Official Crumpler Bag Review Thread

This is interesting news... I'll have to keep an eye out for them as the lack of a place to keep my laptop was the only thing holding me back on the 7MDH.

Can anyone recommend a Crumpler bag to hold a gripped 40d and 24-105? I'm looking for something small to use when I'm just walking around.

I think the 6MDH will work just fine. I just ordered one from Amazon (discontinued color/eBags sold out). I have a 5MDH and a 7MDH. The 5MDH would not easily fit a gripped 40d (I leave my 17-55 mounted and its a tight fit), and the 7MDH is way too big unless you want to haul a bunch of stuff with you.

I purchased the Crumpler 7 Million Dollar Home from a local Crumpler store and also swiped some free tiny matches, stickers, and toilet paper. I wanted to burn my Sandisk rebate, so what better way than to get more storage (pun intended ).

I currently use a Kata R-103 and Lowepro Flipside 200. The R-103 is a great bag and packs away everything. It's comfortable, and I can take it on long hauls. The downside is that my camera isn't easily accessable. The Flipside 200 adds some security (backloading), and is more portable for day trips, but suffers from the same accesability issue. This brings me to the 7MDH. I had originally purchased the old 7MDH, I didn't like it that much, so I sold it here on the board. I was impressed by the new 7MDH, and it was a bit of an impulse buy when I saw it. (By the way, I waited a week to purchase the bag, but I could not find the new 7MDH from any reputable stores online. Crumpler shops have a TERRIBLE return policy. Return within two weeks and you can exchange/get store credit- that's it.)

What I Like
Exterior- I like the color. Yes, aesthetic, but it matters to me. I debated the black or the grey, but I wanted something with a little character. I liked the red accents, so I chose the grey. The double velcro latch alongside the double buckle to close the front flap is MUCH better than the old 7MDH. That's one qualm I had with the older model. I just feel the newer design is more secure. I have taken the bag in light rain, and although it doesn't come with a rain cover (unfortunate) the waterproof Nylon holds up fairly well. Water beads up, but eventually can soak into the material. Also, the bag stands on it's own. I like this fact, a lot.

Comfort- The bag rests comfortably against my body. The strap is comfortable, and I like that the underside is rubber so it doesn't slip off my shoulder. The back of the bag is flat, and although you wouldn't think that would feel good, it actually does when it rests against your bum.

It fits my junk/Interior- The bag pretty much fits everything that I need, and fits it comfortably. The bag doesn't strain to fit it, and as you can see, the strap isn't misaligned so that the velcro contacts don't match up. All of the padding seems like it protects my gear well. My gear is more readily accessible than either of my backpacks, so that's a definite plus.

What I don't Like

Interior- It fits my stuff, but I wish the bag was "expandable". I wish it had more pockets to stow little stuff away. It really only has two pockets to put stuff into, aside from the main compartment. And, these two pockets really only fit slender items (lens caps, filters, etc). A laptop compartment would also have been nice, but I think this would have made the bag tip the scale a bit too much. Also, it's lime green. While I appreciate the color to some extent, I am extremely thankful you cannot see it when the bag is closed.

Price- $140! My goodness. Luckily I had the Sandisk gift card to bring down the price. If I didn't have that gift card, I would have thought long and hard about purchasing the bag. It certainly would not have been an impulse buy.

Random- I kind of feel like Crumpler focused too much on the aesthetics, and made usability a secondary motive. Hence, the above comments. I watched some of the Tenba videos and looked at the urban disguise pictures/reviews, and there are just some features where you go "Huh, who ever thought of that is a genius!". No such remarks can be made about this bag.

Fully Loaded- Front (Ruler added for reference)

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wow, that grey and green is kinda cool... where are ou located?
they have black/lime green in canada

panda-R wrote in post #7393168
wow, that grey and green is kinda cool... where are ou located?
they have black/lime green in canada

I am in the northern California (Bay Area). Picked it up in the SF store.

_aravena wrote in post #7312287
Small review on the Crumpler Industry Disgrace. I just got it and it is awesome! I still love my POTN neckstrap but this is great. If I only had one camera, I'd still choose the POTN neckstrap over the Crumpler as it fits perfect around your neck...and, well maybe.

Darn you, I think I need to add a Crumpler Industry Disgrace to my collection

I have been looking for a good strap to use, not real hot on standard straps, and this looks like it might be it. Plus its Crumpler so that adds some sway to my decision as well

I pretty much agree with everything that disorder has said in his review. I never had the old 7MDH, so I didn't realize that they had improved the velcro fasteners--this in my opinion is one of the great strenghts of the new 7MDH as a walking around bag. That said, I do wish it had a bit more room, so I'm eagerly awaiting the arrival of the 8MDH. I'm 90% certain that when that comes out, I'll buy it and sell the 7MDH. The only reason I didn't wait is because I need a bag right now.

One superficial point: I do wish the interior wasn't lime green, although I do appreciate that it's a practical color and makes it easy to find small objects like 50mm lens caps, etc. Ideally, I'd love an orange interior.

thank you very much for that review!
my next bag would be that exact same one...grey on green
although im not too fond of the green...i dont really mind

my everyday bag is the previous 6mdh

disorder wrote in post #7393040
I purchased the Crumpler 7 Million Dollar Home from a local Crumpler store ...

Are you sure that's a 7MDH? The dimensions make it appear as if it is a 6MDH...

The velcro never bothered me and I covered most of it anyhow. I prefer one buckle over two as that's how I general close my bag. One less thing to worry about. I also prefer the more professional look of the original 7MDH because I use it only for shoots. It looks cool, good for urban stuff so I pick up the 5MDH version as I've wanted another since I got rid of mine.

pgs2020 wrote in post #7398724
Are you sure that's a 7MDH? The dimensions make it appear as if it is a 6MDH...

I can check this when I get home, but I am pretty positive that this is the 7MDH. I can attach my 70-200 and close the bag easily, and if I am not mistaken, you cannot do this with the 6MDH.

EDIT- It is the 7MDH.

But, more power to the bag if it can really slim down and be smaller. I guess another plus with the double buckle...

_aravena wrote in post #7398786
The velcro never bothered me and I covered most of it anyhow. I prefer one buckle over two as that's how I general close my bag. One less thing to worry about. I also prefer the more professional look of the original 7MDH because I use it only for shoots. It looks cool, good for urban stuff so I pick up the 5MDH version as I've wanted another since I got rid of mine.

I guess it's preference as to what you think is more "professional" looking. I'd say the black/black is pretty professional looking, and I also would not hesitate bringing my 7MDH to any sort of shoot/wedding.

My 7MDH purchased in Australia only has the one clip catch in the middle, is this a new model or only available in the US. I have three crumpler bags which I love the quality of but hate the fact they do not discount here.

sunnygirl wrote in post #7401978
My 7MDH purchased in Australia only has the one clip catch in the middle, is this a new model or only available in the US.

We are just starting to get a few of the new model Million Dollar Home bags over here.

sunnygirl wrote in post #7401978
I have three crumpler bags which I love the quality of but hate the fact they do not discount here.

They do when you have friends who work at the store

Got $15 off the last large bundle I bought.

How flat can the crumplers go when they are empty? I need to pack it in checked baggage while I carry my camera gear on board. Was hoping it will flatten down well in a suitcase.

They don't flatten very well. The foam is very tough and rigid.