Hands-On Review: Think Tank Logistics Manager 30

Sometimes it’s the most boring thing you buy, which gives you the most satisfaction.

The Think Tank Logistics Manager 30 is one of those boring things.

It’s not a new fancy camera with loads of features. Neither is a new fast and sexy lens with a wide aperture.

No, it’s just a bag on wheels.

But what a bag!

While writing this review, I’ve extensively used and tested the Think Tank Logistics Manager 30 for over 18 months in Danish weather, a.k.a. sun, rain (lots of rain), and snow.

And in this review, I’ll tell you why I consider this bag one of my most valued possessions.

Features

First, let’s talk about the specs. I’ll expand on a lot of these features throughout the review:

• The bag has a highly customizable interior due to the high-quality and rigid dividers
• You can easily fit multiple camera bodies, lenses, flash heads, batteries and power packs, tripods, and small light stands.
• It is possible to fit up to an 800mm f/4 lens (great if you’re a wildlife or sports photographer or videographer)
• There are a lot of exterior pockets and interior pockets for accessories and cables to keep things well protected and well ordered.
• It is possible to secure a tripod or light stand on the side of the back with the included straps
• The bag has excellent reinforced protection against curbs and stairs
• The high-quality in-line skate wheels can easily be replaced
• The expandable front pocket can hold a 17″ laptop
• It comes with a sturdy and retractable handle
• There are multiple grab points for lifting
• The two lid straps hold the lid open at whatever angle you prefer
• There are lockable sliders plus a cable and lock included, which makes it possible to lock the bag to e.g. a lamp post or fence.
• The included rain cover covers the whole bag and there’s a hole for the handle.
• Molded plastic serial plate with the possibility of registering the serial number on the manufacturer’s website so that if the bag is lost, the number can be used to trace its owner.
• Limited lifetime warranty

Dimensions

The dimensions Think Tank Logistics Manager 30 is as follows:

• Internal (approximately 3600 cubic inches of storage):
  • Width=13.75”/35 cm
  • Height=27.5”/70 cm
  • Depth=8.25”–10”/21-25 cm
• Exterior Dimensions:
  • Width=15.75”/40 cm
  • Height=30”/76 cm
  • Depth=11.5”/29 cm
• Weight:
  • 16–20 lbs (7.3–9.1 kg) – it depends on which of the accessories you use

Why I chose the Think Tank Logistics Manager 30 Roller Bag

Okay, so with all the specs out, let me start by writing a little about why I chose this particular bag after doing extensive research.

The primary reason I chose this roller bag is that I don’t drive a car.

In other words, I depend on public transportation whenever I have a job for a client.

Because of this, I needed a big, sturdy bag to hold all my heavy gear but also small and portable enough to bring it with me on trains and buses and the occasional taxi.

I’ve found that the Logistics Manager 30 ticks all those boxes.

The back easily fits all my heavy equipment like a couple of tripods and tripod heads; light stands, V-Mount Batteries, cables, and gaffers tape – don’t forget the gaffers tape!

What I do is that I then wear a backpack for my cameras and lenses and use the Think Tank Logistics Manager 30 for all my heavy gear and accessories.

This has proven to be an extremely versatile setup that I’ve used professionally for approximately 18 months.

Great build quality and protection

Taking public transportation with heavy gear is not fun if you don’t have the right gear. But the Think Tank makes it a breeze.

The bag is built to last and well designed. Whenever I bring it along, I find a new small detail that makes practical sense.

The retractable handle is of metal and hard plastic of some sort and has been able to stand being dragged around for 18 months with no signs of wear.

The bag is made from ballistic nylon and has a water-repellent (DWR) coating for light rain. The nylon fabric still holds up without signs of holes, tears, or bad seams.

The same can be said for the abrasion-resistant zippers, which – even though some of the pockets have been stuffed to the limit occasionally – still show no sign of wear and tear.

The high-quality in-line skate wheels make dragging the heavy load about into a soft and pleasant experience. And even though the wheels are easy to replace if needed, there are many hours left in the original set I still have on mine.

The heavy-duty and well-thought-out placement of multiple nylon grab points makes it easy to pick up the back and carry it upstairs, into a bus, or throw it in the back of a car or taxi when needed. I do this every trip and still see no signs of wear and tear on the seams.

