Buzz
These backpacks available at the moment not only serve the purpose of carrying and protecting your camera gear but also need to be stylish, lightweight, and convenient for travel. Hence, I believe we should compile some knowledge about these products...[Note] The sequence in the article is not a ranking of the products.1. National Geographic Africa size M (price reference: 4,950,000 VND)
In the article '', @cuhiep has shared some insights about this product with us. It's a very stylish backpack, in my opinion, the most rugged and stylish among the products for professional cameras. However, it also holds relatively few cameras, lenses, and accessories, so those who own many bodies and lenses should consider it.
2. Peak Design Everyday V2 (price reference from: 8,690,000 VND)
Peak Design is a brand that's not unfamiliar to professional photographers. However, in Vietnam, I've noticed that the majority of users mainly opt for accessories like straps, bags, or other small items from the brand, while backpacks are quite rare. Perhaps the reason lies in the relatively high price of these bags compared to the average market price for photography enthusiasts.
The biggest advantage lies in the beautiful design. Overall, Peak Design's products, especially the Everyday series, offer users a visually pleasing, highly technological, minimalist design with excellent usability. True to its name, it's a product for daily use. Even if you're not carrying a camera, you can still make use of it without worrying about wasted space inside the backpack.
However, there's another drawback that mod @Nam Air mentioned in their review, which is that during the initial period of use, users may experience shoulder pain. I believe this partly stems from the shoulder padding not being thick enough and the back panel being too flat, not conforming well to the user's back shape, thus providing insufficient support leading to shoulder pain.3. Think Tank Retrospective 15 (price reference: 6,820,000 VND)
The size of the Retrospective 15 is quite large. In fact, most Think Tank products are larger than the average backpacks in the same segment. For example, while this product has a capacity of only 20L, its size is comparable to backpacks with a capacity of 23-25L. This is because its padding, foam, and lining are made very thick, ensuring excellent protection against impact and falls.Additionally, this product is lightweight and has a plethora of compartments, perhaps making it among the backpacks with the most compartments I've ever experienced. Stay tuned for the hands-on review.4. Manfrotto Manhattan Mover-30/50 (price reference from: 3,990,000 VND)
The Manhattan Mover-30/50 by Manfrotto has been on the market for quite some time, yet for me, it remains one of the worthwhile backpacks for photographers with its beautiful design and complete fulfillment of all professional photography needs.
This backpack features thick padding inside, an attractive light blue color, and ample convenience for customization to suit each photographer's gear setup. It's a product that allows users to access their equipment in two ways, from the back or by opening/unzipping from the top. The waterproof outer layer is excellently crafted. The faux leather base of this backpack is also one of the most satisfyingly finished bases I've seen.The tripod carrying strap of the backpack is positioned right at the front, which suits my usage style perfectly. With other products where the strap is on the left or right, I often find myself bumping into the camera leg when moving, which can be uncomfortable. This Manhattan Mover series offers two versions suitable for users with 13/14-inch and 15/16-inch laptops.5. Lowepro Protactic 350/450 AW II (price reference from: 3,890,000 VND)
Personally, I believe this product offers the best performance-to-price ratio in this article. Mod @vitaminSea has already done a hands-on review, so you can check it out. If you look it up on the BHphoto website, you'll easily notice that this product line isn't just the best-selling for the brand alone but for the entire platform. It competes head-to-head with backpacks twice its price, such as the Peak Design Everyday.
In addition, sports journalists particularly favor products from Lowepro. If you pay attention, almost every sports journalist owns a Lowepro backpack. It's also one of the backpacks with the most external hooks I've ever seen. Perhaps it's this characteristic that many sports journalists (who use 2-3 cameras at once) appreciate.Another noteworthy aspect is the sturdiness and durability of the Lowepro Protactic. If you use or experience it, you'll notice that the top lid of the backpack is extremely rigid, minimizing impacts from the outside. While many backpacks only have a thick bottom, Lowepro covers both ends.
