Customer Reviews

Crumpler THE KARACHI OUTPOST Camera Backpack (Oatmeal/Dark Brown)

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I just brought the black version of this bad boy home after literally 45 minutes in the store trying to decide between this one and a couple of Lowepro backpacks (CompuRover AW and CompuTrekker AW), and I am excited. It comes with an orange interior instead of the blue one I have seen in online reviews. Having brought my laptop, a body and two lenses as a 'test kit,' I tried the bags out walking and jumping around the store and loading and unloading the bags. This is the bag I immediately became attached to and wanted to buy but I did stay and try out all the other ones to be fair (and because they were cheaper and easier to access).

I was forced into the market for a bag able to transport most of my shooting gear internationally as I now live in Hong Kong for much of the year and my sister-in-law asked me to help shoot part of her wedding in Maine. I don't want to check any of the glass, flash or bodies (chargers, bracket, etc I don't mind checking) for fear of losing or breaking it. I intend to use this bag mainly as point to point transport and don't intend to shoot out of it on the big day - the difficulty in accessing the main compartment would seem to preclude this for me.

I settled on the Karachi Outpost for three reasons - one, appearance - it is the same color scheme as my Crumpler "Dreadful Embarassment" bag (shallow, I know) and looks less like a camera bag, two because this felt like it was going to be the most comfortable to carry around fully loaded and third because it was so much more configurable than the Lowepro models (laptop sleeve removable, for instance).

It was a tough choice, however. I almost settled on the CompuRover AW for its lower cost (where I was) and easy access but once I explained how much kit I was going to carry, the saleswoman looked at me and said simply, "it won't fit in there." The CompuTrekker, while able to fit all the gear, didn't feel like it would have enough space when fully loaded, for the rest of the stuff I'd want to bring while traveling on long-haul flights (jacket, travel docs, change of clothes, neck pillow, etc).

I immediately brought it home and loaded it up with:

15 in macbook pro
Fuji Finepix S3 Pro
Nikon D200 w/ grip
SB800
SB80
Nikon 80-200/2.8 (old push-pull one)
Nikon 17-35/2.8
Nikon 28-70/2.8
Nikon 85mm/1.4 prime
Nikon 50mm/1.4 prime

It all fits snug as a bug even with the lens hoods reversed and attached to all the lenses. I doubt I'll have any trouble slipping my passport and travel documents in one of the side pockets, an extra t-shirt and boxers in the main compartment and a travel neck pillow cinched into the tripod strap so I am very happy indeed with my purchase so far.

I've worn it around the house, got the straps adjusted and am feeling pretty good. The straps make the bag really adjustable and it feels stable on my back especially with the sternum strap clipped in. I've been assured that its legal as a carry on and just hope that the people at the airport don't weight it because all that equipment is most assuredly over the allowable weight limit for a hand carried bag. However, even if forced to check it, the bag feels so well built and padded that I wouldn't be as worried about my stuff getting damaged, as stolen since 9/11 made luggage locks a thing of the past.

I've read someone in a review describe putting on this bag as getting into a well made bed. I would describe it more as feeling like sitting in the seat of a good european car. It's got that firm but well padded feeling of the seats on a German automobile which bodes well for my gear (when was the last time your bottom was hurt by sitting in an Audi or BMW?).

The main thing I like about this bag, however, is its configurability. With the ability to remove both the laptop sleeve and the camera equipment compartment (which neither Lowepro bag I tried could do), I can use this bag as a sole and truly capacious shooting bag if forced to by taking out the laptop sleeve and have room for even more equipment. I can also use it purely as a backpack for travel and always have the option to carry my laptop in a protected compartment.

A bonus is that it looks nice (IMHO) and to the uninitiated, at least, doesn't scream, "CAMERA BAG! STEAL ME!"

I REALLY like this bag. While I haven't had extended time using it, everything so far has been good with the possible exception of maybe wishing that there was just a bit more space for odds and ends, a few more organizer pockets and maybe external compression straps. But that's really nitpicking since there are pockets on the laptop sleeve itself appropriate for memory cards, etc and for a long time, I used a North Face climbing/rope bag with Domke inserts and towels as my transport bag - talk about no organizer pockets.

Another reviewer dislikes that the curved sides. I am annoyed somewhat by that as well, but don't think that will be a major issue for me. I could have gotten around this by putting the lenses on the sides (where the lens barrels would follow the the curve) but decided to load the bodies on the sides instead. I load my two bodies (without lenses) with the lens mounts facing out and the grips facing up so that they follow the countour of the bag and everything fits.

