Crumpler Brians Hot Tub Review by Andy Rouse |
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| Over the past couple of years I have watched Crumpler grow from very odd trendy surfer bags to very trendy photo bags. I’ve been looking for some time for a rucksack that would house my 300 2.8IS lens plus some other bits and pieces that I now use for some of my trips. For years of course I have been using Lowepro, quite happily too, and I never thought that I would end up testing a Crumpler bag, let alone use it in the field. Now I’m sitting here at Luton Airport on the way out to Germany, with Brians Hot Tub at my feet! Brians Hot Tub. No it’s not the name for my next door neighbours Jacuzzi but the Crumpler rucksack for photographers. I must admit that it wasn’t love at first sight; yes it looked great but it was a totally different approach than what I am used to. For a start to open the rucksack you need to place it on its back, as the zips actually sit behind the shoulder straps (we will come to these later). This takes some getting used to but actually it is a brilliant idea which has two clear advantages – 1) The foam padding that sits against your back faces upwards and so does not come into contact with wet ground and 2) No light fingered merchant can open your pack in a crowd and remove any of your gear. Opening the pack it again looks different as it is much more compact that I am used to. The rucksack is actually three bags in one; a laptop bag, a photo rucksack and a daypack. The laptop bag took my 14” laptop and was held snugly in place by two Velcro fasteners. The photo rucksack features a mesh cover, which can be a slight pain if you want to access the gear inside in a hurry. Once open though it has good space and I managed to fit a 300 2.8 IS attached to my 1Ds MK2, a 70-200 f2.8L lens, a 20mm lens, several spare batteries and a Jobo GigaVuPRO downloader. Plus an additional pocket that fits snugly in the top held several filters, CF card wallets and various other small bits and pieces that I carry around with me. The photo rucksack comes as a complete unit and can be removed to transform the rucksack into a daypack if required. This is what I have for my business trip today, to present at the prestigious GDT festival in Germany, my laptop and my underpants in perfect harmony.  The outside of the rucksack is plain and doesn’t look like a camera bag – WHICH IS GREAT! A camera bag labels you to anyone as a walking opportunity and I liked the anonymity that the Puppet provided. I took the bag, with all the gear in mentioned above plus my laptop, as cabin baggage onto a plane without any hassle whatsoever. One of my initial concerns however was with the comfort factor as the Hot Tub is supplied without a waistbelt (although one is optional). The shoulder straps are very well defined though and, when combined with the figure hugging shape of the rucksack and the solid back padding, actually make it surprisingly comfortable. I wore it up and down the Scottish hills and can say that it wasn’t any less comfortable than those rucksacks with a much more sophisticated support system. It is also a helluva lot easier to get off too that most rucksacks I have used previously. The optional waistbelt fits onto the bottom of the rucksack and might be a good option if you intend to walk miles, although I did and never thought of using it. Build quality is excellent and the ChickenTex fabric seemed to resists all attempts to scratch it. The Hot Tub comes with two outside pockets that aren’t good for anything else other than a notebook, passports, and pens. Several outside loops are provided which will take the small external accessory packs made by many other manufacturers. To be honest there wasn’t much I didn’t like about the Crumpler bag, perhaps the biggest nit pick was the tightness of the internal zip; when fully loaded it can be a bit awkward to do up. And that’s it really, all I have to say. Whilst you may not initially think of Crumpler as an alternative for your photographic gear, you should think again. Brian’s Hot Tub is a superb piece of kit for the amateur and professional alike. The bags not bad either………………….. |
Saturday, February 03, 2007
REVIEW: Crumpler Brians Hot Tub
REVIEW: Crumpler Bags Part and Parcel Laptop Case
Crumpler Bags Part and Parcel Laptop Case
Review by: Richard Adams, Contributing Editor
INTRODUCTION
Is the Crumpler Laptop Bag an improvement over my old faithful? What about all of my current and future accessories? Does the laptop padding have any substance to it? What is a Quick Flick buckle? How easily does the padded strap work? I am a person who loves the extra large bag to hold all of my STUFF, and as you will see in this review, I mean lots of Stuff. I take my laptop bag everywhere I might have an opportunity to use it, kinda like a security blanket.
