I used to be not too long ago provided the prospect to take the Hex Ranger Clamshell Backpack out for an prolonged spin. Will this trendy clamshell digicam bag stay as much as the requirements different Hex digicam baggage have set, or will it fall brief? Discover out in our full assessment.
Word: We have been despatched the Hex Ranger Clamshell Backpack to assessment and maintain. Nevertheless, all ideas and opinions about this bag are our personal. Now we have not been influenced in any manner. We let you know this as we at all times wish to be trustworthy with you.
Execs
- Extraordinarily customizable
- Made with high quality supplies
- Thick padded inside
- Plenty of space for storing for cameras and lenses
- Pockets galore
- Tripod holder on the underside
- Competitively priced
Cons
- Anti-theft latch solely from one facet
- Skinny padding on straps
Hex Ranger Clamshell Backpack — Technical specs
All technical specs for the Hex Ranger Clamshell Backpack are from the official Hex web site:
- Ergonomic shoulder straps with air-mesh
- The padded laptop computer sleeve suits as much as a 15″ MacBook
- Real Cordura® exterior
- Hidden rain cowl
- YKK Zippers with metallic pulls
- Totally customizable inside dividers
- Dimensions: 18″L x 12″W x 6″H
- Weight: 3.5lbs
- Capability: 21L
Hex Ranger Clamshell Backpack — Ergonomics
The Hex Ranger Clamshell Backpack has a really good look to it. In contrast to many digicam baggage, the design is comparatively easy and clear. Consequently, the bag doesn’t appear like one which could possibly be holding costly digicam gear, and that’s at all times a plus. It’s additionally an ideal dimension. The bag weighs simply 3.5lbs and isn’t so huge that it turns into a burden.
Like many different Hex baggage, you may select between a couple of completely different coloration schemes. I used to be despatched the Camo variation. You can even decide up this bag in flat black or with a Glacier Camo end, which is extra muted than the common Camo bag. All three designs look nice, although.
Let’s have a look round
Because the identify suggests, this digicam bag includes a clamshell design. Which means your complete entrance of the bag zips open and folds out. This design provides glorious entry to your gear. On the entrance of the clamshell, you’ll discover one decently sized pocket that may maintain a mini-tablet and varied equipment. Subsequent, you’ll discover a hidden pocket secured with Velcro on the bag’s underside. It’s right here that you’ll discover the hidden rain cowl. Lastly, the underside of the bag homes straps that may maintain a tripod or a rolled-up jacket.
On the left facet of the bag, there’s an expandable pocket that may maintain a water bottle or a tripod. On this facet, you’ll additionally discover the zippered faux-fur-lined laptop computer pouch. The proper facet is dwelling to a zippered faux-fur-lined pocket that may maintain a cellphone. The left and proper sides are dwelling to some loops to which you’ll clip carabiners.
When you open the clamshell, you’ll see the thickly padded divider system that may maintain and shield your whole gear. There are pockets for small equipment on either side of the inside. There are even pockets on the within of the clamshell. Hex has designed this bag so that each sq. inch is purposeful. Ergonomically, the Hex Ranger Clamshell Backpack is enjoyable. It’s trendy however received’t draw an excessive amount of consideration, all pockets are simply accessible, and the scale and weight are excellent.
Hex Ranger Clamshell Backpack — Construct high quality
I’ve used a number of Hex digicam baggage and have at all times been impressed with the construct high quality. Happily, the Hex Ranger Clamshell Backpack doesn’t buck this development. The bag is constructed from rugged, water resistant Cordura materials. The entire zippers are YKK, they usually function easily.
The underside of the bag is roofed in a sturdy, non-skid masking that may additionally shield in opposition to water on the bottom. The clasps are plastic and metallic. I want Hex used one or the opposite for the clasps and buckles as an alternative of being a combination of metallic and plastic. Nonetheless, the entire claps and furnishings are sturdy.
The padding contained in the bag is thick, and the Velcro used to safe the dividers is robust. This bag accompanied me with the Hex Cinema Backpack (learn my assessment right here) on eight days of journey.
The Ranger Clamshell put up with immense abuse. I haven’t cleaned the bag, both, so what you see within the photos is eight days’ value of the bag being bumped, banged, dropped within the sand on the seashore, being positioned on the ground at a number of wildlife refuges, getting moist and an entire host of both stuff. But, the bag nonetheless appears exceptional. The Hex Ranger Clamshell Backpack is one robust cookie.
