With the side-access pocket, grabbing the camera is a snappy affair, but you'll need to take the bag off to unzip the main compartment.
It fits everything I need to shoot a video in the field, including a tripod (which secures in place with a buckle).
The improved padding is very cushiony, and the exterior waterproof tarpaulin and Robic 1680-denier ballistic nylon materials have held up extremely well. All of the bag sizes come with an expandable handy roll-top that offers an additional 5 liters of space. I like it so much I wrote about it in greater detail in a full-length story. It comes in green, blue, black, and tan, and you choose between 11, 21, 31, or 41 liters-I opted for the 31-liter version. It's the closest a camera bag has ever come to perfection.
VBAG CAMERA UPGRADE
Well, the Prvke V2 (pronounced “provoke”) is the one upgrade you'll be satisfied with for years. So you've gone through a few camera bags. What sets Moment's bag apart from its similarly priced peers is the material it's made of: a much more durable recycled Kodra fabric with a double-layer waterproof coating. That also means some areas feel really tight and can be annoying to access, but that's only an issue if you pack it to the brim. One thing that irks me is how the MTW tends to puff up very quickly once you start filling it-it looks as though the contents could burst at any moment. The front vertical zippered pocket is great for storing smaller items like chargers, cables, and batteries. The smaller 17-liter bag's rear-most section can just barely fit a 16-inch laptop in its padded sleeve, but the stretchy side pouch can carry a mini tripod or a thick water bottle. The main compartment kind of requires the MTW Camera Insert (sold separately for $80, though frequently on sale for less) so you can make the most of the backpack, and while it's not as easy as a traditional side pocket for accessing your gear, you can still grab your camera without taking the entire pack off. Moment's attractive MTW Backpack comes in 17-liter or 21-liter sizes, and I recommend the latter. My worry? The 600-denier polyester material doesn't feel as durable as I'd like, and my Lemon Yellow model stains too easily. The Jumper is comfortable to carry, and there's a luggage passthrough strap, a roomy side pocket, and tripod attachment straps on the base. Just fold down the Velcro divider in the main compartment and take out any additional dividers. I like that there's no camera cube to take out when converting it to a normal bag. The rear-most compartment closes with a waterproof zipper to protect your laptop. There's a zippered pocket on the front with some mesh pouches for batteries, cables, or SD cards, and the main compartment is roomy enough to hold a sweater (or lunch). It's stylish and doesn't look like a camera bag! Yet you get the side pocket common on camera bags that offers easy access to the camera inside, and you can unzip the front to grab additional lenses. That's probably because it's available in several bright, eye-catching colors, like Lemon Yellow and Poppy Red. This 18-liter bag makes me feel good when it's on my back. Out of all the backpacks I've tested under $150, I often find myself coming back to The Jumper by Brevite. WIRED reviewers Scott Gilbertson and Jess Grey contributed to this guide. Subscriptions help fund the work we do every day.
This includes unlimited access to and our print magazine (if you'd like). Special offer for Gear readers: Get a 1-year subscription to WIRED for $5 ($25 off). Updated November 2021: We've added the Wandrd Prvke V2, Roam, Hexad Duffel, Manfrotto Street Slim, Gitzo Legende, Lowepro, Brevite's The Jumper, holsters, and some tech organizers. Be sure to check out our Best Compact Cameras, Best Mirrorless Cameras, and Best Camera Accessories for Your Phone for more. We've shoved our equipment into slings, messenger bags, backpacks, and cubes we've even gone bag-free, all in search of a convenient way to carry everything while keeping it protected and lightweight. We camera enthusiasts here on the WIRED Gear team have tested more than 40 bags to help whittle your search down. Also, everyone's needs are different, and what works for me might not work for you. I once spent two hours inside a B&H trying to fit all my photo gear inside more than 20 bags the store had on sale, and I still left unsatisfied. There is no such thing as the perfect camera bag.