WHAT'S HOT
According to the Crumpler website, The Part and Parcel bag is, "...the ultimate messenger style 15" laptop satchel, with 'kitchen sink' features yield. Sacrifices a little interior space for the extra protection afforded by full padded protection for your expensive IT goodies whilst on the go. Very 'suit'-able but still street ably acceptable looks-wise." Let's take a detailed look, and evaluate the claim.
PRODUCT FEATURES
(all images link to higher resolution)
This Laptop bag is 17.7 x 13.8 x 5.9 inches and has a great look, with a truly tough, water resistant 1000D Nylon shell. I sprayed the outer shell with water and found out that water resistance does not does not mean waterproof. ;)
Note the adjustable main strap w/ Quick Flick TM buckle above. The Quick Flick is a buckle that allows you to adjust the length of the shoulder strap within seconds.
My 15" HP 4325 laptop fits snugly into its own fully padded pocket that is 13 x 10.6 x 1.6 inches. Crumpler has done a great job of making sure that a laptop fits securely.
Note the roomy 420D Rip stop Nylon lining. Inside is an immense amount of room; I have a tendency to put too much stuff inside of them.
When you first open the Crumpler Bag, you begin to see all of the storage possibilities.
The external gusseted zipper pocket has six pockets to hold your pens, mouse, mobile speakers, and so on.
Hey, I told you I didn't know when to stop putting stuff inside the bag! Not pictured about is what I had in the meshed compartment, and believe it or not, there was room for more!
BUGS AND WISHES
Although there is a plethora of pockets, I can't seem to reasonably limit how much to fit inside my bag. I think that the meshed pocket on the inside of the outer flap is a good size, but, it might be more useful with dividers. It could also use instructions for both the padded adjustable strap and all of the pockets inside of the bag. An idea would be to include business-sized cards, with pictures on them, and put them inside the different pockets suggesting what might best go inside that pocket.
PURCHASING
This bag can be purchased direct from Crumpler for $145.00. There are four colors to choose from.
PROS
- Plenty of pockets
- Water resistant outer shell Rip Stop lining
- Great adjustable strap with Quick Flick Buckle
- Padded laptop compartment offers great protection
CONS
- Perhaps too many pockets
- The meshed compartment needs dividers
- Needs better instructions on pocket layout
| Value |  |
| Ease of Use |  |
| Features |  |
| Overall | |
OVERALL IMPRESSION
Crumpler referred to the bag as a "kitchen sink" - and I now know why. Next time I go camping, forget the sleeping bag, I'm bringing my Part and Parcel laptop case. Just kidding. Seriously though, this case provides ample protection for laptops, all while looking great. Some guidance would be appreciated as to what all the pockets are for, but that minor gripe aside, I reccomend this product.
REVIEW: Crumpler Home Stayer 002
Crumpler Home Stayer 002 bag review
Stu's taken a different approach to the usual over the shoulder or backpack approach going for a cross-chest shoulder strap. I recall several years ago attempting to hoist a heavy bag over my neck so the strap ran diagonally across my chest. It was not only extremely uncomfortable, but also made me look very nerdy (only a train-spotting anorak would have carried a bag like this at that time). How things have changed! You only have to look around to see the young and fashionable all wear their bags like this now.
The Crumpler logo - trendy or what!
Because Crumpler bags are designed in this style the shoulder strap attaches to the bag at an angle to hang better when carried. This adds to the comfort and cyclists can swing the bag around their back so it holds firmly in place.
I tried the Crumpler Home Stayer 002, a small bag just big enough to house an SLR with lens attached and a couple of other lens sized accessories.
Full marks for looks - the Home Stayer 002, like all other Crumplers, has a curved appearance, with soft looking material. The material is Cordura Plus, a quick drying and robust material that's tougher bags made from Nylon or polyester. All bags have heavy-duty zips that won't get stuck and the cover flap wraps across the top and down the front. It's secured by two large quick-release buckles and really powerful Velcro. The camera area is covered by a lid that houses five films in elasticised straps and this also secures with a Velcro flap.
Room for a camera, a couple of lenses and five films.
I loaded the main compartment of the bag up with an old EOS 100 camera and Tokina 24-200mm lens, a Sekonic meter, my mobile phone and a 50mm lens. There's also a lid pocket which I had planned to use for a couple of filters, but this makes it impractical as a cover, so it can only really be used for papers or really flexible items. There's also a pocket around the front, which is zipped and difficult to get stuff in and out. I also found that the five films housed in the top flap created problems, when trying to get the camera in and out. It's all a little too tight.
