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Pgytech OneMo 25L Backpack Review

04 Jun

The post Pgytech OneMo 25L Backpack Review appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Kav Dadfar.

When Pgytech first got in touch about doing an Onemo 25L backpack review, I wasn’t familiar with the company. So whilst I waited (not so patiently) for the bag to arrive, I set about finding out a little more about them, their origin, and ethos. Pgytech was formed by a group of young, enthusiastic, and like-minded photographers to create pioneering products that link together seamlessly with photographers’ existing kit. Besides this bag, they have created a load of products for other photography and video equipment such as drones and action cameras.

OneMo 25L Backpack Review: bag specifications

Capacity – 25L expandable to 30L and a 5L removable drone pouch.

Size – 480mm x 320mm x 230mm for the main bag and 270mm x 180mm x 120mm for the built in pouch.

Color – Black or Olivine Camo

Weight – 2.5kg total.

Material – Polyester fibre material which is water, scratch and tear resistant.

Initial thoughts

When the Pgytech OneMo 25L Backpack first arrived, I was really impressed by the presentation straight out of the box. The bag comes in a really nice branded, recyclable bag. As cool as this was, I’m not going to lie, I tore it off pretty quick so I could take a look inside. The bag itself is sleek and stylish with great quality finishes and a nice all-round feel.

Who’s it for

The OneMo 25L Backpack is designed to meet the needs of drone and photography enthusiasts. The bag will comfortably hold your DSLR or mirrorless camera along with two or three lenses (depending on your lens inventory) in the top compartment. It will also hold a few accessories such as batteries and memory cards.

The bottom section that houses the drone pouch has more than enough space to hold a Mavic 2 Pro, and it’s accessories. If you remove the drone pouch, you have plenty more room in the main bag for more lenses, clothes or general items you may need for the day. The OneMo 25L backpack has targeted the needs of the modern enthusiast and meets them efficiently.

In the field

No camera bag review is complete until you’ve spent some time using it and walking around with the bag. So I hit the trails to get a better idea of how the bag holds up for this OneMo 25L backpack review.

I was out shooting all day with my camera, a 14-30mm lens, 24-70mm lens along with all the accessories I needed. I chose to keep the pouch in the bag and placed the drone and extras in there as I wanted to have only one bag with nothing else getting in the way.

The bag was really comfortable to walk with. There was no noticeable movement from within the bag, which is always reassuring. I use a fairly heavyweight Manfrotto tripod, and I did find the top-mounted tripod holder to be a little cumbersome and awkward for a tripod of this size. But then this bag isn’t realty designed for this type of equipment.

Once I strapped one of my smaller tripods to the bag, it was not a problem. In the field, the bag was effortless to access. I really like the suitcase-style flip lid that joins down the long side of the bag as opposed to the bottom. This does away with the issue of getting straps and leads caught up with your equipment, which I find to be an issue with lots of other camera bags.

Cool features

During this Pgytech OneMo 25l backpack review, there were a couple of cool little features I discovered. I haven’t seen these before, and I thought they were a great idea for photographers.

Like many camera bags, this bag has dedicated pockets for your batteries. In one of the side flaps, there are three camera battery sized pouches with a little toggle that switches from green to red depending on the condition of your battery. This can be really useful if you have multiple batteries so you know which need charging and which are ready to use. I also thought these could be quite usefully adapted to the same end with your memory cards to know which are used and which are cleared and ready to use.
Customizable dividers. The Pgytech OneMo 25L bag can be arranged to suit all needs, but the dividers are what really make this great. They can be molded to any position and have this great little flap that can come down to support the lens and allow you to use the dead space for additional equipment.
Two of the exterior pockets have anti-theft loops that are really easy to set and incredibly hard to gain access to quickly for any would-be thieves.

Pros and cons

Pros

Lots of neat little design functions
Comfortable
Unassuming (doesn’t shout cameras inside)
Good ergonomics
Removable drone pouch
Stylish-looking
Water, scratch and tear-resistant material

Cons

Tripod holder not very big
A little more protection around the main shell would be nice.

Conclusion

This bag is a really great camera bag for any outdoor photographer.

Whilst more serious professionals might need a bigger bag for all of their equipment, this is more of an everyday bag that would be perfect for a travel photographer like me.

Whilst sometimes I may want to take a bigger bag. Generally, when I’m shooting in a place like a city, smaller bags are much more convenient. There’s less weight to carry, and they are much easier to get in and out of busy places.

Overall, I was really impressed with the OneMo 25L backpack, and it will be a welcome addition to my set of camera bags.

Note: The author was given the bag for free for this OneMo 25L Backpack review. He was not paid or given any incentives in exchange for a positive review. This review is an honest account of his experience and opinion in using the product.

You may also be interested in:

Peak Design Everyday Backpack Zip Review
Gear review: 3 K&F Concept Camera Bags Put To The Test
ThinkTank Vision 15 Camera Bag Review

The post Pgytech OneMo 25L Backpack Review appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Kav Dadfar.

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Peak Design Everyday Backpack Zip Review

14 May

The post Peak Design Everyday Backpack Zip Review appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Suzi Pratt.

In October 2016, Peak Design released the Everyday Backpack, a pack that has become iconic and ubiquitous among photographers and non-photographers alike. You might recognize this bag by the MagLatch and unique design that doesn’t scream, “I’m carrying tons of expensive camera gear!” Three years later, Peak Design updated its Everyday Bags to V2, and added brand new bags to the line including the Everyday Zip. In this Peak Design Everyday Backpack Zip review, I’ll discuss some of the unique features of this bag and who this bag is for.

peak design everyday backpack zip review - front view of backpack — The all-new Peak Design Everyday Backpack Zip (20L). 1/125, f/7.1, ISO 500.

