Got a Brand New Bag! by Jon Sienkiewicz Protection, carrying comfort, accessibility and style—the four characteristics we all look for in a perfect gadget bag. Article rating: 7.55

Back in the day, gadget bags were bulky, ugly, heavy and uncomfortable to carry. Today you’ll find luxurious bag of all sorts and styles—leather bags, padded soft bags, stylish photo backpacks, waist packs, belt cases, sling bags and conventional shoulder bags. There are rolling bags, shipping containers and bags made primarily for closet storage. They are constructed of ballistic Nylon, poly-plastics, stainless steel, canvas, cow leather and certain space age materials. Some make chic fashion statements about their owners. All of them are a reflection of the personality of the person whose shoulder they ride. Regardless of the style or design, look for the following marks of quality.

What to Look For
If the shoulder strap is permanently attached, make sure it’s double sewn for added safety. If the strap is removable, check the fasteners—plastic is okay, as long as the snaps are sturdy. Either way, be sure that the shoulder pad is comfortable and will not allow the bag to slip. Zippers that are self-healing are a must, and tandem zippers are more convenient than single. Clips and closures should snap tightly but easily with one hand. Ample use of hook-and-loop fasteners is good as long as it serves as a back-up to a clip or other fastener and not as the only means of securing the bag. Raised rubber cleats will keep bottom of a larger bag clean and dry. Rolling bags glide better on the in-line skate type wheels—take it for a spin before you buy. Better bags and backpacks come with raincovers—you don’t need them until you need them, and then you’ll need them bad. And above all else, buy a bag you’ll be proud to carry.

If the bag is designed to hold more than one camera it should have moveable inserts. Some manufacturers offer additional inserts as accessories so you can further customize the bag ’till your heart’s content. Needless to say, make sure that the interior padding is thick but firm. Because different styles provide different levels of protection, no generalizations can be made. However, if it’s a padded, protective bag you’re after, look for closed-cell foam and rigid exterior panels. Check the bottom, too. Outside and end pockets may be thin—that’s usually okay, just be careful what you pack in them.

Alternatives
Some folks prefer to carry bags that look as un-photographic as possible for security reasons. Diaper bags have always made great camera bags, and are much less likely to be stolen from your shoulder. The interior pouches, designed for baby bottles, hold lenses and other small items. Be careful, though—the straps were designed to support much less weight than you might be tempted to pack, so use common sense and check the construction. Also, the interiors are generally stainproof plastic that’s rough on cameras. Soft fishing tackle bags can make excellent camera bags, too, and are often waterproof. Finally, the tried-and-true military surplus bag can be pressed into service. Again, check strap strength and exterior padding to avoid possible disaster.

Crumpler
Crumpler, from the land down under, offers an extremely complete selection of bags that deliver protection, comfort, accessibility and great style. They describe the Million Dollar Home series as “A protective environment for your basic photo and or video equipment that doesn't scream ‘photo bag!’” They are available in seven sizes and four color combinations. All of them a gorgeous and convenient to use.

The Crumpler Seven Million Dollar Home, for example, is made from water resistant Nylon supported with internal plastic panels. It provides easy carrying comfort when packed with two DSLR bodies and a few lenses, thanks in part to an adjustable and removable shoulder strap with removable shoulder pad and a convenient top-mounted handle. The inside is padded and made from LCD-friendly brushed Nylon and comes with configurable dividers. Finally, there are two hidden internal side pockets (perfect for a thin flash or meter) a mesh zip pocket under the cover and one external pocket. Other models in the Million Dollar Home series are of similar construction and differ mainly in size. Check them all out at the entertaining website www.crumplerbags.com .

Mountainsmith
You have to trust a name like Mountainsmith. Founded by Patrick Smith back in the 1970’s, Mountainsmith has been providing high quality, light weight bags and packs to support all sorts of outdoors activities. Best known, perhaps, for the gear they tailor toward Alpine mountaineering and ice climbing, they have successfully adapted those technologies to their line of camera bags. The large version of their Focus II bag is the perfect shoulder bag for carrying one DSLR with lens or for carrying a couple lenses on those days when the camera is always around your neck.

The Mountainsmith Focus II bag is constructed of 420 denier velocity Nylon with ballistic Nylon reinforcements, a combination that provides great strength without sacrificing light weight. It features a self-healing YKK zipper and a single push button quick-release buckle that secures the top flap. Inside, a large water-resistant pocket is lined with soft fleece and adequate padding. There’s also an expandable mesh-net internal sleeve, tall side pockets large enough for a pocket knife and another tool, and an organizational pocket with key clip. In the back there’s a pouch that holds a reporter’s notebook or field guide. The shoulder strap is detachable and comfortably padded. Visit their website at www.mountainsmith.com .

National Geographic
Here’s a series of bags that combines rugged good looks with environmental sensitivity to create a product that is as compellingly attractive as it is practical. Best of all, National Geographic’s net proceeds support vital exploration, conservation, research and education programs.

The National Geographic NG-2475 Earth Explorer Medium Shoulder Bag is designed to hold and protect a medium size DSLR camera, laptop computer and compact camera or camcorder. Your equipment is immediately accessible thanks to a quick snap buckle. Four external pockets and pouches provide additional storage options, while concealed pockets in the rear conveniently hold smaller items. Bag volume can be reduced by removing the modular bottom padding when it’s not needed. Made mainly from a padded cotton hemp blend it features sealed-flap rollaway zippers to assure protection from the weather. Additional items can be lashed to the exterior of the bag by means of a series of special connecting loops that give a bag a slightly military appearance. For more information about this and other National Geographic bags visit http://www.bogenimaging.us/.