*REVIEW* Think Tank Airport Takeoff Roller Bag

[Zman]

Hey everyone! I purchased this bag in october 2009 and I thought I'd give a short review about it after using it for 7 months. This is by no means technical in any way, and I won't be giving measurements. If you need measurements, go to TTP's website or take hints from the measurements of the gear I've put in. This review will highlight the good and bad points that matter to the photographer.

My search for a roller bag started when I bought my Think Tank Streetwalker Harddrive. Yes, I could load it up with lots of stuff. Yes I could put a tripod on it. Yes I could put a notebook in it. Yes I could make everything go well, except for the bad stress my shoulders had. Got that bag in April, shot with it for about five months, and sold it in September.

When I bring lots of gear, I'm primarily an event photographer or portrait photographer. I wanted a bag that could completely take the load off my back, and either give me the ability to bring about personal stuff in a small daypack, or let my shoulders be free from any baggage. I shoot in urban environments all the time, and usually there is easy excess for the handicapped like lifts and ramps. However, where I spent lots of my event photography time in school, there aren't any lifts. So I knew I wanted backpack straps to be available. I don't travel, but when I do and need the roller, I've read in many threads here about backpacks not being weighed, so that's a plus.

Before this bag, I owned 3 lowepro bags and 1 think tank bag. I knew TTP bags had way better materials than lowepro bags and security functions like locking zippers. That made me go with the TTP Airport TakeOff instead of Lowepro's Pro Roller X series.

Anyway, I'll be splitting up the review into little sections and update them accordingly when I have the time and manage to use the bag a bit more.

Onto the review:


Introduction & First Impression:

Well made is the key phrase to the construction and design. Everything is put together so well and integrates with each other element so nicely. Nothing wobbles too much, the bag never ever tips over even when the COG is nearer the top, and the stitching is clean. All zippers fully close and no loose stitches interfere with them. Price was S$419 from TK Foto.


Brand logo:


Front, showing the laptop compartment and buckle.


Right, showing the tripod/monopod/misc attachment area.


Back, showing the shoulder straps properly kept when rolling.


Storage (interior):
For the purpose of distinction, the interior refers to what is inside the main zippered compartment.

There are two types of dividers. One type is the lightly padded one with two toothy (for the lack of a better term) velcro sides, and the other type is the more padded dividers that also have toothy velcro sides, but has a hairy velcro surface all around. For my kind of shooting and transportation, the padding is enough.

The interior of the bag is also 'hairy velcro' all around, and so is very customisable.

The bag holds a ton. What I own (not borrowed for a recent shoot) probably only takes up half the bag. Here's how I would customise my bag for events and studio portraiture:

Studio Portraiture:


1D2 body
17-40L with 17-55's hood
70-200 2.8IS
580EXII (ability to fit two)
CP-E3 batt pack
Water Resistant cover for bag
Small 60x60cm softbox folded up in a bag with speed ring
Cotton Carrier Vest
Think Tank Photo Pee Wee Card Wallet



Folded softbox is above the CP-E3.

Event:


Left:
580EXII above CP-E3 with acrylic bounce card next to it.
Space for a second 580EXII (in think tank lighting fast pouch)

1D2
400D gripped

Center:
70-200 hood below, space for 50 1.4 above (on divider)
70-200 2.8L IS, inside Think Tank Photo WhipItOut pouch, inside TTP Lens Changer 25

Right:
Cotton Carrier with holster
Lowepro Water Bottle Holder
17-40L with 17-55 hood



Both cameras gripped, all lenses hooded:

50D
400D
11-16
17-40L
50 1.4
70-200 2.8L IS
580EXII
Think Tank Pixel Pocket Card Wallet
Water bottle + strap + towel

Cotton Carrier in the laptop compartment (not pictured).

Storage (exterior):
For the purpose of distinction, the exterior part of the bag refers to whatever that is not inside the main zippered storage area.

