Tamrac AeroSpeed 85 Backpack

I don't do too many reviews, because I only review what I buy, from my own money. I'm not important enough for the big manufacturers to send me their goodies. I don't really write glowing reviews. This just what I think and what I experienced.

I'm a backpack freak. Every year or couple of years, I buy a new one. It's always the last one for next while, but… Women buy shoes, I buy backpacks. A short while ago I bought the Tamrac Aerospeed 85 backpack. It was on sale. Before buying it, I searched, Googled, Amazon reviews… The reviews were not too kind. Many people complaining of the zippers, too hard, not strong enough…

I still bought it because I was looking for a camera backpack that:

1. Could be used as a regular backpack, to carry my “stuff.”
2. Could carry at least 1 camera with a 70-200 attached + at least another lens.
3. Would be nice if it would also carry a laptop.
4. Extremely important for me, to look like a regular backpack and not to look like a camera bag.

There were only 2 backpacks that fit the bill and are available here in Vancouver, Canada:

1. Lowepro Fastpack 250/350
2. Tamrac Aerospeed 85

The problem with the Lowepro is that the hip belt is not removable. There was a sale on the Aerospeed, so I bought the Tamrac.

Tamrac AeroSpeed 85 Backpack Opened

You are supposed to be able to do:

Tamrac AeroSpeed 85 Backpack: How to Remove The Camera

Cons

1. Like everybody else complaining about it, I can't remove the camera as advertised, the zippers are too stiff to do it single handed. But I knew that before buying.
2. Not enough small pockets, pouches. Would have been nice if Tamrac used the same pocket system as the Adventure 9.
3. No chest strap to balance the load, and take the weight of the shoulders. It carries OK, but could be better, especially on long walks.
4. No hip belt. A removable hip belt would have been nice.

Pros

1. It does look like a regular backpack. I can be anonymous. I've written a few articles about being anonymous, including Coward. I'm in Vancouver, the 2010 Olympics are getting under way, and everywhere there are thousandS of police¹ and a few thousands “rent-a-cop”. I was walking with a friend that has a big camera bags and we were taking photos of the Olympic venues from the public street. Some “rent-a-cop” didn't like it and started running after us. As usual, we kept on walking and ignoring him. He reached us and went for my friend with his big camera bag, he left me alone.
2. I can have the camera and the 70-200 attached with the hood reversed in the bag with a couple of smaller lenses.
3. The bag stands up.
4. I can put my small “junk” in the upper portion.
5. 1 mesh side packet for the water/coffee thermos.

Conclusion

So far, I'm happy with it. Just the fact that it looks like a regular backpack makes it worth it for me.

¹ As far as I know, there are 15000+ police personel between the RCMPs, the army, the military police and the various city polices ↑

Tags: Biz101