REVIEW: ThinkTankPhoto StreetWalker HardDrive

Here's a brief review on my newly purchased TTP StreetWalker HardDrive camera bag.


What I wanted: 
I'm soon heading overseas for my second extended trip in the last 12 months, and I decided it was time to get a proper carry-on bag for all the stuff I didn't want airport ground-crew throwing about... Specifically I needed something to take my 15" Macbook, all my camera gear (digital and film), cables & chargers, spare batteries & cards and Rocket Blower, as well a few Moleskine's and a spare shirt for transit. I needed something durable enough to take a beating and comfortable enough to wear for a whole days shooting around town. 


I looked at all the usual suspects (Kata, Lowepro, Tamrac, Domke, Billingham etc.) and eventually narrowed it down to the TTP StreetWalker HardDrive and ShapeShifter, settling on the StreetWalker HD due to the price and ability to carry bodies with the lens attached. During the decision process, all I read were emphatically positive reviews about ThinkTank products, and TTP themselves were very helpful via their a official flickr group: http://www.flickr.com/groups/thinktankphoto/

Design + layout:

Layout it quite simple; there is a full-length cavity in the back of the bag that opens externally for a laptop, then a large main compartment with a collection of dividers that takes up virtually the entire bag. Outside there's a scattering of small pockets, as well as a pull-out pouch for tripod legs to be attached (removable straps are included for securing the upper section of a tripod). There's also a removable rain-cover that you have to stow somewhere in the bag when not in use.

Build + durability:
The build quality of this bag is amazing, period. The ballistic nylon material feels very durable, the stitching is faultless and the zips and Tough As (YKK claims that the main zip is the 'world's most durable'...). The internal dividers are of excellent quality, as is the whole harness assemble. TTP also offers a lifetime guarantee on workmanship and materials for the original purchaser :-)

Performance:

I'll get the negatives out of the way first... To begin with, a rant about removable rain-covers. This is more a criticism of bag manufacturer in general, not just TTP, but when is someone going to come out with a sealed bag? These are not cheap, entry-level bags, and photographers aren't using them to protect cheap, entry-level gear... Removable covers are annoying to put on, annoying to store, and eventually you're going to lose them... Rucksack manufacturer like Arc-Teryx have been doing waterproof packs for years, o we know it can be done. That said, the cover supplied with the StreetWalker HD is well made with taped seams, and fits well. 


Secondly, and this isn't really a criticism of the bag's design, just my actual needs; it's too big... Not by much, but for my gear it's overkill. Unfortunately, this is basically the industry standard size for a backpack that can fit a large laptop... Thing is, this one is actually big enough for a 17" MacBook, and takes my 15" with rather a lot of room to spare... Note to ThinkTank: re-brand this model as the StreetWalker HD 'PRO', and release a new 'standard' StreetWalker HD with 3" chopped off the top. It means that you won't be able to carry 'Pro' dSLR bodies, or standard bodies with a battery-grip, but for a lot of people (like me) it'd be perfect ;-).

Now, the good stuff, and there's a lot! The layout of the bag works very very well. The zips for the main compartment open all the way, making it nice and easy to get at all your gear. The laptop compartment is also easily accessed, although I had a small issue here; why isn't the laptop compartment lockable? There's wonderful big lockable zips for the main compartment, but nothing to secure your $2000 laptop? Odd... 

To see tags of what I've got in the bag, go to the flickr page here.

The outer pockets work well to store your 'daily use' stuff when travelling. Eg. iPod, notebook, pens etc... There''s also two big clear pockets for cables/cards/batteries in the inside of the main flap, which make it easy to see what you're looking for.

The tripod system works well, and the pull-out pocket allows you to attach larger legs as well, while folding away neatly when not in use. 

The harness is very comfortable, and allows you to carry the bag fully loaded up for quite a while. In this sense the bag is the perfect size (despite what I said earlier), in that fully loaded with gear it's pretty much at the limit of how much you can carry and still be effectively mobile. The quality of hardware used here is easily equal to my Osprey expedition rucksack, which is saying something!  It's also well aerated, which is great for use in hotter climates.

The harness also works really well with the TTP Camera Strap and Camera Support Straps (sold separately), allowing you to suspend the camera you're using from the bag harness, rather than around your neck. I bought both these products with the StreetWalker and generally speaking they're very good quality and work well.


**Note** For any hikers out there, I also tested the Camera Support Straps on my Osprey Argon 85 rucksack and they work perfectly!

The bag is a nice square shape, which means that it sits up vertically without falling over when placed on the ground (seemingly unimportant, but a nice touch), and makes it easier to stow in overhead compartments when flying. It also has quite a clean exterior aesthetic, meaning that there's less stuff to get caught up in xray machines and so on. On that point, its worth mentioning that the bag complies with international carry-on standards.


Visually, I like the StreetWalker. Of course, this is purely subjective, but the bag has the typical purposeful TTP aesthetic, that avoids the techno Kata-ness, 'I-wish-it-was-the-50's' Billingham or sheer boredom of Lowepro. Simple, clean, mature and sexy (and doesn't look like a camera bag, which seems to be all the rage these days...).


Pros:
- Outstanding build quality, both material and workmanship.
- Thoughtful, well executed design.
- Very comfortable harness that works well with TTP camera support system.

Cons:
- Slightly too big (for me... Purely subjective)
- Laptop compartment isn't lockable.

Conclusion:
It is genuinely hard to fault this bag, it really is perfect in almost every way... Considering what the bag was designed for, the only criticism I can realistically apply is the lack of a lockable zip on the laptop compartment; peculiar on a bag designed for use in urban areas. Everything else demonstrates a very mature, subtle style of design that shows that this gear is designed for photogs, by photogs. If you need a versatile, bulletproof bag to last you a lifetime and keep your gear safe while you're on the move, look no further.


9.5/10


**Note** I have no affiliation whatsoever with TTP. I do not receive any gifts and so on from them. I paid for this gear out of my own pocket...