What I love is the ability to fit a folded 110cm reflector in the laptop compartment. Sure it has to be compressed at the sides a bit, but i'm sure it won't affect the structure unless it's put in there for a long time.



For monopods and tripods, it can hold any sized monopod or tripod.

For belts, here's what I think:

For think tank skin belt and pro speed belt, fold it up and stash it inside the roller. Skin belt will take 1 small lens space, and the pro speed belt will take up about the space of a 70-200 or more.

As for the steroid speed belt that I own, I tuck one end into the monopod cup, secure it with the tripod compression strap, and secure the other side with a loop of velcro, as such:





At the side of the two large and padded handles are small zippered compartments. I keep little bits of paper there.



Moving it around:

Wheels have no resistance when rolling. Easy to turn a very small circle with it by pivoting around one wheel.

Telescoping handle is sort of an issue because you'll have to dig in to the bag to get it (padded structure surrounds the handle, so thicker fingers have problems. Telescoping legs also don't telescope properly together in pairs. Like, on the first pull to 3/4 height, one side might have the smallest and largest section, while the other handle might have the smallest and medium section. Weird.

Shoulder straps are great when you need to ascend many flights of stairs. Easily taken out, cumbersome to put back because the bottom of the flap is too tight. Of course, this will be used only in emergencies where rolling is not a good idea, because the weight of the wheels and handle probably add at least a kilogram to the bag.





When hand holding, the bag has 3 handles for you to grab. One on the top, left side and bottom. The top and left handles are thickly padded and really comfy to handle, and the bottom handle seems to be made of a hard plastic and is the part that the bag rests on when stationary (2 wheels at the back, handle at the front = 3 point resting support). This makes it get a little dirty after awhile, so washing it is advised.

Odds & Ends:
Lockable zippers allow you to lock the main compartment with a thin padlock. Under the laptop compartment flap, there is a lock and cable designed to secure a laptop placed in an Artificial intelligence 15 or 17 laptop case, but it can also be used to secure the bag around a thin pole, table leg, etc. Namecard holder at the top gives easy identification of the owner of the bag.


Final Summary:
Best S$419 ever spent on a bag, ever. I'm so happy that my shoulders are finally free from the 10-12kg of gear I lug around to shoots. I also love the fact that you can put other things on te bag and still roll it, such as a daypack or plastic bags filled with stuff.

Everything is integrated so well. It fits all my gear, plus more. Replaceable parts mean that this bag can last a long time, and a lifetime warranty guarantees that it does.

I'm extremely happy with this bag, and I enthusiastically recommend it to anyone looking for a roller.

Pros-
Lots of space
Customisable inserts
Large exterior pocket designed for laptops (but can fit clothes and other stuff as well)
Transparent thin pockets on the inside of the flap
Smooth wheels
Heavily padded handles
Tripod/Monopod add-on system makes a lot of sense

Cons-
No way to lock a laptop if it's not inside a TTP AI-15 or AI-17 laptop case
Telescoping handle difficult to take out
Telescoping handle difficult to get to desired position without it retracting back in

------

Alright, that's it from me, for now. Hope you've enjoyed the short review!

Cheers,
Zexun

------


Q: Did I try to carry it in backpack config? How do I feel?
A: It was alright. Imagine loading up the Streetwalker HD that I owned and add 1.5 to 2kg for the roller systems. Definitely won't do it often because it's really heavy (probably 15kg loaded up) but if you're climbing stairs to reach your destination, that's what you gotta do.

Q: Any issues rolling it around due to bulkiness?
A: No issue at all. I had to go to church right after buying the bag, so I took the train from City Hall all the way to Expo, brought it onto 10 escalators, on tarmac roads, on brick roads, on carpark ramps (inclined, with circular grippy holes), amid the MRT crowd etc. No problem. What I liked was that whoever I met up with thought I was traveling and not carrying S$15k worth of gear.

