Gallery: Commute and Shoot
Jakob Schiller01Chrome, Timbuk2 and f-stop camera bag review for Wired.
Albuquerque, where I live, averages 300 sunny days a year. Granted, some of those days are punishingly hot or cold. But on average, it's a great place to ride bikes, and I often spend more time in the saddle than behind a steering wheel. Because my bike is my main form of transportation, commuter gear is important. No scrimping. I'm particularly picky when it comes to carrying my cameras. I need something that's comfortable, easy to use, protects against the elements (on the rare days we have them), and will absorb the impact if I ever fall off my bike. Fortunately, there are plenty of bike-friendly options out there, and we put three of them to the test on the hot asphalt during the spring and early summer.
Jakob Schiller02Chrome, Timbuk2 and f-stop camera bag review for Wired.
F-stop Kenti ------------ F-stop is well known for making outdoor camera bags, stuff you want to use while climbing mountains or skiing powder. The Kenti, however, was optimized for use on a bike because it features side-access camera compartments. That means there's no need to put your bike down and pull off your bag to access your gear. Just come off the pedals, whip it over one shoulder, and your cameras are right in front of you like a messenger bag. Unlike the other backpacks in the review, the Kenti features a cushy, padded hip belt that keeps the bag cinched against your body and helps displace the weight when it's loaded down. The bag is made out of DWR treated 330D double ripstop nylon, so it's durable and water resistant (you can buy a waterproof rain fly separately if you need it). Most of the bag is for cameras, but there's also a roll top compartment that expands quite a bit when you need it to, or cinches down nicely when you don't. Straps on both sides will hold a tripod, skis, or whatever else you can think of. On the downside, the Kenti is ugly and expensive. The color choices are awful (Foliage Green, Malibu Blue?) and on your back just looks like a blob of material. At $270, a very pricey blob of material. __WIRED__ Side compartments make camera access easy and fast. Padded hip belt means it's comfy to carry, even fully loaded. __TIRED__ Pricey. It's almost $100 more than the Espionage or the Niko Pack. Needs a better design if it wants to compete with urban pieces on the style front. __Rating: 8 out of 10__
Jakob Schiller03Chrome, Timbuk2 and f-stop camera bag review for Wired.
Timbuk2 Espionage ----------------- As its name implies, the Timbuk2 Espionage is designed to be stealthy. It looks like a normal backpack and doesn't scream, "I'm full of cameras and other gear! Please come steal me." I like this about the bag. But what I like even more is its functionality. Too often camera bags are over-designed. They have more pockets and straps than you need. The Espionage, on the other hand, keeps it simple. There are only two main compartments: One holds your camera gear (one body and a couple lenses); the other gives you access to a laptop sleeve and holds whatever other daily items you might need. On the outside there are a couple of tripod straps and a mesh pocket for a water bottle or U-lock. I like a pared down bag because I want to spend as little time as possible digging for my gear and as much time as possible making pictures. Like all Timbuk2 products, the Espionage has a bombproof build and uses ballistic nylon on the outside that stands up against wear and tear. The camera compartment is cushier than most with plenty of customizable dividers. When it rains, just pull out the included waterproof rain cover. __WIRED__ Simple, but elegant. Extremely well built. Won't attract camera thieves. __TIRED__ Timbuk2 is usually full of color options, but the Espionage is offered in only one color scheme. __Rating: 9 out of 10__
Jakob Schiller04Chrome, Timbuk2 and f-stop camera bag review for Wired.
Chrome Niko Camera Pack ----------------------- The problem with the Niko Pack is that it's inconsistent. Some sections are brilliant. Others are blah. Most notably, the camera compartment is poorly designed. It splays open nicely to reveal all your gear, but the dividers are flimsy and there aren't enough of them. I had to use extra dividers from another pack to configure it the way I wanted. From the outside, the bag looks huge and it seems cavernous when unzipped, too. But its carrying capacity is smaller than you'd think due to the weird, wide-open design. I was able to squeeze one body, a couple lenses, and a flash into the main compartment. A more organized person might also be able to get one more camera body in there without a lens. On the plus side, the tripod attachment is rad. Chrome uses thick, velcro straps that are easier to use than anything I've ever tested. The bag is also undeniably beautiful. Like all Chrome products, durability is never a question, so you can expect this bag to last. I beat it up as much as I could and it never faltered. It has a weatherproof 1000 denier-nylon outer shell and PU coated zippers so it will keep the elements out. I'd say that Chrome is onto something with the Niko Pack, but it might take one or two refinements before it really become the bag it wants to be. __WIRED__ Stylish. Smart accoutrements like burly, velcro tripod straps. __TIRED__ Poorly designed camera compartment that's hard to customize. Deceivingly cavernous space won't hold as much as you'd think. __Rating: 6 out of 10__ 
