Thinktank Airport Security (ver1) review after two years of solid use

[picturecrazy]

Ok, I've had lots of requests from three different photography communities to show what the thinktank Airport security can hold and what I think of it. So I finally got off my butt and took some pics to show.

1. The Thinktank Airport Security. (Mine is the version 1) The side has a very secure tripod holder. If you put it in snugly, there's NO WAY that thing is falling off or wobbling around.
http://www.nightanddayphoto.ca/misc/forumpics/wff/ThinkTank/01Bag.JPG

2. BOTH zippers that let you access the main compartment have these combo locks on them to keep snoops out of your bag when shooting.
http://www.nightanddayphoto.ca/misc/forumpics/wff/ThinkTank/02zipper.JPG

3. And when you gotta leave you gear sitting around while shooting, there is a built-in tether so you can lock it up to a table or something so nobody can walk off with your bag. (A standard combo lock easily fits into the tether compartment. There are also emergency backpack straps for "off-road" situations. Thinkthank doesn't recommend using it as a backpack reguarly. I've never used them.
http://www.nightanddayphoto.ca/misc/forumpics/wff/ThinkTank/03tether.JPG

4. The design is brilliant on this bag. Even the adjustable tripod straps have velcro strips on them, so even when unbuckled, they can't slip out and get lost.
http://www.nightanddayphoto.ca/misc/forumpics/wff/ThinkTank/04velcro.JPG

5. The side pocket is where I store my energy bars and kleenex. This pocket holds a lot.
http://www.nightanddayphoto.ca/misc/forumpics/wff/ThinkTank/05food.JPG

6. I use one of the front pouches to hold all my batteries. Two BP511A and about 32 AA batteries.
http://www.nightanddayphoto.ca/misc/forumpics/wff/ThinkTank/06battery.JPG

7. This is what it looks like open. The cover flap holds a bunch of stuff too, like my laptop, 42" reflector, and it even has two umbrella sleeves where my 32" shoot-throughs fit perfectly.
http://www.nightanddayphoto.ca/misc/forumpics/wff/ThinkTank/07open.JPG

8. The main compartment holds a TON of stuff!
http://www.nightanddayphoto.ca/misc/forumpics/wff/ThinkTank/08mainabove.JPG

[picturecrazy]

9.
http://www.nightanddayphoto.ca/misc/forumpics/wff/ThinkTank/09mainlow.JPG

10. It's deep! A flash bracket, sync cables, and my laptop AC adapter is what is stored underneath my 40D/17-55 combo.
http://www.nightanddayphoto.ca/misc/forumpics/wff/ThinkTank/10acbracket.JPG

11. And under the pocketwizards? MORE pocketwizards!
http://www.nightanddayphoto.ca/misc/forumpics/wff/ThinkTank/11PW.JPG

12. There is room underneath the Nikon D700 and 11-16 to slide my filters. I put a partition there floating up about 3/4" for the filters to fit.
http://www.nightanddayphoto.ca/misc/forumpics/wff/ThinkTank/12filter.JPG

13. The canon charger for my 20D/30D/40D batteries fit perfectly right underneath the 24-105.
http://www.nightanddayphoto.ca/misc/forumpics/wff/ThinkTank/13charger.JPG

14. The bottom corner holds the small lenses. Right here you see the Canon 10-22 and the 85 1.8.
http://www.nightanddayphoto.ca/misc/forumpics/wff/ThinkTank/14primeshigh.JPG

15. Take those away and underneath is the Sigma 30 1.4 and Canon 60mm Macro. I love the depth of this bag!
http://www.nightanddayphoto.ca/misc/forumpics/wff/ThinkTank/15primeslow.JPG

16. And yes, it can fit a 70-200 F/2.8 IS with hood this way!
http://www.nightanddayphoto.ca/misc/forumpics/wff/ThinkTank/16tele.JPG

[picturecrazy]

17. The cover flap also has a lot of pockets to hold flatter stuff. This is where I put business cards, gels, cables and other misc stuff. There are also two nifty umbrella holders.
http://www.nightanddayphoto.ca/misc/forumpics/wff/ThinkTank/17sleeves.JPG

18. Here is all the stuff I normally put into this bag at one time
http://www.nightanddayphoto.ca/misc/forumpics/wff/ThinkTank/18allabove.JPG

19.
http://www.nightanddayphoto.ca/misc/forumpics/wff/ThinkTank/19alllower.JPG

20. The misc stuff... gels, charger, bracket, cables, cards, filters, a tin full of advil, softbox, batteries, energy bars, kleenex, laptop AC adapter, sensor swab, pec pads, hand wipes, flash feet.
http://www.nightanddayphoto.ca/misc/forumpics/wff/ThinkTank/20miscstuff.JPG

21. And this is the main photo gear I throw in there. 1Ds mark III, 1D mark III, 40D, D700, Sekonic L-358R, 7 pocketwizards, three 580EX, 430EX, EF-S 17-55/10-22/60 macro, Sigma 30 1.4, Tokina 11-16, Nikkor 50 1.4, EF 85 1.8/24-70L/24-105L/70-200 2.8L IS.
http://www.nightanddayphoto.ca/misc/forumpics/wff/ThinkTank/21mainstuff.JPG

22. And this is the big stuff... 42" reflector, 32" shoot through umbrella, Thinkpad T61 laptop, Manfrotto 055CLB tripod legs and 486RC2 head.
http://www.nightanddayphoto.ca/misc/forumpics/wff/ThinkTank/22bigstuff.JPG

I highly recommend this bag to any working pro. It has totally changed the way I work (for the better) and it's so well designed and thought out. It was designed from the get-go FOR PHOTOGRAPHERS ONLY and it shows. I've gone through multiple bag setups, other roller bags, backpacks, backpack/shoulder bag combos, none of them gives me the freedom to work like this bag does.

