Ever since cargo pants went out of style, it's always been a challenge to stuff everything in your pockets (especially if you don't like using your back pockets for security reasons). I've always made do but frequently found myself having issues even with the minimal essentials of keys/phone/wallet - at least 2 of them end up getting squished into the same front pocket, making not only for a tight fit and scratching stuff up, but also risking dropping one item while accessing the other.
I'd liked the concept of slings but never really did much research until last year. After doing some research, I went to a specialized carry store that carries many popular brands such as Aer, Evergoods, and Bellroy (unfortunately they did not have Minaal) and tried on some slings. Besides the obvious visual things such as colorways and shape, I noticed that there are a lot of details in the bag design, from the internal organization to zipper choices to buckle mechanism to the way the bag carries on your body. I tried on a bunch of bags but had reservations/concerns with all of the ones I tried on. However, I realized that for me, and probably for many people, the ~2L size was just about perfect. Anything smaller you lose a good deal of functionality. Anything larger and you're losing minimalism/just carrying around a bag.
Anyway, during my search I subscribed to the mailing lists of a few brands, including Minaal's. Fast forward a few months and I get an email about the new Crossbody 2.0. I was already in the market, and since I really liked Minaal's aesthetic and loved the copywriting in their emails, I was sold.
The bag itself is great. It has a lower profile than many of the other 2L bags I tried on. It can easily fit way more than you can fit in your pockets (e.g., phone, travel documents, earbuds, tissues). You can easily fit mailing envelopes in the inner (secret?) compartment, and since the bag is relatively flat, they won't get crumpled. The bag is also large enough to fit a water bottle or small foldable umbrella (NB since the bag is soft, large ones may slightly distort the outside/be visible).
I'm 100% satisfied with this bag.