If the quality of my and my wife's other Crumpler bags is any indication, I'm expecting a long and satisfying experience with this bag. I'll come back and update if this isn't so.

I love the look and the way that the Karachi Outpost carries on my back, but I actually ended up having to send mine back because the internal design is... lacking. There just aren't enough small pockets to hold all of the little things like Flash Cards, filters, lense cleaning bits, business cards and whatnot. The big, removable pouch just isn't enough to hold everything I need, and I'm not really thrilled about having to put it all into one jumbled sack anyway. The curved interior walls make it a little difficult to reconfigure the internal dividers, too. So, all in all, it's a cool concept, but the execution focused more on "cool" than functional, unfortunately.

Crumpler THE KARACHI OUTPOST Camera Backpack (Oatmeal/Dark Brown)

You can never have too much RAM, too much money or too many photo backbacks. With that in mind, I set out to try the KARACHI OUTPOST from Crumpler.

My primary interest in this bag was it's ability to hold a 17' laptop and still fit in an airline overhead. Most camera/computer backpack combos only hold 15' laptops. The Karachi provides a well padded insert that easily holds my new unibody 17' MacBook Pro. The computer sleeve fits on top of the camera compartment. It's well designed and not a kludge like I've seen on other bags.

The bag is very attractive and doesn't look like a camera bag. That's a plus since it cuts down on the likely hood that thieves will target it.

Where this bag really shines is its unbelievable construction. It's very well made. There's nothing (and I mean nothing) cheap about it. The firmly padded shoulder straps set nicely on the shoulder. There is also a cross strap which ties the two straps together across your chest and d-rings for clipping small accessories.

41j3OjAZXSL._SS400_

Now lets talk about the zippers. This bag has the sturdiest and most durable zippers that I have ever seen on a backpack. The pull tab makes it easy to pull the zipper and I am sure it will stand up to even the toughest of environments.

The back of the backpack is very nicely padded and includes what Crumpler calls a "spine slot." This is designed to prevent any pressure from being applied to your spine. The amount of padding here is significant and provides more than enough protection for your gear once the pack is off your back.

Inside is a heavily-padded, removable compartment. There are the usual user-configurable pockets using velcro ties to hold the dividers in place.

The bag weighs 6.6 pounds and is made of water resistant 1000D Nylon shell & 420D Ripstop Nylon lining.

You can arrange the pack to carry a DSLR, flash and some lenses. I think Crumpler did a good job of providing you with plenty of room, but not so much that you'd be tempted to bring everything you own. My big problem with camera bags is I over pack them. This bag will force me to select the gear I need and leave me comfortable hauling it.

My only slight criticism of the bag is that it's form and shape make one end somewhat less useful due to an odd concave shape. It's not a deal breaker by any means, but does remove some of the bag's useable space. I don't know if it's a fashion thing or if the designers thought this made the bag ergonomic. In any event, it's unusual.

Other than that I give this bag two thumbs up. It isn't cheap, but quality never is. You get what you pay for. If the configuration of the Crumpler Karachi Outpost works for you I have no doubt you'll be glad you bought it.

I purchased this bag on Firday in New York city and brought it home on the plane. I just loved the store. It fit all my equipment from cables, and battery chargers and extra batteries, filters.

It hold my Nikon d70s
Nikon lenses
60mm 2.8d
55-200mm
18-70mm
sigma lens 28-70mm
Vivitar series 1 19-35mm
Sb-600
Photo storage

with still more room.

I'm a small frame woman of 5'6" it is big bag and is very comfortable. The shoulder padding is very beefy.. It easily fits in over head storage on a plane.

What more can I say about this bag that other have said the same thing..

It's a great camera backpack. And good notebook backpack. The bag looks good, doesn't look like a "camera/notebook bag". Even when fully loaded, the padded straps help to distribute weight evenly. It is easily re-configurable to just notebook, just camera bag or plain old backpack extremely well padded, excellent security for traveling (opens from the backside)

Overall I'm very happy with my Crumpler Backpack. The biggest problem I saw what that Crumpler bags typically cost a lot more than other competitors.

I live this bag. It tries around all my gear an an IPad. It s also vry ocmfortable. It is the best camera ag I ave ever owned.

This bag on first glance seemed to be the answer to my prayers. Then, I made the attempt to put my gear into it. Hmmm . . . Why did they make this bag so that the sides curve inwards, you lose a significant amount of usable space!!!! Ugggghhhh. So close.