Everyday Zip 20L specs

Even though its formal name is the Peak Design Everyday Backpack Zip V2, this is the very first iteration of this backpack design. Its design borrows heavily from the original Everyday Backpack, but there are a couple of key differences. First, the Everyday Zip is only available in 20-liter or 15-liter versions, while the Everyday Backpack can be either 20 liters or 30 liters. This review is of the 20-liter version of the Everyday Zip. Second, the Everyday Zip does not have the MagLatch and instead is secured via the wrap-around zippers.

Weight: 2.91 lbs (1.3 kg) without dividers, or 3.42 lbs (1.55 kg) with dividers
Maximum laptop carry: 38.1cm x 25.4cm x 2.5cm (15″x10″x1″) – Holds 15/16” Macbook Pro
Maximum tablet carry: 30.6cm x 22.1cm x .7 cm (12″ x 8.69″ x 0.27″) – Holds 12.9″ iPad Pro
External dimensions: 48cm x 31.5cm x 23.5cm (18.9” x 12.4″ x 9.3″)
Internal dimensions: 45cm x 28.5cm x 20cm (17.7” x 11.2″ x 7.9″)

peak design everyday backpack zip review - comparison of V1 and V2 — Peak Design Everyday Backpack V1 (left) and Everyday Backpack Zip (right). 1/125, f/7.1, ISO 500.

What’s new?

If you’re familiar with the Everyday Bags V1, here are some of the V2 changes:

More streamlined seams and rounder profiles.
Softer, more comfortable bag straps.
New UltraZips that are 20x stronger than standard zips.
Sleeker and more ergonomic MagLatch (on applicable bags).
New colors (navy and cream) and two new bags: Everday Backpack Zip and Tote.

Who is this bag for?

I originally purchased the Everyday Backpack V1 (20L) as a daypack for shooting and working in the city. The features that most appealed to me was the ability to carry my full-frame DSLR camera, 2 lenses, and flash, plus my 15-inch MacBook Pro in a low-profile bag to fit my 5’2″ frame.

Many other camera backpacks out there are either too big and bulky or have an outdoorsy design that doesn’t fit well in corporate photography settings, which is where I often find myself. I also appreciated the fact that the bag dividers are not specific to camera gear and you can even remove them if you want to use the backpack for non-photography purposes.

If you can relate to my situation above, then the Everyday Backpack might be right for you.

peak design everyday backpack zip review - contents that fit inside the backpack — Contents that can fit inside of the Peak Design Everyday Backpack V1 and Everyday Backpack Zip (20L). 1/280, f/4.5, ISO 2000.

Is the Everyday Zip better?

Throughout my 2 years of using the Everyday Backpack V1, the main thing that I disliked about it was also its main selling point: the MagLatch.

It gives the bag a unique look and makes it very easy to access the top portion of the bag, but it was not possible to lock or secure. In many of my photography settings (corporate events), I empty my camera bag of most of its contents and walk around to shoot, while leaving the bag in a semi-secure area. Oftentimes, my laptop and a spare lens are in the bag, and it is unnerving to leave the bag unlocked. While I haven’t had the bag or its contents stolen before, I am often pushing my luck.

My hope with the Everyday Zip was that all of the big compartments could be locked and secured. While it takes a little DIY work to secure the 5 zippers on this bag, it does indeed live up to this standard.

Other positive points

Another great feature of the Everyday Backpacks is that you can access your camera gear (or chosen contents) via the side zippers. This means you don’t have to empty the entire contents of your bag to reach things sitting on the bottom.

Given the wrap-around zipper on the Everyday Zip, side access requires a bit more attention to detail to avoid accidentally opening your entire bag, but it is still a nice feature.

The Everyday Zip also has side pockets for stowing things like a small tripod, monopod, water bottle, etc, and a back panel for easily attaching the bag to a rolling suitcase.

There are also straps for attaching a tripod or large item to the outside of the bag, but I always find that a cumbersome and impractical way to carry a tripod.

Another selling point of the Everyday Backpacks is their ability to carry a 15″ or 16″ laptop, or so Peak Design claims. A lot of modern bags have sized down and only carry 13″ laptops or tablets. On the Everyday Zip, my 15″ MacBook Pro from 2015 fits, but it is very tight and leaves no room for adding anything else to that pocket, even though there are dividers for adding other items such as documents.

Modern laptops are getting thinner and will likely fit more easily, but be wary if you have an older computer.

The final selling point of this bag and Peak Design products in general is the overall aesthetic and attention to detail. This is a really unique and modern-looking bag with tons of storage pockets throughout. Peak Design values not wasting any space and that rings true for the Everyday Backpack Zip. It’s easy to pack this bag full and not have any loose space anywhere.

However, the maximization of space comes at a cost, which echoes my original complaints about the Everyday Backpack V1.

When filled with heavy contents, this definitely is not the most comfortable backpack out there. Sure, the bag has sternum and waist straps to distribute the weight more ergonomically, and the shoulder straps are noticeably more padded.

But the comfort problem stems from the ultra-stiff back padding, which seems to be there to allow the bag to attach to rolling luggage. This is indeed helpful if you travel a lot, and is a feature lacking on my favorite large camera backpack. But in general, this bag still feels like a pair of stilettos – you sacrifice some comfort for the sake of fashion.

Let’s end this on a positive note by talking about the real reason why I’m sticking to Peak Design: there’s a lifetime warranty on all of their products.

My Everyday Backpack V1 was a trooper for 2 years, but the zipper came apart recently, rendering the bag useless. Upon realizing there was a lifetime warranty, I contacted Peak Design via their website, and within days organized for a replacement bag to be sent my way.

I could not arrange for a new style of bag as the replacement and paid for the Everyday Zip out of my pocket. I still have a brand new version of my old bag that I can give away or sell, and I know that my Everyday Zip is covered under a similar warranty.

Conclusion

If you’re looking for a sleek, modern backpack to hold light camera gear and a laptop, this might be the camera bag for you. Because this bag is uniquely structured when compared to other camera backpacks on the market, it can take some time to get used to if you’re new to Peak Design backpacks.

Given its compact size, thorough utilization of space, and that lifetime warranty, this is a great bag to consider. It’s not perfect, but then again, what bag is?

