Wotancraft Pilot 7L Camera Sling
I’ve been using the Wotancraft Pilot 7L Camera Sling bag since October 2024 and I can confidently say it is the best sling I have used. As a disclaimer, Wotancraft did send me the bag, but they did not pay me nor did they expect anything in return. I don’t have an affiliate link, either. I just really like the bag.
So, after almost 10 months of use, here are my honest thoughts and why I’d recommend it to anyone looking for a new one.
Wotancraft Pilot 7L Camera Sling
My brief history with sling bags
Before I got this bag, I had no idea who Wotancraft even was, but my friend had this bag so naturally I was interested.
I won’t pretend and say I’ve tested a ton of sling bags because the reality is…I haven’t. Before getting the Pilot, I used a Ulanzi 6L sling, and before that, the Peak Design Everyday 3L sling — both of which I still own (I still use the Peak Design one from time to time).
After almost a year of doing Youtube, I realized I needed a bag that could hold a bit more gear but not to the point where I’d need a backpack, so when Wotancraft asked me what size sling I wanted, I went with the 7L — and it was a great choice.
The 7L size allows me to bring my Sony A7IV, 2 smaller primes, a film camera, portable charger, headphones, wallet, keys, and more. It’s perfect for what I need on a typical day of street photography and it doesn’t get in the way when you’re trying to maneuver through crowds as some other bigger slings/larger backpacks might. It also prevents me from bringing too much gear, which has been a problem for me on some occasions.
All the features on this sling bag have shot it to the top of my list, so let’s dive into them a bit more.
Features
This bag is offered in 4 different sizes (2/3.5/7/10 - liters) and 2 different colors (black canvas & khaki brown canvas). I have the 7L in black canvas.
It features the Fidlock system, a magnetic buckle system to open and close the main compartment of the bag.
It has a water bottle pouch on each side.
The Quick Adjustable Shoulder Strap is very easy and quick to use.
The bag itself is very modular; it comes with dividers and also features loops on the front that can be used to attach other add-on components that Wotancraft offers.
There is a luggage pass-through strap on the back of the bag.
Two different slots, secured by zippers
Straps on the bottom for a tripod/umbrella.
Why I love it
When you combine all the features I listed above (and more), you get a bag that is very much suited for street photography.
The Fidlock magnetic buckle is a game-changer when it comes to theft-proofing your bags. Now obviously this isn’t fool-proof, but when I first attempted to open up the sling, I was left very confused and gave up. However, once you figure it out, it is so simple to open/close even with one hand. The magnets in the buckle are strong enough so you don’t even have to necessarily get the clips directly in line for them to close — just get them close enough and they will attach themselves. You’ll never want to go back to standard zippers.
This might be a bit of an underrated feature, but I’m not sure I’ve seen sling bags have a water bottle slot, let alone two of them. As someone who often forgets to stay hydrated when shooting, having a place to put a bottle — that isn’t touching all your expensive camera gear — is very handy.
The adjustable shoulder strap/pad is very comfy and extremely easy to adjust. Depending on how much gear I have in my bag and what shooting scenario I’m in, I’ll adjust the length of the strap accordingly and it takes less than 2 seconds to do by lifting the clip and sliding it. The pad is also a thickness that allows me to clip on my DJI Osmo Action mount on it without feeling like it’s going to fall off.
There are two slots that are accessed by zippers: one on the front (under the main flap) and one on the back. These are areas I like to put smaller things like my Airpods, wallet, extra batteries, and passport while I’m traveling. The location of these slots is also great and hidden when you’re wearing it, so that’s another point for the theft-proofing concept.
Once you fill up the space on the inside, you still have options to attach other Wotancraft pouches and accessories to the outside of the bag using the many loops provided. Personally, I prefer to keep my bag bare without any additional add-ons, but for people who like a modular design, you’ll love it. You can also slide a small tripod/umbrella through the straps at the bottom, or you can even slide it through an opening in the middle of the bag.
I have brought this bag out with me in rain and snow, and while it’s not fully weatherproof, it gets the job done. Under really heavy/constant rain, the inside will get damp but because of the thickness of the nylon canvas that the bag is made with, it takes a while for that to happen. In light rain, it holds up perfectly fine.
Speaking of the material, the nylon canvas is also very rugged and protects the gear very well without the bag itself being too stiff.
Things I’d change
It took me a while to think of something that I don’t love about this bag, and honestly it’s a bit of a nitpick, but one thing that happens to me pretty often is the strap twisting inside the shoulder pad. Then again, it’s not exactly a big issue and I can untwist it pretty quickly. So if I had to choose one thing, that would be it. Because the strap itself is detachable, you can use whatever type of strap you prefer as long as it works with the hooks of the bag.
Also, I think it’d be pretty cool to see Wotancraft make this bag in another color or two. Black is perfectly fine and matches with everything, but I’d love to potentially see a dark green or charcoal gray color scheme.
Concluding thoughts
I can’t see myself needing a different sling bag at this size for the foreseeable future. Now like I said, I haven’t tried many different bags to begin with, but I’d say I’m pretty lucky because I didn’t spend tons of money in a trial/error carousel trying to find a sling that I really love. A big thanks to Wotancraft for sending this over!
