly, Champs Sports and an address in Florida is listed, which makes me think Colorado must be a Champs subsidiary/private label, whatever. I bet this thing really is a sandbag sans the “O”. Hope this helps….:cool:
    ->
    By the way, Leslie, great article!:wow: And good lookin’ out on that too, I would have never found anything at Champs, in fact I think it was my first time in their store today. I wonder if the clerk thought I was just “scary decisive”:mad: walking right to the bags and grabbing this one…

  13. I checked all over my tag and couldn’t find one. It did say that the bag was made in China. It has an address for Champs on it. I can double check when I get home.

    If it makes you feel any better at least the clerk wasn’t giving you the eyeball for trying on all the sling bags. I thought they were going to kick me out before I could try on every sling in the store. I quickly decided on the Colorado bag before they could say anything.

  14. I finally got a chance to get to my local Champs in South Jersey and got a blue spec ops bag. Awesome!!! :wow:

    Great looks, pockets all over the place, well made. I just need some time (maybe this afternoon) to get my gear loaded, and then get used to having a pocket for everything. 😉

    I just wish these were available on their website. :confused:

    Jim Latimer

  15. I got one too.. good build and quality.

    All i can say is, why do other comparible bags sell for 4 times the cost.. this bag is a bargain at 35 bucks..

    F.

  16. Kiwi

    I’m working on it…probably over the weekend.

    BTW, after a week with this bag, I’m hooked!!! I don’t think I can think of anything I would add to it (except maybe a key clip on the inside).

    My days of “bag and switch” are over!!!:wow:

  17. GET ONE OF THESE IN BLACK.. AS I DONT LIVE IN A STATE WHERE
    THE BAG IS AVILABLE… VERY MUCH APPRECIATED…ARCHER

  18. product code listed here to champ home office.. perhaps they
    will come thru.. keep you posted..archer..

  19. their customer service claims they dont sell it…

    so.. i’ll pay someone $10 + bag cost + shipping to get me
    a black one.

  20. Hi Archer,

    The Champs store in Hamilton, Ontario has got them. The bags are $44 Canadian which is about 30USD plus 15% taxes. They are black, blue or silver.

    I know a guy nearby who is getting one for me (& shipping it to me in New Zealand). I’ll try and put him in touch with you.

    kiwimacca

  21. charlie.stross

    As a general comment, have any left-handed folks (like me) tried one of these?

    Does it go over the left shoulder or the right? Are the pockets impossible to get into with your left hand? And so on — all questions that are relevant to at least 10-15% of the peanut gallery — I’ve seen gadgets before now, such as the Siemens Pocket Reader, that were next to impossible for left-handers to use, and others, such as the Psion 5, that were clearly designed by right-handers with no idea that the design was sub-optimal for a chunk of their customers.

  22. Hi Charlie – Actually my husband is left handed and he is the one who modeled the bag. I use my left hand to get into the pocket that rests near the left hip and to take the cell phone out (which rests on your chest). I use my right hand to unzip the pocket that rests against my back. Reaching that pocket can take some practice, so I don’t think a lefty could get to it. However, you can also sling the bag around on your body and have the bulk of it in the front. I do this all of the of the time and have no problem reaching all of the pockets with either hand. Hope this helps!

  23. I SAW ANOTHER BAG THAT WAS PRETTY KOOL… VERY SIMILAR..
    GO TO EBAY AND SEARCH FOR

    DIESEL SLING BAG, THE RED ONE
    IS TOTALY HOT!!!

  24. Hello All,

    Sorry for not posting sooner. I checked at another local Champs store and they had the bag everywhere. I picked up one for another gadgeteer and mailed it out. If others are interested, drop me an e-mail and I can probably pick up a few more!

    Thanks,

    😎

  25. just how much room does the main compartment have because i could really use this for school but it looks a little small

    keep up the good work

  26. robbssuperstore

    I have read all of the information about the Colorado Special OPS Sling Bag. I am listing these on a regular basis on ebay, the exact one that you are all referring to. The store name on ebay is Robbssuperstore:) Just thought I would update anyone who is looking for this bag. Thanks!

  27. Could anyone help buy this bag and ship it to me(I live in Denmark) Like Archer i am willing to pay i’ll pay someone $10 + bag cost + shipping to get me
    a black one.

    TIA

  28. Well guys, i have been looking everywhere for the Oakly version of this bag, i used to use one daily for yrs..
    My daughter used it and happened to loose it??
    I have been searching and searching to replace it. the key feature i liked was the waist retention belt. I used it to carry my stuff while riding a motorcycle, the waist belt helps with the bag flapping a lot. That bag looks alomost identical, but i am not sure, from the pics i dont see a waist belt. is there one on that particular bag?

  29. i found this back pack for $10 bucks on craigslist but i wans’t able to get its should still be their luck to everyone

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