Jamie’s Weblog

I’ve just acquired a “Crumpler”:http://www.crumpler.co.uk/ Formal Lounge photo/laptop backpack to add to my rather-too-extensive collection of bags.

!/notebook/images/24.jpg (Front of Formal Lounge backpack)!
!/notebook/images/22.jpg (Back of the Crumpler Formal Lounge)!

I already have a “Techair “:http://www.techair.co.uk/ Dune messenger-style laptop bag and a “Lowepro TLZ-mini toploader”:http://www.lowepro.com/Products/Toploading/classic/Topload_Zoom_Mini.aspx for my Minolta Dynax 5D. Unfortunately, I need to take both the laptop and camera on my trips back home to Ireland — and neither of them are going in the hold! The solution was a combined laptop and camera bag, which ideally doesn’t look as if it contains a laptop or camera. The Formal Lounge fulfilled these criteria and is Crumpler’s smallest and cheapest laptop/photo bag.

!/notebook/images/28.jpg (The backpack and laptop)!
!/notebook/images/25.jpg (Close-up of the front zip and Crumpler logo)!

The bag itself is a good hand luggage size, made of a stiff and tough looking material, and looks quite inconspicuous. The shoulder straps are padded, adjustable and moulded to comfortably fit the body. The back of the bag is thickly padded with a chicken-mesh material and a gap down the spine for ventilation (although don’t expect wonders in terms of sweat-prevention). There’s no hip belt but I consider this a good thing on a bag of this size but there is, however, a small chest strap. All of the zips are good and strong, and shouldn’t split without a significant deal of abuse. There are two external bellows pockets; one at the front of the top section and the other on the bottom, which will hold memory cards, filters, batteries and so on.

!/notebook/images/26.jpg (The camera section)!
!/notebook/images/29.jpg (The bottom photo section, fully-loaded)!

Now, onto the main features of the bag: the photo and laptop sections. The photo section is at the bottom of the bag, accessed by a zip across the front of the bag. The camera and lenses are held in a padded, but rigid, box which can be removed from the bag if you don’t need the camera and want to use that area for something else. The photo section is subdivided by several velcro partitions into a central body space and four lens silos. This section is approximately 7″ deep but the two front lens section are slightly shorter because of the curve of the bag. I can’t really assess how well these sections work as I only have the kit lens for the 5D. On the other hand, they nicely hold my battery charger, laptop power supply and other accessories. The Dynax 5D fits nicely into the camera body section.

!/notebook/images/23.jpg (The top zip)!
!/notebook/images/27.jpg (Inside the top section)!

The laptop section is accessed from behind the shoulder straps. This is a little strange, but (I think) common to all Crumpler backpacks, and requires you to fold the straps over the front of the bag and unzip the back. Apparently, the idea is to allow you to lay the bag on its front whilst accessing it, and thereby keping all the dirt off the back of the bag (and you). It also prevents people secretly gaining access to your bag in a crowded place (but only the top section is protected in this way). The laptop sits in a padded sleeve down back of the bag, and is secured by a velco flap (no straps). This laptop sleeve measures (very approximately) 14.5″ deep, 10.5″ wide and 2.5″ thick, which apparently will hold a 17″ laptop. Personally, I tried it with a bulky old 14″ laptop (no problem) and my sleek new 14″ widescreen, a HP dv1265EA, and I’m very happy with the protection offered. I’m not sure that your 17″ desktop replacement laptop would be very happy in there though (but then it’s desktop replacement so leave it on the desktop!). In front of the padded laptop section is a space for A4 papers which will be kept flat. The rest of the top section of the bag is free for all the other odds and ends you might need when travelling: passport, a book, small bottle of water etc. In fact, I can fit my small Lowepro toploader bag in there!

!/notebook/images/30.jpg (The loaded top section)!

Overall, I’m extremely pleased with the bag and would heartily recommend it to other photo/laptop users (as it was recommended to me). It’s not the only camera bag you’ll need (a small camera-only bag is useful too) but it would be ideal for anyone needing to travel with their camera and laptop, or photojournalists that need to shoot, edit and upload in the “urban field”.

I bought my backpack online, from “Bristol Cameras”:http://www.bristolcameras.co.uk/, for £70 + p&p. I have the black/grey with orange trim version, but Navy or Red colours are also available. Other bags in the range will accommodate two camera bodies, more lenses and probably provide more room for the larger laptops. “Practical Photography”:http://www.praticalphotography.co.uk recently reviewed a selection of photo backpacks including the photo-only Crumpler Shrinkle (but not the Formal Lounge featured here).

Just one more note: the Crumpler website is an absolute disaster (confusing layout, bizarre content, music, occasional nudity, and it’s all flash-based) but don’t let it put you off buying one of their bags. They know a great deal more about making good bags than they do about making a good website.