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I’m a big fan of Think Tank because I think they make excellent products for photographers and videographers.
I own both the Think Tank Logistics Manager 30, and the BackLight 36L Outdoor Backpack, and I love them both.
Think Tank has just released a new exciting bag called the Essentials Convertible Rolling Backpack, a hybrid of the two bags I already own.
In essence, it is a backpack that converts to a rolling bag whenever you need it. And the reinforced telescoping handle retracts into the bag when you want to carry it on your back.
That way, you can use the bag as a backpack when you hike through some rough terrain and transform it into a rolling back for an airport’s hard floor.
But you can easily use on the sidewalk because, like the Logistics Manager I own, the Essentials Convertible Rolling Backpack also has 80mm skater wheels and plastic protection that can handle quite a bit of bumpy roads.
When the wheels are worn out (which will probably take years), you can replace them yourself with some new wheels.
Size and Dimensions
The Essentials is sized to meet most airline carry-on requirements as it measures 12.6” W x 19” H x 8.3” D (32 x 48.3 x 21 cm). But always check with your airline to be sure.
The Essentials fits two DSLR or Mirrorless bodies, a 70–200mm lens mounted on one of those types of cameras, and multiple lenses. It also has a dedicated compartment for a 16-inch laptop.
The internal dimensions are 12.2” W x 16.5” H x 4.3–5.9” D (31 x 42 x 11–15 cm).
The weight is 7.2 lbs (3.3 kg).
Materials And Features
The ThinkTank bags I own can withstand the rainy conditions we have a lot of here in Denmark, Scandinavia. If they didn’t, I wouldn’t have bought them.
The Essentials bag is no different. It has a durable water-repellant (DWR) coating to combat the elements. And if that isn’t enough, you also get a seam-sealed rain cover included.
It has lots of sturdy dividers, so you can adjust it to your needs. And you’ll find lots of small pockets for accessories, a water bottle pocket, tripod/monopod mounting points, and good robust handles on three sides.
Summary
One of the reasons I like Think Tank products is that they’re just so damn practical. They’re clearly built with the professional user in mind, and they are hassle-free and a joy to use.
Besides that, the built-quality is really high.
The Essentials Convertible Rolling Backpack is the budget-friendly or entry-level model of convertible backpack from ThinkTank. But make no mistake, the built-quality and features are on par with the more expensive models.
The more expensive alternatives include the Airport TakeOff V2.0 and the Streetwalker V2.0 Rolling Backpack, which are also slightly bigger and fit up to a 400mm lens.
But if you need a light-weight convertible rolling backpack, and don’t need to carry such big lenses, you should definitely check out the Essentials.
The introductory price is $279.75 US. If you follow this link you’ll also get a free gift and free U.S. shipping on all orders over $50.
About the author:
Jan Sørup is a videographer and photographer from Denmark. He owns filmdaft.com and the Danish company Apertura, which produces video content for big companies in Denmark and Scandinavia. Jan has a background in music, has drawn webcomics, and is a former lecturer at the University of Copenhagen.
I enjoy my ThinkTank StreetWalker even though I am not sure which version I actually have. It holds one camera with a lens attached and then I can still fit two more camera bodies and three more lenses in the bag. I always like having one camera ready to go when I can and the StreetWalker allows me to do just that!
They make some great stuff. I’m glad you enjoy your bag. And as long as it fits your purpose, I don’t think it really matters what version it is. It will probably last you for a long time.