The post Peak Design Everyday Backpack Zip Review appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Suzi Pratt.

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Hands-on with the Peak Design Everyday Backpack V2

25 Nov

Hands-on with the Peak Design Everyday Backpack V2

Peak Design has updated the entire Everyday line of camera bags and we got early access to the new Everyday Backpack V2 (20L). Of all the bags in PD’s Everyday line, we’re told the original Everyday backpack is by far the most popular – it’s a bag we thoroughly enjoyed using when we reviewed it and a pack that several of us on staff own personally.

Version 2 brings about several small, yet meaningful changes including stronger zippers, a new shape (that’s less likely to fall over), more comfortable straps and updated hardware. Keep reading for all the details.

New shape

The Everyday Backpack V2 (right) has a slightly more rounded shape than the original backpack (left). It also leans forward less when placed on the ground making it less likely to fall over, a common annoyance associated with the original model.

Peak Design also redesigned the bag to include fewer noticeable seams. It’s hard to tell in the image above, but less exposed seams means less places water or dirt could penetrate. The bag is also slightly lighter than the original by about 150 grams (5.3 oz).

New zippers

Every exterior zipper on the bag has been redesigned. We’re told zipper failure is the most common ‘end of life’ point for most PD bags, so the brand decided to create a better zipper. To do this, they partnered with company Zoom zippers to develop the proprietary ‘UltraZip’.

According the Peak Design, ‘UltraZips use Ultra-High Molecular-Weight Thermoplastic thread to bind the zipper coil to fabric tape. This increases zipper strength 20x compared to standard, out of the box zippers from YKK.’

Having dealt with blown zippers on first generation Peak Design bags, we really appreciate the effort the brand has put into solving this all-too-common problem. Less blown zippers are good for everyone: the customer (less annoyance), the brand (less repairs) and the environment (less bags that could ultimately end up in the trash).

Redesigned straps

The straps on the new Everyday Backpack have also received a slight redesign. Additional foam has been added and the shape has been adjusted to better contour to the body. These are small changes but they add up to a bag that’s a bit more comfortable to carry.

Another nice update is the addition of magnets in each strap that allow them to attach to the back of the bag when not in use. This is especially handy for keeping them out of the way if you’re using the luggage pass-though.

New interior pockets

First generation Peak Design Everyday backpacks offered one big zipping pocket on either interior flap with organizational pockets inside. The new version instead offers a lower zippered pocket (still with organizational pockets within) and an upper pocket that closes magnetically. Opinions on staff were mixed about whether we’d prefer a single pocket or two separate ones, but everyone agreed the magnetic closure is slick.

Updated magnetic latch

We’ve long been big fans of Peak Design’s ‘Maglatch’ – it allows storage to expand or contract as needed with four points to latch to. On V2 the latch itself has been slightly redesigned to be sleeker and easier to open with one hand. The design also makes it possible to open the bag silently if needed.

Redesigned expansion straps

In general, all of the hardware on the backpack has gone through a redesign including the hooks on the external carrying straps. These straps are tucked inside the bag but can be deployed as needed to attach stuff like a jacket or sleeping bag. The new hooks on these straps are easier to engage with the anchor loops compared to the old ones.

Speaking of anchor loops, they’ve also been redesigned to be more low profile. Additionally, Peak Design has added more of them throughout the bag, further expanding its carrying capability.

Weatherproofed exterior

Weatherproofing is not new to the Everyday line. In fact one of the reasons we love these bags is they can survive rainy Seattle winters without a rain cover. The exterior is made of 100% recycled* 400D nylon that’s double poly-coated to repel water. So rain or shine, your stuff stays dry.

*The black bag is not made of recycled materials, all other colors are.

Flex-fold dividers and laptop storage

Anyone familiar with Peak Design bags is familiar with the company’s unique ‘Flex-Fold’ dividers. These inserts can be bent and contoured in various ways to accommodate a wide variety of gear. Here’s a video to better explain them. The Everyday bag 20L ships with three.

And like the original Everyday backpack, a zippered compartment in the back provides space for a laptop. This compartment offers two sections with varying depths for either a 15-inch or a 13-inch computer, ensuring regardless of your laptop’s size, it’ll be at your fingertips when you unzip (unless of course it’s an 11-inch).

Availability and price

Peak Design’s new Everyday Backpack V2 is available now in Black (shown here), Tan, Ash, Charcoal as well as new color: Midnight Navy. The 20L is $ 259.95 and 30L is $ 289.95. For more info head to PeakDesign.com.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

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Think Tank launches MindShift BackLight Elite 45L backpack for outdoor photographers

01 May

Think Tank Photo has launched the new MindShift BackLight Elite 45L backpack for outdoor photographers. As its name suggests, the new BackLight bag features a 45-liter capacity; there’s space for both camera gear and a 17″ laptop and 10″ tablet. The backpack’s exterior includes attachment points for additional gear, including axes, skis or a snowboard, tripod, and ropes.

The BackLight Elite 45L is constructed from 420D rip-stop nylon (external) and 200D polyester (internal), as well as high-performance Sailcloth, 350G and honeycomb airmesh, nylon webbing, YKK AquaGuard zippers, and more. Think Tank describes the backpack as ‘storm-resistant.’

Features include an internal aluminum frame, lumbar padding, waist belt, foam ventilation ridges, and a quick-dry back panel. The BackLight Elite likewise sports a waterproof heavy-duty tarpaulin base, space for a hydration reservoir, back and top panel access, two water bottle pockets, and front pockets offering a total of 17 liters of space.

