JohnGwillim
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 p.1 #1 · Mountainsmith Kit Cube Review - Camera Bag Alternative | |
Hi everyone,
I am not a big review person, but I thought some of you in the quest for a good way to carry your gear may be interested in a new product that was just released by Mountainsmith called the Kit Cube. You can take a glance at it on their website here:
http://mountainsmith.com/products.asp?productId=290&categoryId=22&subCategoryId=null&subCategory2Id=null
Basically, it is an insert designed to fit inside of their lumbar packs (http://mountainsmith.com/products.asp?categoryId=42)-- a lot of photojournalists and sports photographers have been using the lumbar packs with a Domke insert for years. Domke changed the size of their insert and the new one no longer holds a 70-200 2.8, so I have been refitting mine with a huge amount of duct tape for years. Mountainsmith ran with the idea and created the Kit Cube, which is really an improvement over the Domke insert. I thought I would give you guys a quick review of how I am using it, and hopefully someone finds it helpful.
A little background; I like to travel in developing countries for long periods of time, I am going to be in Central and South America for 4-6 months starting in March. I take a small kit of camera gear with me and have never taken a photo bag--they are too flashy and in my opinion just not all that useful. I really use my gear--I take good care of it, but if it gets a little scratched up I am not too worried at all. So, take my review with a grain of salt if you keep your gear in soft pouches in a gun cabinet all of the time. My main focus is functionality, comfort, and the fact that I want my gear to be as discrete as possible. I like to use a backpack as it is also multi purpose on the trip (weekend trips, etc) and I can find a rain jacket, water bottle, lunch.....you get the idea. For this trip I just bought a new backpack I will use with the Kit Cube, it is the Osprey React, which you can find here:
http://www.ospreypacks.com/Packs/ReSourceSeriesRecycledMaterials/React/
It is relatively discrete and a fairly small pack that has a slot in the back that holds my 13" Machbook in very easily. It's also made of 76% recycled material, which makes the environmentalist in me happy too!
Inside the Kit Cube I am able to carry the following gear:
5d MKII
70-200 2.8
16-35 2.8
85 1.2
35 1.4
This is basically maxed out and the top part of the gear is hanging over the top, as you will se in the photos above. It will easily fit a 5d mk II, 70-200 (with hood I think) and a 16-35 or 24-70 2.8. You could stack a TC on top of the shorter lens as well. With my gear I made two small foam dividers (out of an old Domke insert; I use these for padding between the gear. Here are how the three slots are filled:
1. 70-200 2.8 (no hood, it may fit, but I use a rubber hood anyways so I didn't try)
2. 35 turned sideways, foam insert, 5d mk II
3. 85 turned sideways, foam insert, 16-35 on top, fat side of the lens down
This all fits very well and feels really secure. I generally do not take all 4 lenses with me (or a laptop) when I am out taking photos--it's usually 2-3 lenses. But, when I am on a bus trip I like to have all of my gear in the bus with me and my larger duffel with clothes under the bus or strapped to the roof. With this pack I can easily fit the above gear, my laptop, a 430 EX flash, tabletop tripod, and a Kindle with room to spare.
For my style of travel and shooting, I really think this is going to be a strong system. It is very versatile and that's what I like about it so much--you gear can go in a large hiking pack or in a normal carry-on suitcase. If you have any questions feel free to shoot them my way, I am always happy to try and answer them. Sorry the photos are crappy, I took them with my small point and shoot and accidentally had it on High ISO....
John
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