Think Tank Airport Essentials Bag (Black)

The best camera bags in the business. Awesome quality.

Best bag ever.

I already have the Think Tank Airport Security, and it's an excellent product, other than when full of camera gear, mine practically takes three men and a strong boy to heft it. In preparing for a trip to South Africa to photograph wildlife, I determined to downsize my equipment list to what could be taken on-board regional jets, on which we were to fly for parts of our trip, both here and in Africa. So, I really appreciated Amazon's format allowing me to ask this question of users of this product and was pleased to receive a positive affirmative answer.And that's the way it is. This bag - loaded with two Nikon D-3s bodies, an 80-400mm zoom, a 17-35mm zoom, a 24-120mm zoom, a 1.4 teleconverter and an SB 800 strobe still weighed in at 23 lbs. and easily fit in the overhead of every plane we traveled on. Plus, it's sufficiently well made and padded that if it did have to be gate checked, it would be okay. But it doesn't. In addition to its compact size, I appreciate this bag's inclusion of a locking cable by which the bag can be secured to a bench or other large item. I never would go away and leave my carryon luggage unattended, but even sitting next to it, it's nice to know that there really is no way somebody could snatch and run when you are not paying especially close attention.Yes, wheels would be nice, but that would also require some sort of retractable handle, and suddenly you'd be shut out of carrying the Airport Essentials on small airplanes.

Like many photographers its not the search for that perfect lens or camera its the Bag. We all want that "perfect" bag to handle all situations.I have tried several types and brands some excellent some good and some that should have never been considered.I've tried the one with the fancy straps and tie downs and separate compartments for camera gear, personal stuff and laptop, those work great.Anyhow let me get into the pros,cons and some of my views.Pros:Simple design one big compartment for camera gear and smaller front area for laptop and other personal items,I find it very easy to work with and out of, place it down, open it up and there are your lenses and everything else, when Im at a Restaurant or Coffee Shop working on photos and articles I can lay it on the seat next to me and get to my laptop, notebook and other gear, I use this time to charge up the batteries for my mirrorless cameras.The side handle, now at first I thought it was not needed since it has thet the top handle, I find that I use it quite often especially when putting it in a vehicle. (I have not tried using this bag on a flight but will soon)Water bottle-tripod pocket, I use mine for a water bottle, since I use my mirrorless cameras more than my DSLR, I find if you adjust the dividers that are meant for a Body with lens attached,a travel size tripod fits perfectly inside the main compartment no tripod sticking out and telling people you have camera gear.(I have a MeFoto Roadtrip)The shoulder straps, not bad so far I have not found them to be uncomfortable, I do like the loops at the end of the adjuster straps and the elastic keepers to keep the straps in place and from flopping around, I ride a motorcycle with the pack on and its nice not have straps hitting you and flapping about.The waist belt, not padded but it works, and being able to tuck it away a big plus.The lock was a big feature for me, I know if someone really wants my bag they can get it, but this slows them down I do lock it to my motorcycle.Cons:Not many, the top zipper compartment I wish was bigger, but it works,I wish there was a way to lock both the laptop and camera compartment together with one lock, I did buy an extra lock.In all I find it easy to wear and use. I did end getting a few Think Tank Photo Accesories and they work well too,I got the SD Pixel Pocket RocketThe small Credential HolderThe Power House Air, charger and accessory pouch..

This is a wonderful backpack. First off, yes, I have flown with it and had no issues on small regional flights. Fully loaded, this thing is extremely comfortable. I am a portrait and wedding photographer and on local jobs, prefer to ride my bike just for convenience. 4-5 mile rides with this are no problem. I have also taken it on 6-8 mile hikes with again, no issues. The build quality is fantastic with strong stitching and thick material that feels sturdy, but doesn’t add a lot of weight. The dividers are very stiff and overall, the inside of the pack protects gear very well. As a semiprofessional working paid jobs, I also like the slickness of the design. It looks professional. While the quality of my images is the ultimate sign of my abilities, clients confidence is important as well. I'd rather have them think I'm going to provide high quality images and then follow up on that. Here is a list of what I can pack into mine. Typically I won’t carry all of this, but the space is there.Bodies:Nikon D7100Nikon D5000Pentax 35mm film bodyLenses:Samyang 85mm 1.4 (attached to the D7100)Sigma 17-50mm 2.8Nikon 55-200 4-5.6Nikon 50mm 1.8Nikon 35mm 1.8 (with macro tubes attached)Pentax 50mm 2 (attached to the Pentax)Tokina 28-70 3.5-4.5Other:12.5 inch laptop and mouse (sometimes with the charger)Two spare batteries for the digital bodies2-3 spare rolls of 35mm filmFull sized flash and wireless triggers4 spare AAs for the flashSmall 8 inch soft box3 77mm filters for the sigmaPortable battery pack and charger for the D7100Small first aid kitBottle of advil (for longer weddings)Spare caps, tools, contracts, business cards, pen, etc.…On the outside:33-inch umbrella65-inch tripodWater bottlePoint is, this bag can fit a ton of gear and STILL fit in the overhead. Combine that with the cable lock, and you’ve got a winning combination.