What occurs once you mix nearly each function and measurement right into a line of digicam baggage? You find yourself with a reasonably nice bag (and a protracted evaluate)! On this evaluate, I’ll be looking at PGYTECH’s 40L Flex bag from their new OnePro line.
OnePro Line
PGYTECH has launched their OnePro line with two “sub-lines” and a complete of 5 fashions. Broadly talking, the Flex line is concentrated on journey with images gear, whereas the Focux line is meant particularly for images. In observe, this implies the Flex line is extra versatile when it comes time to pack, making use of the newer development of compartmentalized bag inserts to accommodate a mixture of digicam gear and different objects like jackets, snacks, and different objects.
The three sizes within the Flex line vary cowl 30L, 40L, and 50L. Other than measurement, they share comparable construct high quality and options—you’re actually simply selecting between measurement, weight, and skill to accommodate a number of inserts (XS, S, M, L). It’s very nice to see that every one 3 baggage can accommodate the Giant bag insert or a mixture of smaller inserts. The 30L can do XS and M, the 40L can take S and M, whereas the 50L can do XS and L or two medium inserts.
Right here’s a fast reference for what you’ll be able to count on to slot in every insert:
- XS: 3 medium-sized lenses, stood up.
- S: A digicam physique and lens with no vertical grip, together with 3 to 4 different lenses based mostly on measurement.
- M: A digicam physique, with grip and lens, together with one other 4 to five lenses. A smaller telephoto will be swapped for two lenses.
- L: Two digicam our bodies, no less than two telephoto lenses, 4 lenses, and equipment. Giant is genuinely a ton of house in a digicam backpack and will accommodate bigger telephotos with rearranged dividers (the biggest f/2.8 primes should be too massive, nevertheless, with PGYTECH saying 400 mm primes are attainable).
I’ve checked out another baggage that make use of this bag-within-a-bag idea, and I’ve actually preferred them. Having the flexibleness to swap in numerous inserts, together with the added safety of one other layer of padding, is very nice. PGYTECH has executed a very good mixture of sizes in these dividers—everybody from a hiker who needs to carry a digicam and a further lens, to a devoted panorama photographer bringing tons of substances, filters, and equipment shall be accommodated.
In Use
All that capability means nothing if the bag is hard to function or uncomfortable. To assist deal with the heft you’ll be able to pack right into a 50L bag, PGYTECH has constructed a full aluminum body into all 3 fashions of the bag. Should you’re not conversant in the body idea from climbing baggage, it’s primarily a steel construction within the bag that helps distribute weight throughout your again and hips, bettering consolation and breathability, and lowering pressure. Together with the body, there is a four-position back-length adjustment that can assist you dial in the place the pack rides. That is simple to regulate and actually makes a distinction for customers in each peak vary.
The straps are huge, thick, and well-padded, however they’re nonetheless fairly breathable with a mixture of different-sized meshes and foams. Arizona remains to be topping 100 levels, and even on hikes, the bag by no means felt suffocating or soggy.
For photographers taking their bag into climate apart from “baking warmth,” the Flex nonetheless has you lined. The material is a CORDURA base materials, and this well-regarded woven artificial has been additional handled with a polyurethane coating to additional enhance splash and scratch resistance.
Rounding out the outside, the shoulder straps have attachment factors for digicam clips or digicam straps, whereas the roll-top helps you to increase the capability by one other 10L. The waist strap has a zippered pouch for storing your cellphone or some small objects. There’s a further elastic water bottle pocket on the shoulder strap. The again of the pack gives a separate zippered compartment for issues like a gimbal or journey tripod, with group coming from two inside pockets.
On the skin, there are attachment factors for a floor mat, tripod, trekking poles, and a mesh pocket for a helmet or moist garments.
All through the bag, glorious high quality supplies have been used. Together with the already talked about CORDURA, there are YKK zippers with bolstered tapes, magnetic-attach buckles to make fast connections, and that body is made of sunshine, aerospace-grade aluminum. The liner is a impartial olive colour and is carried by way of the inserts. The inserts themselves function steel reinforcement contained in the lip of the insert, stopping them from getting squished.
