Camera Shoulder Bags, Backpacks, Waist Systems, Sling Packs - 2008 Roundup . . . Update

In our Photography & Video Shoulder Bags, Sling Packs, Backpacks, Waist Belt Systems and Rolling Bags 2008 Product Roundup Review earlier this month we mentioned that we'd keep our eyes open for more good products. Two makers made themselves known right away. Tough Traveler has been in business for many years. The company is based in Schenectady, New York and does all it's design and manufacturing there. Quality, materials and design work are excellent. We're most interested in their small range of camera and video bags, but Tough Traveler also makes an extensive line of bags for travel, backpacking and many other needs. Boda Bag is another U.S. maker that emphasizes quality and usability over all other concerns. Quality, design and materials are excellent. Based in Seattle, Washington, Boda Bag produces a small line of lens carry systems complete with waist belt, shoulder belt and size choices. It's all serious looking stuff that is highly regarded by pro photographers.

Camera Shoulder Bags, Backpacks, Waist Systems, Sling Packs - 2008 Roundup

Everybody owns a digital camera (point & shoot, SLR, camcorder or what-have-you). So it stands to reason that everybody needs a decent camera bag of some sort. We decided that a little research was in order (and besides, our previous list is two years old). We found that a few manufacturers have changed their lines dramatically, a few have built on strengths, and a few new ones have appeared. This time we've added some video bags too. Herewith then, we present our comprehensive 2008 list of all the camera pouch, waist system, shoulder bag, gadget bag, sling pack, backpack, case and rolling bag makers anyone could possibly care about. There are 30 makers on this year's list. Read the Full Review Here!

Spotlight On . . . Medium Size Camera Backpacks and Rolling Cases

Our capsule reviews and comparisons of the National Geographic Earth Explorer, Crumpler Keystone, Lowepro CompuTrekker Plus AW & Think Tank Airport International. The full product reviews can be found here. The National Geographic Earth Explorer is deceptively nice, but unfortunately proves to be less than practical in actual use. The inner cinch protecting the top compartment provides additional protection against moisture, but can also be annoying because it gets in the way of fast access. Ditto for the mid/central compartment retainer zipper. I think the bag is a bit too soft for backpack use. As well, it doesn't offer enough bump & bang protection or bottom protection to make me stop worrying about my gear. I've got the small and medium size shoulder bags (which I really like) and the backpack (which is for sale now). It's also difficult to lash the bag tightly enough to your waist in order to get it positioned for your hips to take the load - something that's absolutely necessary for proper/ergonomic and comfortable backpack use. However, the laptop compartment is positioned lower than it is on the Lowepro so there's little chance of any dangerous flex. The rain cover is a bit fiddly to get in and out of its pouch on the pack. It's strictly for short hikes as far as I'm concerned. The full product reviews can be found here. The Crumpler Keystone bag is great . . . for a while. Then the annoyingly wide zipper facings which prevent the top compartment from being accessed easily will become tiresome. In use, my Crumpler bags (I've got this backpack and the 4, 6 & 7 Million Dollar Home models) offer better protection than the National Geographic bags. Still not great for fast access off the shoulder or even on the ground. Crumpler compartments are invariably tight. Your gear won't shift around (which is good), but some of it will be a bit more difficult to get to. This bag carries well and secures to your waist quite well also, which makes it a much better carry than the National Geographic bag. A laptop is well protected as long as you make sure to position it at the bottom of the compartment to avoid any flex across your back. The full product reviews can be found here. My favorite general travel backpack (car, airplane, train, bus, light to medium hiking) is the Lowepro CompuTrekker Plus AW. For my purposes it's been wonderfully durable, fully protective of all my gear, comfortable on short and medium length hikes, legal size on all airlines, and extremely versatile with respect to not only how much gear I can pack into it, but also with respect to how easy it is to get at everything quickly. This bag is also weatherproof, with the built-in All Weather rain cover almost redundant considering how well the bag itself is designed and waterproofed. Different backs will give different results, but on my back the CompuTrekker Plus AW is a great carry. It secures comfortably around the waist and ensures proper weight distribution on the hips. Getting the right adjustment with a laptop in place however, definitely takes a bit of initial fiddling. Too tight and you could flex the laptop. Too loose and the load won't be properly distributed. You really only need to unfold the rain cover for heavy downpours. Anyway, the Lowepro gets my vote. The full product reviews can be found here. For general air travel, at the end of which you pack only a day's worth of gear into a smaller sling pack (such as a Kata T-214 or a Lowepro Slingshot 200 or 300), I am absolutely in love with the Think Tank Airport International. It's expensive, but what a bag! Like the CompuTrekker Plus AW it holds everything including iPod, Treo 700p, cables, adapters, laptop, emergency socks, underwear, etc., etc. I purchased one the same week that Think Tank originally offered them for sale (18 months ago?) and have logged thousands of air miles with the thing. Great stuff. If you're traveling with a lot of photo gear and a laptop but not hiking/backpacking, the Think Tank Airport International is a great choice. The full product reviews can be found here.

