Customer Reviews

Tamrac 3385 Aero Speed Pack 85 Dual Access Photo/Laptop Backpack (Black)

5 star:		(31)
4 star:		(20)
3 star:		(10)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Executive summary: Buy this bag, it's exactly what you need. Trust me, I looked at the other bags out there, and this does everything, plus it's well designed, intelligently assembled, and generally perfect.

Detailed review:
I recently purchased my first DSLR (a Nikon D90), and I had absolutely nothing in the way of camera gear. I've been taking photos for a long time, and while I have a couple of cheaper digital cameras, my purchase of the D90 pushed me to find a secure, comfortable, easily accessible bag in which I could store the camera and everything associated with it.

First, a note about what I mean by "everything." As a DSLR newbie, I wanted to be able to pack and carry the following items at all times:
* The D90 body with 18-200mm lens attached
* Nikon SB-600 speedlight (large, external flash)
* 50mm prime lens (fairly small, stubby lens)
* Quart-sized bag of stuff (extra camera battery, lens caps, flash mount for remote flash usage, etc.)
* D90 printed manual (just in case I need to figure out a specific setting on the go)

I also wanted a camera bag that met the following criteria, in order of importance (but all are required):
* Accessibility - I want a camera bag that lets me access my DSLR, with lens attached, in less than 15 seconds, all without taking off the bag or having to set it down anywhere (I also want to put the camera back in 15 seconds)
* Pack shape - I want a backpack, not a sling bag; I just don't feel comfortable wearing a sling-style bag or a messenger-type bag
* Subtlety - I don't want a bag that screams "$3000 in gear inside!" and I don't want a bag that is anything other than black on black
* Size - This bag needs to be sized for carrying onto an airplane; I don't want to check my DSLR and gear
* Comfort - I want to be able to wear this bag all day as a daypack but with my DSLR gear and my lunch inside, and I don't want to get back spasms from the weight distribution or from objects poking through the backpack fabric and jabbing me
* Aesthetically pleasing - Some of those camera bags out there look incredibly ugly; I want one that looked modern and stealthy, without 37 zippers or drawstrings or pouches hanging around the front and sides
* Security - Somebody else can't tear or easily cut the bag off my body while I'm wearing it, and the zippers and closures aren't terribly easy to open or unseal
* Mild weatherproofing - I'm not going to wear this bag underwater or in a hurricane, but I don't want water or dust to get in easily, either
* Manufacturing location - Although products made in China are of generally high quality at this price point, I want a camera bag made in the US mostly because I'm in the US and we need all the jobs we can get at this point
* Laptop space - My least important requirement because I don't plan to travel with a laptop all that often if I can help it, but I am willing to choose one bag over another if there's padded space for a laptop without compromising on the overall carry-on size requirement

As you can see, I'm picky. I'm also a product designer by trade, so I did my homework on camera bags. I narrowed down my options online first, and then went to local stores to try on bags, using all of my gear to see which bag would work.

I wasted my time. There were no bags out there that met my first two criteria, let alone all the rest. But then I noticed that Tamrac had just announced the Aero Speed Pack 75 and 85. The major difference between these two is the padded laptop pouch and slightly larger size of the 85. Both work as carry-on bags regardless of the laptop space.

I couldn't find any reviews for either of these bags, nor could I find a Seattle-area retailer who had them for sale so I could check them out in person. So I took the plunge and bought the 85 from Amazon. How does it stack up against my criteria?
* Accessibility - I can get at my DSLR, with lens attached, in less than 15 seconds! I love the side pocket; it's apparently the only current camera bag that has a side-access pocket on a backpack-shaped bag. Brilliant.
* Pack shape - The Aero Speed Pack 85 is a backpack. Awesome.
* Subtlety - Unlike the LowePro and other bags that have camera and tripod icons clearly visible, this bag doesn't really advertise its purpose. If you're into cameras, you'd recognize the small Tamrac logo and brand name on the front and on the strap, but I'm cool with that. Also, this bag comes in two color choices, and I went with the black on black.
* Size - This bag is a carry-on according to Alaska Airlines, so I'm happy.
* Comfort - The padded laptop pouch at the back of the bag forms a cushion between your back and the bag contents. It's one of the most comfortable bags I've worn, although it may make my back sweaty over an hour or more of use. That's probably unavoidable for a camera bag if you want it to keep out dust and water, though.
* Aesthetically pleasing - This bag looks nice. It's all black. And, it stands up on its own when empty or full of gear. Now that's pleasing.
* Security - Some of the zippers have weather stripping around the seams, which means they're hard to open. They seem like they'll get easier as I break in the zippers a bit, but I like this feature because it adds a little security.
* Mild weatherproofing - The weather strips around the zipper seams give the impression of mild weatherproofing. In Seattle, we get a lot of blowing mist rather than straightforward rain, so I'm glad this bag has the weather strips.
* Manufacturing location - Tamrac bags are made in California. Dude!
* Laptop space - There's a dedicated, padded pocket for a 17" widescreen laptop (haven't tested the fit, but it's a pretty big space). This means the laptop is safe, and I can take it out for airport security without rearranging all my stuff in my bag. This pocket also features weather stripping around the zipper, which is smart.

