The Backloader Pro Light camera bag from Manfrotto offers a great level of protection while offering loads of space for small and medium-sized cameras and accessories. Should you’re a photographer with plenty of substances and lots of ideas, this bag could possibly be well suited to your needs. On this review we have got our hands on the medium-sized model of this bag.
Key specs
Weight: 1.89 kg
Internal dimensions: 10.6 x 6.2 x 16.9-in (27 x 16 x 43cm)
External dimensions: 12.5 x 10.2 x 20.4-in (32 x 26 x 52cm)
Laptop compartment dimensions: 15-in laptop/tablet
Variety of lenses that could be stored: Eight maximum
Compatibility: DSLR/Mirrorless Cameras
Overall, we were impressed with the Backloader Pro Light camera bag due to the space that it offers and the extent of protection it gives to the contents inside. You may as well take a look at our guide to the best camera backpacks available on the market.
Should you’re searching for more guidance on camera gear basically then it is also value having a have a look at our guides for the best tripods, the best cameras for astrophotography or best cameras for photos and videos and the best zoom lenses. Nonetheless, to read our hands-on review of the Manfrotto Backloader Pro Light camera bag, all you may have to do is read on.
Manfrotto Backloader Pro Light: Design
- Smart and light-weight design with well-built zips and fasteners
- Water-resistant material
- Internal dividers are padded, adjustable and removable
On first impressions, it looks like a handy bag to have. Loads of space to supply, a wise look and reliable support and protection to your load inside. Unloaded, it’s lightweight, the straps are easy to regulate and it’s comfortable each on the shoulders and the back. Thus far, so good.
The bag we tested is a dark gray color with the Manfrotto logo displayed on the front in black, to partner the black zips across the bag. Either side has a pouch that’s elasticated at one end, allowing you to suit larger objects comparable to tripod parts in there and not only a normal water bottle. On the back, two symmetrical foam pads run the length of the bag, that are covered by netting, for comfort and breathability, while the straps even have a soft but barely firmer material running along the within.
The within this bag is its biggest plus side. It has a three-zip design so you possibly can access a front section, the highest of the bag where a camera can be best placed, for quick and quick access and the back of the bag opens up completely, so you may have total access to each compartment in your bag. There’s loads of space inside for camera(s) and accessories and the structure that keeps all the things in place in addition to protects it’s removable and adjustable, so more room could be made if and when it’s required.
It also features quite a few pockets/pouches on the within (one is zipped) which is right if you ought to carry keys, a wallet/purse, a phone or any small-sized extras it is advisable to take with you. All in all, from a design point-of-view, this bag is practical, well made and value having when you’re in possession of a small or medium-sized camera and looking out to take it with you together with accessories or lenses.
Manfrotto Backloader Pro Light: Features
- Easy-access front camera compartment
- Back opens up completely to supply total access
- Fabric dividers have padding and are removable
This bag features three zips, which open up two different compartments of the bag: The front section and the most important section, where your camera and extras might be. Contained in the front section of the bag are two pouches that are elastically sealed for quick access, ideal for small extras you ought to carry. Contained in the most important section of the bag are two more pouches which the fabric of the inside covers. There may be also a zipped compartment below those pouches and a deep pocket right in the back of the bag.
The standout feature of this bag is undoubtedly the material dividers within the most important section of the bag. They’re attached to the padded interior and to one another with Velcro. At a look, the material and Velcro combination as a divider looks a bit of low-cost but given the protection and support that the padding contained in the fabric dividers offers, in addition to the Velcro helping to permit the dividers to be adjustable and removable, that basically is not a problem.
Further features of this bag include side pouches/pockets which can hold a tripod or tripod parts and there is a strap to carry it in place. They’re elasticated which allows a variety of things to slot in there too. You may as well fasten the straps of the bag easily to fit your comfort needs too.
Manfrotto Backloader Pro Light: Performance
- Dividers hold all the things in place over long commutes
- Straps don’t dig in or rub against shoulders
- Fundamental section offers loads of room
A sensible design and useful features are all welcome, but does the Manfrotto Backloader Pro Light camera bag perform well? Well, in brief, yes. We found no issues with commuting with the bag, whether or not it’s with only a camera inside or when removing the dividers to suit day-to-day items like groceries in there. Fastening the straps on the bag to seek out the best fit was also easy and the straps remained in place during commutes.
The dividers allow for a maximum of nine compartments which implies you possibly can get loads of accessories and lenses to suit along along with your camera. Removing and adjusting them can be easy enough as a result of the material and Velcro combination. The EVA foam used contained in the fabric dividers offer maximum protection against impact and there is structural reinforcement at the bottom of the bag. This is a component of Manfrotto’s ‘M-Guard Protection System’ which implies the bag has excellent shock-absorbing qualities. Moreover, The bag features water-repellent nylon/polyester fabric so it has waterproof qualities, protecting your valuables inside. It’s made more impressive as we didn’t find any damage attributable to snags on low-hanging branches, for instance.
We also found that the space inside works excellently for what you would like. We only had one camera available when testing and that fit throughout the partitions of each section of the dividers. But we also found that you might fit groceries across the camera and walk around with the identical level of comfort with all the things staying exactly where it was initially placed. The side pouches, designed to carry tripod parts, held a water bottle perfectly without it moving around or falling out. The back pocket within the most important section of the bag will hold a 15-inch screen laptop in addition to other things. The front section doesn’t offer lots of room nevertheless it does offer loads of depth, so items like maps, books or folders could possibly be placed in there, but not much else. Even on long commutes, the straps didn’t dig or rub against the shoulders.
Do you have to buy the Manfrotto Backloader Pro Light backpack?
We recommend having the Manfrotto Pro Light camera bag when you’re out there for a bag to carry and protect your camera and the extras you bring together with it. We stated in the beginning of this review that this could possibly be the bag for you when you’re a photographer with plenty of gear and plenty of ideas, and indeed it’s proven to be just that. It offers loads of protection, which is paramount and the most important section of the bag offers loads of space.
The front section doesn’t offer lots of space but can fit thinner objects like books, maps and folders. The dividers look a bit of low-cost but they do offer protection and are adjustable/removable so that is a problem you possibly can overlook. At just below £200, it does feel a bit pricey but there are dearer options on the market and if you may have a small or medium-sized mirrorless or DSLR camera and you ought to carry other equipment with you, this bag is value having.
If this product is not for you
If this bag is not quite for you, perhaps you are searching for a less expensive option, or perhaps you are searching for a much bigger bag, then take a look at our guide for the very best camera backpacks. Otherwise, we could recommend PRO Light Flexloader Backpack which is a rather larger option from the manufacturer or the Vanguard Veo Select a bag that’s cheaper for those on stricter budgets.