Included with the bag are some good quality-of-life options: a rain cowl helps the bag resist even heavier precipitation, whereas the bag additionally features a garment storage bag to handle the non-camera house. There’s a hidden AirTag pocket and a removable tripod pocket, which helps you to swap between aspect and rear mounting. The tripod pocket has a cinch closure, however the most measurement will solely settle for what I’d name a “medium” tripod, and customers with the largest tripods would possibly discover that they should strap their legs to the underside of the bag.
Together with gear, the included laptop computer compartment works effectively sufficient. There’s a comparatively flat floor on the inside of the bag, and apart from a mostly-flat magnetic closure, there shouldn’t be undue stress on the laptop computer display. For finest outcomes, I’d retailer my laptop computer display up on the inside pouch, which places the underside of the laptop computer throughout the pack’s body, after which retailer the pack with the back-facing aspect up on the airplane.
Within the Discipline
Baggage are all the time a balancing act between consolation, capability, and ease of entry. The Flex does an excellent job at balancing these priorities. The primary digicam compartment has two entry modes: a full 180-degree unzip, revealing your entire primary compartment with only one zipper and two magnetic clips, or the aspect entry, which syncs up with zippers on the S/M/L inserts to supply fast entry to a digicam and possibly a lens.
With the emphasis on capability and luxury for trekking, this all feels affordable to me—it’s not a photojournalism or marriage ceremony photographer’s bag however could be excellent to set out on the viewpoint to seize some photographs, even when the bottom is tough and muddy.
Should you want extra entry whereas strolling round, the inserts will be pulled out and paired with the included shoulder strap to make a handy lens-changing station. The strap mounting is a bit of fiddly the primary time you do it, nevertheless, requiring you to press a small plastic notch by way of a stiff loop—it’s definitely safe, however not one thing I might need to do each time I cease to shoot.
As a substitute, I see this as one thing you do once you get to camp and shall be strolling quick distances, or maybe utilizing it whereas the total bag is in your automotive or lodge room. The inserts are padded effectively and have safe zippers, and the M insert’s strap is even padded too. The metal body across the opening helps the insert preserve its form, even with out the extra exterior bag.
General, I used to be shocked by simply how complete of a product PGYTECH delivered. Whereas I’ve loved utilizing PGYTECH gear up to now, the breadth of each the options within the bag and the range supplied by the road was spectacular. They’re effectively thought out and examine nearly each field I may consider. Smaller trekking baggage with assist for a single physique and some lenses, by way of baggage and inserts that assist 400 mm primes and a number of our bodies are all lined.
I examined out the 40L and some of the inserts for this text, and I feel it’s the candy spot, notably with the M and L insert. The L is nice in the event you’re bringing 100–400 type lenses, Mavic 3 type drones, or a number of our bodies, whereas the M is an efficient alternative for a single physique, a number of lenses, and even a folded drone.
Costs are proper in keeping with the present bag market, and whereas the bag collection isn’t low-cost, I feel it’s an excellent worth. Costs begin at $356 for the 30L bag and a medium insert, transferring as much as $389 for the 40L and M, then $409 for the 50L and M or $429 for the 50L and L insert. Inserts can be found individually, beginning at $49 and maxing out at $99. Various combinations are available for purchase from B&H. Like with different insert-based baggage, I feel having an additional insert or two actually amplifies the worth, and I’d like to see PGYTECH provide a package deal low cost on the inserts.
I’m actually proud of the OnePro Flex backpack. PGYTECH managed to pack in each function, making a unbelievable bag for journey, expedition, and journey images. By borrowing a number of the finest elements of trekking baggage, they stored all the pieces comfy, whereas nonetheless holding the deal with transporting and utilizing digicam gear.
What I Appreciated
- The body, straps, and adjustability make it possible to hold a ton of digicam gear in relative consolation
- Sturdy construct high quality can stand as much as the outside and inevitable knocks and scrapes that include journey
- A wide range of inserts show you how to tailor the bag to your precise journey profile
- A number of approaches to many storage issues like tripod mounting and accent storage
What May Be Improved
- Eradicating the buckle from the laptop computer pouch may scale back the danger of a pressure-point on the laptop computer display
- Bundles with further inserts could be welcome