The company provides the following examples of possible gear packs that the backpack can accommodate:

Nikon D3S attached to 70–200mm f/2.8, SB-910 Speedlight, 105mm f/2.8 Macro, Sigma 35mm f/1.4 ART, 50 f/1.4, Filter Nest Mini, 24–70mm f/2.8, 14–24mm f/2.8
Canon 1DX attached to 70–200mm f/2.8, GoPro Hero 5, DJI Mavic Pro, Mavic Controller, 24–70mm f/2.8, 16–35mm f/2.8, 90mm f/2.8 TS-E
Sony A7R II attached to 24–70mm f/2.8 GM, GoPro Hero 5, DJI Mavic Pro, Mavic Controller, Filter Nest Mini, A7R II attached to 16–35mm f/4
Holds a gripped Nikon DSLR and a 600mm f/4 FL ED VR 70–200mm f/2.8 GM, 90mm f/2.8 Macro
Canon 1DX attached to 24–70mm f/2.8, GoPro Hero 5, 85mm f/1.8, 90mm f/2.8 TS-E, 1DX attached to 16–35mm f/2.8, 70–200mm f/2.8, 2x Teleconverter
Nikon D3S attached to Sigma 150–600mm f/5-6.3 Sport, SB-910 Speedlight

The BackLight Elite 45L backpack is available from Think Tank Photo now for $ 399.99 USD.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

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ThinkTank launches PhotoCross 15 rugged backpack

16 Apr

ThinkTank has announced the MindShift PhotoCross 15, a new rugged 20-litre backpack designed for toting photography gear around outdoors. The bag features an extra-large side panel alongside tripod straps, wide shoulder straps, a breathable 320G air-mesh back panel, customizable interior dividers and a seam-sealed rain cover.

The PhotoCross 15 is made with a variety of durable, weather-resistant external materials, including 420D high-density nylon and heavy-duty nylon Tarpaulin. The backpack’s interior features removable closed-cell foam dividers, as well as a polyurethane-backed velex liner, P210D liner and a polyurethane-coated 210T seal-sealed taffeta rain cover.

ThinkTank’s new bag can accommodate an ungripped DSLR with three to five lenses (including a 70-200mm F2.8 lens) and up to a 15-inch laptop. Zippered interior pockets can be used to store memory cards, spare batteries and other small accessories. Other features include a 1L water bottle pocket, front pockets and both top and side carrying handles.

The ThinkTank PhotoCross Backpack 15 retails for $ 169.99 USD in Carbon Grey and Orange Ember color options. This model joins the smaller PhotoCross 10 and 13 backpacks.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

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Review: Langly Alpha Globetrotter Backpack is more style than substance

26 Mar

Langly Alpha Globetrotter backpack
$ 249 | Langly.co

Langly’s Alpha Globetrotter Backpack.

It seems that nostalgia for classic designs continues to be an obsession in the photography world and beyond. Cameras like the Nikon Df and much of Fujifilm’s X Series exemplify this. It’s no surprise that this same retro-ism has found its way to camera accessories – a perfect example of this is Langly’s Alpha Globetrotter backpack (hereafter referred to as “The Alpha”)

The Alpha is a bit like if your average front-loading Lowepro backpack had a baby with a classicly-designed Fjallraven backpack – and this cross-over comes with a high price tag. You can pick Forest Green for $ 249 or Slate Black with either Brown or Black leather trim options for $ 269.

Key specifications:

Dimensions: 18 x 14 x 8in /45 x 29.5 x 20cm
Weight: 4lbs / 1814g
Water resistant, TPU-coated canvas exterior
Waterproof zippers
15in Laptop Sleeve
Gear storage for DSLR body and 3-5 lenses (lens size dependent)
3 exterior pockets with pin-buckle snap closures
Tripod holding straps on bottom of bag

Compared to Other Bags

The Alpha’s price tag puts it in the same bracket as bags like Peak Design’s Everyday Backpack and Mindshift’s Backlight and Firstlight. Both of Mindshift’s bags carry a good deal more gear and have more of an outdoor focus. Despite Langly’s outdoor-focused aesthetic, Mindshift’s bags win in this category due to similar levels of weather-resistant materials and a harness design more akin to hiking backpacks, including padded hip straps. That said, neither of Mindshift’s bags have very solid compartment sections for everyday items.

Alpha’s style is really what’s going to separate it from other bags

The Alpha’s style is really what’s going to separate it from other bags. Classic and retro are the ideas here; if that’s not your thing and you like a more technical/futuristic design, then look to Peak Design’s Everyday Backpack or Tenba’s DNA 15 Backpack. The Peak Design bag is essentially the same price and offers a bit more storage between its side panels and expandable top compartment. Meanwhile the Tenba also has an expandable top compartment, but like the Alpha has a front loading gear compartment and for only $ 199.

Design and Construction


The lower portion of the bag is the gear storage compartment, the upper portion is for personal items.	The Alpha’s straps are not as padded as we’d like to see in a premium backpack and hip straps offer no padding.

The Alpha looks a lot like Fjallraven’s bags, featuring a single color with a leather-like insignia. Its shape also resembles old hiking backpacks a bit. Make no mistake, it looks good. I actually got a compliment or two on the bag when I was out wearing it. Again, the style is definitely a huge selling point here.

I normally go for black in almost everything, but I enjoyed having something with a solid earth tone like the Alpha’s forest green.

The TPU-coated canvas exterior feels sturdy and truly weather-resistant. A flap over the top compartment provides an additional barrier to keep water out, though it feels somewhat redundant. The two main zippers (one for the gear compartment and one for the top compartment) are weatherproof, while all the other pockets are enclosed with a pin-buckle system.

The Alpha’s pin-buckles snap and lock into place, securing the flaps they’re attached to.

The weather-proofing is definitely welcome but while Langly advertises itself as an outdoor-oriented brand, I’m a bit disappointed by the relatively simple nature of the Alpha’s harness system. The shoulder straps are only slightly-padded and the hip straps have no padding at all.

Another odd design choice here is the shoulder straps have plastic buckles you can undo, presumably for the purpose of storing them behind the large velcro strap in the middle of the back of the bag. There isn’t really any issue here but it seems weird that the shoulder straps are storable but the hip straps really aren’t.

Straps, everywhere.

