Camera bags
Woman, Man
We were excited to test this Vanguard in the field because the current leading brand in outdoor photo backpacks, F-stop, has put the bar high. So, we used this Vanguard for many months for many mountain reportages, on international triathlons. In the rain, the desert, on motorbikes, ski touring, we took it through its paces.
Firstly, the Vanguard Alta Sky 45D is tough, resists against bangs, tearing, sand in the zips. It is very carefully made, no stitching showed signs of weakness. Secondly, it has loads of pockets and all sorts of storage spaces. This is very practical, or annoying, that depends! We thought that there were maybe a few too many. When you quickly need to put a lens away, change it, or a memory card, you have to remember exactly where they are.
The upper compartment is very practical because it is quickly accessible. The lower compartment was used for damp kit or food, it opens quickly with a zip. Two straps allow you to attach a tripod (then you become very wide and so narrow forest trails are a bit tricky. We preferred sticking it into the vertical rain cover pocket. The idea for the memory card storage is good but the Velcro isn’t very strong, so we preferred putting them in a zip pocket , which is much safer to avoid losing them. But remember to zip it up because the zip is vertical.
The pack enables you to carry two pro lenses, and several other lenses, a flash and accessories. The varying storage volumes are well protected with thick foam padding. You can really pack it up because the carrying comfort is excellent, very well designed, so comfortable for long hours on your back. We would’ve liked a water bladder pocket. There is a storage space for a computer.
The photo section of the pack opens at the back using a zip that opens with one hand. Watch out if you are on a slope, the pack likes to roll over. Another detail, Vanguard should’ve put the bottom of the shoulder straps on the extremity of the base (left and right): as it is, if the zip cursors are at the bottom of the central opening, you have to move the bottom of the shoulder straps to be able to grab the zips and open them. What a palaver. Position the cursors at the top of the pack, but this means you have to open both cursors to open the Vanguard completely. We did like the orange zip tags a lot; they are very easy to see.
The shoulder straps are really comfortable and the waist belt too. The pack is really comfortable to carry. The pack is actually quite small and narrow which allows you to slip through narrow places.
We liked the two handles that you can very quickly grab the pack. The one at the base of the pack could be a bit bigger so your fingers can slip under it more easily. Both are very tough though.
The rain cover envelops the Vanguard Alta Sky 45D really well. Although we did lose it quickly unfortunately, we would’ve liked a more secure attachment system.
The weight 2.2kg is in correlation with the pack’s toughness. It may not be the lightest on the market, but it is very tough and durable.
The Vanguard Alta Sky 45D is a tough and very comfortable photo pack, which you can carry easily for hours and hours. It’s missing one or two functions; pocket for water bladder, storage space simplification and a rain cover that you don’t lose, if it’s going to be the 100% top pack. Your kit though is extremely well protected.
We used this equipment over a long period of time
These are our thoughts after intensive use:
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