Hex Ranger Clamshell Backpack — What can it maintain?
In case you take the time to regulate the dividers to suit snugly round your gear, you may match a stunning quantity of apparatus into the Hex Ranger Clamshell Backpack. Now, for those who use gripped cameras, stroll away. In case you use a digicam with out a battery grip, learn on. I used to be in a position to match the next gear into the bag comfortably:
- OM SYSTEM OM-1
- OM SYSTEM 20mm f/1.4 Professional
- Olympus 100-400mm f5-6.3 IS
- Olympus 8-25mm f/4 Professional
- Olympus 45mm f/1.2 Professional
- Godox V1 Flash
- Godox Professional Set off
- Filter case and varied equipment
- 12.9-inch iPad Professional with keyboard case and pencil
- One water bottle
- One tripod
Realistically, you may solely carry one massive zoom lens on this bag. Nonetheless, there’s loads of house for primes and smaller zoom lenses. Additionally, there was ample room left over within the laptop computer pouch with my iPad Professional in there. So, the claims that it might probably maintain a 15″ MacBook ring true.
I additionally love that the tripod attaches to the bottom of the bag. There’s nothing worse than having a heavy tripod on one facet of the bag because it throws off weight distribution. General, I’m impressed with the storage capability of this digicam bag.
Hex Ranger Clamshell Backpack — Within the area
The entry panel you may create on the prime of the bag.
Entry panel on the left.
Inside accent pockets are situated on either side of the primary compartment.
Key chain within the entrance pouch.
Entry panel on the best. You possibly can see the place the zips butt up in opposition to the cinch strap abd clasp.
The hoops on the facet of the bag are a pleasant contact.
The beauty of the Hex Ranger Clamshell Backpack is its versatility. You should use this bag in 3 ways, thanks to 2 cinch straps tightening over the primary clamshell zipper. Primarily the straps cease the zipper from going previous a sure level on the zip runner. This successfully creates facet entry panels on both facet of the bag or the highest.
To set this up, you set each zips on the backside of the bag on both facet after which tighten the straps. In order for you a prime opening, place the zips on the prime of the bag and tighten the straps. It’s a reasonably genius manner of incorporating fast entry panels right into a bag design that isn’t normally in a position to incorporate them.
These entry panels will, after all, solely provide you with entry to your digicam and no matter lens you have got connected to it. If you wish to entry your whole gear, you’ll have to take the bag off, lay it flat after which open your complete clamshell.
So near a near-perfect design
There’s, nevertheless, an issue with this design. One function I like is the anti-theft clasp. It’s situated within the water bottle pocket. You possibly can pull the clip out, convey the zips over to the left facet of the bag, after which run the hook by way of the eyelets within the zip pulls to safe them.
The issue is that to make use of the anti-theft clip, you must set the bag up in order that the short entry panel is at all times on the left facet of the bag. I want Hex would have put an analogous clip on either side so that you just’re not restricted when establishing the bag. For me, this design means I both select the comfort of getting the entry panel on both facet of the bag or safety. It’s not supreme.
Additionally, the cellphone pocket is simply simply sufficiently big to accommodate my iPhone 11 Professional Max. So you probably have a cellphone larger than this, it won’t match into the plush-lined pocket. The entrance pocket is good and spacious, although. There are many mesh storage compartments right here for cables and batteries. There’s even a series the place you may safe your keys.
It’s nice for metropolis dwellers
By way of consolation, the Hex Ranger Clamshell Backpack is nice. Nevertheless, it’s not probably the most snug backpack I’ve ever used, because the straps’ padding is a bit skinny. Nevertheless, the air mesh design permits cool air to circulation, preserving you good and funky.
The sternum strap, as soon as accurately adjusted, additionally helps with weight distribution. On the finish of the day, so long as you set the bag as much as give you the results you want, you’ll discover that the Ranger Clamshell Backpack from Hex is an easy-to-use bag that may shield your whole gear effectively. This bag is superb for photographers who like day journeys or who take prolonged picture walks across the metropolis. Nevertheless, the thinner straps and lack of a waist belt lead me to say that it wouldn’t go well with hikes within the wilderness.
