Crumpler Bags

HI all, probably a bit on the late side this reply, but hey. I have just changed over to Crumpler (750 Dailey) after many years with Lowepro.

I liked the messanger bag style ie taller/deeper which allows longer lens to remain on camera bodies.

Time will tell about durability.

Hi all

I posted this question in the DPReview orums also, so apologies if anyone is reading this a second time. This thread is a bit old now but relevant, so it seems worthwhile resurrecting it.

I'm an SLR newbie, just purchased a K20D, my first SLR. Last week I found a good deal on a Crumpler Daily 600 bag which arrived on Friday. The bag seems great, right size for traveling, can take a laptop, lots of well thought out space.

But I'm having a real problem with the strap. Not sure if it's me being thick or if there's something I'm missing...

Basically the quick release buckle keeps popping open, usually when I pick up the bag or when I "heft" it on my shoulder while walking. The result is that the excess strap is pulled through the open buckle, the strap therefore gets longer, and the bag either stays on the ground when I'm picking it up or heads rapidly for the ground when I'm walking.

There is a normal type buckle used to fix the strap to the bag but if I pull the excess strap through, it creates a huge roll of strap which itself pushes the quick release buckle open.

Any advice greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance

There are quite a few bags on the market that look like good designs, but which in practical use are just about useless. The Crumpler bags I have seen are pretty hopeless at keeping water out.

Not quite an answer to your query, but if you want hard wearing sensible designs that work then Billingham produce a whole range. I favour the Hadley design for quick access, portability and waterproof qualities.

Lowepro produce good bags, but I find access is not quick and they don't actually hold much for a given size. The quality is excellent though and I do sometimes use them.

Hi John

Thanks for the reply. I'd like to keep the Crumpler if possible because it can carry all the kit I need, including laptop. I'm planning to add an extra velcro patch to each side of the main flap, at the top, I think this should improve the obvious point where water can enter.

The real problem though is this quick release buckle which "quick releases" while I'm walking.

Hello mpjx, I've never had the problem you describe so I had a good look at mine (Crumpler that is).

I have the extra length of the strap going through an extra plastic buckle thingy after the quick release, this is where and how the quick release is attached to the bag.

It sounds to me like you need to thread the extra strap under and over the bar on the extra buckle thingy, then even if the quick release opens (on mine, never so far) it won't pull through as the plastic thingy stops it.

I hope this helps, there seems to be a lot of plastic thingys described here.

Hi Kerrowdown, thanks for the reply. Shall we call the extra buckle thingy a "classic buckle"?!

I know exactly what you mean, I've tried this but when I thread the extra strap through the classic buckle, the strap rolls around on itself (like a jam roll ...!). The strap is so stiff that the roll pushes open the quick release buckle. The only solution I've found is to thread the strap to the exact length I need through the classic buckle and leave the quick release open.

This completely defeats the object of having a quick release buckle so I'm thinking I must be doing something wrong.

I'll post a photo tomorrow which should explain what I'm trying to describe.

Cheers!

Hi mpjx, I think we should reconsider this quick release buckle, as it's not really for "quick release" purposes, its for "quick adjust" of strap length (i.e. over shoulder, hang down bag length). Mine is still the way I received the bag when new from Crumpler, so a good chance that it's the way Crumpler intended it to be.

I think we need your photo here, to see which way you've got this beast wired up

What a laugh it is trying to describe something so simple, just using words, no wonder there are so many problems in the world.

Hi all,

Just to have my say, I've had a crumpler XXL and it was absolutely perfect.

Not only it looks much better than anything else in the price range, but its also funky and "young"

I have never had any problem with water, or moist getting in, and i have used it also in very very wet rain storm! In my experience the bag has always been completely perfect.

I hope this helps,
Nathan

i've got a Crumpler Pretty Boy and i love it. used it in the rain an had no problems as the flaps fold in to keep the rain out (unless the rain is coming sideways, but then i'd think in those conditions most bags would have trouble).

the Pretty Boy range are fairly small, so get bigger than you think - or try and track one down and see for yourself. i can get a K100d with kit lens and the tamron 70-300 in my Xl (or it might be a L). there's also room for batteries, memory cards, lens cloth, etc in the front pocket. i could also get the 500 mirror in by perching it on the top and pulling the flap over and then yanking the strap tight to hold it down.

most days now i use a lowepro fastpack backpack as i can get all the lenses in there, but i do find it uncomfortable compared to the Crumpler and having the extra capacity means i tend to carry everything!

also, the Crumpler has better colours and just looks nice.

Hey Nathan, old farts like me also use Crumplers, in the hope I can become once again "Funky & Young"

For anyone interested Crumpler Daily's are excellent value at Amazon.de at the moment - even with the collapsing pound.

I have the crumpler royal court and i think is is a nice bag. It is waterproof and does more or less what it says. It is not the most purpose built bag in that the lowepro bags are built for cameras whereas the crumpler double up as laptop/camera and day packs so you lose out on some of the features that can make a difference. That said, I use my crumpler when i travel and pack all my gear and laptop and when i get to my destination i switch to my lowepro slingshot 200 and walk around with that. as i am accumulating more and more gear i may need to upgrade the lowepro but i am also worried about the weight. right now i can carry it all day long and it is very compact. the crumpler is too big to walk around with. now i need something in between but how long will that suffice i wonder...