For those who don’t know me; I have way too many backpacks. I have a pack for the ‘what if’s’ and the ‘you never know’ moments. It stems from my experiences coming up. I started out my career living out of a suitcase. Some days I would be out for over 15 hours and on other days I wouldn’t get home till the next day or two.
On top of that as a photographer, you always need your camera/gear on you (at least for me). I carried everything. From my EDC to a toothbrush, and other essentials I might need for that day (camera, few lenses, and a flash). I have multiple backpacks for multiple situations. From a day trip to a three-city shoot. I got a bag for that.
I made a promise to myself this year that I would not buy a new bag. As people do with no self-control, I was researching a backpack and justifying every reason why I needed a new one. Then, a package appeared at my doorstep. I received a gift from my friend and the timing couldn’t have been better.
The XD Design Bobby Original Anti-Theft backpack. I have never been a fan of fixed formed backpacks. The majority of camera bags available on the market always have a distinct shape due to the inserts for the padding and dividers. It always looks bulky and a flag for, “hey, carrying camera gear! Rob me!” I was pleasantly surprised by the Bobby bag. My current bag, the Nike RPM is great but then it can get bulky without much in it and everything inside gets shuffled.
The bag is slim and form-fitting. It feels comfortable wearing it and it doesn’t pop out like most traditional bags. The interior of the bag has plenty of pockets and is lined with a padded exterior. I’m confident in keeping my camera and lens in the bag. Keep in mind due to the slim structure. It might be tricky grabbing specific items when you’re out and about. Be mindful of how you stack your bag for the easiest access.
Some of the features:
- 100% Polyester which makes it water repellent along with the pleather material on the front of the bag
- Protective layers and a cut-proof protection board (have not tested)
- A few 3M details on the bag
- Hidden zippers & hidden pockets
- Zipper cable lock closure for extra security for the main pocket
- Integrated USB Charging Port
- Lots of compartments which also includes a pocket to hold a laptop up to 15.6″ and a tablet up to 10″ (iPad mini) with a total content of 13L
Here’s a short video of the things I packed. Sidenote, after a few days, I added a few things here and there but the biggest add was my Sony A6300 with a retractable lens attached. I do have space to add a 200mm zoom lens but only on days, I go out to shoot specific subjects.
After spending a few days with this bag from going to work and taking a hike, I think this is going to be my new everyday bag. The bag does limit you from carrying everything but I think that’s a good thing. As an avid over-packer, this might be the perfect tool to practice only packing the necessary.
My only complaint, which is the entire point of the bag is the quick access to the main pocket. I’m used to being able to grab my camera quickly to capture a shot. With this, it’s reassuring to know anyone trying to get into this bag will have a few seconds delay due to the hidden zipper feature.
I can see myself using this during my freelancing days when I had to hop from one office to another. Having the ability to lock the main compartment could come in handy and reassuring. Overall I recommend this bag. It also comes in different sizes if you do need to pack a few more essentials.
Here’s a link to purchase the XD Design Bobby Original.
