Best Tamrac 3385 Aero Speed Pack 85 Photo / Laptop Digital SLR Camera Deals

Customer Ratings:

I have been using this bag for about a year now. I find that side zipper access to my camera to be absolutely awesome, I can have my camera out of its well protected carrying place in a matter of seconds. The padded shoulder straps are comfortable for me, and I never feel anything jabbing into my back as I'm hiking as the there is padding there too. The upper section is a perfect fit for my Sigma 150:500, which is a big telescopic lens. I also like that I can reconfigure the lower half using the provided velcro strapped dividers. Not only am I impressed by the quality of the stitching and material, it is also made in the USA, which makes it even more satisfying.

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Backstory:

I did quite a bit of exploring and research before settling on this pack. I wanted something a bit larger than my original bag (Lowepro Slingshot 200) and something that would be ideal for hiking. I also wanted to be able to easily carry 4 lens, a flash, and my camera body. A tripod option was preferred, but I ended up giving up on that option.

Decision:

Being a satisfied owner of a Lowepro already, one of the first bags I considered when expanding to a larger bag was a Lowepro Fastpack 350. After finding one in a store, I decided that it would be too much of a hassle to go through a zipper plus 2 buckles every time I wanted to switch a lens.

Thats when I settled on the Tamrac 3385. It has a huge amount of space (without being overly cumbersome), looks like an average backpack, and allows quick access to either my ready-to-go camera, or my lens. I do have to set it down on the ground or another surface to access the spare lens, but so far no one has come up with a better solution. The shoulder straps are comfortable and the two zipper design is sufficient.

Pros/Cons:

The waterproof zipper is a little harder to slide and tends to take 2 hands to close, but its not a big deal (I haven't tried it in weather around or below freezing though). The large zipper on the back of the pack is a bit hard to zip with one hand because the water shielding flap gets stuck in it, but its ok once you get used to it. I would prefer to have a couple more smaller compartments inside, but there's enough to work with. There is no chest strap or waist strap on the model I purchased, but I haven't missed it yet. I can always sew one on myself later if I choose to. It also seems to carry the weight of a full load nicely.

Summary:

I would recommend this pack if you're looking for something on the larger side (4 lens + flash + camera + extra gear) and fast access, inconspicuous, and comfort.

Notes:

As someone else had mentioned in a review, it is important to make sure both zippers are closed before putting the pack back on your back. I have had a couple close calls, but luckily nothing worse.