Digital_Camera_World_Issue_192_July_2017

Kit ZONe
MINI-TEST
rOller bags
Fed up with back-breaking backpacks? It’s time to get your gear on a roll
W
e’re somewhat
spoilt for choice
when it comes to
carrying camera equipment,
but most methods demand
you shoulder the burden. So
if you travel frequently or far,
or simply need to carry some
serious gear, put it on wheels
and you won’t look back.
A rolling camera bag is
basically a rolling suitcase that
contains customisable dividers
tailored to support cameras
and lenses. Not only are they
more comfortable than a
backpack, rolling bags also
tend to be tougher.
You can certainly expect a
rigid back, base and sides in
your roller bag, and most
designs also include exterior
scuff protection in vulnerable
areas. But if that’s just not
rugged enough for your needs,
cosset your camera and lenses
in a rolling plastic hard case and
they’ll be near-invincible.
With wheels taking the strain,
it’s tempting to buy the biggest
bag you can afford. For
maximum travel versatility,
however, we’ve selected five
designs for this Mini-Test that
are just small enough to qualify
as airline cabin luggage.
However, size limits vary hugely
across carriers, with budget
airlines usually having the
strictest rules, so make sure
you check requirements with
your airline before you show up
at the airport.
1 rolling Camera Case 2
VerDiCt
www.calphoto.co.uk
Calumet rC1188
£169
This may be by far the cheapest
option here, yet the RC1188 feels every
bit as rugged as pricier rivals. You get
reinforced outer corners, rigid sides, and
plenty of scuff protection underneath –
although all this toughness adds up to
a 6.5kg unladen weight, making this the
heaviest case on test. Its 25cm thickness
could also be problematic at some
check-in desks.
Inside, the padding and dividers are
adequate, if not as impressive as the
exterior quality. A 30cm internal width is
about 3cm narrower than a case like the
Manfrotto Reloader, yet that’s enough to
make it a tight squeeze to fit fast fullframe
lenses alongside each other.
But Calumet claws back ground with
extra features. The entire padded interior
can be lifted out and has its own lid and
carry handles. The practicality doesn’t
stop there: the front flap will expand by
a whopping 19cm, effectively doubling
the capacity of the bag.
www.manfrotto.co.uk
manfrotto Pro light
reloader-55
£310/$380
The Reloader-55’s boxy design and 55
x 35 x 23cm dimensions fully use the
carry-on size limits of most airlines.
That gives it the most practical interior
layout here, only rivalled by the Think
Tank bag. You can also fit a 17in laptop
and 10in tablet in slots on the outside of
the front flap for easy access, and the
underside of the flap contains plenty of
pouches for filters and memory cards.
Compared to the feature-packed
Calumet bag, the Reloader’s extras are
more subtle. One nice touch is an
integrated zipper locking point on the
side of the bag, which secures the main
zippers more elegantly than a padlock.
This bag nails the basics though.
Manfrotto’s extra-thick dividers are sized
to fit perfectly around full-frame kit while
giving unmatched gear support and
protection. Outside, the tough exterior is
well-reinforced on key wear points, and
includes user-replaceable wheels of a
common size.
VerDiCt
120 Digital Camera july 2017 www.digitalcameraworld.com