Think Tank Photo Airport Navigator Review

I posted a review of the Think Tank Photo Airport Navigator rolling bag on my blog yesterday: http://www.ocabj.net …rt-navigator-full-review/.

BTW: I'm giving away a Think Tank Photo Pixel Pocket Rocket compact flash card wallet on December 19, 2012 at noon. Details near the top of the review article.

Synopsis: A few months ago Think Tank Photo, the company renowned for their photography bags, announced a new addition to their already popular ‘Airport’ product series, the Airport Navigator.

The Airport Navigator is another rolling bag, but what sets this specific rolling bag apart from the others in Think Tank Photo’s existing product line such as the Airport International, is the accessibility of the contents of the bag. A traditional rolling bag must be laid on its back on a (fairly) horizontal surface in order to open the front flap and access the compartment.

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Go to http://www.ocabj.net …rt-navigator-full-review/ for the rest of the review.

IMAGE LINK: http://www.ocabj.net …rt-navigator-full-review/

Really good review. Love TT stuff, and this bag looks like a winner to their Airport series. I just bought the Airport Airstream, but would have bought this instead if I had been paying attention.

Top-access looks like a total win. I don't like putting the airstream on its back, even though I do love the bag.

Dear OCABJ,

Thank you for taking the time to prepare your good review, particularly with pics with contents in bag and glad you are satisfied with your selection.

Overall it looks like a relatively handy bag, for two camera body applications.
(I like it better than the Lowerpo ProRoller Attaché X50)

Potential opportunities for improvement are, I just wish Think Tank had (hopefully in version 2):
1) put a strap/loop on each end, so could have the option/flexibility of adding pouches etc. to outside of bag (I don’t understand why they didn’t add those; yes it may have reduced the disguise as an attaché case, but the flexibility would have been a net benefit).
2) Also if the dividers at the top of the bag were approx ½” - 1” shorter would perhaps enable more items to be put in the inside lid without lid almost compressing onto the top of two cameras bodies when placed vertically in the bag.

CAVEAT - as Think Tank’s helpful web site indicates: it fits SOME (i.e. not all) USA domestic & International carry-on luggage dimensions policies. [& HFGARRIS/Howard’s comment (in show me your camera bag thread), which was my concern too]
Unfortunately, at OD: W16” x H15.5” X D10” it’s dimensions are just outside of Allegiant Airlines carry-on policy for both as a personal item & carry-on bag (yet within Alaska Airlines) carry-on luggage policy which are the usual airlines I utilize on occasions during air travel along the West Coast corridor of USA. However, I think, Think Tanks Airport AIRSTREAM, TAKEOFF, INTERNATIONAL v 2.0, and SECURITY V2.0’s dimensions are within Allegiant’s & Alaska’s carry-on policy.


F.Y.I…
I had been contemplating trying to add/design these small nylon wheels(preferably black & perhaps removable with a clip) http://www.homedepot.c​a …-caster-stem-white/968304
into the two metal loops at the bottom of one of my smaller two camera body applications bags
the Think Tank URBAN DISGUISE 60 v2.0
http://www.thinktankph​oto.com …urban-disguise-60-v2.aspx
with the wheels shaft supported by inserting it into a small narrow metal or strong nylon plastic tube with the tube being supported by reinforced black fabric & stitching onto the Urban Disguise bag’s outer two bottom quadrants just above the two metal loops. That way I would NOT add the approx 6lbs that wheels seem to add to any bag and thus have a wheeled bag weighing only 3.7lbs should I encounter any stringent weight-restrictions on international or small regional airlines, during any potential air “hops”. I would just pull/trail the bag with the existing fabric shoulder strap.

Now coincidently, Think Tank product design team conveniently comes along with the introduction of the Airport NAVIGATOR. Thank you Think Tank - nice bag, but the bag weight is still too heavy, for many females!


Mary

happy2010 wrote in post #15360746
Potential opportunities for improvement are, I just wish Think Tank had (hopefully in version 2):
1) put a strap/loop on each end, so could have the option/flexibility of adding pouches etc. to outside of bag (I don’t understand why they didn’t add those; yes it may have reduced the disguise as an attaché case, but the flexibility would have been a net benefit).
2) Also if the dividers at the top of the bag were approx ½” - 1” shorter would perhaps enable more items to be put in the inside lid without lid almost compressing onto the top of two cameras bodies when placed vertically in the bag.

Yes, I noted #2 above in my review.

#1 sounds like a good idea. I would have liked at least a couple small pen / stylus loops on the inside.

OCABJ/Jonathan,

Overal it still seems like a great bag; addressing many of the issues two camera body applications require, as you have noted in your review - thanks again for your well done review.

Mary

Yeah ... as Mary pointed out, the size is of concern to me for flying.

Any air trip I take starts out with an Alegiant flight to get into/outof town, and Alegiant has discovered a new revenue stream ($$$) by carefully checking the carry-on luggage with their sizing frames (they charge $30 for bags in the overhead bin, so it must go under the seat, they also charge for every checked bag!).

The allowed sizes are: 9" x 14" x 22" max any dimension,
and the TT Bag is 10" x 15.5" x 16" specced.

Maybe they "scrunch" down a bit if you force it into the sizing-frame?


For comparison:
TT Airport International: 8" x 14" x 21"
TT Airport Airstream: 8" x 14" x 17.5"


-howard

Thanks Howard – you are the bag man!

Periodically changing airline restrictions of carry-on [particularly the approx Oct 2009(?) new rules] caused my once fine Lowepro ProRoller X200, which is a nice high capacity bag (enabling me to carry lots of stuff for diversified applications) to be over-size as carry-on for airlines, with its lineal 51.1” not FAA 45” (& I noticed Lowpro has removed from their web site the “airline friendly” symbol from the Lowepro ProRoller X200 product profile).

I always try to have a buy right the first time approach to photography equipment, but the rules changed! Lesson learned: just like in financial/income tax planning etc. the rules of today may not be the rules of tomorrow - caveat emptor… (I guess experience is always an effective & sometimes costly teacher!)

Mary

Hi, I went to a store to buy this bag and actually thought the pull out handles seem way too wobbly, so I didn't buy it. How is the 4 section handle in action with all the gear inside? They had another Think Tank roller that had a 2 section handle, which felt much sturdier but I like the features of the navigator better.
Thanks,
-Sue

syclarac wrote in post #15674271
Hi, I went to a store to buy this bag and actually thought the pull out handles seem way too wobbly, so I didn't buy it. How is the 4 section handle in action with all the gear inside? They had another Think Tank roller that had a 2 section handle, which felt much sturdier but I like the features of the navigator better.
Thanks,
-Sue

The handle holds up fine. They just discourage using the roller handle to pick up the bag (e.g. going up stairs, steps, etc) with any gear loaded in it. Although, I'll admit that I sometimes 'forget' when I lift the bag up a curb or what not.