I bought this based on your video. It's a well designed packpack except for one thing - where the back straps are affixed to the zippered cover. I don't particularly like that as the straps get in the way when you're frantically opening it to grab that once-in-a-lifetime shot of something, or just managing it in general.
I recently watched some YouTubers' videos on their preparation for an African Safari photograhy trip and how they packed their stuff. I must be getting really, really weak in my advanced ancientness, as the Lowe Pro with my camera, 2 or 3 lenses, some batteries, charger, cables, SD card storage gets really, really heavy (for me).
The bag itself isn't light, but then it needs to be sturdy. But when folks fill them with their stuff it beggars belief how they manage to get past the Stasi Gatekeepers of the boarding ramp at the airport (especially the Jetstar folks who'll slug you the equivalent of your airfare if your carry-on is 2.11g overweight or 1.22mm oversized.
But, having written all of this, I'll keep it. The half a dozen or so bags that I've bought over the years will go on FB Marketplace soon. Maybe they'll sell, maybe not.
Cheers Martin - valid criticism - the width of those straps is such that you do have to physically push them away from the back cover, they don't fall gracefully to one side, that's for sure.
And yes, it's definitely a heavy and a large bag - I'd never risk trying to use it as carry-on either because it's far bigger than the official carry-on dimensions and half the allowance in economy on its own. I bought a Tenba to use for carry-on which I also reviewed.
Still, it's looking as good as when I got it and has held up extremely well to being chucked in the boot and dropped on sandy beaches and rocks etc so personally I'm not looking to swap it out at the moment. :)
I bought this based on your video. It's a well designed packpack except for one thing - where the back straps are affixed to the zippered cover. I don't particularly like that as the straps get in the way when you're frantically opening it to grab that once-in-a-lifetime shot of something, or just managing it in general.
I recently watched some YouTubers' videos on their preparation for an African Safari photograhy trip and how they packed their stuff. I must be getting really, really weak in my advanced ancientness, as the Lowe Pro with my camera, 2 or 3 lenses, some batteries, charger, cables, SD card storage gets really, really heavy (for me).
The bag itself isn't light, but then it needs to be sturdy. But when folks fill them with their stuff it beggars belief how they manage to get past the Stasi Gatekeepers of the boarding ramp at the airport (especially the Jetstar folks who'll slug you the equivalent of your airfare if your carry-on is 2.11g overweight or 1.22mm oversized.
But, having written all of this, I'll keep it. The half a dozen or so bags that I've bought over the years will go on FB Marketplace soon. Maybe they'll sell, maybe not.
Cheers Martin - valid criticism - the width of those straps is such that you do have to physically push them away from the back cover, they don't fall gracefully to one side, that's for sure.
And yes, it's definitely a heavy and a large bag - I'd never risk trying to use it as carry-on either because it's far bigger than the official carry-on dimensions and half the allowance in economy on its own. I bought a Tenba to use for carry-on which I also reviewed.
Still, it's looking as good as when I got it and has held up extremely well to being chucked in the boot and dropped on sandy beaches and rocks etc so personally I'm not looking to swap it out at the moment. :)