p.1 #1 · Best Camera Travel Backpack: Think Tank Urban Access 15 vs. Shimoda Action X30 vs. Explore 30 vs. Tenba DNA 15?
Anyone have experience with any of these bags? I travel frequently and have gone through several bags trying to find one best suited for underseat airline travel to store my camera gear, 16" macbook pro, and other essentials. I typically use a larger 40l Osprey bag for my overhead bag/clothes/etc. If the bag could also double as my onebag travel bag that would also be great (roll-tops usually seem better suited for this). I was looking at the 21l Wandrd Prvke too but found enough negative reviews that steered me away.
I have a few upcoming trips where I'd like to bring a fairly minimal amount of gear including my A7RIV, 16-35 GM, Voigtlander 10mm, possibly a 24 GM, and a tripod.
-Think Tank Urban Access 15: Non-roll top but allows the camera divider to fold down and give more space for non-camera gear. A bit big since it's fairly structured and not sure how well it'd fit under airline seats. I own a couple Think Tank and Mindshift bags and they might be the best quality bags I've ever used. One YouTuber said the 16" Macbook Pro fits.
-Shimoda Action X30: Not available yet but several people have gotten their hands on them with positive reviews. 16" Macbook Pro supposedly fits but is tight and has to be "tucked" under the back panel when closing/opening. Looks like the most promising option and I love the way the roll-top clips down instead of sticking out to the sides. Also love that it comes in all black instead of just grey.
-Shimoda Explore 30: Very well reviewed but not roll-top. Not sure what advantages/disadvantages it has compared to the Action X30.
-Tenba DNA 15 Backpack: Also great reviews and a roll-top but I don't know if I like the way the camera is accessed. It's on the back (theft risk?). And instead of side access it would involve swinging the bag around using the hip belt then opening either the front or back compartment.
I'll be traveling to Italy and Amsterdam this year with Norwegian airlines which has pretty strict weight limits but standard underseat capacity IIRC
p.1 #2 · Best Camera Travel Backpack: Think Tank Urban Access 15 vs. Shimoda Action X30 vs. Explore 30 vs. Tenba DNA 15?
The Mindshift 26L can hold quite a bit of gear. My purpose in getting the Mindshift 26L is similar to yours----being able to take a good amount of gear, yet still be able to fit it under the seat (if needed or no overhead bin space).
p.1 #3 · Best Camera Travel Backpack: Think Tank Urban Access 15 vs. Shimoda Action X30 vs. Explore 30 vs. Tenba DNA 15?
My main issue with the 26L is the lack of a dedicated non-camera gear area or expandable area for additional storage (jacket, shoes, etc). I think I only need a small amount of camera gear space for this bag's use. Just one A7RIV body, a 16-35mm GM and maybe a Voigtlander 10mm. Occasionally I would probably bring my Mavic 2 + controller too. Otherwise it looks like a great bag and I am super impressed with my Mindshift Backlight Elite 45L
kdphotography wrote:
The Mindshift 26L can hold quite a bit of gear. My purpose in getting the Mindshift 26L is similar to yours----being able to take a good amount of gear, yet still be able to fit it under the seat (if needed or no overhead bin space).
p.1 #4 · Best Camera Travel Backpack: Think Tank Urban Access 15 vs. Shimoda Action X30 vs. Explore 30 vs. Tenba DNA 15?
I review bags so I have a lot of them. 13 at last count with 3 more arriving soon to review.
I have the old Shimoda 40, amazing bag. Can't recommend it enough. The 40 I have is a bit big for travel but the 30 you are looking at will be good. Not sure on the size of the laptop pouch though.
Other brands I would consider:
Wotancraft also do a roll top called the Nomad specifically for travel. I carried mine around Europe about a month ago, it was awesome. Very well made bags. They don't look like camera bags which is nice.
p.1 #5 · Best Camera Travel Backpack: Think Tank Urban Access 15 vs. Shimoda Action X30 vs. Explore 30 vs. Tenba DNA 15?
I have the Shimoda 30 and love it but not sure about that 16" MacBook Pro. It won't fit in the dedicated sleeve but likely would in the front.
I traveled with the bag in London, Israel and France. Only Paris' Charles de Gaulle made me weigh it but then they made everyone weight everything there. I think I got it to fit under an international seat but preferred to throw it up top.
