Think Tank Urban Access 15 Backpack, Black

2024-03-09T07:59:33

Well made, perfrect for FF camera 2 tele zoom lenses and a standard zoom and accessories air with quick access

DEAN D.

2023-12-20T19:00:00

So far this bag stores all equipment satisfactorily. However I feel the shoulder straps interfere with the zipper action.

Annalee

Originally posted at

2023-01-28T19:00:00

The Urban Access 15 is an excellent backpack for multi-purpose travel. I was able to test it out on a recent trip to the Grand Canyon National Park, Saguaro National Park, and Sedona, Arizona, in winter (January), which included hiking and air travel on smaller, regional flights. The Urban Access 15 worked great for air travel, hiking, and as a general walk-around backpack. During air travel, I was able to comfortably carry a Canon 5D Mark IV, three lenses (Canon 16-35 f/4 L, 24-70 f/2.8 L II, 70-200 f/2.8 L II), binoculars without a case (Swarovski SLC 10 x 42 HD), filters in a MindShift Filter Nest Mini case, the included rain cover, noise-cancelling headphones inside a case (Bose QuietComfort 35 II), and a book inside the main compartment of the backpack. In the top compartment, I carried sunglasses in a case, two spare camera batteries and battery charger, flash cards, a phone charger, medicine, and a small journal (Lochby Pocket Journal). In the front pocket, I carried a light fleece jacket. For comparison, I also own the MindShift Backlight 26L. I would choose the MindShift Backlight over the Urban Access 15 for hiking and field work, but wanted to give the Urban Access 15 a try on this trip. I am 5 ft. 11 inches tall and have a medium build. The Urban Access 15 sits a little lower on my back than the MindShift Backlight 26L, which makes the MindShift Backlight 26L slightly more comfortable to wear. Things I liked: -Design, appearance & size: The Urban Access 15 has a nice appearance, shape, and size for travel. It has a simple and streamlined exterior, just fits in the overhead bin of a small airplane, holds a good amount of gear, and looks great. The laptop pocket is well designed, nicely fits my 14-inch MacBook Pro, and is essential for commuting or travel. The bottom of the Urban Access 15 is made out of a durable nylon material. -Quick side-access panels: The ability to access gear from either side of the bag, without taking off the bag and setting it the down on a surface, was the main reason I purchased the Urban Access 15. The side-access system works great. It was relatively easy to access my Canon 5D Mark IV with a 70-200 f/2.8 lens attached (lens hood reversed) from the side-access panels. The side-access panels have zippered mesh pockets on the inside that are useful for carrying smaller and flatter items such as lens hoods. -Comfort: The Urban Access 15 is comfortable to wear while walking and hiking. The backpack harness / straps are well padded and rest nicely on the back and shoulders. The load lifters, sternum strap (removable), and waist belt (removable) significantly increase comfort and nicely stabilize the bag while walking and hiking. -Top compartment: The top compartment is a great place to store and easily access small essentials. It includes a key strap. The mesh pocket on the underside of the lid is useful for carrying a passport or wallet. For me, the top compartment makes the Urban Access 15 a better overall travel bag than the MindShift Backlight. -Front & side pockets: The front and side pockets remain small and streamlined while empty. The front pocket can easily hold a lightweight jacket, hat, gloves, and crampons (inside a protective case). The magnetic buckles make it easy to access the front pocket. The side pockets each held a sizeable water bottle (Hydroflask 32 ounce Lightweight Wide Mouth Trail Series). The tripod cup and attachment straps can also be used to carry hiking poles. -Main compartment: The main compartment is large and can hold more than enough camera gear for travel. The divider system in the main compartment is easy to customize and organize. The loop-attachment system along the sides of the main compartment nicely reinforces the dividers and support the weight of heavy gear even when there is empty space below the divider. Things that could potentially be improved: -Zippers for top compartment and side-access panels: These zippers worked fine, but are smaller and seem to be less heavy duty than the zipper used for the main compartment. I expect they will hold up over time, but I wonder if a slightly heavier-duty zipper would work better, especially for the top compartment. -Straps for securing water bottles in side pockets: When the straps are tightened to secure water bottles in the side pockets, the straps make the pocket zipper curve inwards in a way that makes it difficult to zip the side-access panel (I often had to loosen the strap to zip the panel closed, which somewhat defeats the purpose of the strap). This would be less of an issue when carrying a single water bottle in one side pocket and using the other side-access panel (without a water bottle) to access gear, but on longer hikes, I needed to carry two water bottles. Overall thoughts: Overall, this is an excellent backpack and I will likely use it as a primary travel photography bag for multi-purpose trips that include a combination of city and nature travel.

Jonathan M.

Originally posted at

2021-10-21T20:00:00

I bought this bag so that I could use a backpack but at the same time change lenses on the go on my assignments. I really like the build quality (typical ThinkTank quality) and the fact that you can access your gear from both sides and plus the back. This way I can divide the interior into 3 sections, one item is available from one side, another from the other side, and one item in the middle, available from the back opening. A very versatile, beautiful bag that I really enjoy using.