The Alpha also features straps on the bottom to use as a tripod holder (or to hold a sleeping bag – though I’d be surprised if anyone was taking this on extended hiking adventures). They’re definitely useful for their intended function, but with all the other straps for the harness, plus the straps used for the pin-buckles, the Alpha feels way too ‘strappy’ for my taste. Some people like to have a lot of stuff dangling from their bags and that’s fine, but I found it to be distracting and annoying more than anything else.


My basic organization for the gear compartment allowed me to fit a DSLR, four lenses and a flash.	The Alpha includes 6 dividers in 3 different sizes. You likely won’t need them all at once.

The gear compartment also feels sturdy and the included dividers do their job. There’s not much to note here other than the fact that the dividers don’t come installed in any way. If you really like a blank slate to start from you might appreciate this but I definitely prefer to have some kind of organization in place that I can build from, mainly because I found getting the dividers to fit was just kind of a hassle. That said, once they were in there they feel snug and secure.

In use

Despite my gripes with the design of the Alpha, I enjoyed using it. Everything felt secure, the zippers were fairly smooth, and I was able to carry a pretty solid kit plus a book, some snacks, an extra sweater, etc. I was convinced I would hate the pin-buckles but actually found them super satisfying to use and had confidence in their staying locked.

I found the weatherproof zipper plus double pin-buckles for the top compartment flap to be a bit confusing. It works just fine and protects everything but the flap just feels unnecessary. It’s made of the same weatherproof material that’s underneath, so other than giving the zipper a bit of added protection it’s just added weight and bulk.

Comfort-wise, I felt good about wearing this bag for a bit, but I doubt it would be all that fun to lug on a hike

The top flap also makes me think that the top compartment would be expandable, but because of the zipper, it isn’t. Granted, it is plenty big for carrying your everyday essentials, so no complaint in terms of size. I’m just hung up on some of these odd design choices that feel counter-intuitive to what Langly seems to be aiming to accomplish with its bags.

The non-expandable side pockets are my least favorite aspect of The Alpha.

Comfort-wise, I felt good about wearing this bag for a bit, but I doubt it would be all that fun to lug on a hike. While Langly is clearly trying to carve out an audience in the outdoor photography community, the Alpha feels pretty lacking when it comes to the sorts of things I’d expect to see in a hiking/shooting backpack.

The only thing about the Alpha I strongly dislike is the design of the side pockets – they’re fine for carrying additional items that might not fit in the other compartments. But the flap flops about when using them to carry a water bottle – they’re also too snug to fit larger containers like a 32oz Nalgene. I definitely would have preferred an expandable mesh pocket or something similar with a breathable bottom.

Bottom line

To sum up the Alpha in a simple phrase, I’d choose: ‘style over substance’. This bag looks great and would feel extremely appropriate in any #PNW #GetOutside #Adventure -tagged Instagram post, but anyone that’s spent a lot of time in the outdoors would know that this bag isn’t really any better-suited for that sort of thing than most other camera bags. It feels like it was designed for people to look like they spend time outdoors, rather than being designed for anyone to actually spend time shooting the outdoors.

With that said, that’s not such a bad thing. If you’re into the style, it feels perfectly at home as an everyday shooting backpack to use in the city as well. It’s probably not applicable to anyone shooting real professional stuff (photojournalism, sports, weddings, etc) but for engagement sessions out in the park? Sure. Actor head-shots downtown? You bet. If you like the style of this bag and your gear-carrying needs are pretty straightforward, then it will probably suit you well.

If you’re into the style, it feels perfectly at home as an everyday shooting backpack for the city

The design flaws here aren’t really deal breakers, they just feel like crossed wires in regards to what’s important in a bag. Assuming you’re okay with ~$ 250 of ‘looks cool’ on your back, get it, but I would at least consider some of the other options listed above if you’re looking for something of a different style.

What we like:

Looks stylish
Sturdy and made from solid materials that feel truly weather-resistant
Lots of space to pack gear, personal items in main compartments

What we don’t:

Pricey
Minimal padding on shoulder straps
No padding on hip straps
Redundant design elements lead to bulk
No convenient way to carry a water bottle
Too many straps dangling about

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

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Review: Peak Design Travel Backpack 45L and ‘Packing Tools’ are pricey but versatile

01 Jan

Introduction

The Peak Design Travel Backpack 45L is the core item in the brand’s new travel line.

The Internet has been abuzz with excitement over Peak Design’s new travel-oriented bag line which revolves around a 45L carry-on-sized backpack and set of organizational ‘Packing Tools’. The system is for those who love Peak Design gear and want to travel with their camera gear and personal items packed into just one bag.

The system is for traveling with camera gear and personal items packed into just one bag

The Kickstarter for said line of bags launched in July and crossed the finish line with over 10 times its initial goal raised. In more direct numbers, that’s 5.2 million dollars raised, with an initial goal of $ 500,000. Wow.

The whole kit I tested: Travel Backpack 45L (right), Packing Cube (top-middle), Shoe Pouch (bottom-middle), Camera Cube (top-left), Tech Pouch (middle-left), Wash Pouch (bottom-left).

For the sake of this review I’ll be looking at the Travel Backpack 45L, on page one. On page two I’ll look at the rest of the system, including the Tech Pouch, Wash Pouch, Shoe Pouch, Rain Fly, Packing Cube (small), and Camera Cube (medium). Combined these items add up to $ 545.

It’s important to note this bag and its accessories should be viewed almost as a gear carrying ecosystem, not unlike owning a Macbook, iPhone, AirPods, etc. These products are designed to be used together, but I believe its important to remind both myself and anyone else interested in these bags you certainly can choose to use other brands alongside the different pieces of the Peak Design (PD) ecosystem. I’ll go in depth with the main bag, then share my notes on the each of the smaller items, and lastly return to how all of these things fit together.

Peak Design Travel Backpack 45L
$ 299.95| PeakDesign.com

The most important part of the Travel Line is the backpack itself. It’s big, sleek, and surprisingly boxy, though I’ll get to why that’s not such a bad thing later. As mentioned, this bag is oriented towards travelers, photographers, videographers and anyone in between. It blends some design principles of a traditional ‘backpacking’ bag with the sensibilities of a camera luggage bag, sans-wheels.

