One of life’s joys is taking photos outdoors. One of life’s challenges is the weather. Life + weather = uncertainty….until now. Agua – Miggo’s newest line of storm-proof camera bags are here so you can tote your precious camera, no matter what the forecast. Starting today on Indiegogo, this versatile line of bags comes in three models and they are all ready to take on the elements.
Built to IPX3 standards, they are meant to protect against spraying water with water-repellant zippers and a rugged neoprene exterior. Upon completion of a successful Indiegogo campaign, they’ll be available in three models:
- The large Versa Backpack model
- The Sling Bag
- The Drone Carrier
I had the good fortune to get a prototype Agua Storm-proof Quick-draw Sling Bag 60 and I ‘ve been using it for the past couple days. Happy to report, this is comfortable to wear, well-padded to protect my gear, and easy to access – very quickly.
They say 3 seconds to access your gear…but the best I’ve been able to manage is 8 seconds. Still plenty quick enough to capture most of the urban subjects I chase.
The bag consists of four compartments: main internal compartment for your camera gear; external personal gear pocket (cellphone, notepad, pen, etc.); a slot for your computer or tablet (up to 13.5”); and a hidden pocket for a power pack – which can be accessed via a flip-top panel on the exterior of the bag. (Mine was a pre-production sample and did not have the actual connections attached to the bag, but I can see how it will work and it will be handy to have.)
Outside the bag are two non-removable straps to securely fasten a compact tripod. I wish they had used quick-connect buckles instead, but the straps do seem to work fine. The bottom of the bag is a durable thermoformed bottom so you can safely set it down on wet pavement.
Having a tough water-resistant exterior, you can now take your expensive gear to the pool, the beach, or on your boat with some peace of mind.
In the main camera compartment, there is a combination of dividers that allow for your camera with lens attached, a small compartment under your camera for a smaller lens, and a tall compartment next to your camera for a large lens, along with a fourth long compartment for a full-sized flash.
I’m a Nikon shooter and it holds my D500 with a mounted Tamron 16-300 lens with sunshade attached, a Nikon 70-200 f2.8, a Nikon 50 f1.8, and a Nikon SB800 flash and batteries. I can also just barely fit in my 13.5” Yoga 900 laptop. It also has nice padding and lies safely right next to your back.
Wearing the bag is a dream with the extra wide shoulder strap – the widest I’ve ever used – with generous padding. There’s also a quick disconnect stabilizer strap for when you are actively hiking or biking. With the stabilizer strap adjusted properly, your pack won’t be flopping around, even if you are. Both the strap and the pack’s back are nicely padded for all day comfort. The pads on the back provide a trolley pass through so it will slip over your suitcase handle.
Check out all three models at the Agua Indiegogo webpage and reserve yours at a discount during the funding campaign.
Disclosure: Miggo sent us a pre-production sample so we could review it for this article; but, as always, opinions are strictly our own.