The Tamrac Aero Speed Bag 85 is precisely the bag I wanted. It's like the people at Tamrac decided to make a camera bag that solved all the design problems that plague not just camera bags, but backpacks too. This bag stands up on its own. I love that. There's a webbed grip on the top handle so it's easy and comfortable to lift. I love that too. These little touches demonstrate the attention to detail that Tamrac invested in this bag. It's worth the money. It's the right size. I can put my lunch in it along with my D90.

It's time to go take some photos!

My review is based upon my one-time use of this backpack.

For you reading this review; to buy, or not to buy: that is the question. Yes? I have attempted to include specific information to facilitate your decision.

Pros:
sturdy,
well-balanced,
made of quality materials,
good looking, and
efficient.

Cons:
Too few pockets, and (maybe)
one too many zippers?

First, let me say (and this is just a personal observation) that many people hope to get more than what they pay for. We all love a bargain, but don't expect a Jeep to have all the features of a Hummer. This is a relatively inexpensive backpack; you could spend $300 or more for a fancier item. However, in this case at least, inexpensive does not mean cheap. This is quality merchandise.

Second, I believe that a review should be based upon whether or not the item is as advertised. This item is at least as good as advertised, so it deserves five stars.

I like this pack a lot. I used it yesterday at its max capacity, carrying a 15.4" laptop, a reflector, a camera with lens attached, an extra battery, filters, cords, three extra lenses and a full-size tripod: 26.4 pounds.

That was a HEAVY load, but there is no question in my mind the pack could have managed more. It is well constructed, and the straps, even holding all that weight, remained comfortable.

However, I don't plan to carry that much of a load every time I go out with this pack, and I don't think you would either.

There are six noteworthy points that may not be clear from the advertising and specs for this pack, yet that are crucial to a purchasing decision:

6- This pack does not sport a hip strap, which is a necessity when carrying heavier loads.

5- This pack has no cell phone pocket.

4- The water bottle can fall out when you sling this pack off one shoulder in order to access your camera from the side compartment on the other side.

3- The zippers on two of the four zippered compartments close water-tight. That makes them a little harder to operate than a regular zipper.

2- Too few pockets/pouches exist. Those included are: One for a water bottle on the side (holds a liter bottle or a canteen easily), one for cords and miscellaneous on the back outside (five inches by six inches), two stretch pockets inside the upper "personal" compartment, two zippered pockets approximately 3" by 5" on the inside flap of the main camera/lens compartment, and three Velcro-closing compartments on the ready-camera side flap, one that is 3" by 4", big enough for a spare filter (in its case), and two more that measure about 2" x 2" for memory cards.

1- Your camera can fly out the side access door, or your lenses can spew from the back door (if you forget to zip up).

The only item above that matters a great deal to me is the last one. I don't plan to carry a heavy load all the time, I won't have my cell phone with me on a photo expedition, I can lash down the water bottle with the built-in elastic strap, and I can deal with the slow zippers (if you're in an area where photo ops abound, you should have your camera around your neck anyway, not in your backpack). While I'd appreciate more built-in pockets, there is enough room in this pack to carry a small multi-pocketed pouch to hold extra filters and other gizmos.

So, the NUMBER ONE reason you may want to reconsider purchasing this backpack:

Yesterday, after returning home from a photo field trip using my new backpack, I carefully zipped up the rear compartment and said to my model as I slung the pack from the trunk of the car, "Wow, I could really screw up my lenses if they fell out because I forgot to close the zipper." At that moment, my camera flew from the side compartment, fell three feet and landed on a hard, cold and unforgiving concrete slab.

If you are forgetful, perhaps sometimes a little daft like me, don't buy a pack with more doors than you need. The side-door access is a great feature. You can access your camera while still holding the backpack on one shoulder. But you must remember to close it!

