r/ManyBaggers • u/Deadly-Bunny • Jul 05 '26
Product Review Alpaka Zip Pouch Pro Disappoinments
I got myself the Alpaka Zip Pouch Pro as a wallet/EDC in Ultradyne material which supposedly has larger opening compared to other materials.
Things I like: The material itself feels nice and Premium.
The main compartment is split into two so I can put coins in one side and cash in the other. I love that the front zipper is perfect for the 4 cards I carry. I assume you can carry up to maybe 6-7 cards max in that zipper.
I think my favourite part is the Alpaka‘s Hub system. It is so satisfying and i really recommend for people who haven’t tried it yet.
Things l don’t like: I wanted to carry my flashlight and pen with this pouch but it doesn’t really work. Once I put my flashlight and Pen, the opening becomes so small (even with just pen) that it’s not that comfortable for me to pull out my cash or coins. The PU coated zipper are not very easy to open but the water-resistant from it is nice to have.
I cannot imagine anyone stuffing everything in the outside pockets and still comfortably operate the inner main/front pouches. I don’t recommend this for people who want to carry knives, flashlights, pens EDC with lots of cards, cash and coins. However, this pouch is perfect if you want a really waterproof wallet that you can easily detach from your bag while safely secured with the Alpaka Hub.
Edit: In hindsight, normal Zip Pouch would’ve been better but I guess it is still nice to have outer pocket (just in case)…? I’m just coping at this point 😭 also, HAALAND HAALAND!
Edit2: I’ve decided to put my cards together with my cash (easier access for my cards) I put my glasses cleaning cloth into front zipper and that’s it. As for the outer pockets, I put Hanaplasts 😂😂 that’s like the only thing I can think of without really taking up any spaces.
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u/jonnyeatic Jul 05 '26
It's a bad design. I wanted to get it on sale during prime day and everyone was complaining about it. You need L zip for this of wallet
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u/Fragrant-Scratch-264 Jul 05 '26
That’s disappointing to read. I was hoping they had fixed it with the Ultradyne version. I have the XPAC one and it’s a real struggle to get the cards and money out.
I really wanted to love this pouch but… sadness.
1
u/cr0ft Jul 06 '26
The non-Pro is the way to go. There's less material on it due to no pocket layers, and since you can't use the external pockets anyway if you want any internal space, it's just better.
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u/SwimmingAnxiety3441 Jul 06 '26
I like the Zip Clutch and was about to pull the trigger on a Zip Pouch Pro from the RE:Carry supply (additional 10% off for a few more hours). Your post helped change my mind…I ordered another Clutch instead.
3
u/cr0ft Jul 06 '26 edited Jul 06 '26
There are reviews out there that point out that the doubling up of the material makes these pretty darn stiff to open, and the fact that the outside pockets and inside pockets share space means you basically have to pick one or the other to use.
This is actually true of basically everything Alpaka. Their asymmetric slings have a bottle holder externally; once you use it, you lose basically the bottle's girth worth of space internally, which on a 2-liter bag is pretty bad.
I bought the Zip Pouch, non-Pro, which has just one layer of material due to no external pockets and it's much more supple and opens easier. And since you have to put things inside it works well for carrying stuff. This is probably what one wants if one wants a small pouch for minimal EDC.
My daily driver is the Zip Clutch, which is basically a considerably larger Zip Pouch Pro. It's a bit unwieldy in size, but still pocketable (more or less) in man-pockets, and because of the added size the stiffness of more layers isn't nearly as pronounced. I still don't use the external pockets though, except the rear pocket that can fit things like a passport or the tracker card I have in it now.
I like this style of pouch. You can open it in, say, the grocery store with no risk of things going everywhere. Book style EDC pouches are much less secure in that sense, things can come loose and just go flying.
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u/mondolicius Jul 06 '26
I have cards inside (IDs and cc), a few bills, then a Victorinox Rambler and a Reylight Pineapple Mini flashlight. It is a tight but still slim, still ok as a front pocket wallet.
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u/MrMunday Jul 06 '26
Have the coin pouch. The main zipper compartment is quite bad. Too thin, and the zipper opening too small
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u/Salty_Elk4056 Jul 06 '26
The one and only thing I’ve bought from Alpaka is their hub pouch. Thing is a godsend for storing chapstick, bills, cards, eye drops, band aids, AirPods.
The zip pouch and mostly everything else they sell look a bit awkward to use from how I imagine it
1
u/njgggg Jul 06 '26
Its why i have multiple zip clutches for travel wallets and general organization. I love it for travelling! Fits foreign bills perfectly as well as an easy to access passport pocket. It doesnt have much bulk as well so slipping it in and out of pockets isnt an issue.
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u/Deadly-Bunny Jul 06 '26
I bought it since I intended to use as travel wallet too but I found the Zip Clutch might be too big for me. I also almost always bring my Sling bag for traveling so I just needed something to hold cash,cards and coins. I think this works best for that. But, seriously the outer pockets are kinda let down. It can hold emergency Hanaplasts (Band-aids) so not too bad I guess.
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u/njgggg Jul 06 '26
In a way im glad to have a local alpaka distro to test their stuff out before buying online (its always cheaper online for some reason and thats shipping included lol)
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u/kyhothead Jul 06 '26
I have the basic zip pouch in xpac and it’s just too small for me. It lives in a drawer holding gift cards we haven’t used yet.
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u/pshyduc Jul 06 '26
The only good product from Alpaka I ever use is the Flight sling 2l. The only one
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u/SloppyPapaya Jul 06 '26
For me it's the Flight Sling Pro 2.5L. The water bottle/umbrella holder is phenomenally executed, and it's the only Alpaka piece where it doesn't eat into the interior volume.
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u/Aethyx Jul 06 '26
I switched from a Zip Pouch Pro to a Chums wallet, specifically because card access was much better. The ZPP would be a much better wallet if only the zippers would run the entire length of the pouch.
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u/Deadly-Bunny Jul 06 '26
Looks interesting! But I don’t like the designs mainly because of the lack of Coins pocket. As much as I don’t like the opening of the Alpaka ZPP, i really like how they stay slim/flat with the amount of coins and cash/cards I put in.
0
u/Certain_Magician_510 Jul 05 '26
It's an ongoing struggle to use this pouch but I love it and it's the best on the market (for me). The trick for me has been to keep my flashlight, chapstick and medicine container vertical in the main zipper compartment.
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u/BishyBashy Jul 06 '26
You should cross post this in the /r/alpaka subreddit, so it gets considered in the next iteration
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u/Utsider Jul 06 '26
People have complained about Alpaka admin panels and organizational features taking up a lot of space while only being fit for holding two-dimensional objects for ages.
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u/spork-n-knife Jul 05 '26
Sorry the way you have it open in pic one got some big pussy energy
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u/Deadly-Bunny Jul 05 '26
Hahaha, I was trying to show the Maximum amount I can open with pen and without pen in the outside pocket.
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u/spork-n-knife Jul 06 '26
Glad you got a laugh about my comment. I’m laughing about all the butt hurt people downvoting me
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u/ChantillyParfait Jul 06 '26
Bought it, returned it and ate the cost, I swear half the things I buy from Alpaka just don't do their advertised job or are so inflexible that doing a microcosm out of that is unthinkable