First test
PRICE: £99.99
VANGUARDWORLD.CO.UK
Vanguard VEO City Technical Pack Vloggers shooting
on compact cameras, smartphones or even GoPros are being offered an equally lightweight one-size- fits-all solution from Vanguard to carry their essential kit
TESTED BY GAVIN STOKER
WITH CAMERA COMPANIES falling over themselves to attract custom from content creators and vloggers – launching video-first cameras with which to do it – Vanguard’s VEO City Tech Pouch, or Technical Pack, feels particularly timely. Primarily designed for any attendant gizmos that vloggers need aside from the actual camera, we nevertheless managed to fit a compact mirrorless body with an attached pancake lens inside. This still leaves plenty of room for media cards, cables, batteries, an accessory microphone and portable LED lamp. Being 300mm in length – think a standard 30cm school ruler – it’s essentially handbag (or, if you prefer, man bag) sized. A useful carry handle claims to cope with up to 6kg loads, while a detachable shoulder strap is provided in the same colour as the rest of the pouch. We were sent the silver-grey colourway of Vanguard’s TP28 to try out, which lends a futuristic high- tech accent to its otherwise classic looks. Navy blue or green are the alternative colours for this model. Soft internal pockets, with sufficient elasticity and give to accommodate accessories varying in shape, are plentiful. Without overloading it at all, there’s space for spare memory cards, batteries, power packs and cables, plus a tablet up to 8.3 inches alongside a phone.
OPEN AND SHUT CASE Dual zips running two-thirds of the circumference of its exterior allow the pouch to be opened evenly down the middle, the two halves laid flat for easy access, or there’s the option of creating a central divider
SPECS › Exterior dimensions (wxhxd) 300x120x195mm › Interior dimensions (wxhxd) 280x85x170mm › Volume Four litres › Weight 700g › Contact vanguardworld.co.uk
The TP28 is the middle of three options, sitting between a smaller TP23 and larger TP33 pack that can stash a 13in tablet or laptop. In practice, we found there’s enough flexibility to squeeze a compact mirrorless body – or perhaps two – into the provided pouches to one side, with the lens detached, while Vanguard suggests it could also provide a snug home for a GoPro action camera. While transporting telephoto lenses is not really an option, it can handle the vlogging essentials including a shotgun microphone, for those who want to travel light. Weight is a manageable 700g when empty. While compact overall and barely any larger than a small travel cushion when zipped up, the internal compartments, buckles, side straps and fasteners mean the interior is Tardis-like – it can be stretched, adjusted or modified to provide a fit. The double zip running around the exterior of the bag enables it to be
opened straight down the middle and laid out flat, like an avocado sliced in two. On a job, this means you can have all your gear within sight and readily to hand – transforming the pouch into something of a mobile workbench for the content creator. Eye-catching, yet unobtrusive As well as looking and handling in a smart fashion, the build quality of this water-resistant pouch-come- pack feels good. There’s a sufficiently robust frame beneath its tear- and abrasion-resistant nylon material to ensure it maintains its rigid shape. The other thing is – we guess it’s deliberate – the VEO City Tech Pouch doesn’t look obviously like a camera bag. To an onlooker on the tube, we might just as well be transporting a novel and a packet of sandwiches. Vloggers could probably squeeze the odd snack in there, too, to keep energy levels up, or indeed a make-up compact and tube of lip gloss to look their best on-screen. PN
Verdict A Swiss Army knife of storage, for the content creator who wants to be able to stash the essentials in as compact a form factor as possible – and look reasonably stylish while doing it. PROS Soft interior with plenty of adjustable pockets, straps, buckles and pouches, plus a solid-feel, shape-maintaining exterior with a carry handle and shoulder strap CONS Too much of a squeeze for anything larger than a compact mirrorless camera body and not roomy enough for a telephoto lens
BAGS OF APPEAL Vloggers who want to travel light will find plenty of flexible space for essential gadgets and gizmos to create visual content on the go
28 Photography News | Issue 110
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