Five films can be held on top of the inner lid.
With the gear in place I set of on my photo excursion. After getting used to the fact that it's now fashionable to wear a bag like a trainspotter, it felt really comfortable, the Crumpler logo attracted attention. I guess they were either thinking 'what's an old git doing carrying a bag like that' or 'I've not seen that label before, wonder where he got that bag'.
After about two hours I found the bag starting to pull across my neck and it became uncomfortable. It also started to dig into my back. I tried, as an alternative, to carry it over one shoulder to relieve the pain, but it slips off too easily. I'm no muscle-bound, broad shouldered bloke so there's more chance of a bag slipping, but I have used many other bags that stay in place without a problem.
Getting the gear in and out was also troublesome. The Velcro is so strong that you have to tug to get into the bag - great as a security feature but not that practical.
Access to the camera compartment.
Verdict
A Crumpler looks good, with its great fashionable styling and is perfect for carrying on a bike or maybe for the young photographer, but it's not for me. I'll stick with a light load and continue to carry my bag over one shoulder.
Test by Peter Bargh
Saturday, August 05, 2006
Crumpler's Beer For Bags Party New York City 2006
Crumpler's Beer for Bags New York City
This is pretty cool. Wonder if they will spread over to more locations across the globe. Singapore please!
Sunday, July 30, 2006
REVIEW: The Part and Parcel Laptop Bag
Crumpler makes a fine bag even though the company seems a bit strange in their marketing approach. The Part and Parcel is a fantastic shoulder bag, but it is not the best I have seen. In a way, problems with the bag are similar to problems with the company’s web site. There is a little too much going on for my taste, on the website and within the bag.
Secure with a bit too much Velcro
The Part and Parcel is a 15” laptop shoulder bag that comes in five pleasing colors. It has a securely attached wide and comfortable strap that gathers on one side. A huge outer flap closes the entire bag, which is water resistant, but not waterproof. This flap closes with clips and a whole lot of Velcro. Don’t make this the bag you use when you show up late for a meeting, because there is no way into it without disturbing an enormous and loud swath of Velcro. It’s like Crumpler just discovered the stuff, and wants it everywhere. Personally, I like a shoulder bag that has outside slip-in pockets, but everything on the Part and Parcel is under the flap. If you want more outside pockets, their smaller bags attach to the strap easily, but add bulk to an already large bag.Excellent Construction
The build quality is outstanding. Seams are strong, and the strap is solidly fixed in place. A removable shoulder pad makes carrying the fully loaded bag even more comfortable. Your laptop rests in a padded envelope in the large main pocket, held in place by another padded Velcro closing flap. The main compartment is divided in two, then subdivided into many smaller pockets, at least five of which have Velcro closures. To be fair, a few are zipper closed too.The design is innovative, don’t get me wrong. The bag looks like a normal shoulder bag, but it doesn’t look boring like most bags. It has interesting lines, mesh pockets for visibility, and an incredibly durable 1000D Nylon shell, plus 420D Ripstop Nylon inside. If you seek fine workmanship, even on a casual bag, you will not be disappointed with Crumpler. Wide and sturdy zippers don’t snag or pull apart easily. The Velcro is strong and assured, so even though the ripping sound is grating, there is no doubt the bag will stay closed. Clips are heavy plastic, and nothing as out-there as the seat-belt clips or para-glider clips you see on some bags. The dimensions of the bag are 17.5" x 13.5"x 6" and the sleeve is 13.8" x 11.4" x 1.6"
Not My Style
If I have criticisms of this bag, they are surely personal complaints about the style of bag I prefer, and not criticisms of Crumpler itself. The company makes such a plethora of bags, you should be able to find one that exactly fits your life and usage-style. For me, though, the Part and Parcel is just not it. When filled with the various plugs and adapters, the bag is a bit unruly. I carry many small devices, and more than a dozen cables to connect them. Cable management with the Part and Parcel is confusing because you can’t immediately see what’s in a pocket. Even though a few pockets zipped closed, I still found myself shifting things around a lot to dig for the exact cable I needed. Opening and closing flaps is just not fun. I prefer fewer, deeper pockets to the many subdivisions the Part and Parcel contains.Finally, I have to second complaints I have read from other MacNN reviewers concerning Crumpler’s web site. Ironic silly phrases may be funny the first time, such as pull this chicken across the screen to see our catalogue, but for such a large selection, the site certainly makes it difficult to see their whole catalog of bags.