Specifications

Carrying Capacity: 30L – 45L
Height: 56 cm (22″)
Width: 33 cm (13″)
Depth: 23 – 29 cm (9″ -11″)
Weight: 2.05kg (4.52lb)
Back panel and dual side loading/access
2 Expandable side pockets with drainage holes
Front access organization panel with 5 zippered compartments
Passport/travel document pocket in back panel
Laptop/Tablet sleeve in back panel interior, fits 15″ laptop
Storable hip and shoulder straps
12 gear attachment loops across bag
400D weatherproof, 100% recycled nylon canvas outer shell
900D weatherproof bottom liner
Durable water repellent, polyurethane coated interior
Weatherproof zippers for back, front and side panels
Padded ultralight foam around entire bag

Compared to other bags

There aren’t a lot of direct competitors to the Travel Backpack, but two that comes to mind are Osprey’s Porter 46 Travel Pack and Mind Shift’s Firstlight 40L. These two bags represent the different focuses that Peak Design is trying to blend: a long distance travel backpack (Osprey) and a camera gear bag (Mind Shift).

The Porter is nearly identical in size, fits many of the same things and weighs only 1.5kg, or .5kg less than the Peak Design – it also costs $ 140, less than half of Peak Design’s $ 300 price tag. That being said, the Porter doesn’t have quite the gear readiness of Peak Design’s bag and is also missing the 900D bottom liner, though it does boast 420D weatherproof nylon, as opposed to PD’s 400D.

Peak Design’s Travel Backpack 45L packed with the Camera Cube (medium)

Meanwhile, the Firstlight has 5L less carrying capacity and an interior depth of 18.5cm compared to PD’s 23cm at the low end. The Firstlight also costs $ 330, $ 30 more than Peak Design but the key difference here is that the Firstlight comes readily equipped with padded dividers in the main compartment of the bag – not the case with the PD option. With the Firstlight you lose some of the flexibility and travel-focus of Peak Design’s bag, but you actually end up spending less in the long run if what you’re looking for is a gear-focused bag.

Design and construction

This bag really surprised me out of the gate. Design-wise, it boasts a simple facade that has all kinds of pockets, straps, and secret stash areas. The boxiness of the bag seems like a departure from Peak Design’s more angular, triangle-based design you see in the Messenger and Everyday Backpack. This bag doesn’t ask for attention in its appearance.

The Travel Backpack has a simple design with little flashiness.

In the Black version (tested here), everything blends together seamlessly. None of the straps, loops, or zippers call attention to themselves and everything has a James Bond-esque coolness to it. The Sage color also looks classy.

Nothing feels flimsy and all the zippers are smooth. Every strap feels like it belongs and helps the user carry the bag in whatever method is most convenient in the moment. I particularly appreciate the addition of the duffel-style strap in the center of the back panel. I’m a huge fan of Peak Design’s padded handles on both the tops and sides of their bags so to see another one in another place I didn’t realize I wanted it until I had it is a joy.

Back of the Travel Backpack 45L, note the duffel handle in the middle

I think the area that Peak Design seems to excel the most is producing bags that feel sturdy and warrant the trust we give them with our gear. Another stellar addition here is the 900D weatherproof bottom liner, something you rarely even see in more outdoor-oriented bags.

The only design flaw that really stands out to me is the hip straps’ locking mechanism feels particularly unfamiliar. I like that Peak Design chooses to use hard metal joiners, like for the sternum strap, but for me I would’ve been perfectly happy with a hard plastic buckle.


Hip Strap	Sternum Strap

In Use

I actually found this bag to be much more comfortable on my shoulders than my backpacking bag from REI. The hip straps aren’t quite as load-bearing, though I still find they take some of the weight off my shoulders and I think part of this is to do with the fact that a) I’m skinny, and b) the metal hook used to secure the hip straps doesn’t have quite the same tension as a buckle.

That said, the magnetic latches that allow you to store the hip straps in the back panel are super helpful for keeping things streamlined without a bunch of straps flapping in the wind when you’re moving around. And yes, this bag weighs more than others, I didn’t find it to be excessively heavy but ultimately that’s going to depend on how you pack it.

Strap storage, brought to you by: magnets!

I first used this bag (along with the medium sized camera cube) like a gear suitcase traveling from Seattle to Portland to shoot a wedding and found it more than adequate for moving my equipment in a safe, comfortable manner.

I later used it without the camera cube as my main pack to travel around Europe for a few weeks and it was also pretty great. I opted to keep all my clothes and miscellaneous belongings in the main backpack and then carried Peak Design’s 10L Sling separately to keep my camera, extra lenses, journal, Kindle, etc. protected. Although it’s not really possible with the 10L Sling, Peak Design’s 5L sling can fit inside the Travel Backpack no problem, though you won’t have the same side panel access you could have with the camera cubes.

There are a lot of features packed into this bag and they take time to learn

The compression down to 30L is nice for those who want to use it, but I found the bag still felt too large for use as a ‘day pack’, even compressed down. The compression is achieved by folding two buttons on the top of the bag back onto their button counterparts, making the bag more angled down its face. There are a lot of features packed into this bag and honestly one of the biggest hindrances of enjoying them is they take time to learn. I’d highly recommend anyone interested in using using this pack for extended travel consider taking it out on a short weekend excursion first to learn some of the ins and outs. I didn’t initially realize that the front zipper panel with 4 zipper pockets could actually be rolled up and stowed for a more simple 1 compartment approach (see below).

My biggest usage gripe with the bag (which also extends to Peak Design’s Everyday Backpack) is that the side pockets really don’t expand much and can only fit some pretty small things. My 32oz Nalgene bottle for example, had to be attached on one of the gear loops because it didn’t fit in the side pockets. My guess is that this tightness is based around keeping things like tripods snug against the side of the bag. On the other hand one thing I like most about this bag is it stands upright on its own, unlike some of Peak Design’s other packs.

