108 First tests
Photography News Issue 30 absolutephoto.com
Nest Diverse 20 £149.99 This is the latest photo backpack fromNest and it’s based on a modular design making it very adaptable to different needs and occasions. The large main compartment has two removable inserts or pouches and you can have both in, just one in use, or both out and replaced by an optional Full Length Insert which costs £19.99. The supplied inserts can be used as bags in their own right. A shoulder strap is provided or one can be fitted to the Diverse 20’s removable waist strap so you have a photo belt system with the roomy pouch held in place by a Velcro tab and two clips. It is worth highlighting that the waist strap just slides out so there’s no life or death struggle with Velcro to free it as you get with some backpacks. Just undo two clasps and the belt slides out. use the bottomone for less used items. The downside of the bottom pouch is that it has to be removed from the body of the bag to get at its contents so perhaps this is where filters, cleaning kit and less frequently used lenses should be stowed. For outdoor photographers this bottom pouch will probably be removed in favour of a large area for waterproofs,foodandotheressentials. Nest offers another option with the Full Length Insert that fills the backpack’s main compartment. The supplied dividers and Velcro friendly innards mean you can configure this to suit, for example, a DSLR fitted with a long telephoto lens, or a couple of bodies with three or four fast- aperture zooms. The insert lets you stow gear in the bottom of the bag and you can get at it via the side trapdoor. Load the Diverse up and, of course, it gets heavy, but one good thing about it is that it’s not heavy to start with, weighing in at around 2kg on my scales with the two standard inserts. With the Full Length Insert, it is even lighter at 1.7kg.
Specs
Price Diverse 20 £149.99, Diverse 20 Full Insert £19.99 Colours Black Material External: waterproof 210D rip- stop nylon Internal: 210D nylon Compartments Main compartment has two removable inserts that can be used as separate bags. Optional Diverse Full Insert
Dimensions (lxwxh) External: 28x23x53cm Internal top: 25x18x25cm; bottom: 25x18x23cm Weight 1.85kg including two inserts Contact nest-style.com
The inserts are well padded internally so offer great protection but they are also rather stiff-bodied too so don’t mould to your body. Clever idea, though. The insides are fully lined with Velcro-receptive material so no problem customising the interior. Each pouch can take a full-frame DSLR and an extra lens or two – obviously depending on the camera and lenses in question. I got in a Nikon D800 with a lens fitted and one extra zoom. The pouches are quite deep but not deep enough for a 70-200mm f/2.8 on its end (this lens did fit lying down, though), but a CSC standing end on easily fits with space under the camera for more stuff. A four-lens Olympus OM-D system fitted with no problem at all. Howyou see yourself using the two inserts and the optional Full Length Insert is key to whether the Diverse 20 will appeal to you. Most people, I suspect, will stow their camera kit in the top pouch and
How you see yourself using the two inserts and the optional Full Length Insert is key to whether the Diverse 20 will appeal to you
Aside from the main compartment there is plenty of other storage space available too. There is a zipped pocket on the top flap, on one side is a tall hydration water pocket and on the back is a 10in tablet pocket. The tablet pocket exterior is not padded so make sure your tablet has a protective cover, especially as also on the back are retaining straps and a retractable foot pouch for a tripod. Awaterproof cover is also provided. Fully loaded, theDiverse 20proved a comfortable burden. Of course, everyone’s physiology is different but for me the padded area of the bag’s base nestled comfortably into the small of my back. WC
Verdict
The Nest Diverse 20 is an interesting backpack and has appeal if you need a versatile carrying solution for the great outdoors. The two inserts or pouches means you have stowage capacity for plenty of kit, but when you need to stow personal items they can be accommodated with no problem at all. From a purely photographic perspective, the interest deepens when the Full Length Insert is added to the equation. While it does not offer the flexibility of the two inserts you can carry more kit and using the bottom section of the bag becomes practical. So if you like the idea of the Diverse 20 budget the extra for the insert. Then you get a spacious photo backpack with plenty of potential when it comes to customising it for different occasions and is designed to keep your kit safe in inclement conditions. Pros Good capacity, flexible, removable inserts usable as separate bags or as pouches on the removable waist strap Cons You need the Full Length Insert to exploit the bag’s potential
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