No more backpacks or satchels.

I think I first started to realize it at the Daytona 200 this year: Backpacks and shoulder bags just won’t work for me.

No matter what I did, no matter where I went, I simply wasn’t satisfied with the uncomfortability of a shoulder bag or the slow and restrictive storage of a backpack. I know I said in a previous post that the Kata 3N1-20 was my new favorite go-to bag and a pretty good compromise, but after that weekend at the track I was looking for something totally different. Changing lenses at night and in a hurry was a clusterfuck, and I found myself putting the bag on the ground more often than doing the whole sling-to-the-side thing. It ended up getting in the way more than it helped, and I almost took a header off  the back of a zuma (scooter) while trying to hitch a ride to another part of the track because of it. The Kata may be ok for casual use or a weekend shooter, but not when seconds count.

A few weeks after the race, I took a gamble and decided to purchase a Think Tank Modular Belt System with a Steroid Speed Belt and Pixel Racing Harness. After using that combo for the last few months, I can say with conviction that I’ll never be going back to a shoulder bag or backpack again. Why? Because the belt system is modular, comfortable, fast  – and doesn’t get in the way. Anything you need is right there on your hips, and the weight is evenly distributed all over. Need the 70-200? Bang. It’s right there ready to go, hood and all. Oh, need to grab the 16-35? Just reach down and swap it out. (hood is on that one already too). Filters, cable release, spare CF cards, cleaning cloth etc. all go in a little multi-chamber pack which holds a suprising amount of stuff.  Don’t need certain lenses weighing you down? Just un-velcro the carriers from the belt and leave them at home. The whole setup is very reminiscent of the old military load-bearing-suspenders and fanny pack setup, except Think Tank has made everything specifically for photo gear.

Seriously, I wish I had just picked one of these up years ago and saved myself all the hassle with backpacks and shoulder bags. It’s incredibly comfortable to wear all day long, and the quality of the materials and construction are simply top notch. It’s made of a mix of different types of nylon, and feels like it’ll last for a long, long time. I chose to go with the padded version but they make another set of pouches called the "skin" set that is made of just the nylon with no padding and weighs even less. I’ve worn mine on several occasions for more than 8 hours at a time without any fatigue or backaches whatsoever, which is something I wouldn’t dream of saying about any of the other bags I’ve previously used. Think Tank Photo says the all day comfort is due to the ability to shift the pouches around on the belt, which I can attest to. If you feel things pulling too much in one direction, you can slide the pouches freely to the front or the rear of the belt which distributes the weight differently. It really does work. Also, If you feel like wearing a backpack with say, a drink or lunch (or other gear) in it – you can. Try doing that with another bag.

So far, so good – it’ll be interesting to see how long the Think Tank belt rig can reign supreme for me.

I’m also starting to wonder if perhaps a spiderholster would be large enough to clip onto the belt as well… hmm.