The security features let me turn my back on my gear without worry. It my carry-on bag when I fly within north america. It fits in airplane overhead compartments. It's shell is tough enough to take a beating while protecting my gear. I find it's just the ultimate bag solution and I'm over the moon after two full years of heavy use. I am _SO_ happy there is a bag like this one. It's been roughed up pretty bad through two years and it's held up perfectly. It's a REALLY well built piece of equipment!

[drsimnal]

Nice review. I bought the v2 earlier this summer and packed it full, including my 500mm and hauled it on vacation. It's definitely a workhorse bag.

[FlyingPhotog]

Excellent review PC...

While I was on the road covering the Boston/Anaheim and Boston/Tampa series for TBS Sports, every (and I mean every) Japanese photographer/photojournalist that I saw in airports or at the stadiums were using one of these...

[ANGUS]

Very nice review! Love my TT Bag. Is the umbrella holder stock with the bag?

EDIT: Canon and Nikon?

[SuzyView]

I love my Airport International, just smaller, doesn't carry as much, but I don't have nearly as much gear as you, Lloyd! Thanks for giving us this extensive review, as people are very nervous about traveling with gear, never checking anything. My only complaint about these carry on bags is that I have a huge 17 inch Dell and it doesn't fit in any of them. So, in my future is a 12-14 inch like you have and that way, everything goes into the roller bag.

[bps]

Lloyd,

Thank you taking the time to post such a comprehensive review! I've been thinking about ThinkTank Airport Security as a compliment to my Pelican 1514 (depending on the situation, each one has its place).

One question though. It looks like there may nothing between your laptop and the top of your camera gear when the case is closed up. Do you find this to be a problem?

Thanks!
Bryan

[picturecrazy]

Very nice review! Love my TT Bag. Is the umbrella holder stock with the bag?

EDIT: Canon and Nikon?

Yup, there are two built-in umbrella holders in the bag. Pretty nifty. :D

I love my Airport International, just smaller, doesn't carry as much, but I don't have nearly as much gear as you, Lloyd! Thanks for giving us this extensive review, as people are very nervous about traveling with gear, never checking anything. My only complaint about these carry on bags is that I have a huge 17 inch Dell and it doesn't fit in any of them. So, in my future is a 12-14 inch like you have and that way, everything goes into the roller bag.

yeah, I don't like big laptops. If you want big, that's what desktops are for! I prefer 14" widerscreens that are thin but super tough (hence the thinkpad T-series).

I probably wouldn't mind having a smaller bag too for smaller jobs. I've been looking into the International also. It's just that there's no local stores that carry thinktank so I can't go there with my gear and try it out.

Lloyd,

Thank you taking the time to post such a comprehensive review! I've been thinking about ThinkTank Airport Security as a compliment to my Pelican 1514 (depending on the situation, each one has its place).

One question though. It looks like there may nothing between your laptop and the top of your camera gear when the case is closed up. Do you find this to be a problem?

Thanks!
Bryan

No, there is nothing between them. As everything pretty much sits lower than the partitions, there are no problems. The exception is the 70-200, which sits a bit higher, but my laptop doesn't actually sit on top of that lens so there is no interference. That flap actually isn't made for a laptop... they say the front pouch is where to put laptops. But my laptop is small enough to fit inside, so that's where I put it.

[Dom_Cabarete]

Dude you have soooo much gear... I would loved to someday have that kind of equipment :)

[Dan Lorth]

thanks for this review.

[Vascilli]

Looks awesome but I hate the shiny wheels.

[picturecrazy]

Dude you have soooo much gear... I would loved to someday have that kind of equipment :)

haha, trust me, it almost pains me to look at my gear and think what I've spent on it. If I were purely a leisure shooter I'd be MORE than happy with a 10D, 17-55, 10-22, and 70-200 f/4. But everything in the kit has a business purpose.

Looks awesome but I hate the shiny wheels.


LOL, I believe it uses standard rollerblade wheels and bearings, so you can swap them out for whatever else you can find. Heck, you could put on some ABEC-9 bearings if you want! that would be funny.

[Dom_Cabarete]

Well im kinda hoping that i can make it a business aswell, i would be more than happy to spend that much if the cashflow was reciprecal :D

[stathunter]

Good job Lloyd. I thought I was the only one carrying at least 3 bodies. That is one of the bags that I do not have and am tempted to pick one up. Good job thanks for sharing.

[TeeJay]

Super review!

Just one question - how do you pick it up to put in in the overhead locker? ;-)

Goodness knows what it weighs - do airlines charge for something this heavy going as carry-on? I'm sure they would in the UK

TJ

[picturecrazy]

Super review!

Just one question - how do you pick it up to put in in the overhead locker? ;-)

Goodness knows what it weighs - do airlines charge for something this heavy going as carry-on? I'm sure they would in the UK

TJ


You know, the funny thing is, nobody has commented on the weight. Even when I go through airport security and they pick it up for extra inspection, they don't seem to care. When I'm taking it on the plane though, I leave the tripod behind, and sometimes put my laptop in it's own laptop bag instead, so it's lighter. But haven't had any problems lifting it into overhead storage. LOL

[britt777]

I just received my TT security bag. Love the bag, still trying to figure out how to situate all my stuff in the bag. I ordered the bag with like of the umbrella holders. They must have changed the design because I don't have the umbrella holders in mine...=(
Over all the bag looks very nice and has a ton of room.

[Red Tie Photography]

Thanks Lloyd, this is exactly what i was looking for. It may have way too much room for what i need right now, but I will grow into it!