Lowepro Flipside 400 vs. Tamrac Evolution 8

Hi everyone,

I am upgrading my camera bag as it's not big enough to hold all my current gears comfortably. I am currently using Kata 3n1 22. It's a good bag and I like it. But it's just too small and has no built in tripd holder ( I am shopping for a tripod for landscape shooting.) I don't always use the sling orientation of it. I use it as backpack most of the time. Laptop carring capacity is not the top concern. But I use the laptop compartment for accessories or personal belongings sometimes. So, it's nice to have it.

I am thinking of getting one of the following. Which will you vote for?

Tamrac evolution 8 ( A new bag). Same style as my kata 3n1 but hasmuch more room. It's built quality is far better than the kata and velcro positions are not as limited as the kata. It's not bulky and it's stylish. Look better than 3n1 33. It 's much more comfortable than the kata when put on. I tried it in B&H. Got a good offer for a brand new bag locally.

Think tank Street Walker Pro. Look very good, and big enough to hold all my stuff. Many people like it and recommended it. Have not got a chance to really touch the real thing. Not in B&H.

Flipside 400. BUilt quality is good but not as welll as the Tamrac for sure. It's not as good looking as the two bags above but it's roomy and safe to carry all my stuff around given it's zippers are on the "flipside". Comfortable to carry as usual ( I owned different lowpro backpacks before and they are all very comfortable with gears loaded.) Many people used it and very happy with it. I can find it anywhere.

Thanks for your help!

the tarmac would probably work better for you as the flipside is meant to hold 2 cameras and a lot of lenses. with your equipment load, you'd find yourself with too much space.

c2thew wrote in post #10316916
the tarmac would probably work better for you

Not sure if I'd want to carry a slab of tarmac on my back...

c2thew wrote in post #10316916
as the flipside is meant to hold 2 cameras and a lot of lenses. with your equipment load, you'd find yourself with too much space.

If the 400 is too big, then there's still the 300.

I went for Tamrac. Will report how it goes. Checked out the 400 vs. Tamrac in B&H again but still think Tamrac will work better for me. The 400 is a very good bag tho. Just not crazy about the flipside idea (owned a crumpler keystone and sold it) and it doesn't have enough room for some personal stuff.

Guess I like the idea of multiple acess to the camera. That's why i bought my kata in the first place. Just don't feel comfortable to carry a full bag for long hours and always want something has better built quality.

Anyway, The Tamrac is hot here in NY. Sold out in BH in just a few days. And the display unit got a lot of attentions from the bag shoppers in the store. Hope I made a good decsion.

nonick wrote in post #10322713
The 400 is a very good bag tho. Just not crazy about the flipside idea (owned a crumpler keystone and sold it) and it doesn't have enough room for some personal stuff.

The great thing about the back access of the Flipside is that it allows you to remove the shoulder straps and rotate the back around your waist using the waist band. You can then access all of your gear, and have a platform to change your lenses on without having to take the bag all the way off or put it down on the ground. As far as I can tell from the images I saw, the Keystone does not allow you to do that. The waist band also provides a significant amount of carrying comfort.

nonick wrote in post #10322713
Guess I like the idea of multiple acess to the camera. That's why i bought my kata in the first place. Just don't feel comfortable to carry a full bag for long hours and always want something has better built quality.

Yes, when Kata first came out it really caught my attention -- ability to access gear from both sides, ability to wear as sling or as backpack, etc.

However, the straps seemed to be too narrow to be comfortable especially when one plans to load it up with something like a 70-200/2.8 (or 100-400L in my case).

Then Tamrac Evolution seems to have captured (copied?) all the cool features of the Kata 3n1, plus the native ability to carry a tripod. (Although in Kata's defense, when it first came out it shipped with the tripod accessory for free.)

Hopefully the Tamrac will have stronger/more comfortable straps.

nonick wrote in post #10322713
I went for Tamrac. Will report how it goes. Checked out the 400 vs. Tamrac in B&H again but still think Tamrac will work better for me.