Daniel D.

Originally posted at

2021-10-05T06:10:42

I haven't used the bag much since I just recently purchased it. I am a huge fan of ThinkTank's products. I'm excited to use this bag for everyday shoots and traveling. My only issue is the the price, but that just comes with the territory when shopping for quality camera equipment and accessories.

SARAH B.

2021-08-21T20:00:00

I purchase this Backpack to take on my vacation. It was exactly what I need to keep my camera and gear safe.

Greg P.

Originally posted at

2021-02-13T19:00:00

I was looking for a travel backpack to fit Fuji X-T3 and X-T10 bodies along with a 100-400 lens, two other lenses, laptop and assorted accessories. I tried a few other packs but they were not good for mirrorless - way too deep so my cameras drifted around too much. B&H recommended this one and it fits everything I'd need for a photo trip securely. I like the narrow profile and sleek look of this customizable pack too and it's comfortable when fully loaded. Good straps and padding.

Debbie

Originally posted at

2021-02-07T19:00:00

More than I expected.! Great camera bag, fits everything I need a little more. Definitely my new travel bag, once we can travel again.! I recommend this Bag..!!

Conrad V.

Originally posted at

2020-10-08T20:00:00

Been a hobbyist photog for 25 years and have always been on the lookout for the perfect bag. And after looking at everything out there, I think I found it. Sturdy and brilliantly designed. Allows access from three ports. High-quality zipper (never underestimate how critical this is). Expandable exterior pockets for bottles or a rain jacket. Loads of zippered pockets. Rugged but good-looking fabric. A tripod carrier. And, and it stands up straight and sturdy. Think Tank managed to incorporate nearly everything I was looking for in a bag. Only thing I would recommend for a future design is to incorporate a sewn-in rain cover. One is included, but it is loose and loose means it could be lost. Still, quibbling point.

Jeff L.

Originally posted at

2020-09-17T20:00:00

First heard of this bag from YouTube filmmaker Potato Jet and after seeing the item on his video of it, it got me curious to try. I recently took this out on a hike and it has EVERYTHING suited for my gear for outdoors and traveling. I especially LOVE the quick access side openers and all the unique accessibilities of the bag. I highly recommend this bag for photographers who are looking for a high quality, stylish bag to pack their gear.

Sean-Michael D.

Originally posted at

2020-09-10T20:00:00

The good stuff: It looks nice, it feels almost rugged and even if I can't fit everything perfectly inside (like a Ronin S) it still is a lot customizable on the inside. It is very well padded and comfortable too. The not so good stuff: One of the main reasons I bought this bag was for 'Dedicated laptop pocket fits 15" laptop'. Unfortunately I cannot fit my 14,5" Lenovo X1in there, not even with a tight fit. If the '15" laptop' only refers to certain brands, they should be mentioned in the specs and I am quite disappointed about this. I also would prefer to have the rain cover built in like LowePros bags. It takes almost no space, you can't lose it and it takes like 5 seconds to cover the bag.

Fredrik L.

Originally posted at

2020-03-06T17:44:05

I love everything about it. A lot of space for camera equipment and drone, adjustable compartments, laptop pocket.

Earl O.

2019-10-05T20:00:00

Its a backpack that doesn't scream "steal me, there is expensive camera gear in here". I love the heathered look of the fabric. It is very sleek. The nylon on the bottom also appears to be super durable as well. The materials are very high quality. The shoulder pads are that of your typical Think Tank bag, extremely comfortable, no surprises here. The interior is highly customizable with the included padded dividers. These new dividers have little straps that connect to the side to prevent motion, a very cool and useful innovation. The top storage pocket provides ample space for phone, sunglasses, wallet, etc. Overall, this is a fantastic bag that I can see myself using for a long time.

Cliff W.

Originally posted at

2019-09-25T20:00:00

This backpack is designed perfectly for daily use. It’s large enough to carry lots of gear but still portable and easy to use for daily transport of gear. Able to get a camera, multiple lenses, microphone, flash and even a small gimbal in the bag. Looks great too!

Mike M.

Originally posted at

2019-09-12T20:00:00

This bag is outstanding. I love the fact that there are few unnecessary designs on the outside of the pack- giving it a sleek, streamlined and modern design. Access to organization is excellent through the back panel and in use, the bag is just fantastic- really easy to swing the bag around and grab a camera, do a lens change, etc. The top pocket is great for sunglasses, phone, etc. Super comfortable back panel, straps and as always, top-notch materials and cover. I've been using my previous thinkTank backpack for over 6 years, all over the world and up and down Japan for thousands and thousands of kilometers with zero issues and minimal wear. I'm so happy I found this great design and look forward to bringing it with me on many jobs and personal photo projects! Awesome product for sure.

Stirling E.

Originally posted at