Love the Think Tank Urban Disguise 40 + Swiss Army strap

I recently picked up a second hand UD40 and while I loved the bag, I felt the strap was the weak link. Fortunately, my bag came with the shoulder harness as well. I ended up replacing the strap with a Victorinox Swiss Army luggage strap (around $29 at a luggage store : CLICK ME). This strap combined with the bag is very comfortable and roomy for its relatively small size. The strap itself feels like a very heavy duty Op-Tech strap so you know its as comfortable as it gets. Here's what I have in the bag:

-5D MK II with 24-105 mounted and hood on
-24L II
-85L II
-16-35L II
-580EX II
-E-PL1
-Panasonic 14-140
-S90 in soft case
-various accessories an room for more small items, etc.
-Think Tank shoulder harness

What I love about the bag & new strap:
1. Great size for a non gripped body and a few lenses
2. Light
3. Sleek and stylish while low profile
4. Durable
5. Lots of compartments
6. Access to main compartment without a flap cover


What I don't like:
1. It could use a little more bottom padding. This was easily fixed by using some extra dividers placed on the bottom.
2. The original strap and its fat wrinkly unadjustable pad!
3. A slight bit more width would accomodate a grip or 1D body without stretch
4. Would like to see thicker and grippier handle covers
5. Not a dislike but I would have liked a side pocket that accomodates, with easy access, a large flash.
6. Now that iPads, etc are here, a more padded rear compartment to house one would probably be cool but maybe not doable due to the size of the bag.

Overall, I love this bag! Its a shoulder bag that finally tops my Lowepro Classified 160AW.


Sorry for the poor quality pics. I shot this real quick in the bathroom.

The bag is sleek looking, durable, and doesn't look like a camera bag. It looks like a small version of the Kenneth Cole bag I use for work.

Nice little review of the UD 40. I like that bag but, I wound up getting the UD50. The UD 50 has enough room for what I need. Thanks for posting the pics too.

I can see my self adding a UD35(if it fits the 1D/70-200 combo) and a larger bag like the 50 (or 70 pro) for travel storage. This one is just right for my light traveling needs. I'm a bagaholic so I have an option for every situation.

Sorry for the aside, but: So.. what's the 'disguise' part of it? It looks like a laptop case, which makes it an even bigger target since a laptop is something that most anyone can use.

If you see it as a laptop bag instead of camera bag is still classified as disguised imho haha just kidding though.

opus13 wrote in post #10293462
Sorry for the aside, but: So.. what's the 'disguise' part of it? It looks like a laptop case, which makes it an even bigger target since a laptop is something that most anyone can use.

Thats a very good point. I think it disguises the camera bag look but does not disguise valuable contents. In fact, it looks like an expensive laptop bag like a Tumi. There are plenty of bags, including the newer TT bags, that do a better job of being low profile. On the other hand, the UD40 is pretty small and wouldnt scream laptod like the 50 or larger.

^ I like that diaper bag much better.

I'm on my fourth ThinkTank bag, they really make a great product. I had the UD40 but switched to the UD70 when I added the grip to my 7D. Just a little more width in the 40 and it would have been fine. The 70 is more than I need but it was my only ThinkTank option at the time. Guess I will have to buy some more lenses to fill it up!

I'm tempted! Here's the baby sherpa which combines a real back pack design with a diaper bag! Add a camera insert....

i have a ud60 (which also works as my laptop work bag) and a UD35 (for when i only need my camera and netbook). also have a rotation360 but that has more limited uses. i love tt bags, i know they look a little business like but i think thats ok given how many people carry laptops these days...

I know it is an old thread, but I have this bag.

I actually replaced it, with a TT Retro 10 that didn't work for me at all. The UD40? I couldn't find a buyer, so it is still here...

New interest? This may be an excellent bag for my micro 43rds gear.

Do any UD40 owners use this bag this way? I would love to see images of the UD 40 setup for smaller interchangeable lens systems.

DaveL