Hi, and welcome to my blog, where I document my life and experiences as a photographer, writer, father, partner, and gamer. Yes, that’s right! I am a proud gamer. A geek and a nerd. If you’ve been following my blog site for a while, you will no doubt have come across my articles about photography and travel. But if you paid close attention, you would have picked up the odd hint and clue that I am a gamer. I’ve been a Nintendo Fan Boy since the Nintendo Game Boy, which launched in the early 90’s. Over the years, I’ve played everything from the Game Boy Advance and Nintendo Wii to the New Nintendo 3DS and the Switch. While I love playing video games on a big screen, I much prefer the handheld Nintendo play experience offered by some of the most innovative and dedicated gaming systems of our time. What’s more, my kids and partner have all enjoyed gaming on Nintendo systems, with every family member having their own Switch. These days, I play the Nintendo Switch 2 – after upgrading from the original Switch mid 2025. Nintendo’s Switch 2 is a far more powerful and capable system, able to play first-party Nintendo games and a growing catalogue of third-party games, including many found on PC gaming systems. It really is quite an impressive platform that also offers a vast catalogue of Nintendo’s classic gaming systems.

Given the handheld nature and portability of systems like the Nintendo Switch (1 & 2), I have always sought high-quality storage and travel solutions to protect my gear. Much like finding an ideal bag for my camera kit, having the right bag for my Switch and key accessories has been an ongoing mission. Over the life of the Switch 1, I have bought, tested, and trusted multiple slimline cases, all-in-one travel bags, and hard shell cases for ultimate protection. While Nintendo has released its own range of cases over the years, none have stood out or been as functional as the one I am reviewing today – the Alpaka Eclipse Gaming Sling. I have been a fan of the Alpaka brand of bags, wallets, tech pouches, and travel systems for some time now. I’ve also attended a number of Alpaka events at their flagship store here in Melbourne’s Docklands. The store and brand are ideal for lovers of Everyday Carry (EDC) and quality carry solutions. The brand has an ever-growing reputation, having even secured partnerships with Fujifilm Australia. As a Fujifilm photographer (and Fujifilm Fan Boy), it’s like my worlds are colliding. But wait, there’s more!

The Alpaka Eclipse Gaming Sling

Imagine my delight when it was announced that Alpaka would release a high-spec gaming sling designed to fit a wide range of handheld gaming devices, including the Steam Deck, ROG Ally, and, of course, the Switch 1 and Switch 2 consoles. The Alpaka Eclipse Gaming Sling is just one of many purpose-built bags and EDC items in Alpaka’s range. As a gamer and EDC enthusiast, I was instantly drawn to their gaming sling. This review came about because I showed Justin Kui (General Manager of Alpaka) my considerable collection of Nintendo gaming memorabilia and assortment of Nintendo Switch 1 and 2 consoles. I actually offered to let Justin know if he ever needed gaming gear or props for photo shoots of the Eclipse Gaming Sling. Justin had a better idea. Alpaka kindly gifted me the Eclipse Gaming Sling for a photo shoot and to use with my Nintendo Switch 2 gaming system. So, full disclosure that I was gifted the sling, but I am under no obligation to be anything but honest. So let’s dive in and see why the Alpaka Eclipse Gaming Sling is the ideal portable gaming EDC.

Alpaka Eclipse Gaming Sling Dimensions

• Height: 16cm (6.3”)
• Width: 31cm (12.2”)
• Depth: 8cm (3.1”)
• Weight: 550g (1.22lbs)
• Volume: 3.5L
• Shoulder Strap: 90-160cm (35.4”-63.0”)

The Alpaka Eclipse Gaming Sling is well-sized to fit not only a portable current-gen gaming console, but also ample space for additional accessories. Alpaka has designed the sling with gamers in mind, featuring dedicated compartments, zones, and pockets to hold all the essential kit, plus your regular EDC gear such as a wallet/purse, phone, and keys. I owned and used plenty of Nintendo Switch cases that hold little more than the console and a handful of Nintendo Switch game cartridges that are about the size of an SD memory card. And while that may be great for storing and protecting your console, it offers little else for travel gear. Morde on that in a little bit.

Features & Materials

Alpaka’s Eclipse Gaming Sling is incredibly durable and features the same high-tech materials as high-quality travel bags, such as backpacks and messenger bags (of which Alpaka has an amazing range). The exterior of the sling is a highly durable Axoflux 400D washed nylon available in Black or Green (olive green). What I love most about this exterior finish is the ability to keep it clean and free of dust. It doesn’t attract particles and is very easy to wipe clean or dry after getting wet in the rain. Of course, no amount of moisture-proof material will save the (rainy) day if your bag doesn’t feature weather-resistant zippers. Fortunately, two of the sling’s three zippers are high-quality weather-resistant YKK AquaGuard zippers with neat paracord pulls. The third zipper, located at the back of the sling, sits in a fabric channel, protected by the sling as it rests against your body. The back pocket is an ideal place to store a smartphone, cleaning cloths, or other flat items.