Fortunately--and this is hard to believe--my camera and lens escaped unscathed. Amazing. So, when you hear that stupid is as stupid does, consider that even stupid sometimes gets lucky.

In closing, I'll address some of the comments I have read and add a few points that may not have been covered:

The zippers work well in California beach weather. I can see them becoming stiffer as the temperature drops, but this is not because the zippers are flawed; it's just a matter of physics. This pack contains four zippered compartments in all. Two of those--the one that protects your laptop and the one that gives you access to your camera with lens attached--have rubber faces that meet to hold out water. They stiffen as the temperature drops.

I am 5'8" and this pack is not too long for me.

I bought the S-113 straps so I can carry a bedroll or tripod beneath the pack. It makes you a wide load, yes, but there is no easy way to attach a full-size tripod to this pack vertically.

BEWARE: My laptop (a Hell Inspiron 1520 with 15.4" screen) fits safely and snugly, but it barely fits. Dell's battery protrudes at the back, increasing that dimension from a normal 10 3/4" to 11 3/8". If your computer is a 17", it won't fit if exceeds 1 1/2" thick and is deeper (from front to back) than 11 5/8".

If you work from the trunk of your car as I sometimes do, you will be opening and closing this pack like you would a regular camera bag; but a regular camera bag doesn't have secret side doors. If you suddenly pick a regular camera bag up by the handles, you won't spill your equipment. With this pack, you might.

These things having been said, if you are of at least normal intelligence and take care to zip up your zippers, this is a fantastic and fun item; by far more convenient than any camera bag. It feels good and looks good. It is efficient and sturdy, and will carry a couple of camera bodies plus a flash or two, with lots of those precious and expensive pieces of glass, plus your lunch, a laptop, a reflector and a tripod.

This is a very good product; and I do feel that I got a lot more than I paid for.

Tamrac 3385 Aero Speed Pack 85 Dual Access Photo/Laptop Backpack (Rust)

This is a great camera/equipment backpack with one problem (more about that later). The pack is well designed and carries a great amount of camera and equipment in the field and has room for a laptop and a jacket/lunch (or whatever).

When hiking the pack when loaded is comfortable and does provide quick access from the side to your camera body and attached lens. There is one problem that limits the use of the pack's design for quick acccess during colder temperatures (20 degrees f and below):

The side quick access flap and the laptop access zippers have a vinyl zipper cover that is designed to waterproof the zippers--works well for waterproofing and during warmer temperatures, while stiff to operate, does allow quick access to your camera. However, when temperatures are on the cool side the zipper(s) get so stiff that in order to access yur camera equipment you have to take the pack off and access the equipment from the from access panel which has a convential zipper and a normal pack-cloth flap for weatherproofing. The result is that when hiking or snowshoeing in colder temperatures, one of the pack's finest features is useless.

So if cold weather is part of your use for this otherwise great pack--beware--you will need to give up on the quick access the side access panel is designed to give you. Let's hope Tamrac corrects this problem.

DPA
Colorado

I purchased this to use as by carry on for a two week trip to China and it performed well. For the trip I had it packed with:

Camera Compartment
- Cannon 30d with a Cannon 28 - 300mm lens
- Spare lenses
- Cannon 28 - 70mm
- Cannon 18-55 lens (basic kit lens)
- Cannon 580ex speedlight
- CF card reader
- Battery charger
- Cleaning kit
- Power converter for the flight
- Handheld GPS

Laptop Compartment:
- HP Laptop with 14" monitor
- Power cord

Storage compartment
- DVD Player
- DVD Wallet
- Bose headsets
- paperback book
- Plastic bag for my liquids/gels

Side Pocket:
- Power cord for dvd player
- Pens
- plug adapters

Back Pocket
- Phrase book
- Map
- Boarding pass

As you can imagine it got heavy but it balanced the load well. It was easier to deal with when I stashed the non-essentials (laptop, flash, etc) in my hotel safe. It would have been nice to have the litle chest strap but it sill worked out ok.

In general the side flap was great, it made it very easy to get my camera in and out very quickly and I didn't have to give up the extra storage space. I had no problem even with the huge 29-300mm lens. The only drawback was that the zippers get very difficult to open and close if they get cold. It was about -5 (c) in Beijing and it took quite a bit of effort to open the side flap. The problem was the rubber they had embedded into the zipper (I assume it is to help keep out raid)

The only other thing I didn't like about it was the only option it had for carrying a mono pod. I was able to strap it to the bottom in a horizontal position. This was fine when I was walking around in wide open spaces but I ran into problems on the crowded subways. Probably won't be a problem for most people.

