» MADE Products CA-2001-BLK Seattle Sling Waterproof Bag (Black)

MADE Products CA-2001-BLK Seattle Sling Waterproof Bag (Black) Reviews

Customer Rating:
Summary: Solid camera bag for serious water adventurers
Comment: When I first opened the box and saw the camera case I immediately recognized that the case was very well built. The material is thick and the stitching is professional.

Keep in mind that this bag is designed to be carried like a messenger bag (i.e. on a slant). It becomes really awkward when you strap your tripod to the bag and then sling it over your shoulder. The weight of the tripod doesn't feel evenly distributed and gave me the impression that it was going to slide out.

Where this bag shines is its ability to almost guarantee that you could literally throw your camera off the side of a ship into the ocean and you'd have nothing to worry about. The waterproof portion of the bag is heavy-duty in every aspect.

If you're a serious outdoor person and expect to be in the water a lot, then you might want this bag. If you're a casual hiker this is not the bag for you.

Also, the bag is too small to accomodate some of the larger telephoto lenses like my Canon 100-400L and my 70-200L.

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Customer Rating:
Summary: Not much space for the bag's size
Comment: This bag looked really nice from the limited information available at the time it was ordered and it was obtained with a mind towards replacing my wife's LowePro bag that has been outgrown. Upon receipt, it was discovered that the bag while a bit larger than her 200 size bag, this one had significantly less interior room and far fewer pockets owing to all of the padding and the waterproof bag. Also, the strap configuration was not at all apparent from the photo published at the time of the order; while I'm sure there will be many that like it, it is a significant departure from the conventional and does not appear to be that adjustable. On the plus side for this bag... The bag is very well made from high quality materials and looks as though it will last for many years of demanding use. The flap is well designed to allow entry while carrying the bag. Finally, it looks like the bag would keep its contents dry in pretty much any weather conditions shy of prolonged submersion in water. Unless you anticipate subjecting your gear to extremely harsh, wet conditions my advice would be to look at a bag such as the LowePro offerings that while well constructed and padded have more pockets and usable interior space.

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Customer Rating:
Summary: Looks to be worth the money
Comment: I'm not huge into photography but I do down a few pricey cameras, including at least one SLR. My father was big on photography and even had his own closet for 'developing photos' back in the day. So, protection for cameras is something I'm definitely interested in. When I first saw this...'case'...for lack of a better word, I was immediately intrigued by its size and quality.

Overall, I'd say if you've got thousands of dollars of equipment laying around which you need to carry with you, often, then this is the case for you. VERY well padded, I'd say about half its size is probably padding. I'm sure you could drop it 5 or 6 feet and practically nothing will happen to your equipment. Inside, it has 5 compartments, all padded individually. Around the case are a few extra compartments for your other essentials, like a tripod, as pictured.

But, if you just have an SLR or whatever camera with one lens that you hardly use, do yourself a favor and skip this. Unless you've invested thousands into your equipment this is something you can do without.

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Customer Rating:
Summary: Built to survive
Comment: Another use for this bag would be for hurricane preparedness. It's tough, watertight, and easy to spot. The red inner liner is distinctive. Even when the bag is closed it's easy to see it across the yard. I don't have an slr kit but I do have plenty of things that need to remain dry. I live in an area prone to hurricanes and flooding, so this bag is a blessing. It is quite tough and thickly padded. I uploaded a few pictures of my husband wearing the bag. It's packed with all his birdwatching gear, which includes a tripod, spotting scope, binoculars, flip camera and assorted accessories. There is also plenty of room for documents, should we have to evacuate. I think bags like this are the wave of the future when it comes to disaster preparedness. You can use them for wet or trying conditions with your camera and other sensitive gear that needs maximum protection. You can also pack it with whatever documents, photographs, and information you need should you have to leave in a hurry. The no zipper feature makes it very easy to break down, load and seal up. In a situation with rapidly changing conditions, this is crucial. I am going to recommend a bag like this for my neighbors, who are in the same situation. Even if the house floods out, if this bag is on the floor the contents should be OK. I hope I never have to find out, but if I do, I think this will work :)

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Customer Rating:
Summary: A Reasonable Alternative to the Camera Backpack
Comment: When my wife and I head out to snap some pictures, we feel like Sherpas scaling Everest---we have a big, bulky, backpack which holds my gear. It's solid protection, but it certainly isn't all-weather, and the tripod's a pain dangling down at thigh level.

Thus I approached this product with some excitement.

First the pros:

- No zippers---the velcro enclosures mean longer life and none of those untimely snags when busting out your gear.

- The waterproof enclosure is very simple---just roll the top of it down over itself three times and secure with the clips. There are useful pictorial directions printed on the top of the enclosure

- Access to gear is fast - 20 seconds and I had it out the first time I tried

Now the cons:

- There's not a lot of room inside the enclosure itself. A couple of lenses, flash, and camera body is about all you'll get in here

- There is very little space for other accessories such as memory cards, filters, cleaning supplies, batteries, etc---you will probably need to hang onto that photographer's vest in order to squirrel these away for easy access on a shoot

- The sling design is a bit awkward---since it goes over one shoulder, it rests to one side of your back. With tripod attached, you won't be able to carry anything else on your back, although your right arm does remain free

- The material on the underside of the sling may cause chafing over time

Other than that, I'd consider it a useful way to travel light when on a walkabout. Just make sure your wife carries your lunch.

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