I just got the new medium mirrorless ICU from their Kickstarter launch of the X bag and love the bag even more now. I can fit an insane amount of gear in it with excellent back and good side access.
Currently holds - Sony a7rIII with 24-105 on; Sony 16-35/4, Sony 85/1.8, Canon 35/2 with Metabones, Canon 200/2.8 and a separate small core at bottom holds the Sony 100-400. Plus room for 'stuff' in top pouch.
I posted a review here a while ago if you search and probably should go and update it with the new core unit...
p.1 #6 · Best Camera Travel Backpack: Think Tank Urban Access 15 vs. Shimoda Action X30 vs. Explore 30 vs. Tenba DNA 15?
Thank you for the info. I will check out your review but if it truly won't fit the 16" macbook pro in the dedicated sleeve I will likely rule it out as protecting that and having the weight distributed against my back is my biggest priority. It just barely fits in the action x30:
eyal wrote:
I have the Shimoda 30 and love it but not sure about that 16" MacBook Pro. It won't fit in the dedicated sleeve but likely would in the front.
I traveled with the bag in London, Israel and France. Only Paris' Charles de Gaulle made me weigh it but then they made everyone weight everything there. I think I got it to fit under an international seat but preferred to throw it up top.
I just got the new medium mirrorless ICU from their Kickstarter launch of the X bag and love the bag even more now. I can fit an insane amount of gear in it with excellent back and good side access.
Currently holds - Sony a7rIII with 24-105 on; Sony 16-35/4, Sony 85/1.8, Canon 35/2 with Metabones, Canon 200/2.8 and a separate small core at bottom holds the Sony 100-400. Plus room for 'stuff' in top pouch.
I posted a review here a while ago if you search and probably should go and update it with the new core unit......Show more →
p.1 #7 · Best Camera Travel Backpack: Think Tank Urban Access 15 vs. Shimoda Action X30 vs. Explore 30 vs. Tenba DNA 15?
AlphaPhotography wrote:
If the bag could also double as my onebag travel bag that would also be great.
Look at the Mindshidt Ultralight Dual 36: https://www.thinktankphoto.com/collections/ultralight-series/products/ultralight-dual-36l
I use this as my one carryon after trying many camera bag/carryon combos. I typically travel with two Sony FF bodies and three lenses which fit in the bottom part. The bottom part also comes out and is uasble as a stand alone camera bag, leaving room for more stuff. The upper part holds enough for a two or three day trip and has an inside pocket which can carry a laptop or water reservoir.
p.1 #8 · Best Camera Travel Backpack: Think Tank Urban Access 15 vs. Shimoda Action X30 vs. Explore 30 vs. Tenba DNA 15?
I use the Gura Gear Bataflae 18L as my "personal item" bags. It will fit under the seat in front on most airlines, though often the aisle seat is blocked by a support bar. Airlines permit a 17 x 14 x 8 inch personal bag but often this amount of space is not actually available. Other bags that would work well is Ruggard Thunderhead 55, Tenba Shootout 24L, Tenba Shootout 18L, and the Nagano 16L.
After a trip where my 32L backpack weighed in at 37 pounds I decided I needed to distribute the weight between two backpacks for air travel. I put the heaviest items into the 18L backpack. The backpack holds a 12.5 inch netbook (weighs only 2.5 lbs and has an 18 hour battery life) but a 16" laptop would be a problem and best put in the bag going into the overhead compartment.
The B&H website makes it very easy to filter out bags based on their dimensions and get to a short list to consider.
The ThinkTank Airport Security 3 is one of the better bags to use for the overhead compartment now that the Bataflae line has been discontinued. Fortunately I stocked up when Gura Gear was discontinuing them and now have two of the 18L and two of the 26L as well as one of their 32L backpacks.
p.1 #9 · Best Camera Travel Backpack: Think Tank Urban Access 15 vs. Shimoda Action X30 vs. Explore 30 vs. Tenba DNA 15?