Spotlight On . . . the Lowepro Slingshot 200AW Camera Bag

The Lowepro Slingshot 200AW is a single strap, sling-style camera bag that can be rotated front or back depending on whether you're walking or shooting. Access to your gear is through an outward opening, full width, zippered, padded flap which is limited by snap locks so that gear can't accidentally fall out. Lowepro's standard padded Velcro divider system in the main compartment allows several different configurations, and can accommodate two digital SLR bodies with lenses attached, storage cards, remote control, and hoods for both lenses. Lowepro's smart design decisions enhance the natural usability of this bag. Strap padding extends beyond where its normally needed, which means that almost any carry position remains comfortable. The hideaway rain cover is well made and is easy to deploy and stow quickly. The best thing about the Slingshot 200AW is that it has the depth and height to accommodate full size digital SLRs without pushing and shoving. For the record, I typically use the Slingshot 200 AW to carry a Nikon D200 w/18-200mm VR zoom and a Nikon D80 w/105mm f2.8 VR macro, hoods for each lens, half a dozen CF and SD cards, a Lowepro filter pouch, a Nikon SB-600 Speedlight flash unit, spare battery and a remote trigger for the D200. Access to the SLRs is easy, but could be better still if the zippers were smoother in the turns. Padding throughout the bag is robust but not intrusive. The front zippered pouch offers a number of internal slots which hold pens, utility knife, paper, cleaning cloth. The zippered pouch at the top of the tapered, tubular bag holds the flash unit, filter pouch and spare battery. The dedicated storage card pouch built into the main compartment can hold up to 8 storage cards. The Slingshot 200AW is rugged, looks inconspicuous, works extremely well and is relatively inexpensive. Walking and taking pictures among the urban canyons or on the hiking trails, the Lowepro Slingshot 200AW is a smart choice. For a smaller SLR, look for the Slingshot 100AW. For packing extra gear and bigger lenses, look for the larger Slingshot 300AW. 4 out of 5 stars

Spotlight On . . . Tamrac Velocity 7x and 8x Photo Sling Pack Digital SLR Camera Bags

The Tamrac Velocity 7x and Velocity 8x Photo Sling Packs are single strap bags which ride across your left shoulder with the main pack slung around the back. To access the bag, you simply rotate the strap to pull the bag around front. Pop the top, pull out your camera and start shooting. It's great in theory, but Tamrac's execution isn't perfect. The top cover opens away from you, which is in fact perfect for a sling bag, but opening and closing the top is awkward, not the smartest design for a sling bag meant for quick access. At least it's an improvement over the reverse opening design of the previous Velocity series. The shoulder strap padding is adequate but doesn't extend far enough; when the bag is slung forward for access, the thin part of the strap hits your shoulder and starts digging in quite quickly making it uncomfortable to use the bag slung in front for more than a few minutes. When loaded, the narrow opening of the 7x is too tight for full size digital SLRs. For anything larger than a Nikon D40 or a Canon Digital Rebel 400, opt for the Velocity 8x instead. The bag material is strong but thin and lightweight, offering less protective padding against external bumps and grinds than we'd like to see. The interior velcro dividers are also thinly padded, offering only basic protection for sensitive gear. The Velocity 7x and 8x cost less than the top-rated Lowepro SlingShot 200AW and KATA T-214 Torso Pack. Reasonably comfortable on the back while prowling for photo ops, especially if you use the hideaway waist belt. For full size SLR camera gear, choose the Velocity 8x. 2 out of 5 stars