DSLR & Laptop Backpack Nature Wander 04( Grey, 18L) - with Waterproof Rain Cover for Shooting or Daily Use

SKU: KF13.044

  • 99.99
Overall Rating 4.8   222
Reviews
4
Superb budget option
I've searched around Amazon, YouTube, and various photography outlets, but I've yet to find a detailed review of such a popular bag. As someone who's career involves amateur photography, I want to provide a more in-depth breakdown of the bag's key qualities.Disclaimer: I bought this bag with my own money. This review is not sponsored by K&F C or anyone else. What I write here are my honest personal opinions.THE GOODUnderstated aestheticsThank the K&F C design team for not painting its logo in neon colors. Under most lighting conditions, the logo is nearly invisible. As many others have stated, this bag doesn't scream "expensive gear inside" to unscrupulous individuals.Well-made for the priceK&F C advertises this bag to be made from 800D nylon. Nylon is a popular material choice for rugged gear due to its high tensile strength (resistance to tearing), and 800D is considered a heavy weave (more threads per area). Its density is the reason behind its water resistance. K&F C incorrectly markets that the bag is waterproof; if you work in wet environments, you must use a rain cover (not included) as water can still easily seep through. The bottom area is wrapped in a faux leather material to prevent water/snow from breaching through the base. It also makes it easier to clean, although I wonder how well it can hold up to wear at the sharp edges and corners.Smooth zippers and double stitchingZippers are a bag's biggest failing points, often breaking long before the bag itself becomes worn out from abrasion. The K&F C bag uses zippers manufactured by SBS, the largest zipper manufacturer in China. It's a direct competitor to YYK, which I believe is the world's largest supplier of zippers. The ones on this K&F C bag are exceptionally smooth and feature large pull strings, but I can't comment on their longevity. Furthermore, load-bearing areas are double-stitched to mitigate tear.Maintains rigidity and offers plenty of protectionToo many times I've seen bags that sag when empty. Sagging could cause its load to shift around and fall out, not to mention that it looks unpleasant. Thankfully, the K&F C bag's two main dividers have stiff plastic boards in them. They not only help to prop the main camera to the top of the bag, but also prevent the bag from sagging when empty. There is plenty of padding, especially at the bottom and rear. An elastic strap at the top of the laptop compartment prevents your expensive PC from sliding out during a bumpy ride.Fairly comfortableLarge, padded straps evenly distribute the weight across your shoulders. You can also keep most of your heavy gear in the center column to add to the even balance. There's no waist strap, though, but this bag isn't meant to carry 50lbs of gear so it may not need it.Opens at the rearPrevents theft.The MEHNo luggage loopThere isn't a luggage loop to tether it to a luggage case handle. Not a big deal but it would be nice to have.No side pocketsBesides a tripod mount, there isn't a side pocket for a water bottle and other miscellaneous items.THE BADNo quick accessIt's nearly impossible to pull out your camera unless you completely unlid the rear camera compartment. Extra difficult when you have a long lens attached.It's tinyThe K&F C bag can struggle as a day pack. The front compartment becomes stuffy with just my notebook, wallet, and a 13" Macbook Pro. When closed, there's noticeable pressure being exerted on the laptop. I really don't like subjecting my PC to any potential for damage so this is one area I'm docking big points on--especially considering that you must lay the bag face-down to access the full camera compartment. The other option is to toss your day gear in the harder-to-access camera compartment, making frequently accessed items a paint to take out.Lacks depthElaborating on its size, the camera compartment is very shallow, too shallow for a large DSLR with a battery grip. You'll also need to lay medium-sized lenses sideways.Small tripod mountK&F C, for the love of god, make the tripod loop bigger. It doesn't even fit your own tripod.CONCLUSIONAt first glance, this bag deserves high-praise for its superb craftsmanship, solid padding, and good comfort. Still, the lack of a side pocket and anorexic front compartment can hamper its appeal. Ultimately, it's all about what you're carrying: it can handle most DSLRs/Mirrorless and a few lenses, but anything more and you'll be begging for more space.Side note: K&F C has released an alternative, cheaper version of this bag that now has the laptop compartment to the rear. Despite its more convenient access, I would absolutely still vouch for this version for one simple reason: the shoulder straps on this version attaches to the main body, which means that they would bear the full weight instead of the zippers. As much as I want to trust the zippers on the new version, its cheaper price leads me to believe it's cut corners somewhere, something I don't want anyone to risk considering the catastrophic consequences.
12/01/2020