I have tenba 15 you mentioned, shimoda 40, Vanguard, peak design travel backpack, ONA shoulder bags, and incase DSLR pro backpack. I love Incase over the rest and I even bought a backup one in case they discontinue as the new version they released called Camera pro backpack is not as good as the old DSLR pro backpack. It fits old 15" Macbook pro. Not sure about 16".
p.1 #10 · Best Camera Travel Backpack: Think Tank Urban Access 15 vs. Shimoda Action X30 vs. Explore 30 vs. Tenba DNA 15?
I have the incase DSLR pro backpack too and love it (it's actually my main bag for my business right now) but my biggest complaint is the lack of dedicated separated non-camera storage for traveling as I typically only travel with 1-2 lenses and occasionally my Mavic 2 Pro. How do you like the Shimoda 40 and Tenba DNA 15 in comparison for less photo gear use and more personal space? How is accessing your gear quickly in them? The DNA 15 design looks a little cumbersome to access fast being on the back (front?) side
kits_VA wrote:
I have tenba 15 you mentioned, shimoda 40, Vanguard, peak design travel backpack, ONA shoulder bags, and incase DSLR pro backpack. I love Incase over the rest and I even bought a backup one in case they discontinue as the new version they released called Camera pro backpack is not as good as the old DSLR pro backpack. It fits old 15" Macbook pro. Not sure about 16".
p.1 #11 · Best Camera Travel Backpack: Think Tank Urban Access 15 vs. Shimoda Action X30 vs. Explore 30 vs. Tenba DNA 15?
I use the Mindshift Backlight 26 for travel all the time. It holds my Dell XPS 15 just fine, so I imagine your Mac will fit too.
Most of my travel is on regional jets, so underseat, as well the ability to stuff it into smaller overhead slots matters a lot. For example, yesterday I just got back from a trip from Denver to El Paso, the flight in both directions was on a CRJ 200. On the way out, because of space issues in bins, I had to use the underseat slot. Worked great. On the way back I boarded early and, with just a bit of muscle, was able to fit it in the overhead bin.
BTW, I was carrying my Dell laptop, an iPad, D850 with a mounted 24-70, 70-200/2.8, 14-24/2.8, 1.4 TC, SB-910 and SB-500 flashes, stuffed Think Tank cable management 10 and 20 (cables, mouse, hubs, cleaning supplies, etc.), iPod and earbuds, pens and small notebook, extra pair of glasses, and few other odds and ends. Great pack, if anything, it can carry too much.
p.1 #12 · Best Camera Travel Backpack: Think Tank Urban Access 15 vs. Shimoda Action X30 vs. Explore 30 vs. Tenba DNA 15?
I just today received an Ortlieb Atrack 35L bag. This is not a camera bag, but it's a big, spacious bag that you can fill with lots of camera and other stuff. I'm going to build special inserts out of Kaizen Foam to load up my oddly-shaped gear.
It's incredibly well made, tough, simple (which I like), and comfortable (proper waist belt and harness). The best part is you can leave your rain cover at home. The thing is not just water resistant, it's water proof -- as in submersible.
Consider that a really early, totally premature endorsement. I need to finish the interior storage and use it for a while, but so far it looks as good as I hoped it would from reviews and other users.
p.1 #13 · Best Camera Travel Backpack: Think Tank Urban Access 15 vs. Shimoda Action X30 vs. Explore 30 vs. Tenba DNA 15?
The bag I am recommending is not on your list but I cannot recommend F-Stop bags enough. I personally use the new Tilopa and did not have a problem with international flights to Japan and UK. The Anja should be no problem for meeting flight specifications. You can use various ICU's to change the amount of gear/additional storage you desire. I also chose this bag due to the comfort ability to hike with.
p.1 #14 · Best Camera Travel Backpack: Think Tank Urban Access 15 vs. Shimoda Action X30 vs. Explore 30 vs. Tenba DNA 15?
Ugh I hadn't even looked at those now I have another to add to the list 😅😪
Foztography wrote:
The bag I am recommending is not on your list but I cannot recommend F-Stop bags enough. I personally use the new Tilopa and did not have a problem with international flights to Japan and UK. The Anja should be no problem for meeting flight specifications. You can use various ICU's to change the amount of gear/additional storage you desire. I also chose this bag due to the comfort ability to hike with.
p.1 #15 · Best Camera Travel Backpack: Think Tank Urban Access 15 vs. Shimoda Action X30 vs. Explore 30 vs. Tenba DNA 15?
