[REVIEW] In-Depth Review of the ThinkTank Speed Racer

Today's review will cover the ThinkTank Speed Racer. (ThinkTank Speed Racer Link) I apologize for the images but it was done on a P&S. Hopefully, it's enough to get the point across.

What is it (per ThinkTank Website)?
Maximum capacity for a belt pack! Holds a Pro size SLR with lens attached and a 70- or 80- 200 2.8 next to it.

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• A ThinkTank Change-Up was designed as a lens carrier. Similar to the Lens Changers, however, this actually wraps around your body and confined to one case.
  
• A ThinkTank Change-Up can fit a body but don't expect it to be a prime Camera pouch. Just because you can fit other things in it, doesn't mean you can put anything in it. (For the most part, that statement holds true but for the purpose of using it as a camera pouch, it will defeat the purpose).
  
• You can essentially "change-up" any of the Speed lines (Demon, Freak, and Racer). I will go into this in more detail.
  
• I'll throw this out there, the Speed lines can accommodate the cameras comfortably.
  Demon (Camera without Grip)
  Freak (Camera without Grip, a little larger)
  Speed (Camera with Grip, Pro Cameras - Mark series, 40D w/grip, etc. and room for lenses or two bodies with grip, depends on which body but no room for anything else)

• A pixel pocket rocket (essentially a business card holder and memory card holder)
  
• Accelerator Shoulder Pad
  
• Seam Sealed Rain Cover

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Lastly, what I love about this is the waist belt which can be tucked into a pocket. Some reviews I have read said that it can bulge the speed racer but I didn't see that happening. Like the Change-Up, you can use it as a shoulder bag without the waist belt dangling around. To support the belt, the Accelerator shoulder pad can be attached (which is used as well if you want to use it as a shoulder bag) and strapped across your chest. Essentially, it's called Accelerator because you don't need to slip it off over your shoulder but slide the pack forward from the back and bam, you're ready to shoot!

Is it a good to shoot out of.... bag?
Definately! The way the camera sits inside, the way the bag opens, it makes lens changes easy and taking the camera in and out of the bag is a cinch.

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• Digital Holster 50
  
• Big Stick
  
• Accelerator Shoulder Strap
  
• Shoulder Harness
  
• LensChangers 75 Pop-Down and Lenschanger 50
  
• Chimp Cage
  

Is there any way you can tell how big the waist belt is?

It's roughly about 8 inches in height. I should have mentioned that as well. The design for it being that big is to provide coverage and support if you want to strictly use it as a waist bag. Due to the weight that the bag portion may carry, imagine if you had a skimpy belt around you, it would choke your waist. Here the 8 inches actually spreads out to support the weight.

If you are concerned about it being huge, honestly, it's not. You won't even notice it.

I own this bag and agree with many of the things you've stated in your excellent review.

May I just add a few comments:

1. This bag becomes very tiring (at least to me) on the waist. It's a large bag, holds a lot and is obviously heavy. Even with the shoulder strap supporting some of the weight, I cannot comfortably carry it for long periods of time.

2. I've never seen the backpack support. Interesting, but I'd rather own a backpack if I were going to use it that way.

3. The zipper on the top compartment, while a nice touch, seems useless to me as you really can't slip anything in or out of it.

4. The draw string pouches on the side are too small for a flash and not very practical in a drizzle as they are open to the elements.

There is no doubt it is a high quality bag, but mine has sat in my closet unused for over a year now.

There's also no question they are priced quite high.
mark

MDJAK wrote in post #4065603
I own this bag and agree with many of the things you've stated in your excellent review.

May I just add a few comments:

1. This bag becomes very tiring (at least to me) on the waist. It's a large bag, holds a lot and is obviously heavy. Even with the shoulder strap supporting some of the weight, I cannot comfortably carry it for long periods of time.

Yeah, any bag really gets tiring even the backpacks. It comes down to how fit you are and then the design on the pack. I find this pack though to be ok with weight distribution. Ok, in terms of, they give enough options to try and alleviate the weight in different ways.

