Ever since I upgraded from an 11″ MacBook Air to a 13″ Retina MacBook Professional, I’ve been trying to find the excellent hybrid laptop and digicam bag — a compact backpack that might maintain my laptop computer, DSLR, lenses, and equipment on the similar time. Six months in the past, I coated a number of MacBook/camera bags from Incase, together with the DSLR Sling Pack I’ve beloved for years, and larger “Pro” options for bigger laptops. Every hybrid bag makes totally different compromises: for my wants, the Sling Pack’s too small, and the Professional baggage are too massive. However customers of 11″ MacBooks may discover the Sling Pack “good.”
Seeing potential in a brand new various, I jumped on the alternative to check Booq’s upcoming Slimpack ($195), a MacBook-sized evolution of its earlier iPad/DSLR backpack $145 Python Slimpack. Booq makes wonderful baggage, however aside from providing a multipurpose digicam/headphone compartment in Boa Flow, it hasn’t taken a deep dive into the camera-laptop hybrid class. Whereas the brand new Slimpack’s laptop computer compartment is only a trace too small for the 13″ MacBook Professional and iPad Professional I’m at the moment utilizing, it’s right-sized for 12″ or smaller MacBooks, in addition to 10″ or smaller tablets, any of which will be paired with a full-sized DSLR, three or 4 lenses, and equipment. Bundled with a rain protect and Booq’s customary Terralinq loss restoration safety system, it’s a really good bag, and one I would definitely use if I swap to a 12″ MacBook subsequent yr…
|
Key Particulars:
|
Hybrid DSLR and laptop baggage at all times encompass the identical two ideas: a reasonably deep, segmented compartment that manages lenses, digicam our bodies and associated equipment, alongside a significantly thinner, padded space designed to carry a laptop computer or pill. A well-designed bag makes it simple to seize your digicam as wanted with out totally disassembling the bag, supplies comfy padded straps to your physique, and gives sufficient room to accommodate your alternative of computer systems.
Slimpack is certainly a well-designed bag, and follows Booq’s custom of good-looking execution. Grey in shade with silver and black metallic accents, it seems nearly mild grey underneath vibrant mild, whereas its mid-gray tones and darker accents stand out when seen from different angles. In contrast to its predecessor Python Slimpack, which was made with ballistic nylon, the brand new mannequin is made with Bionic material — a weave of 47% recycled PET and 53% cotton that’s weatherproof, with a texture that’s someplace between waxed canvas and denim. The feel and appear are skilled, whereas giving no clues as to what’s particularly contained in the compartments.
Slimpack additionally has two sturdy padded mesh shoulder straps with non-compulsory chest and waist buckles for added reinforcement, notably redesigned from Python Slimpack to get rid of what was beforehand a passive (however small) iPhone-holding compartment on one strap. Whereas there’s a double zipper that runs in a U form throughout the again, opening the bag to totally reveal separate laptop and digicam compartments, there’s additionally a padlock-friendly double zipper on the highest that may present fast (or secured) entry to your digicam with an connected lens. The entire exterior zippers have good leatherette pulls held along with metallic Booq logos.
The digicam compartment begins in a seven-compartment grid that may most certainly have to be custom-made to your specific wants. My lengthy zoom lens, as an illustration, required me to show two small compartments into one by eradicating a central Velcro-tipped divider, and protecting a lens connected to my DSLR’s physique required opening one other compartment, slicing the preliminary 7 areas down to 5. However that’s greater than sufficient area for all of my regular gear, leaving one area for a journey or laptop accent resembling a multi-port USB charger. The inside of the bag is properly padded and lined with an opulent comfortable material.
On the pc aspect, Booq makes use of a Velcro-secured, padded laptop computer sleeve that’s nearly as massive because the bag’s full footprint — that is the opposite main distinction versus the sooner Python Slimpack. The brand new mannequin’s sleeve has expanded from iPad-sized to incorporate sufficient area for an 11″ MacBook Air or 12″ MacBook. Because the photographs present, the sleeve is somewhat wider than the 11″ MacBook Air, and needn’t stretch to accommodate Apple’s smallest, thinnest laptops.
Sadly, the compartment is actually solely millimeters shy of extensive sufficient to carry a 13″ MacBook Professional, which is an actual disgrace given {that a} pretty simple modification would have expanded Slimpack’s compatibility to incorporate the 13″ MacBook Air, 13″ MacBook Professional, and 12.9″ iPad Professional. That mentioned, gadgets that do match contained in the sleeve are properly padded on all sides in opposition to injury, and the bag’s footprint is manageable.
Slightly than hiding your equipment in nooks throughout the digicam compartment, like Incase largely does with the DSLR Sling Pack, Booq as an alternative locations two massive aspect pockets on Slimpack’s outer edges, opening to disclose related however not an identical flaps. Every has a zippered lengthy mesh pocket able to holding just about something smaller than an iPad mini. One arrives with a rain poncho and Terralinq (use a serial quantity to discover a misplaced, not stolen bag) registration card inside, whereas the smaller pockets alternate between pen/pencil holders and passive flash card/spare battery/accent compartments. You’ll additionally discover a removable keychain and an elastic strip inside.
If you wish to carry a tripod, Booq supplies a considerably secured possibility. In contrast to Incase, which makes use of side-mounted straps to passively connect a tripod to the DSLR Sling Pack, Booq features a thick nylon pull on the bag’s entrance. You’ll be able to tug it all the way down to reveal a pocket close to Slimpack’s backside, which holds the tripod’s backside whereas a hideaway buckle is meant to come out close to the higher heart of the bag, underneath the Booq brand, holding the tripod’s prime. The one subject I had with Slimpack was that the hideaway buckle was lacking on my overview unit, which in any other case arrived totally appointed.
Thought-about in totality, Slimpack is mainly a direct competitor to Incase’s DSLR Sling Pack, with sure benefits and drawbacks that will swing you in the direction of one alternative or the opposite. Each baggage have roughly the identical laptop computer/pill and digicam capability, however the DSLR Sling Pack is healthier for customers preferring single-strap, across-the-chest entry to their gear, and Slimpack is healthier for customers who want the extra physique help that twin straps can present, the rain poncho, and/or a secured quick-pull digicam compartment. There’s a reasonably vital value distinction between the luggage, favoring Incase’s choices, however in the event you like the appear and feel of Booq’s designs, Slimpack might be proper up your alley when it hits shops on January 4. The marginally smaller Python Slimpack stays accessible for iPad customers.
| Producer: Booq |
Value: $195 |
Compatibility: MacBook (12″), MacBook Air (11″), All 9.7″ or smaller iPads |
|---|
Extra From This Writer
Take a look at extra of my reviews, How-To guides and editorials for 9to5Mac here! I’ve revealed a whole lot of totally different subjects of curiosity to Mac, iPad, iPhone, iPod, Apple TV, and Apple Watch customers, in addition to a last-minute holiday gift guide for Apple fans, a great holiday gift guide for iPhone users, a detailed holiday gift guide for Mac users, and a separate holiday gift guide for Apple photographers.
FTC: We use revenue incomes auto affiliate hyperlinks. More.
