Jahled
18th of December 2009 (Fri), 17:31
This small little company don't seem to get a mention around these parts which is a shame. Being small, they are still at the stage where if you have a genuine question regarding something to do with their products you can pick up the phone and speak to some one, which I found to be seriously helpful.
I was looking for a padded bag for a 300 2.8 I had just bought, and threw a request for a few solutions here when I posed the question; someone suggested I check out Kinesis bags, which I had never heard of. I checked out their website and was instantly impressed. Their 'modular' philosophy struck a few chords, and I ordered a long-lens bag: http://www.kgear.com/l/L311%20.html to house my massive glass investment on it's travels. One aspect that initially attracted me to these guys was the idea you can simply add various pouches and what not to their gear. Very practical if you are thinking in Lowepro terms with their rigid rear strap, but alas a rude awakening when you attempt it with their stuff.
And that is the crux of my ultimate disappointment with Kinesis. My first disappointment was a lack of United Kingdom dealer; I had no option to check out their gear before I parted with money and bought the stuff. Uk customs like to sting you lots as well, so unless i'm shopping in the States, the seemingly reasonable prices on their website add up by the time you pick it up from some post office depot. I did pose this to the guy I spoke to, whose reply was they are simply to small at this stage to venture to far commercially. Fair enough, good luck to them expanding!
Given the 300 2.8 is a bit on the heavy side, I opted to have; and this is one of their sales pitches, a back pack unit with belt support attached to the long lens pouch. Cool. They even assembled it for me, which was another nice touch. The problem is, however is that they have redefined 'buckles and straps.' I have never in my life encountered a bag quite so complex with the amount of straps, buckles, and things to generally annoy you. They are simply all over the place. To the extent, I managed to get my arms lost trying to wear the thing, which is quite embarrassing on public transport, when you obviously are hauling around thousands of pounds worth of gear, and should really have sussed out your transportation requirements. I cannot stress this more though, I do not wish to appear to be cruel to Kinesis, but the complexity involved in their design is simply ridiculous. Attaching their various pouches isn't the simple Lowepro affair either, from what I ordered and returned, didn't have the central, and completely obvious, velcro SlipLock attachment; so you are left with more complexity and expenditure getting stuff to enable it attach to your initial bag.
SlipLock attachment for the win btw; avoiding it is pointless :rolleyes:
What I will say for Kinesis though, is the initial case I received is of completely solid construction, and in my mind has the edge on the Lowepro equivalent, if it's not raining. Yep, it doesn't come with a raincoat like the Lowepro does. Kinesis seem to be a bit scatty like this with our general needs.
But it's built like a tank. I will also add that when I returned stuff for a refund, they did so without hesitation and a polite email. Young outfit, still on a learning curve in so far as construction and assembly goes, and practical use goes. I wish them luck, the initial positive feel I get off them is quite genuine, I just don't feel they've perfected it with their products.
I am quite happy to have my comments torn to shreds, they have genuinely very nice to deal with and I wish them the best of luck moving forward in the future. ;)
I was looking for a padded bag for a 300 2.8 I had just bought, and threw a request for a few solutions here when I posed the question; someone suggested I check out Kinesis bags, which I had never heard of. I checked out their website and was instantly impressed. Their 'modular' philosophy struck a few chords, and I ordered a long-lens bag: http://www.kgear.com/l/L311%20.html to house my massive glass investment on it's travels. One aspect that initially attracted me to these guys was the idea you can simply add various pouches and what not to their gear. Very practical if you are thinking in Lowepro terms with their rigid rear strap, but alas a rude awakening when you attempt it with their stuff.
And that is the crux of my ultimate disappointment with Kinesis. My first disappointment was a lack of United Kingdom dealer; I had no option to check out their gear before I parted with money and bought the stuff. Uk customs like to sting you lots as well, so unless i'm shopping in the States, the seemingly reasonable prices on their website add up by the time you pick it up from some post office depot. I did pose this to the guy I spoke to, whose reply was they are simply to small at this stage to venture to far commercially. Fair enough, good luck to them expanding!
Given the 300 2.8 is a bit on the heavy side, I opted to have; and this is one of their sales pitches, a back pack unit with belt support attached to the long lens pouch. Cool. They even assembled it for me, which was another nice touch. The problem is, however is that they have redefined 'buckles and straps.' I have never in my life encountered a bag quite so complex with the amount of straps, buckles, and things to generally annoy you. They are simply all over the place. To the extent, I managed to get my arms lost trying to wear the thing, which is quite embarrassing on public transport, when you obviously are hauling around thousands of pounds worth of gear, and should really have sussed out your transportation requirements. I cannot stress this more though, I do not wish to appear to be cruel to Kinesis, but the complexity involved in their design is simply ridiculous. Attaching their various pouches isn't the simple Lowepro affair either, from what I ordered and returned, didn't have the central, and completely obvious, velcro SlipLock attachment; so you are left with more complexity and expenditure getting stuff to enable it attach to your initial bag.
SlipLock attachment for the win btw; avoiding it is pointless :rolleyes:
What I will say for Kinesis though, is the initial case I received is of completely solid construction, and in my mind has the edge on the Lowepro equivalent, if it's not raining. Yep, it doesn't come with a raincoat like the Lowepro does. Kinesis seem to be a bit scatty like this with our general needs.
But it's built like a tank. I will also add that when I returned stuff for a refund, they did so without hesitation and a polite email. Young outfit, still on a learning curve in so far as construction and assembly goes, and practical use goes. I wish them luck, the initial positive feel I get off them is quite genuine, I just don't feel they've perfected it with their products.
I am quite happy to have my comments torn to shreds, they have genuinely very nice to deal with and I wish them the best of luck moving forward in the future. ;)