One of my favorite parts of the exterior design of the Think Tank Logistics Manager 30 is the extra tall skid plates. The skid plates offer nice protection not only for curbs but also for stairs.

Because I often have to carry my bag up some stairs onto a bus or when I transition from a metro station to a train platform, these plates have saved my gear and my bag more times than I can count.

Great protection against the elements

If the weather turns sour, as it usually does here in Denmark, you can quickly pull out the included rain cover (if you remember to bring it).

I’ve successfully used the rain cover in both heavy rain and heavy snowfall.

And even though the sidewalk was all slush and snow, the bottom of the back didn’t let any of my gear get wet.

In short, I trust this back with my gear in all kinds of weather – even the one in Denmark!

Customizable interior

The interior of the Logistics Manager 30 is highly customizable due to the many dividers you get with the bag.

You get so many dividers that I didn’t know where to put all the extras when I had decided on a compartment division that worked for me. So I’ve stoved them away somewhere in my basement and couldn’t find them. That’s also why you don’t see all the extra dividers in my photos.

The dividers are reinforced and can stand the weight of some heavy gear. I don’t have an exact number, but they can easily hold cables for lighting, V-lock batteries, etc.

The velcro on the dividers is of very good quality and sticks to the interior sides of the bag like super glue, as it should.

It can get frustrating when you have to design your interior because as soon as the velcro catches the sides, it sticks and holds on tightly.

This is by no means a fault – quite the opposite – but I did use up my share of cuss words for the day when I put together my setup.

But I wouldn’t have it any other way, because of this quality, that I don’t mind trusting this bag with all my gear.

All the nice little details

Some say the devil’s in the details, but that’s not the case here with this… um… case.

As I’ve mentioned earlier, the Logistics Manager 30 is just a well-thought-out roller bag, whichever way you view it.

The internal mesh pockets are well placed, and I use them for accessories like my wireless Lavalier microphones, on-camera microphones, small cables (like HDMI and stuff), collapsible softboxes, clamps, and grids for my flexible Aladdin Bi-Flex LEDs.

I can even fit two of those and their protective cases in the bottom front pocket of my flexible LEDs.

Another thing I enjoy is the lid straps, which hold the lid open at whatever angle you prefer. This is so nice because it makes the lid with all the pockets much easier to command and makes everything within reach from one side of the bag.

It is just one of those things that I didn’t know I wanted until I got it. And now I appreciate it every time I open the bag.

Also, the in-built cable with a padlock is a nice feature if you’re running and gunning it in the field because you can easily chain the bag to e.g. a lamp post or fence.

Conclusion

It might sound like Think Tank paid me to do this review.

But that is not the case. I purchased this bag after extensive research, which has paid off.

Because in short, I love this bag.

The size and dimensions of this bag make it a perfect match if you want a lot of room for your heavy gear but can’t or won’t sacrifice portability.

The build quality is excellent and some of the best – if not the best – I’ve ever seen in a bag.

The nylon fabric and handles are tough!

The DWR coating protects against light rain, slush, and moisture. And if that isn’t enough, the rain cover will protect against heavy rain and snow.

The skid plates help protects against curbs and stairs.

The wheels are tough but soft to the ground, making dragging this case behind you a nice and quiet experience.

While I use it for my tripods, light stands, and other accessories and prefer to carry my camera and lenses on my bag, you can easily transform it to fit your needs due to the many reinforced dividers that come with the bag.

And if you’re a wildlife photographer, sports videographer or want an excellent bag for your film gear, you’ll be happy to know that the Think Tank Logistics Manager 30 can fit multiple camera bodies and long lenses. You can even place a tripod on the outside of the room inside gets too tight.

I don’t have anything bad to say about this bag.

But of course, yes, I wish it would fit in the overhead compartment of a plane. But that would mean that it had to be smaller. And I don’t want that.

And yes, sometimes I wish to fit more of my gear in this bag. But I can get bigger bags, which can do that. But that would make them less portable, and I also don’t want that.

In short, if you’re looking for a portable, high-quality roller bag with lots of room for your video or photography gear then the Think Tank Logistics Manager 30 gets my highest recommendations.