Of course, don't overpack as well is another thing to keep in mind. Lastly, I have the Vertex 200. As comfortable as that pack is, it gets to be a burden after a few hours.

MDJAK wrote in post #4065603
2. I've never seen the backpack support. Interesting, but I'd rather own a backpack if I were going to use it that way.

We all don't have one pack that we live by...lol. At least I don't.

MDJAK wrote in post #4065603
3. The zipper on the top compartment, while a nice touch, seems useless to me as you really can't slip anything in or out of it.

I agree with this, I didn't really mention it because it's not like you can pull a camera through it. When I first got this, I wondered as well what this was about. Hmm...if you're on the run and need to stick in something, I guess..

MDJAK wrote in post #4065603
4. The draw string pouches on the side are too small for a flash and not very practical in a drizzle as they are open to the elements.

Yeah, I would put other things in there.

MDJAK wrote in post #4065603
There's also no question they are priced quite high.
mark

Well, I think the price is decent. In comparison to other bags out there. I rate the price in whether it can accomodate two bodies or not, upon which, the bags that can carry two bodies are the following:

• Crumpler Brazillion Dollar Home - $280 USD.
  
• Domke F-1x - $150 USD or so.

Did you also consider a Billingham? For some reason, they don't seem too popular. I'm not sure if it's because they are rather pricey.

Price is definately over the top for a Billingham. They are great quality and supposedly a great bag as well but Domke is more of a rival of it and a lot less expensive.

The zipper in the top is like the Lowepro Stealth series. It actually quite usefull from their 500AW and up. Large enough to get your camera through, if it's placed in the middle of the bag. As you point out above I don't see the use of it in smaller bags. Only if you wear your camera ready to shoot all the time, and use the bag to hold lenses only.

olz wrote in post #4275880
The zipper in the top is like the Lowepro Stealth series. It actually quite usefull from their 500AW and up. Large enough to get your camera through, if it's placed in the middle of the bag. As you point out above I don't see the use of it in smaller bags. Only if you wear your camera ready to shoot all the time, and use the bag to hold lenses only.

Just to clarify, the zipper above can possibly fit a camera with no grip through the zipper. Yes, it's probably possible as well with the grip but you'll really need to play with it. It's far much easier to unzip the top (around the bag) than the one zipper down the middle to place the camera back.

The wonderful thing about the Speed Racer is really the fact that it can be in shooting position by just spinning the bag around to the front. So technically it's a bag that ready to shoot 24hrs a day so to speak. In addition, the Speed "series" (Racer, Freak, Demon) are all moderate sized bags with Racer being the largest.

If you really want to go smaller, there is the ever popular change-up which was designed as a lenschanger/holder/car​rier. Although you can put in a dslr in it (tight fit) but I have seen it used that way.

I'm looking for something to hold a 30D attached to a 100-400mm that can be carried in front of me or to the side while walking through crowded areas in 3rd world countries, and the ability to put it behind you would be a bonus. Also Need a place for a 17-55mm, and need the ability to swap between the two lenses. Taking a close look at the Speed Freak. I do not use the grip on my 30D.

Do you think the 30D+100-400mm attached would fit in the racer? With a detached 17-55mm as well?

It looks like a very good system, thanks for the review!

Triptoph wrote in post #4446702
I'm looking for something to hold a 30D attached to a 100-400mm that can be carried in front of me or to the side while walking through crowded areas in 3rd world countries, and the ability to put it behind you would be a bonus. Also Need a place for a 17-55mm, and need the ability to swap between the two lenses. Taking a close look at the Speed Freak. I do not use the grip on my 30D.

Do you think the 30D+100-400mm attached would fit in the racer? With a detached 17-55mm as well?

It looks like a very good system, thanks for the review!

Yes it will. The speed racer is the largest between the 3 of them and it will definately fit additional lens.

Oh sorry, I meant to ask about the Speed freak. I'm getting my speeds mixed up I'd rather have a slightly smaller pack if it will fit the 30D + 100-400mm attached and 17-55mm alongside.

It will be a tight fit. Cutting it close.