Top critical review
3.0 out of 5 starsThis bag could have been great BUT...
Reviewed in the United States on April 2, 2016
It leaves something to be desired. First let me say I also have the DCB-309 case from Case Logic. I liked it a lot but it had some qualities that I didn't like, which I will mention further, thus why this bag stands out to me..
First the positives...
1. Top Loading, which makes it easy to remove and insert the camera(unlike the DCB-309 which was awkward with the bendable flap and the lip always int he way). This bag also has a nice sling to hold the camera in place.
2. Plastic/Protective bottom. Makes putting it in wet grass or dirt or whatever more feasible than the DCB-309.
3. The dividers are nicely padded and have an extra lip of velco now on BOTH sides of the edges and not just a left or right fold of the edge (think of the end as a letter T and not a L). I like this as it tends to keep things a little more secure. It also has velco on the bottom of the long middle dividers, keeping them in place and not wanting to come with you when pulling something out, like with the DCB-309.
4. LOTS of room and pockets, probably a little more than the DCB-309.
5. The zippers seem more rugged to me and maybe? handle stress a little better.
6. They moved the top handle off the iPad pocket(like the DCB-309 had it) which removes the stress on the zipper(when using this handle, more on this in the negatives).
7. 2 front side handles so you can kind of carry this as a briefcase, if you want(But this does put stress on the front flap).
Now, the negatives...
1. Awkward design. Like others have said, it's boxy and it makes it feel really weird when wearing it.
2. Remember I mentioned they moved the top handle from the flap of the iPad pocket(like the DCB-309) to the seem so no stress on the zipper(from this handle)? Great, HOWEVER, they removed the padding from the handle, like the DCB-309 had, so it makes it uncomfortable to use this strap for any length of time.
3. This is the biggest fail(again), while they moved the top handle off the back iPad pocket, they CONTINUE to attach the shoulder straps to this VERY POCKET(the DCB-309 did this too and it always bothered me). So when carrying it on your back, ALL the weight and stress is put on this one zipper. Who the heck at Case Logic continues to think this is a good idea? They should have no part in designing bags, whoever it is. WOW.
4. The should straps leave a lot to be desired. The need to be thicker and they also need to add a bottom waist strap to keep things more comfortable and to help prevent the plastic bottom from digging into your back(it doesn't do it to me but I can definitely see how it can to others).
5. They no longer include a weather hood. Why not, especially at this price?
Overall, I am not sure I am going to keep this bag. I do not do hiking but I do carry the bag to various events like my daughter's soccer games and other things. I do like the top loading and the plastic bottom, so this "may" make me want to keep it and use it over my DCB-309( pulling/putting away the camera on the DCB-309 was always awkward with the folding flap and lip of the pocket getting in the way).
It seems they went the extra mile in some spots(added velcro for more secure dividers, sling for the top loading) but cheapened it up in others(no padding on top handle and no weather hood). And WAKE UP Case Logic and get those shoulder straps OFF the zippered pocket.
