Comments about Think Tank Think Tank Urban Disguise 70 Pro - Briefcase Style Large Bag:

Rarely do I pay full retail for anything. With that being said, me buying the Urban Disguise 70 at full retail was money well spent.

I had a two week ½ vacation ½ wedding gig in Hawaii (touring four islands). I had a lot of ground to cover and I would be switching between driving to my next location or shooting at the location. I wanted to be able to have access to my cameras (two gripped Canon 5DIIs) at a moment's notice. I also wanted to be able to switch between my two cameras for different lens offerings (switching lenses in windy and sandy environments wasn't high on the must do agenda). And I needed to be able to pack it up in a snap and jump to my next location.

I had to decide between backpack or shoulder bag. Although a backpack probably offered more protection, the time penalty of the opening and closing of the bag while retrieving the camera, then shooting, and more opening and closing to pack the camera was simply too much. Wanting to carry two cameras, I also needed to worry about the weight implications. I thought, granted there would be a huge weight penalty on one shoulder at any giving time versus a better weight balance over two shoulders with a backpack, a shoulder bag, giving my shooting needs, was a better compromise solution.

My decision came down to either the Urban Disguise 70 Pro (UB70) or the Lowepro Classified 250 AW (C250). After about 20 minutes of comparing the two camera bags at a local camera store and a few hours online reading reviews, the two deciding factors were the construction of the outer shell flap and the zipper quality. The one piece outer flap/shell connected to the zippered opening on the C250 seemed a bit cumbersome when trying to retrieve the camera. A design quality that seems a bit "speed bumpish" if you will. I felt artificially slowed down. Also, the one piece flap design on the C250, although more aesthetically pleasing and more disguise-ish, didn't provide enough rigidity for my liking. The UB70, also with an outer flap design, had a distinct seam separating the flap from the zippered opening to the main camera bag. I felt this design offered more rigidity and helped the camera bag maintain its overall structure more. The UB70 seemed less likely to crease/fold from the center.

As an owner of FOUR Lowepro bags, I have yet to experience an issue with any of the zippers on my camera bags. With that being said, I would not suggest anything disparaging about the zippers Lowepro uses but the main zipper used on the UB70 simply instilled confidence. There was something that screamed build quality of a Sub-Zero Refrigerator. Solid.

The myriad of internal pocket were also intelligently design with excellent build quality as well. Each pocket and flap, although not explicitly outlined in my head, seemed to have a Swiss Army knife like purpose. From the removable all weather bag to the zippered pocket on the outer flap to the latch for my house keys, this bag fulfilled every photo gear bag related need I had for my Hawaii trip. All I had to do was concentrate on shooting. All my accessories, from lens a blower, to extra lens caps, to a remote shutter release, were kept organized and protected.

For two eventful weeks, I comfortably lugged around a pro sized body with a 70-200 F2.8 lens and another pro sized body with a shorter lens in this bag. Up the Diamond Head trail on Oahu for sunrise, throughout the white sand beach of Lanikai, and through Volcano National Park on the Big Island, this camera bag performed beautifully. I'm a Think Tank believer and follower. There's also an external pocket for bottled water. How wonderful is that?

Comments about Think Tank Think Tank Urban Disguise 70 Pro - Briefcase Style Large Bag:

holds my two slrs with long lenses with room to spare. It will fit under an airline seat. In all as a frequent traveler it answers all my needs.

Comments about Think Tank Think Tank Urban Disguise 70 Pro - Briefcase Style Large Bag:

Looks like a laptop bag. I'd hoped, however, to use it to bring my 400mm along. Since it's too short to fit the lens standing up, I had to lay the lens at the bottom and use the dividers to create a false bottom. This worked with the exception that it was hard to get access to the lens. The bag did make carrying the lens along for a "go light" trip, so I'm pleased overall. Just needed two inches of height to get to 5 stars.