Think Tank Speed Demon Convertible Bag Review Update

In my previous review of the Think Tank Speed Demon Convertible camera bag here I stated just how well it fit my needs for hiking through Arcadia National Park, what the bag would hold and what equipment I carried in it while making my way through the park.   Recently I had the opportunity to put this bag through some rigors that many might not put a camera bag through when I took it with me to the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta.

The bag stayed on my left hip as I made my way through the crowds on the launch field as well as in the media tower capturing the balloons as they took off and floated away into the sky. While the bag can be used as a shoulder bag too, I used it strictly as a belt pack for this event.   Two cameras with me for this adventure – my Canon 5D Mark III with a Tamron 70-200mm lens attached and a Canon 6d with a Canon 35mm lens attached.  The 6D with attached 35mm lens fit perfectly into the bag with room for all of my media cards, extra batteries, business cards, lens pens and cloth, pen and paper, a map, my wallet and my cell phone.

 

One amazing day of the event the bag was put through it’s paces at a maximum altitude of 6300 feet when it went with me for a ride in a pink elephant hot air balloon.  Getting into the balloon’s basket took some physical flexibility and I had to hand off both cameras to someone while I climbed in but the speed convertible bag stayed right where I put it as you can see here.  I had to re- adjust my shirts (layers for the cold weather were necessary) and jacket after climbing into the basket but not the bag.

         

After “gracefully” climbing in and having both cameras back in place the excitement of the ride began.  Upon reaching a certain altitude I knew I had to switch to using strictly the zoom lens so I decided it would be best to put the Canon 6D camera away which was done while floating high in the sky.  The ease of unzipping the top of the bag and just dropping (well not dropping but you get the point) the camera in was done without any problems and I quickly returned to enjoying the experience.  Soon after I had warmed up from the balloons burners, I took off my gloves and  hat and put them in the bag too via the easy access zipper top in the lid.  There was never a moment when I was anxious about the bags ability to hold everything in it while riding in the balloon and occasionally bumping against the sides of the basket; once zipped things stayed zipped and once the strap was locked on it stayed locked!

I’ve put the Think Tank Speed Demon Convertible bag through hiking in a forest and now flying in a hot air balloon…where will you take it?

 

(This review has been sponsored by Think Tank Photo but all views and opinions are mine.  Photos taken by DH Dashfield and T. Price)