The front of the Eclipse Gaming Sling features a large pocket (with a weather-resistant YKK zipper) with a single divider, creating two storage zones. One of which includes a nylon strap with a detachable key loop, compatible with Alpaka’s HUB ecosystem (HUB Accessories sold separately). Atop the sling, and directly behind the front zipper compartment, is a broad nylon strap ideal for grab-and-go operation. The Alpaka Eclipse Gaming Sling also includes a long, padded, adjustable sling strap with detachable clips at each end. As a result, you can simply use the nylon grab strap or attach the sling for a comfortable carry when out and about. Another neat feature of the carry system is the ability to remove the strap anchors from the bag or move them to one of three positions for optimal carry comfort. It’s a level of control and personalisation that other sling brands can learn a lot from.

Now for the main event! The main storage zone of the Eclipse Gaming Sling is secured by a weather-resistant YKK zipper with dual zips and corded pulls. Those zips run the entire length of the sling’s sides and top, allowing easy access to gear in a clamshell-style operation. A nylon gusset at each end of the bag prevents it from opening too far and spilling its contents. There’s nothing worse than having a short zipper travel that restricts access to your gear. At the front of the main compartment are a pair of soft, stretchy fabric pockets. The two pockets sit flush against the inside of the bag but feature elastic openings that stretch. In the middle is the largest storage zone, ideal for larger accessories such as a gaming controller and power brick. You could even carry two gaming controllers in this space if you leave the power brick out.

The star of the show is the padded and lined portable gaming console sleeve at the back of the main compartment. Alpaka finished this compartment in bright orange nylon, making it very easy to locate your console or to stash it away securely. The console sleeve opens up quite a bit to fit larger devices such as the Switch 2, Steam Deck, ROG Xbox Ally, or even an iPad Mini. While the Switch 2 is incredibly slimline, other portable consoles feature larger grips and thicker bodies. It’s also worth pointing out that the rear of the console sleeve is lined with a soft, felt-like material that protects the console screen. While the Eclipse Gaming Sling supports portable gaming consoles other than Nintendo’s Switch system, Alpaka included a double-sided game cartridge panel to carry up to 20 Nintendo Switch games. The flat panel can be removed from the sling or tucked away into the dedicated slimline pocket. Finally, a broad nylon strap stretches from the back of the main compartment, over the console sleeve and gamecard panel, to securely lock down your precious gear with a velcro hook-and-loop system. As a result, your handheld devices and game library stay put!

How I Use The Alpaka Eclipse Gaming Sling

Prior to picking up the Eclipse Gaming Sling, I was carrying my Nintendo Switch 2 in a PowerA Slim Case. While it was a durable hard-shell option, the only other gear I could fit was a cleaning cloth and eight Switch game cartridges. That meant having an additional pouch for cables, a charging block, and a controller or a Switch 2 Joy-Con grip. It wasn’t ideal, and it also meant that when I wanted to sit on the couch to play games, I had to locate the essential accessories from elsewhere. However, with the Alpaka Eclipse Gaming Sling, I can carry ALL of my essential gaming kit, plus a few fun extras, while still having room for more. Here’s a look at what gaming gear I carry in the Eclipse Gaming Sling.

• Nintendo Switch 2 console
• Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller
• Nintendo Switch 2 Joy-Con Grip
• Nintendo Switch 2 Joy-Con wrist straps
• Nintendo Switch 2 power brick and USB-C to USB-C cable
• Nintendo Super Mario Bros. Game & Watch (2020)
• Nintendo The Legend Of Zelda Game & Watch (2021)
• Microfibre cleaning cloth
• The Legend Of Zelda: Echoes Of Wisdom Gold Coin (just for fun)
• Nintendo NES Controller fidget toy (attached to the front pocket zip pull)

That’s a lot of gear to fit in a dedicated sling that’s around the same size as an Australian Rules football. But it all fits snugly and securely in dedicated pockets and storage zones.

Alpaka Eclipse Gaming Sling Carry & Comfort

As mentioned earlier, the Eclipse Gaming Sling features both a handy, yet slimline, grab handle and a detachable padded shoulder strap. What’s great about the shoulder strap is that you can detach and securely attach it to the dedicated anchors. A simple lift-and-unlock method lets you quickly remove the strap or put it back on. Its length is easily adjustable and offers ample length – especially for a big guy like me. With the shoulder strap in place, the Eclipse Sling sits comfortably against my lower back and right hip. Given the sling’s size and softness, it curves gently to match the contours of my body. With the strap slung across my shoulder, the sling sits at a comfortable height and is easy to slide to the front should I want to access it and get gear out. When I am at home, the sling is always fully loaded with the above gear and makes for a handy couch companion while I game. I simply remove the carry strap and use the grab handle when moving about the house. Other ergonomic points include the smooth-glide zips, the easily accessible key loop, the hidden rear pocket, and the clearly defined storage zones that don’t spill gear from one to the other.

Alpaka have knocked this one out of the park. The Alpaka Eclipse Gaming Sling is the ideal carry-all solution offering device security, accessory storage, and a comfortable way to game on the go. The team at Alpaka have answered the call of handheld gamers the world over with a product that ticks all the boxes for safety, security, organisation, and carry comfort. It’s the first handheld gaming carry product that I have found to be a perfect fit for my gaming needs. Regardless of whether I’m at home or on the road, I know that all my core gaming kit is on board, easily accessible, and ready to get my game on no matter what! And the best bit, Alpaka is an Australian-based brand with its flagship store here in my hometown of Melbourne, Victoria. If you’re looking for a portable gaming console carry solution or a new travel bag, wallet, or tech pouch, check out Alpaka’s range.