Digital Camera World - UK (2020-04)

K i t Z o n e

amera kits tend to grow

over time. Once you’ve

added a few lenses, a

flashgun or two and some

other accessories, you’re

unlikely to be able to

shoehorn everything into a shoulder bag.

You might find yourself cherry-picking

which bits of kit to take out, with the

inevitable frustration that you won’t have

the thing you need, just when you need it.

A photo backpack gives you much

more room for manoeuvre, while helping

to spread the load across both shoulders.

It provides a more comfortable and secure

carrying experience. Many backpacks add

versatility by including separate pockets

for personal items, a separate area for

a laptop or tablet, and a tripod holder.

Some go further still, splitting the main

compartment into two sections. You’ll

then have space for travel essentials.

1 Full photo or split

Most photo-oriented backpacks fall into

one of two categories. First there’s the

‘full photo’ backpack, in which the main

compartment is dedicated solely to camera

kit. This is ideal for larger outfits, typically

including one or two camera bodies, several

lenses and a flashgun or two.

The main alternative is a split photo/

daypack. Popular for trekking, travel

or just a grand day out, these generally

have a lower compartment for a smaller

collection of photo gear, and an upper

compartment for travel items.

2 Divide and conquer

For cosseting your kit, it’s important to

tailor the photo compartment so that it’s a

perfect fit. With this in mind, pretty much

all photo backpacks on the market have

internal dividers. With these, you can

customise the interior quickly and easily,

to give each item its own snug spot. You’ll

also be able to easily adapt the interior, for

example, when you stow a camera body

with different sizes of lens attached.

3 Adjustable harness

A medium-to-large backpack that’s packed

full of photo gear, plus maybe a laptop in a

separate compartment, can weigh more

than 10kg. A vital aspect of comfort and

security is that you can adjust the harness

to perfectly fit your body. As such, all

photo backpacks have adjustable shoulder

straps that tend to be well-padded,

especially in larger bags.

The surface of the backpack that rests

against your back should be ventilated,

with good padding, particularly in the

lumbar area. Extras often include an

adjustable sternum strap, which fastens

across your chest and stops the main

straps slipping off your shoulders,

as well as an adjustable waist strap.

4 A right carry-on

If you plan to use your photo backpack as

a carry-on item when flying, it’s important

to check size and weight restrictions with

your airline. Size restrictions do vary a little,

and weight restrictions vary a lot. It can be

as little as 11kg or less. Some airlines have

no official weight limit, merely stipulating

that you must be able to lift the bag unaided

into an overhead compartment.

5 Whatever the weather

The vast majority of photo backpacks are

shower-resistant, with the main material

being ripstop nylon. Weather-resistant

zips are also often featured for added

environmental protection. You’ll also

generally get an ‘all weather’ rainproof

cover, either sewn into the bag so you

can easily pull it out from a hidden pocket

and stretch it over the backpack, or

supplied as a separate additional item.

6 A bit on the side

Most backpacks have additional pockets

and compartments, for storing tablets,

laptops, filters, batteries and memory

cards, plus daily essentials like car keys

and a phone. Even so, you can still run out

of room. Many photo backpacks have

loops sewn onto the exterior, for securely

fastening add-on pouches for additional

lenses, flashguns and other accessories.

C

Help me buy a...

Photo backpack

The ideal companion for active outward-bound shooters

Tenba Axis 24L

£199/$229

The mid-

sized option

in a range

of three,

the Axis 24L

can stow

one or two

cameras with as many

as eight lenses, plus a 17-inch

laptop and accessories.

Lowepro ProTactic BP 350

AW II

£149/$162

Fairly

slimline, this

Lowepro

backpack is

nevertheless

super-tough,

and can squeeze a lot in.

The removable waist strap

can be used as a utility belt.

Good, better, best

Here are three of our top-rated photo backpacks

Manfrotto Pro Light

3N1-36 PL

£119/$223

A clever

design makes

this backpack

equally adept

at storing

camera kit,

video gear or a drone.

There’s also a 15-inch

laptop compartment.

132 DIGITAL CAMERA^ APRIL 2020 http://www.digitalcameraworld.com