The pocketed divider can be stowed to create one big main pocket with immediate front access.

Conclusion: Peak Design Travel Backpack 45L

Overall, I really enjoy using this bag and think I’ll be relying on it more to come in the future. The build quality is stellar, it’s stylish but subdued and it offers a lot of possibilities in terms of approaching how you carry all your stuff with you.

On it’s own this backpack offers a really awesome option for traveling light. It can fit enough to live out of, but doesn’t make you feel like a turtle. The sturdy design of the bag gives buyers a chance to manipulate the space within it as effectively as possible, unlike other backpacking bags that require you to stuff things in from the top down.

What we like:

Stylish design
Lots of space and versatility
Comfortable fit
Packed with tons of features
Durable and naturally protective

What we don’t:

Too large for daypack use
Pricey
Features can be overwhelming at first
Small side pockets

Peak Design Travel Backpack 45L rating:

Head to page 2 for a breakdown of the rest of Peak Design’s Packing Tools and our overall conclusion.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

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Shimoda unveils Explore 30 multi-use backpack for DSLR and mirrorless cameras

06 Nov

Shimoda has launched its new Explore 30 Daypack, a multi-use backpack for photographers, filmmakers, and others. The bag features the same gear carrying capacity as the original Explore 40 pack despite a shorter profile, according to the company. As well, the Explore 30 backpack has a new removable belt system and the ability to use Shimoda’s lineup of Core Units, the modular storage compartments that house camera gear.

The Shimoda Explore 30 features a main compartment that is accessible while carrying the bag, as well as a wrap-around zippered opening for access while the bag is positioned facing the wearer. The backpack has a dedicated zippered smartphone pocket, stretchable side pocket, padded shoulder straps, a removable waist belt, and a top carrying handle.

The Explore 30 is weather-resistant and can be used with a separate rain cover for additional protection. Photographers can utilize the Mirrorless Medium Core unit for transporting mirrorless and rangefinder cameras and lenses, or the Large DSLR Core Unit for transporting longer telephoto lenses and DSLRs.

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Accessory webbing straps enable users to attach accessories to the bag’s front and side panels; there’s also a multi-use accessory pouch that can be used with the webbing straps to transport larger items, such as a tripod. Shimoda is also offering a multi-section SD card wallet, a divider kit for the DSLR Core Unit, a Belt Booster that transfers some pack weight to the wearer’s waist, three mesh Stuff Sacks, and extra webbing straps with gate hooks.

The Shimoda Explore 30 backpack is available to preorder from B&H Photo and Adorama for $ 259.95 USD.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

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Hex releases new camera backpack and sling as part of its 2018 Ranger Collection

12 Oct

Bag and accessory manufacturer Hex has shared its latest pair of bags as part of its 2018 lineup, the Ranger Collection. The collection consists of a clamshell backpack and a sling backpack that are “designed to be discrete and street-ready for the modern photographer.”

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The Clamshell Backpack is constructed of water-resistant 500D Cordura nylon and uses what Hex says is a patent-pending clamshell design. It features a typical internal foam divider system that can be arranged to fit your equipment and uses YKK zippers with metal pulls to access the compartments.

According to Hex, you can expect to fit one or two DSLRs and a few lenses, ranging from small primes to telephoto zoom lenses. There are also dedicated pockets for your phone and laptops up to 15 inches. A hidden rain cover is also included for when the weather takes a turn for the worst.

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Like the Clamshell Backpack, the DSLR Sling is constructed of water-resistant 500D Cordura nylon and YKK zippers with custom metal pulls. One of the most interesting details about the DSLR Sling is its ability to pack down flat when the bottom panel is removed, making it easier to travel with as an auxiliary bag.

The DSLR Sling can carry a non-gripped camera body and a lens or two, depending on what glass you’re using. It’s not large enough to fit a laptop, but there are dedicated faux-fur lined pockets for smartphones and even smaller tablets.

The Hex Clamshell Backpack and DSLR Sling are available through Hex’s online shop. They retail for $ 199.95 and $ 99.95, respectively. Both bags come in black and camo colorways.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

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Review: Evecase Canvas DSLR Backpack

10 Oct

Awesome highlights of this wild career: taking photographs, hanging out with cool clients, and producing stunning imagery.

The not-so-fun part: transporting all the cameras, lenses and bits and bobs we need from point A to point B.

If you’re like me, you know that being able to carry all of our must-haves comfortably can make or break the work day. I’m always looking for better ways to lug my gear. So when I came across the Evecase Canvas DSLR Backpack I had to try it out.

The Evecase Canvas DSLR Backpack

Before we get into my opinion of this strappy carrying device, let’s take a moment to discuss what this backpack is about. According to Evecase it “features a customizable interior which can hold camera bod and 2-5 lenses, a laptop compartment that holds a 14-inch laptop, Chromebook or tablet, plenty of pockets, pouches and spaces for jackets, books, a tripod and other accessories. Rain or shine, wet or dry, the removable rain cover will give your backpack the best protection. Fashionable canvas design with discreet look that won’t stand out as camera backpack.”

According to Evecase, the highlights include an easy-to-access camera compartment, discreet instant laptop access, and extended top storage. There are a slew of accessory pockets, tripod holder straps, stowaway side pockets and ergonomic shoulder straps.

Appearance

I won’t lie. The appearance of this canvas backpack is what piqued my interest in the first place. I always gravitate towards cases that don’t scream “Expensive camera equipment stored in here”, and this backpack is certainly inconspicuous enough.

This product is 15 x 12.5 x 7 inches , with the camera compartment being 9.6 x 11 x 4 inches.

The canvas fabric material has a subtle texture to it and is a rather pretty grey. The material is waterproof and weatherproof. (Well, generally. But it also comes with a waterproof case.) It looks like something you’d take on a camping trip or backpacking across Europe. The details are all black, and the color scheme can easily match whatever your style is. Much of my carrying devices and storage units are grey. (I like having all of my products match one another.)