[Zman]

Updated With Additional setup photos:

DANCE photography:


1D mark II N, 2 x 5D Classic
17-40 f/4L
16-35 f/2.8L mk1
24-70 f/2.8L
70-200 f/2.8L IS mk1
35 f/1.4L
50 f/1.4L
580EXII
430EXII
SB800
Misc stuff

[Zman]

SPORTS photography:


Right: Canon EOS 1D Mark II N + 70-200mm 2.8L IS + Sigma 1.4x teleconverter apo non-dg. Raincover for camera, Raincover for bag.

Middle: Canon EOS 5D + Daniel's Sigma 24-70mm 2.8 non HSM + domke strap

Left: Change of clothes, water bottle, lowepro jockey cap, umbrella, deodorant.

Flap: Spare batteries & CF card, notebook, hand strap for 1D mark II N

[Zman]

TABLETOP photography:


EF 100mm f/2.8 macro non L
EF 50mm f/1.4 (swapped with 17-40 f/4L for the shoot)
Kirk BH-3 Ballhead
Travel Mouse above Kenko Extension tube set

Canon EOS 1D Mark IIN + Markins PG-50 plate
Think Tank Rain Cover

580EXII
SB800

Giottos Rocket Blower
Polariser, Battery, Macbook Charger, AV Cable, Gaffer Tape, Wireless Shutter Trigger & Right Angle Finder in box.

[Poseidon]

Was curious on this setup; wouldn't it be a better idea to put the clothes and barang on the right side rather than the left cos the left side ends up being at the bottom when rolling the bag; I'd have thought heavy things going at the bottom with light things on top is better.

SPORTS photography:


Right: Canon EOS 1D Mark II N + 70-200mm 2.8L IS + Sigma 1.4x teleconverter apo non-dg. Raincover for camera, Raincover for bag.

Middle: Canon EOS 5D + Daniel's Sigma 24-70mm 2.8 non HSM + domke strap

Left: Change of clothes, water bottle, lowepro jockey cap, umbrella, deodorant.

Flap: Spare batteries & CF card, notebook, hand strap for 1D mark II N

[Brown Bear]

Updated With Additional setup photos:

DANCE photography:


1D mark II N, 2 x 5D Classic
17-40 f/4L
16-35 f/2.8L mk1
24-70 f/2.8L
70-200 f/2.8L IS mk1
35 f/1.4L
50 f/1.4L
580EXII
430EXII
SB800
Misc stuff

This is scary man. How many assistants do you have?

Great review anyway! It' looks like a great bag to have. I think TT is the best bag maker and wonder how Lowepro / Kata etc's rollerbag can match these.

[Zman]

Was curious on this setup; wouldn't it be a better idea to put the clothes and barang on the right side rather than the left cos the left side ends up being at the bottom when rolling the bag; I'd have thought heavy things going at the bottom with light things on top is better.

Think Tank's dividers hold up well I guess The important thing to note is that when I used this bag, I was always crammed at the front of a chartered bus. Meaning to say that if I wanted my cameras out fast, I don't have to shift my bag to open the entire flap just to take it. Open 1/3 for 1D, open 1/2 for both.

[Zman]

This is scary man. How many assistants do you have?

Great review anyway! It' looks like a great bag to have. I think TT is the best bag maker and wonder how Lowepro / Kata etc's rollerbag can match these.

Haha, imo in dance there's really no time to change lenses at all. I only had a fellow CCA second shooter with me, who took the 17-40. Put 3 cameras with 3 lenses on the edge of the stage in the middle. Pickup, shoot, put down, cycle amongst all 3 cameras, shoot for 5 min straight, run here and there along the stage, rest, repeat.

[Poseidon]

Oh yea, I didn't think about the accessibility bit; you are right; cams on top for accessibility.

Think Tank's dividers hold up well I guess The important thing to note is that when I used this bag, I was always crammed at the front of a chartered bus. Meaning to say that if I wanted my cameras out fast, I don't have to shift my bag to open the entire flap just to take it. Open 1/3 for 1D, open 1/2 for both.