I recently visited a local Camera Exchange to find a backpack that will hold the following items: D90, 18-200mm, 10-24mm, 35mm, SB-600, 17" laptop, and several accessories. I narrowed down my decision to the "Tamrac Adventure 9" and the "Tamrac Aero Speed Pack 85". I was really intrigued by the design of the Aero 85 because of the side access and the overall great aesthetics of the bag. However, I quickly noticed some glaring differences in the construction of the two bags (See Below).

In the end I chose to purchase the "Tamrac Adventure 9". It does not have a quick access feature like the Aero 85, but the laptop compartment is side loading (shoulder straps connect to main body of the backpack) with more room than the Aero 85. This backpack also has a sternum strap and a waist strap. In addition the camera compartment has three additional clips on the outside just incase your zipper ever desides to give out. The camera compartment is still large for a compact camera, but the body is much more stable and secure. Also, the Adventure 9 seems to have more strap padding and back padding than the Aero 85.

Tamrac Aero Speed Pack 85 (Issues):
1) The shoulder straps for the backpack connect to the laptop compartment instead of the main body of the backpack. This means the weight of the backpack is being transfered to the zipper for the laptop compartment. This has and will lead to premature failure of the backpack according to other reviewers on this site. This is simply a bad design. Most quality backpacks that have a top opening laptop compartment have the shoulder straps arc over the top of the opening and attach to the main body of the backpack (ex. Swiss Army).

2) The laptop compartment barely fits a 17" laptop. You have to push in the corners of a 17" laptop to make it fit in the rounded top. You can find a video of this on youtube ([...]).

3) The camera compartment is of course built for side entry, which will be a problem for compact cameras "DXX". I asked the store clerk to let me borrow his D90 with the kit lense installed to see how the bag fit the camera. The compartment for the camera is too big for compact models. The compact camera body and lens will sag down at a 45 degree angle unless you have a long lens "6 inches" installed on the body. This might not bother some people, but I do not want any undo stress put on the body/lens connection while hiking/walking. This range of movement will allow the camera/lens to move freely up and down in the backpack.

4) The backpack does not have a waist strap or sternum strap, which is fine if you are just doing casual walking and dont want a bunch of extra straps flapping around. However, if you have a decent amount of equipment in the bag you atleast need the sternum strap.

After considerable research both online and at several retail camera stores, I decided that this combo camera and laptop bag was what I needed. None of the local camera stores had this particular Tamrac model, so I was limited to reading the descriptions from online sellers like Amazon and B&H Photo. Everything I read indicated that this backpack would accept "most" 17 inch laptops.

Well, let me state that Dell 17 inch laptops seem to be the exception. At least my Dell Inspiron 1720 is the exception. It DOES fit, but you can't zip the compartment closed with the laptop inside. So, that pretty much makes it useless as a device to carry and protect the laptop. As this was my most important requirement I returned the item. As usual, Amazon's return procedure was quick and painless. I rate this feature of on-line shopping as very important, and Amazon has yet to fail me in this area.

The descriptions of the camera/accessories compartments were accurate. At least as much as I could evaluate them. I was able to fit a Canon 30D digital SLR with a 75-300mm zoom lens attached. There was room for two additional lenses and other smaller accessories in the main compartment. The top compartment is roomy but not divided, which makes it ideal for carrying lunch or a raincoat or whatever.

The overall quality of this backpack was VERY good. (Maybe excellent is a better choice.)

If you have a 15 inch laptop, or are just looking for a camera backpack and carrying a laptop isn't required, this is a great choice. If I hadn't been so disappointed about the laptop compartment, I would have rated this at FIVE stars.

A warning on this bag - it worked great for 2 trips, but with the weight of a decent camera, 3 lenses, a flash, a laptop and a few extras, there is too much stress on the laptop compartment zipper. i just limped home with this thing from kenya and broken zippers, with the laptop flap hanging open. it has funky waterproof zippers that are not going to be as touch as big oversized zippers with a typical waterproof flap. when the bag worked it was great, but if you are really going to load it down, it might fail after a few trips.

I read the reviews of this backpack on Amazon before purchasing it, thinking: I can deal with the zipper if it's a little difficult, as long as it comes with the peace of mind that my equipment will be protected from the elements.

Unfortunately, not only were the reviews correct about the zipper's incredible stiffness, but the zipper is also quite flimsy and came undone on my first hike out of the house. The zipper's waterproofing feature I was interested in is useless when it comes undone. In addition, I was afraid that the zipper would come undone without my noticing and my equipment would fall out the side. The shoddily engineered zipper is the primary reason I sent this bag back.

