The Adventure 9 is a modern backpack designed for the SLR photographer with a pro digital or film SLR (such as Canon's EOS 1D Series or Nikon's D2 Series) with a grip and 5" lens attached, several additional lenses, a flash, accessories and a laptop. The completely foam-padded lower compartment protects photo equipment, while the large top compartment holds a light jacket, lunch or other necessary items. Inside the top, a Pop-Off Pocket™ keeps AC adaptors and laptop cords organized. A separate, completely foam-padded compartment provides quick access to a laptop (such as Apple's 17" PowerBook G4, 17" MacBook Pro or other laptops up to 15½" x 11" x 2" in size) without disturbing photo gear.
Double zipper pulls provide quick access to photo gear while a weather flap and quick-release buckle provide security and weather protection. Inside the main compartment, foam pillars support the camera with lens attached, ready for action, while adjustable, foam-padded dividers protect other equipment. Tamrac's patented Memory & Battery Management System™ uses red flags to identify available memory cards and batteries from ones that are used up. A Windowpane-Mesh™ pocket organizes filters, cables and other accessories.
Two mesh side pockets provide quick access to accessories and water bottles. The comfortable, foam-padded backpack harness with sternum strap is contoured to distribute the weight of the camera gear across the shoulders. The harness also features Tamrac's Strap Accessory System™ attachment points for customizing this pack with optional Tamrac S.A.S.™ products. Two lash tabs on the bottom allow a tripod to be carried (requires accessory straps).
What fits inside
pro digital or film SLR (such as Canon's EOS 1D Series or Nikon's D2 Series) with a grip and 5
I have some critics about the Tamrac:
•First of all it don't come with any tripod holding
mechanism. It's really a shame. you can manage to attach a
small lightweight tripod in the side pocket but with no
good strapping solution. I didn't try the optional "tripod
support" at the bottom but I am sure it won't be useful with
an heavy and long tripod (like the 055XPro I own).
•The abdominal belt fasten mechanism is not well designed
and you can easily loose all the plastic parts. It happen to
me and now I have to knot it!
On the other side:
•It's probably one of the only bag that can handle a 17"
MacBook Pro.
In the bag
Left Side (top to bottom)
Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM
Rocket Blower and cleaning cloths
Middle
Canon EOS 5D + BG-E4 + E1 Strap
Canon EF 17-40mm f/4 L USM
Canon 430EX Speedlite
Right
Canon EF 70-200mm F/2.8L USM IS
Lid compartment
Battery magazine for BG-E4
CANON TC80N3 Remote
SanDisk Ultra II CF Cards (2, 2, 1 Go)
canon 5d
The Tamrac Adventure 9 is a standard backpack style bag. Unlike the Computrekker it doesn't make you look like Boba Fett with a jetpack when you strap it on your back. It has 2 main compartments with the bottom being padded and molded and the top being soft. Walking around it is very comfortable, but the problem with taking stuff out without putting it down becomes apparent. The bottom opens as a flap with the danger of things just tumbling out if it is upright. The bottom compartment is also a little smaller comared to the other 2 bags. In this bag the 70-200 is too large to be mounted on the camera and none of the hoods can be on any of the lenses, even reversed. In this bag all the hoods live in the top compartment with some of the other accessories.
On the other hand, just like the slingshot there are pockets and zippered things galore! This bag even comes with a little tear out pouch for the little accessories like battery chargers or whatever you want to put in it. What I like the most is the fact that my 17" HP or my 12" iBook can be put into the back zippered compartment and I don't have to really take off the pack in order to take it out. The top compartment is big enough to hold a lunch if you can get them around the lens hoods.
size comparisons with Lowepro Slingshot 300 AW (centre) and Tamrac 5749 Velocity 9 (right)
Now that I have all three of these bags I still can't decide which one I lile the most. I think that I will be getting rid of my Computrekker consideing I have a Pelican case that I can use to store my other equipment I'm not using. I like the Adventure 9 for all the extras that it can carry, the Slingshot because it's easy to get to the stuff that you need and the Velocity for the fact that it's very adaptable. I might end up taking 2 of the three bags when I go on my Italy trip..... So much for traveling light! Overall I've been gravitating towards the Slingshot for my daily carry, but I haven't been out and about with the Adventure 9 yet. Maybe I'll post more info when I do take it out more.
What works
-Lots of space to put larger items -Hold a laptop -Comfortable with both straps on and pack loaded -Not molded on the top compartment -Doesn't make you look like an astronaut on the moon
Room for improvement
-Not as quick to pull equipment out -Bottom compartment smaller than the other 2 bags -Hoods can't be on lenses
In the bag
Canon EOS 20D with grip
Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L USM with hood
Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM with hood
Canon EF 70-200 f/2.8L IS USM with hood
Canon EF 50mm f/1.8
Canon EF 2X Extender
2 Delkin AA battery cases (holds 8 AA each)
2 BP511 Batteries
420EX flash
Canon Off Camera Shoe Cord 2
Large Rocket blower
Vortex Media Warm Cards
Gepe Compact Flash Holder for 4 cards
Newton Di100FR2 folding flash bracket
Hoodman HoodLoupe Professional
Neck Strap
canon 20d
After checking out the reviews on here and looking at it in the shop I decided this would be the perfect bag to take on an upcoming trip OS. I needed something to take the camera equipment and a laptop and associated goodies. I was very happy to see that the 70-200 VR would fit down one side of the bag allowing a lens to be left mounted to the D200. The bag is well made and sits on your shoulders well. The addition of the waist and chest straps are great as it does tend to weigh a little bit with all of the gear in there. The zippers are easy to use and the extra snap buckles on the front to secure the camera section are good. Overall I am happy with the bag, but will update this after my trip OS next Feb.
What works
Everything I need for the trip fits and I still have a little room for some snacks. The straps are wide and well padded. The addition of the chest and waist straps are welcomed as they help to stabilise and distribute the weight more evenly.
Room for improvement
The waist strap is not as robust as the one on my Lowepro Slingshot 300AW. I would like the pop off bag in the top section to be a little larger to accommodate more cables and cords.
In the bag right now i've only got my Nikon D70s w/ 18-70mm, Rocket blower, cords etc and my SB-800 .....more will fit... but haven't had the time/$ to fill it ! it will be interesting to see if the 70-200 will fit in it .... most likely ill have to get a bigger pack or a pelican case for my long glass ...