REVIEW: Crumpler keystone backpack
for Canon 350D XT
As with most camera bags, the Keystone is easily reconfigurable using padded inserts with velcro-backed tabs. Crumpler's backpack design is unique in that the REAR panel opens, there is no front-panel access. I liked this concept, and so far it seems to work nicely. On the exterior of the bag are zip pouches on either side, but aside from the main rear panel, there is no exterior access to the main compartment.
The laptop sleeve is a separate padded pouch, mounted in a pretty ingenious fashion inside the backpack. It's removable (again) by releasing some clever velcro tabs. The sleeve has a number of "organizer" type slots and holders on the exterior face for pens/pencils, etc, as well as a flat (but expanding) zip pouch for additional storage. For reference, my laptop is 12x10x1.5 (I know, a clunky old dog) and fits this sleeve perfectly.
The main camera equipment compartment will pretty easily hold three small primes/zooms, my 28-75 mounted on the XT with battery grip, and a medium zoom like the 75-300 or 70-200/4L. Those with big L-glass will probably need to reconfigure from where I have my bag set currently, as my lenses are all relatively small in diameter. There are a number of dividers included, I have one spare vs. what is shown in the pics. Because of the shape of this bag, the dividers are shaped somewhat oddly, so it may require a little "creativity" to configure to your tastes/gear. One minor annoyance is the lack of any small contained compartments inside the main section. It would be handy to have some small-item (CF cards, light, tools, blower, etc) storage that was self-contained but attached internally.
Covering the equipment section is a rubber-mesh type material that zips around the perimeter. There is a single stretch/velcro retention strap included, although I'd personally like to have one or two more. The main equipment section is actually a self-contained sub-bag of the larger backpack. This was a surprise to me, and I think it's a good feature. Velcro around is used around the entire perimeter to hold the equipment compartment (very) securely inside the main backpack shell. Between the removable main compartment and quickly detachable laptop sleeve, this bag could be used for most any purpose within several seconds.
The overall construction of the Keystone seems to be of very high quality. The materials are mostly heavy thickness/grade fabrics, and the zippers are heavy-duty stuff as well. All of the zippers have large metal pulls attached, which I find to be a nice touch. This makes them quickly and easily accessible, and gives a nice quality feel. Cosmetically, I really like the bag. I chose plain black, but there is also a tan/brown version available. The Crumpler "stick guy" logo abounds, it's pretty much everywhere. Some may or may not like this, but I don't mind - it makes the bag look that much less "camera-ish." At first I wasn't keen on the funky sky-blue interior color, but I can say that small items are easily spotted against this color material.
Padding in the Keystone is good. The interior dividers are "typical" in their pad level, and the exterior padding is somewhere between reasonable and substantial. The shoulder straps are thickly padded as well, making it a comfortable bag to wear. One item to note: The laptop sleeve acts as "filler" inside the bag, between the back panel and the top mesh surface of the equipment compartment. The back panel itself is very thickly padded, so this isn't necessary from a purely protective standpoint. However, there appears to be a potential for lenses and other items to move around in the equipment section without the laptop sleeve in place to fill potential space in between panel and compartment. I've carried the bag a couple times without the laptop sleeve in place (I've taken to using the sleeve with my laptop in my daily briefcase/messenger bag!), and have not noticed any significant movement of the camera gear. That said, for the utmost in security of your items, it looks like the best option is to leave the sleeve (even if empty) mounted inside the Keystone for heavier-duty transport.
Likes:
-Padding
-Materials
-Flexibility
-Appearance (personal taste)
-Comfort in use
Dislikes:
-Potential requirement for laptop sleeve
-Laptop sleeve requires minor "tucking" when zipping rear panel
-No small-item containment in equipment compartment
The Crumpler Keystone is probably just about right for my gear. I'm a newbie with not nearly the level of equipment (quality nor quantity) as many others, but so far it appears that it will suit my fledgling shutterbug needs for the moment. I would not hesitate to buy another Crumpler based on my experiences so far. Aside from a few minor issues as mentioned above, it appears to be a good bag for my needs. Time will tell, I'm hopeful it's reliable and of good construction for the long haul. I would like to also try one of Crumpler's "Million Dollar Home" messenger-style bags. Based on the Keystone, I have high expectations.
