Different types of camera bags flood the market. A common drawback is their rigid design and size.
Exceptions do exist, with products like the Manfrotto Advanced² Hybrid Backpack and those like Cosyspeed PhotoHiker 44 that feature adaptable sections. However, tweaking their general shape and size is infeasible.
Zipble, preparing for its Kickstarter launch, seeks to revolutionize bag design with a genuine modular concept.
These camera bags comprise several sections that link with a zipper, providing the freedom to personalize the backpack according to one’s equipment hauling needs. They save you the cost of buying different bags for varied tasks.
Imagine having many different camera bags, each serving a different purpose.
You may have one for hauling audio equipment, another for vlogging, two for air or train travel photography needs, and yet another for hikes or outdoor location shoots, packing weighty equipment with easy accessibility.
There are different other bags designed specifically for types of shoots or specific gear like for street photography or prolonged wilderness exploration.
Zipble presents a comprehensive solution to this entire array of bags by introducing the concept of modules.
These can be added or removed depending on one’s immediate needs, facilitating customization and providing the much-needed flexibility to expand or shrink the bag’s storage depending on ongoing gear requirements.
Three main modules or ‘Panels’ have been launched — the Tech Panel, Snapshot Panel, and Expand Panel. The Tech panel is entirely dedicated to smaller necessities like batteries, memory cards, charging cables, and laptops.
It can be used individually as a regular shoulder bag. As its namesake indicates, the Snapshot Panel is devised to accommodate larger equipment such as lenses, camera bodies, speedlights.
It is fitted with velcro dividers and pockets enhancing storage space. It can, as well, be carried solely with a shoulder strap.
The biggest of the three is the Expand Panel. Catering to sizeable gear like reflectors, small strobes, and compact light stands, this spacious segment offers additional straps and D rings to support standalone functionality.
Now, though intriguing by design, the challenge manifests in its technomechanical execution.
It will be exciting to witness whether mainstream bag manufacturers accede to such a modular system. Rigidity, security, accessibility, and integrity are much-needed prerequisites of any modular system that must be fulfilled without compromising overall user-friendly aspects.
Each panel will be sold separately at $50 letting you add as many panels to suit your requirements conveniently.
The ‘DIY Bag’ bundle comprising all three modules with additional perks, though, would be priced at $260. Preliminarily, these prices are listed on the Zipble website, but sales await Kickstarter campaign’s launch, which holds the information about any disclosures on savings.
So, what’s your pick? Multiple special-purpose bags or one multi-module, customizable bag?