I had a an F-Stop Anja, the design of which I really like but which was not comfortable for me. I gave it to my brother, who finds it more comfortable than I did, and now use a Shimoda 40 which I find more comfortable, given it's adjustable straps. A backpack comfortable for one may not be comfortable for another--an important consideration. I've travelled with the Shimoda Explore 60 and Explore 40 without significant issue, so I imagine the Explore 30 or X30 would be mostly fine as long as your MacBook Pro fits...
p.1 #16 · Best Camera Travel Backpack: Think Tank Urban Access 15 vs. Shimoda Action X30 vs. Explore 30 vs. Tenba DNA 15?
JohnC wrote:
Look at the Mindshidt Ultralight Dual 36: https://www.thinktankphoto.com/collections/ultralight-series/products/ultralight-dual-36l
I use this as my one carryon after trying many camera bag/carryon combos. I typically travel with two Sony FF bodies and three lenses which fit in the bottom part. The bottom part also comes out and is uasble as a stand alone camera bag, leaving room for more stuff. The upper part holds enough for a two or three day trip and has an inside pocket which can carry a laptop or water reservoir.
I'm glad you mentioned this bag. I just ordered the 25 because I like the features, but do not need the larger size (I think). It seems to offer easy access to the camera plus usable space for other gear. Both are on sale at Amazon. I got the Ultralight 25 for $99.
p.1 #17 · Best Camera Travel Backpack: Think Tank Urban Access 15 vs. Shimoda Action X30 vs. Explore 30 vs. Tenba DNA 15?
You might also want to consider the ThinkThank Shape Shifter 17 v2.0
It will hold up to a 17" laptop and has a very versatile layout that will hold a ton of gear and can be modified to slim down if you are traveling particularly light. It is also a very comfortable backpack to wear all day fully loaded. I have traveled extensively with this and the version that preceded it.
p.1 #18 · Best Camera Travel Backpack: Think Tank Urban Access 15 vs. Shimoda Action X30 vs. Explore 30 vs. Tenba DNA 15?
Ashlandish wrote:
I had a an F-Stop Anja, the design of which I really like but which was not comfortable for me. I gave it to my brother, who finds it more comfortable than I did, and now use a Shimoda 40 which I find more comfortable, given it's adjustable straps. A backpack comfortable for one may not be comfortable for another--an important consideration. I've travelled with the Shimoda Explore 60 and Explore 40 without significant issue, so I imagine the Explore 30 or X30 would be mostly fine as long as your MacBook Pro fits...
I find a problem with a lot of the hiking camera bags (Shimoda/Fstop) etc is that for anything more than a day hike, they largest mass is always positioned at the bottom of the back, sometimes away from your back, due to the way the camera inserts are designed. Ideally you want the heaviest in the mid pack, against your pack.
It's fine for short hikes but for anything longer than a few hours it can really throw you off.
p.1 #19 · Best Camera Travel Backpack: Think Tank Urban Access 15 vs. Shimoda Action X30 vs. Explore 30 vs. Tenba DNA 15?
BPsmith511 wrote:
I find a problem with a lot of the hiking camera bags (Shimoda/Fstop) etc is that for anything more than a day hike, they largest mass is always positioned at the bottom of the back, sometimes away from your back, due to the way the camera inserts are designed. Ideally you want the heaviest in the mid pack, against your pack.
It's fine for short hikes but for anything longer than a few hours it can really throw you off.
I agree. I use the Shimoda for mostly for travel and shorter day hikes, and a true backpacking pack (with less camera gear) for longer distances...
p.1 #20 · Best Camera Travel Backpack: Think Tank Urban Access 15 vs. Shimoda Action X30 vs. Explore 30 vs. Tenba DNA 15?
Thanks for the tip. I just impulsively ordered the last one available for $99
sandycrane wrote:
I'm glad you mentioned this bag. I just ordered the 25 because I like the features, but do not need the larger size (I think). It seems to offer easy access to the camera plus usable space for other gear. Both are on sale at Amazon. I got the Ultralight 25 for $99.
I need to finish the interior storage and use it for a while, but so far it looks as good as I hoped it would from reviews and other users.