Exterior Shots with measure
Internal Shots
Main Mesh
Laptop
Crumpler pulls
thanks to Mark Stheiner for pics and comments.
Manufacturers Description:
33x43x20cm [external] 26x30x3.5cm [laptop sleeve]
You need the ultimate combination of a location photo/video pack,12" IT case and sport-travel backpack that provides ample ergonomics, stability, protection and stealth, all in a package that is fully convertible between these three specifications. This is the basic model, for compact D-SLR/video kits. Full photobackpack, professional photo gigsters, The Keystone is the bag for u... Features:Water resistant 1000D Nylon shell & 420D Ripstop Nylon lining, rear opening main compartment w/ removable fully padded mesh w/ zip lid, Brushed Nylon lined configurable camera compartment & removable laptop sleeve w/ 6 pocket organizer, 2 x external covered & gusseted zip pockets, spine slot back pad, carry handle, chest & waist straps, D rings accessory loops & retro reflective strips on adjustable harness straps, fits 12" laptop Holds:
Location photo/laptop backpack, fully convertible. Rearward opening convertible 12" photo/laptop backpack is low profile - for great stability, good security - access to main compartment only if bag is off -shoulders, and good durability - the main zip works with, not against the bag. On location the bag is placed 'front' down - the harness and back pad stay cleaner so you do too! The main photo compartment is fully configurable, has plastic sheet cored foam inserts that prevent hot spots on equipment and is full removable, allowing the back pack to be used solely for cargo. The removable insert for 12" laptops can be used to insulate your lap whilst working, from a hot laptop. For extra support deploy the adjustable chest strap. Use the shoulder straps to attach an optional extra Thirsty Al mobile phone holder.
REVIEW: Crumpler Sinking Barge Backpack
Crumpler Sinking Barge Backpack
Summary. The camera bag that is perfect for every occasion does not exist but the Crumpler Sinking Barge bag is near perfect when it comes to carrying a camera along with a laptop and other everyday "stuff".
Introduction
Bags are annoying for almost every serious photographer. One reason is that finding the right bag for every situation is virtually impossible. One bag I could never find was the one that would let me carry my day-to-day stuff and my camera. In school, "day-to-day stuff" would have been homework, laptop and lunch. On a car trip it is books and a snack. Most days, it's the stuff I take to work: a magazine, my laptop, a mouse, papers, etc. Often, I want to have that stuff with me and my camera as well -- not my full kit, but a body and a lens or two. I have tried putting a small camera case inside a standard backpack, but they were always too space-consuming and hard to get at. Photo-specific backpacks are not even remotely designed to easily carry books or a sweatshirt. And photo-specific backpacks are bulky.
A few years back, Lowepro came out with the Street & Field Rover Light backpack. This was a hybrid design that attempted to be the pack that I wanted. The bottom half was a padded and divided camera bag and the top half had a standard backpack space. It didn't really work as a day-to-day backpack. The top half was not big enough for papers, and the divider between top and bottom was not strong enough to keep anything heavy like a laptop in the top. Good for taking a camera, a change of socks, and lunch on a hiking trip, maybe, but not the everyday hybrid bag I was looking for.
Enter the Crumpler Sinking Barge backpack...
Crumpler is a company that started in Australia in 1995 making bike messenger bags. As their popularity grew, they branched out into laptop bags and cases, gadget pouches, and backpacks. The company has developed a reputation for well-designed and well-made bags in funny colors, and an offbeat marketing and corporate image. Most of the bags are made of tough waterproof nylon in color choices ranging from subdued to garish, with names like the Barney Rustle Blanket, the Skivvy, the Quarfie, and the Moderate/Considerable/Dreadful Embarrassment.
At some point the Crumpler people noticed that people were stuffing dividers and padding into their messenger bags to use them as stealth camera bags. So they designed a series of camera shoulder bags and backpacks as well.
The Details
The Sinking Barge is Crumpler's hybrid bag. Instead of just splitting the pack in half (like the Lowepro Street & Field), they designed a clever system that creates a wedge shaped pocket at the front/bottom area of the pack (by front, I am referring to the area of the backpack that does not have the shoulder straps). This pocket hinges at the bottom to open outwards, but unlike a normal backpack front pocket, it has a set of gussets that prevent it from flipping all the way down and dumping it's contents. The result of this is that you can open the pocket and get at the camera without having to reach in with a hand to prevent the camera from falling out. And while it's a little awkward, you can get the camera out while the bag is still hanging from one shoulder. You don't have to take the bag all the way off your back to get at the camera.
