£170
Reviewed by David Chandler
Plenty of birdwatchers carry camera gear, and like tripods, there are many camera bags to choose from. This one is aimed at mirrorless camera users. There are also three larger backpacks in this range, the biggest a 45-litre with a £270 price tag.
This pack is versatile, feature-packed and well-made. The rear-access, customisable camera insert can be removed to create a general-purpose pack with rear or side access. The insert’s zipped lid tucks away for speedy access but can be zipped up for storage out of the pack. You have to take the pack off and lay it on its front to get at your camera. This doesn’t take long, but if you want frequent, rapid access, this is not the best option. This pack is more about carrying your gear to a destination and then setting up. It has a reasonably sized top pocket for personal stuff/your lunch, padded laptop and tablet sleeves, and an elasticated side pocket with a strap above – you can stow a tripod there, or strap one on the front with the provided straps. There’s a pocket for a 1L hydration pouch, a secure pocket for valuables, and – I like these – an expanding pocket on each shoulder strap. You also get an accessory pouch and another pouch that attaches to a shoulder strap and can provide quick access to a sizeable lens (my 100-400 fits).
The test load was an OM1 with 100-400mm lens, a Nikon ED50 scope and a small pouch of bits and pieces in the main compartment; a digiscoping adapter, my glasses and the raincover in the top pocket; a water bottle on a shoulder strap, and a travel tripod part in a side pocket part strapped on one side. There was still some room to spare, particularly in the top pocket. I used the pack for almost three hours, on a three-egret-species walk (with stops) of about 4.5 miles. The back of the pack is quite rigid (an aluminium frame protects your kit) but not uncomfortable – loosening the shoulder straps makes the rigidity less obvious.
The straps sat quite high on my torso – my water bottle was at shoulder level but still accessible.
This is a well-made, not-too-big bag for carrying a modest amount of kit. For more information see here If this isn’t quite right for you, another Vanguard product might be.
Fact file
External: 270x190x440mm.
Camera compartment: 220x110x280mm.
Weight: 1,960g.
IP55 weather-resistant.
Hand luggage compatible.
Other features: Waist belt, trolley sleeve, whistle, USB port for on-the-go charging.
Grey or green.
Two-year warranty (can extend to 10).
Made in Myanmar.