Full disclosure: I, the author, personally own an Everyday 30L backpack. While I’m familiar with its flaws, I think its sheer versatility makes up for them. Rapid access from the top and sides means your gear is always close at hand. The bag has fully adaptable “shelves” for arranging both your photographic and personal effects. With dual water bottle holders and four tie-down straps, this bag can carry more than just cameras.
A certain transforming, giant robot theme song comes to mind when reviewing this backpack. The ingenious Shape Shifter was developed by and for photojournalists, foregoing standard padded dividers for padded pouches sized for a standard pro kit. Once you remove the equipment, you can zip the bag into a compressed form, making it easier to move easily through crowds. This bag’s shoulder straps were easily the most comfortable of any tested for this article. While this is a purpose-built bag for pro photographers, it’s still a wonderfully adaptable travel bag.
Made of the same hard-wearing, weatherproof, ripstop nylon as the more rugged Lotus, the ultralight Dalston is simple, and that's what makes it special. It weighs almost nothing, has a roll top, and the camera insert can be removed if you need to haul large loads. Access your camera gear from both sides of the pack via weatherproof zippers. This bag makes an excellent secondary bag, as it can be packed away easily in a larger bag then assembled quickly for use upon arrival.
