Reviews of Think Tank Speed Racer V2.0 Waist Pack

Customer Ratings:

I was looking for a shoulder bag I could work out of comfortably when shooting events. I wanted something that could distribute its weight around the waist if needed, but didn't look like a huge fanny pack. I needed it to fit a gripped DSLR, flash and 4-6 prime lenses. Over the years, I've collected a closet full of bags from Crumpler, LowePro and Tamrac. The Think Tank Speed Racer V2.0 seems to have bested them all and exceeded my needs and wants. Thanks for taking the time to read this review. Hopefully, you find it helpful.

PROS:

* Shoulder Strap WOW! The shoulder strap is the best I've seen. It is well padded and super comfy.

* Waist Strap It distributes the weight well and tilts the bag at a perfect angle to work out of. The buckles and slip stops are top notch. The padding against your body is vented and more than enough. Also, there are spots to attach some of Think Tanks modular belt system pieces. I might consider this at some point, but for now this bag holds more than enough.

* Padding Think Tank just gets this part right. The case is well framed and gives you a lot of confidence when tossing your gear into a trunk or on the ground.

* Organized It includes a ton of padded Velcro dividers to help you organize your gear how you want it. Something that's really cool is that the dividers have an extra piece of Velcro on them so you can fold the Velcro tabs over and use them as just extra padding. Nice touch!

* Front Pocket Brilliantly organized and superbly designed.

* Side Pouches Great for stuffing in snack bars and a canteen. They're made of a heavy-weight mesh with rip-stop bottoms; about 7 inches deep. There is an adjustable synch cord at the top of the pocket to keep everything inside.

* Top Handle Placed where it works best and makes the grab-and-go carry easy.

CONS:

* Main Zipper It's super meaty and kind of hard to unzip when you are wearing it as a shoulder bag. The shoulder strap loops get in the way. This isn't such a bad thing, and when you wear it with just the belt, it leans the bag away from your body enough to make unzipping easier. My solution is just leave it unzipped when I'm working no matter how I wear it.

* Price As I tell my clients when asked about competitor pricing, "People know what their product is worth and charge accordingly." You get what you pay for and it is so worth the investment. Just buy this bag, you'll love it!

WHAT I CARRY:

Some people just love peeping into another photographer's bag. So, if you were wondering what I fit and carry when I use it, here's the list. I typically do not carry all of these lenses, but when I do, it weighs in at a comfortable 12-15 pounds fully loaded with camera. Keep in mind that when I work out of it, the camera and one lens is in a my B-Grip belt holster. (FYI: I am 6'3", 175lbs, with a 33" waist.)

* Camera: Canon 7D gripped, extra batteries, CF cards

* Lenses: Rokinon 8mm Fisheye, Tokina 11-16, Canon 28mm, 60mm Macro, 85mm, 135mm (all with hoods reversed)

* Flash: Canon 430ex II, Sto-fen, Strobist gel pack, extra AA batteries

* Misc: Sekonic L-308s light meter, YongNuo RF-602's, LensPens, Color Checker, water flask

"ORIGINAL VERSION" VERSUS "V2.0"

So why spend $179 on the Speed Racer V2.0 when Amazon is currently selling the first version for $128 USD (while supplies last)? Since I did not own the original, I searched the internet forums to find an answer. The major upgrades have been to materials and design, but they are very similar.

Some of the improvements that I saw are: The waist belt tucks neatly into the sides now, into a zippered compartment, as opposed to the older version that tucks into the padding side that faces the wearer. This makes the V2.0 slightly slimmer in profile when stowed. And they added a large pocket behind the back padding. The side pouches are a tougher mesh with rip-stop bottoms and the hidden side pockets have been removed. Some of the hardware (zipper pulls, waist belt buckles and slip-stops) have been improved. The front compartment has been redesigned for more organization and ease of access.

So is all this worth the extra $50? To me, a slimmer profile means easier to carry, so yes.

I also own the Think Tank StreetWalker HardDrive backpack. Based on these two purchases, Think Tank is money well spent, and IMHO the best bang for the buck. Feel free to ask any questions you might have. Thanks for reading!

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Like many working portrait and wedding photographers, I have a few specific bag requirements:

* it must hold three lenses (one of which is a 70-200mm f/2.8 tele), a mounted pro body (with vertical grip), and two speedlights.

* I must be able to work out of it easily: everything should be accessible without too much wriggling, twisting, zipping, prodding.

* It must offer some impact and climate protection

* It should look professional and help convey professionalism--so, not overly "techy," not overly styled.

I looked long and hard, but I honestly couldn't find another bag to meet these needs. I thought about the "Boda," but there's no room for speedlights or your camera body. I thought about various Tamrac, LowePro, and Kata "sling" bags, but all of the reasonable-sized options only have room for one speedlight, and many of them have such an "overstated" attention-seeking look.

But the Speed Racer is perfection. It's tough. It's basic, sleek, svelte black. It's the perfect size to hold three lenses, a body, and two speedlights. It's built with so many thoughtful design touches that make working out of it such a pleasure. The top, for example, flops up and out of your way for easy lens changes; and flops back in place with a tiny "flick" of your wrist. It's got a seam-sealed raincover that's a snap to put on. The strap is deeply padded and comfortable for all-day work.

Thanks, Think Tank!

Best Deals for Think Tank Speed Racer V2.0 Waist Pack

It holds my Canon 5D Mark II with battery grip, Canon 70-200 f2.8L Zoom Lens, and Canon EX580II Speedlite in the main compartment separated by the velcro inserts, and has two stretchable side pockets, several accessory pockets on the interior, front, and sides still available for filters, memory cards, and other accessories. The two parts of the very comfortable waist belt with loops for modular accessories fit so discretely into the two "hidden" side pockets that I thought they were missing! The shoulder strap is very comfortable. It's a Think Tank...no more needs to be said!

Honest reviews on Think Tank Speed Racer V2.0 Waist Pack

I bought this bag as a quick grab and run bag. By no means will all my equipment fit, I can however carry my Nikon D700, 16-35, 24-70, 70-200, Sb900 flash, and extra batteries.

This is the bag I've been looking for. I hated the back pack that I always had to take off and set on the ground in front of me.

Great service from Amazon! It's a winner.

Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Think Tank Speed Racer V2.0 Waist Pack

i had a camera bag by a different company that fell to the floor when the shoulder strap hardware gave way damaging my camera. i purchased think tank's bag and found it ideal. it is very well padded. it protects gear extraordinarily well. all the hardware is made for heavy duty use. the design is well thought out and there are just the right number of compartments. i've used the bag for almost a year and it still looks brand new. think tank makes great gear.