This would have been my first camera backpack, so I can't compare extensively to other products, but here are my other thoughts:

- this is quite a massive bag, at nearly 4 pounds, with lots of padding and space for equipment, a raincoat or lunch, and your laptop
- given the large size of the backpack, it would've been good to have a comfortable waist strap
- despite the weight of the backpack and my equipment within (I wore it for an afternoon with both my camera gear and some extra weight to see what it would be like fully loaded), the bag is quite comfortable, with lots of padding in the shoulder straps and cushioning against your back
- I would have liked a few extra lash straps on the outside to attach extra equipment while hiking or traveling, but as is, the exterior is quite clean and easy on the eyes
- both the bottom and top padding for the camera pocket are removable; I suppose this would let you clean things thoroughly, although the bag doesn't seem to be designed such that you would want to fully remove these so they just seem a bit flimsy

Here's my advice: don't get this bag until they fix the zipper. If that ever happens, this will be well worth the money.

I recently broke the bayonet mount of one of my lenses because I left it attached to the camera and had it tossed into my backpack. I wasn't particularly rough but still managed to break it. I have a number of camera only bags which I started to use but was annoyed to have to be carrying a backpack for my stuff as well as a separate camera bag. I like to just have a single carryon bag when I travel so I dont lose anything.

I dont have much SLR equipment, but I do have a lot of other electronic stuff which was getting scuffed, and was hard to get to in a regular backpack.

I started looking for bags that could carry the following:

d100SLR + 3 lenses (50mm, 18-55 and 70-300), point and shoot camera, mini dv video camera, ipod, targus car AC adapter (big), laptop and all the assorted wires, cables and chargers. I also had to have a mesh bottle holder on the side.

I didnt even know where to look locally so I browsed mainly on amazon. I looked at the kata 467, lowepro compurover, computrekker, tamrac adventure 9 and the tamrac aero 85.

The kata did not look to have enough sectioned space, the computrekker was very heavy 7lbs and odd looking. the compurover looked better. I decided against the adventure 9 because the camera space was too small and people complained about the bottle holder on the side. So it was primarily between the compurover and the aero 85. The deciding factor was the easy access side entry vs having to open the whole front face of the bag. The feature is actually really nice and does work.

The height and width dimensions are reasonable. Im about to fly with the bag for the first time so Ill see how it fits. The depth dimension is pretty large and may stop it from fitting under a seat and is my only issue. I think the bag is about 3 inches thicker than your typical backpack, plus it is very stiff in the depth dimension so you wont be able to collapse it (obviously to protect your electronics)

Some people have complained about the top compartment not being sectioned, but what I have found is that the bottom sectioned compartment holds everything in its place and I think Ill primarily use the top compartment for last minute items, food, books that I need on the flight. The sectioned compartment is for all the things that need to be protected. The top compartment is pretty large and for my upcoming trip is relatively empty.

Some people have complained about the zippers being stiff, but they seem fine to me. The waterproofing is definitely a little stiff to unzip but not bad at all.

Some people have mentioned that the rainflaps get in the way of closing the outside pocket zipper and this is the case. You have to use one hand to hold the flap out of the way and the other to zip.

Edit 2/8/2010

Ok we took the bag on a plane and it didnt really fit under the seat in front of me. But I put it there anyway and didnt get complaints from the attendant. I also put it in the overhead for one of the legs. What is nice is that it is sturdy so if someone slams their stuff around in the overhead, the contents will be fine.

After using it a few times I still really like the bag. It is big and very stiff so holds it shape. The downside to this is that if you have less stuff to carry the bag is still really big. The side entry to the camera really does help and I like it a lot. The top area is quite big and holds enough for me. Especially considering that you can use the bottom part to hold sundries as well.

I still use my smaller, camera only, bag locally and my computer only bag when I travel for business. However when the whole family is traveling and we need 2 computers, video camera, point and shoot, SLR, kids stuff etc. I use this bag.

I was looking for a combination camera/laptop backpack and my local camera store recommended this one...I'm glad they did. It fits all my camera gear perfectly and has lots of padding to protect it. My laptop also fits well and the storage pouch holds all my laptop accessories along with headphone case and iPod for traveling. It is not too heavy when fully loaded which I have read is a complaint of other combo backpacks. The best feature is the easy side access for your camera. After using it for a while I would not recommend any backpack that does not have quick access to your camera like this one does. The zippers can be a little stubborn at first but they quickly operate smoothly without problems. You won't regret getting this backpack.