Great.

Please keep us updated.

rvdw98 wrote in post #10322952
The great thing about the back access of the Flipside is that it allows you to remove the shoulder straps and rotate the back around your waist using the waist band. You can then access all of your gear, and have a platform to change your lenses on without having to take the bag all the way off or put it down on the ground.

Yes, but I don't think it's as "hands free" as it first appears.

If you load the bag up to capacity, the weight of the bag is so large that it will flip the bag upside down, only to hang by the waist strap.

Even in Lowepro's own video, the guy had to:
1. Keep his right hand on one of the straps to keep the bag from flipping down, then
2. bring his leg/knee up to support the bag from below.

http://www.youtube.com​/watch?v=DXCAMU2A2ws

This makes it not so useful as a platform, IMO.

RetroBlader wrote in post #10330495
Yes, but I don't think it's as "hands free" as it first appears.

If you load the bag up to capacity, the weight of the bag is so large that it will flip the bag upside down, only to hang by the waist strap.

Even in Lowepro's own video, the guy had to:
1. Keep his right hand on one of the straps to keep the bag from flipping down, then
2. bring his leg/knee up to support the bag from below.

http://www.youtube.com​/watch?v=DXCAMU2A2ws

This makes it not so useful as a platform, IMO.

I dragged it halfway across Norway last summer and it worked for me.

I don't mind propping it up on my knee. The only real alternative is a sling bag, which is uncomfortable to carry over long distances due to its single strap design, only allows access to a small part of your gear when "slung", and brings up the "platform" too close to my face.

But as always, YMMV.

i have a 300 and do not have to support it with my knee..... just make sure the waist belt is tight.... works great.

supra8903 wrote in post #10332139
i have a 300 and do not have to support it with my knee..... just make sure the waist belt is tight.... works great.

300 is smaller than 400, so maybe that's the difference.

rvdw98 wrote in post #10331036
I dragged it halfway across Norway last summer and it worked for me.

Do you have the 300 or the 400?

rvdw98 wrote in post #10331036
I don't mind propping it up on my knee. The only real alternative is a sling bag, which is uncomfortable to carry over long distances due to its single strap design, only allows access to a small part of your gear when "slung", and brings up the "platform" too close to my face.

Agree, hence the popularity of the "crossover" breed of bags like Kata 3N1 and the Tamrac Evolution 8. They can be used as sling bags for speed/convenience, but for longer haul, they can be converted into backpacks.

RetroBlader wrote in post #10334508
Do you have the 300 or the 400?

I have the 400.

Just got the Tamrac evolution bag today. Very happy with the built. It's better built than the Kata for sure. I don't have time to transfer my stuff to the new bag yet but I will do it later.

NoNick.
Being a bag junkie,the new Tamrac Evolution series has really peaked my interest.
While in the Baltimore area yesterday, I stopped in the local Penn Camera store. They just received the new Evolution series. The Evolution 8 was on the shelf. The quality is top notch and the features are very nice. When I was ready to pay at the counter, the salesman said he just bought his the day before. He happened to have his in the back fully loaded with lenses and his tripod mounted. He asked that I put his pack on to show me the nice features. The best thing was this was fully loaded and very, very comfortable to wear. Very impressed.
I bought the dark brown Expedition 8. How about you Nick?
I also have the Lowepro Flipside 400AW.
Both are great bags.

nonick wrote in post #10341425
Just got the Tamrac evolution bag today. Very happy with the built. It's better built than the Kata for sure. I don't have time to transfer my stuff to the new bag yet but I will do it later.

Any luck putting the Evolution 8 through the paces yet?

Any update on the Evolution 8?

Any idea if it'll carry a 7D with grip and a 70-200 f/2.8 fitted and loose?, The specs says it'll carry a pro body with grip but I've read in two different places it won't.

I started off with a Thinktank streetwalker but due to camera upgrade and mainly the grip it'll no longer fit height wise and I like the idea of the backpack/sling easy access idea. The Thinktank is very padded and comfy though.