Because the camera pocket is located at the front of the bag, there is space for a full-length pocket against the back of the bag. Making good use of this space, there is a padded pocket for a 12-15 inch laptop. Just in front of that is a pocket for paper, magazines, etc. The pack keeps these papers flat and the laptop protected. Even with a laptop and papers in this pocket there is enough room left for a lunch, book, or sweatshirt. It isn't huge, and probably wouldn't fit a full load of college textbooks. But it is plenty of space for normal use.
The laptop/papers pocket has a padded flap that velcros over the top, presumably to give a second layer of protection to the laptop. This flap is too large. And it is hard to open and close when there are other items in the pocket. I just folded it back into the laptop pocket. My laptop and papers don't seem to suffer for the lack of it. The flap is a good idea; it's just a bit too big. You could shorten it if you have a sewing machine and it bothers you enough.
The camera pocket is padded with the standard fabric over foam. There are two dividers that create three sections. I was able to fit in my Canon EOS 20D, a 50/1.4, a 28-70/2.8, and a small flash unit. Other times, I split one section with an additional divider and carry a Epson R-D1 Rangefinder, 28/1.9, 40/2, 15/4.5 (w/the external VF), and the same flash unit. Overall, it is not a perfect fit for either kit, but it works fine.
One cool thing about the padded section is that it has a mesh flap that zippers closed over the camera, and you can remove the whole padded section as a unit. I'm not sure why you would want to do this. But I'm sure that I'll end up taking advantage of it at some point. At the very least, it means that you aren't locked into using the pack just as a camera backpack.
There are 3 other small pockets in the pack, two in the camera section and one on the outside of the front of the pack. One of the two in the camera section is made of mesh, and could probably be used for a few rolls of film. I use it as a pen/pencil/key pocket since, oddly, there are none of the usual organizational pockets or loops that you see on most backpacks these days. Not a big issue, but could be improved upon.
Crumpler aims for a very clean design style with most of it's bags. No obnoxious patterns, no straps or loops hanging off the side, and none of the silly cosmetic straps and whatnot that bag companies are fond of sticking on to make it look like your book bag will be with you on your next Everest assault.
The clean design looks nice, but creates a few minor annoyances. The bag always has a slight overstuffed look to it. Now, there is the possibility that I am overstuffing it. And maybe the larger version of the Sinking Barge (the Customary Barge, fits 17" laptops) would make a difference. In other little nitpicking, I wish the grab/hang loop was a bit larger and easier to use. I've also gotten used to having a mesh pocket on the side of my backpacks for a water or soda bottle. The Sinking Barge that I have is made of a couple of shades of blue. Shades of brown/tan and black/grey are options as well. The backpack straps are comfortable even with a full load. There is a nylon webbing hip belt. While I'm not sure how much this helps with load-carrying, it does help steady the pack if you are jogging or on a bike.
Finally, I wish that there was a cell phone pocket on one of the backpack straps. But guess what? Crumpler makes those as well. And I'm sure they would be happy to sell you (and me) one to add onto the Sinking Barge.
Things I like:
- A hybrid camera/stuff backpack that works well
- Padded laptop pocket
- Full length pocket for papers and magazines
- Carries a useful amount of camera gear
- Padded camera section is removable
- Very well designed access to the camera section
- Comfortable to wear/carry
Things I don't like:
- Flap for laptop/papers pocket is way too large
- No pen/etc pockets
- No water bottle holder
- No cellphone pocket
- Grab/hang loop is hard to use
Conclusion
I am very pleased with this bag. It is a great camera backpack for the way I use it. For me, this means: carrying a small camera kit along with my daily stuff, airplane carry-on when I don't bring my full load of gear, car trips, adventures in the city, and maybe even light hiking. It gets daily use -- which is something that I cannot say about just about any other bag that I have owned. There is very little I dislike about the Sinking Barge. Even the items I listed above are just little nitpicking that could be fixed with 2 hours with a sewing machine if I really cared enough.
If you are looking for a bag to carry a Canon 1D with a 70-200/2.8, the Sinking Barge isn't going to help you. But if you are looking for a tough, well-designed, good-looking backpack to help encourage you to carry a camera more often in your day-to-day life, then this is a great option.