Much needed improvements
I understand this is more of a camera bag than an edc bag but there are some improvements that could help improve its appeal. The first is the single grab handle, which is okay and functional, but I would like to see a tote style double handle, which attach from the backside and then another handle attached just above the front zipper. This would let people hold the bag without it flopping to one side. The bag also has the vertical height for two zipper compartments on the backside closest to the body, which would have been good. Make it a passthrough, accessible from the left and right side. Would have been nice. The main compartment could have used at the very least one more spot of organization, either a stretchy mesh zipper pocket like Bellroys slings, or just something for sunglasses. There's nowhere good to protect a pair of sunglasses in this bag. Where the strap attaches is okay, but goven the average weight of the bag, i would have love to see a different strap attachment point. If the triangle swivel tabs were more centrally located on the sides of the grip 9, say, around where the main compartments zipper ends terminated, that would provide a more snug fit to the body because the whole bag's center of gravity is closer to the body. Reduce the main compartments opening by 1in on either side and have the bottom fabric panel be where the trianglular swivel tabs come from. The triangle swivel tabs for where the strap attaches right now makes the center of gravity further away from the body, increasing the amount of dangle you get walking around and subsequently makes the bag feel heavier and more cumbersome. The swivel itself is a good step, however, if you take the bag off your body and the swivel does a 360, the strap is now twisted. Inconvenient. Bad. Here is a simple fix. Sew a piece of fabric over 2/3rds of the swivel, that prevents the strap from turning a full 360 degrees and twisting the strap. The sling strap is probably where you could make the cheapest changes. The shoulder pad needs to be a removable design. The topology of the shoulder strap causes it to dig in to the shoulder unevenly, making the bag feel heavier than it is. A simple strap at 1. 5in or 2in would be so much more comfortable. You also desperately need a magnetic strap release. Having to put the strap over your head, and take it off over your head is cumbersome and unnecessary. It does not serve the user to require more actions than necessary to carry a bag. If I utilize something that is supposed to provide a method of convenience, say, holding my stuff, and it isnt convenient in itself to do so, im just not gonna use it. Its unergonomic. Add a fidlock buckle or some magnetic clasp to let people easily detach the bag from themselves. Bellroy does this and is so much easier to live with, being able to take the bag off without hoisting it over your shoulders and off your head. Gussetting is acceptable. Shape is great. materials are great. At 9 liters you are getting away from "sleek and fun" territory and moving into edc workhorse territory. I would pay $35 to $40 more for a V2 with these design changes.