The front of the backpack features a multitude of pockets and flaps, with bottle or beverage pockets that can be stowed away discreetly when not in use. The inside is lined with a light, slate grey that has a bit of a blue tint to it.

The backpack has a bit of weight when empty, but not enough to concern me.

Build Quality

The build quality is where other people’s reviews on this product get a little shifty. I’ve read many claims of it ripping at the seams or being rather fragile. But having used this Evecase product rigorously for more than a month, I haven’t experienced it myself.

The photography I do involves a lot of wear and tear on whatever I have with me. I photograph canine sports, exotic animals and live concerts. My daily dose of damage can include anything from animals biting my bags to a rowdy crowd unintentionally tearing at my stuff. After being put through the wringer for more than 30 days, this bag has managed to survive with almost no visible damage.

Even when it’s fully packed, I haven’t experience any ripping, tearing, or deformity of the compartments due to the weight. I even took it for a spin at the beach (being from California and all), and neither sand nor salty water caused much of an issue. Based on my experiences alone, I’d consider the build quality on this backpack to be great.

That being said, as with any product you own a bit of TLC goes a very long way in ensuring its longevity. I have weekly cleaning where I perform cleaning and basic maintenance on of my work gear. And backpacks, cases and other carrying devices are no exception.

Comfort

The main criteria for whether or not a backpack, sling, or any carrying device stays is comfort. After dueling against several alternatives, the Evecase Canvas DSLR Backpack is definitely staying.

I’ve worn this backpack fully stocked with supplies for around six hours, and suffered no significant discomfort or additional pain normally associated with carrying weight for such a long time. This being said, I feel the size of this backpack and where it suits my height (5’ 5”) brilliantly. Taller people may have an issue simply there’s no real way to adjust where this backpack sits. It would also be nice to have have more padding on the shoulder straps. I think I’ll eventually mod the straps and add more padding, but if it came with some initially it would be even more rad.

As for ease of access, I like the solid build of the camera compartment. I can easily balance the backpack on my knee as a table to help switch lenses or attach something to my rig. There’s a wonderful side pocket I can pull my laptop out of if I don’t feel like opening the top and reaching the computer from there. All of the small bits and bobs I might need are also easily accessible due to the various pockets on the front of the backpack, and the beverage pockets are also within a comfortable reach.

Storage

This backpack features plenty of storage for everything I could possibly need. Of my kit, at maximum, I can fit:

either:
- three lenses (Canon 16-35mm F/2.8L USM II, Canon 50mm f/1.2L USM, and Canon 24-70mm F/2.8L USM II) and a camera body (Canon EOS 5D Mark IV)
- two camera bodies (Canon EOS 5D Mark IV and Canon EOS 5D Mark II) and two lenses (Canon 50mm f/1.2L USM and Canon 24-70mm F/2.8L USM II)
my 13.5” laptop with its case on and a laptop charger
two variable ND filters
camera batteries
chargers
cards
lens cleaning kit
roll of tape
scissors
notebook
pens
contract / liability waivers / model release forms / non-disclosure documents
card reader
metal case of business cards
tripod
cellophane gel kit
my personal belongings (cell phone, portable cell battery, wallet, car keys, jacket, deodorant, makeup)
two water bottles
snacks.

That being said, a couple of the pockets in the front are a bit odd in the sense that I would have gone for something different. The size of the two small pockets in front of the camera compartment are a bit strange. The dividers inside them are a bit too large for some of the smaller electronics I’d put there, but too small for anything larger. I’d prefer them to mimic the one long pocket at the top of the backpack, as I currently have to dig deep into the dividers to pull out the small components I need to use. A couple of the flaps could make excellent pockets for paperwork or business cards, but instead they sit there as decorative elements.

Padding

The backpack features an acceptable amount of padding in both the camera and laptop sections. The camera section had significantly more padding than the laptop slot, and so I often store my laptop in its compartment with a secondary case already on it. Fortunately a secondary case fits just fine. The camera compartment includes your run-of-the-mill customizable dividers, so you can arrange that area to suit your needs.

Pros

Aesthetic and style
Not bulky
Comfortable straps
Plenty of storage space
Easy camera and laptop access
Waterproof case is a nice touch

Cons

Lack of confident padding in the laptop compartment
Some of the outer pockets are odd
Needs a better way of hiding tripod straps when not in use
Needs more buttons to the main compartment to customize size better
Forget about putting in a DSLR with the grip attached
Needs more padding on shoulder straps if you pack heavy

In conclusion, for between $ 40 and $ 60 on Amazon.com this backpack gives you a decent bang for your buck. I quite like it, and still get tremendous use out of it.

The post Review: Evecase Canvas DSLR Backpack appeared first on Digital Photography School.

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Posts Tagged ‘Backpack’

OneMo 25L Backpack Review: bag specifications

Initial thoughts

Who’s it for

In the field

Cool features

Pros and cons

Conclusion

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Everyday Zip 20L specs

What’s new?

Who is this bag for?

Is the Everyday Zip better?

Other positive points

Conclusion

Hands-on with the Peak Design Everyday Backpack V2

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Redesigned straps

New interior pockets

Updated magnetic latch

Redesigned expansion straps

Weatherproofed exterior

Flex-fold dividers and laptop storage

Availability and price

Langly Alpha Globetrotter backpack$ 249 | Langly.co

Key specifications:

Compared to Other Bags

Design and Construction

In use

Bottom line

What we like:

What we don’t:

Introduction

Peak Design Travel Backpack 45L$ 299.95| PeakDesign.com

Specifications

Compared to other bags

Design and construction

In Use

Conclusion: Peak Design Travel Backpack 45L

What we like:

What we don’t:

Peak Design Travel Backpack 45L rating:

The Evecase Canvas DSLR Backpack

Appearance

Build Quality

Comfort

Storage

Padding

Pros

Cons

Langly Alpha Globetrotter backpack
$ 249 | Langly.co

Peak Design Travel Backpack 45L
$ 299.95| PeakDesign.com