Low cost discreet cambag review

[alexf9496]

This review is thanks to member "Nobodyspecial" who asked about this bag in another post.

It is the Countycomm bailout bag found at http://www.countycomm.com/BAILOUTBAGGEN5.htm. It comes in 4 colors: Desert Sage, black, olive drab green, and coyote brown.

I've bought a lot of gear from Countycomm and can vouch for their products and service. Their products are high quality and mainly military/LE focused, which was the primary use of my bag. However, due to having switched to another bag, my gen3 bailout bag sat idle in the closet until "nobodyspecial" asked about the possibility of using it as a low cost cambag.

In a nutshell, the Countycomm GenIII bag works surprisingly well as a non-padded discreet bag. I never thought to utilize this bag as a cambag, but it works.

The interior dimensions are approx. 14x10x6, but that's a very loose interpretation because the material gives a bit, so you can really stuff the beejezus out of it.

Overview:

http://alexf9496.smugmug.com/photos/288011362_auS3W-L.jpg


http://alexf9496.smugmug.com/photos/288011980_o4Lhz-L.jpg

Removable main divider to have one large compartment. This divider runs the length of the main compartment, although it may be modified to fit crosswise, depending on your handiness. Velcro attachment.

http://alexf9496.smugmug.com/photos/288011452_S8dx6-L.jpg

Main compartment:

http://alexf9496.smugmug.com/photos/288011529_PTM9C-L.jpg

Side pocket detail. Velcro strap attachment. Secure enough for everyday use. Don't expect this to hold under excessively active situations.

http://alexf9496.smugmug.com/photos/288011632_VWLe8-L.jpg

Ditto the other side. These two pouches are on the ends of the bag.

http://alexf9496.smugmug.com/photos/288011808_tehrS-L.jpg

Zippered pouch on the inboard side of the bag. Even with the non-padded pouch, this wasn't uncomfortable resting against the side of my body.

http://alexf9496.smugmug.com/photos/288011894_24dQu-L.jpg

Outboard pouch detail:

http://alexf9496.smugmug.com/photos/287973811_DCMwQ-L.jpg


My initial impressions is that it's a great walk around bag that can hold a ton of gear. It is compact and rides very comfortably on your shoulder. The exposed side pouches expose the bag for what it is, but with a little imagination, the open pouches could be modified to hide the contents. One pouch that may not be usable to most photographers is the collapsable baton pouch beneath the zippered inboard pouch. Maybe with some imagination you could use this for something other than its intended purpose.

The downside is the non-padded pouches, so care should be taken.

At $29.00, it's a no-brainer, for a discreet and highly usable camera bag!

[supercminh]

Good review. Great price but I wouldn't necessarily call that a discreet bag. Crumpler's bags are more discreet but you pay much more. I'd rather pay a little extra to remain inconspicuous.

[_aravena]

Definitely not what I call discreet and I could snatch that 580 so easily...

[alexf9496]

Like I said, the side pouches would have to either carry something else or be modified. As for the snatch and grab, no way. It may not show it, but again, there's a velcro adjustable retention strap.

As for the issue of discretion, a professional thief will not only know Lowepro and Tamrac, but he'll also know that the good stuff are in the Crumplers, Think Tanks, Domkes Katas, and other high end bags. Don't lull yourself into a false sense of security by thinking that a Crumpler will effectively disguise what you're carrying.

[_aravena]

^Don't lull yourself into a false sense that a professional will think nothing is in there and a professional doesn't steal from you out in the open. Next, a thief that grabs something from you doesn't care what something looks like, if it's accessible then they'll grab it.

Take it from someone who knows, this is in no way discreet. It screams steal me more so than Lowepro because why else would someone have a bag like this unless expensive stuff is in it?

Oh, I can see the velcro strap. Still an easy steal for a pro only though of course. ;)

[alexf9496]

Maybe. As I've said before, that's what insurance is for. The only item in my bag that's irreplaceable are the images on the data card.