REVIEW: Manfrotto 'Manhattan - Speedy 10' Messenger Bag
Choosing the right camera bag for your needs can feel like a bit of a pain to be honest. Not only do you have to commit to which kind of ‘style’ you want, whether it’s a back pack, messenger bag or all out camping-hiking hybrid monstrosity! But also, you then have to worry about how well your expensive gear will be protected, does it shout ‘steal me!’ is it water proof! Well, if you’re in the market for something a bit more comfortable, discreet and stylish, I may have just the thing for you…
The big decision…
Probably the most important choice to make when purchasing a new bag is what ‘style’ of bag you need. The two main things I do are corporate shoots, which need a lot of gear and lighting etc. The second is typical ‘street’ and landscape kind of work. For these, I need very different bags. For the corporate work I need something with a lot of space, practicality and comfortable to wear for many hours. For my street work, I need something small, lightweight and discreet, and that is where this bag comes in.
The ‘Speedy 10’ is a messenger style bag that works perfectly as an ;every day carry’. It is discreet enough that it doesn’t 'look too much like it’s filled with expensive camera gear. However, it is stylish enough that you will feel comfortable going to a corporate meeting or walking into a bar/restaurant with this bag - it really does work for all scenarios.
Comfort and Practicality…
As you can see from the pictures, the Speedy 10 has a main compartment for a camera and two lenses. However, the adjustable inner compartment offers enough flexibility that you can pretty much fit any camera body/lens combo that you need. It is also spacious enough that you can easily fit a 70-200mm lens and even has a laptop compartment that I found particularly useful for my iPad Pro.The padded lining and zipped compartment offer a good amount of protection and the water resistant out layer offers a bit of piece-of-mind if you are caught in a sudden downpour.
In terms of comfort, the bag is an absolute pleasure to use. The padded strap and easy access to all pockets/zips etc. make the bag almost ‘disappear’ as you never find yourself struggling with awkward clasps etc. This is particularly useful as the last thing you want is to be fighting with your bag whilst trying to get to your camera and then missing a shot! The bag in general is well thought out and little touches like the water resistant base are simple ideas but critical when you are carrying thousands of pounds worth of gear around with you.
Discreet yet Stylish…
As a photographer that shoots mainly in the city centre, I can’t state enough that you do not want to advertise the fact that you are lumping around really expensive camera gear. This bag looks like it could easily be another ‘work’ bag and doesn’t scream ‘camera gear’ at your local thief! Yet, the bag is stylish enough that you wouldn’t feel out of place walking into a fancy bar and just as importantly, it also doesn’t shout ‘photo-nerd’ so embarrassment levels are kept to a minimum!
Final Thoughts…
I’m a big fan of this bag and can really recommend it after months of using it. If you a re looking for a messenger style bag that ‘does it all’ - you really don’t need to look much further than this. In terms of ‘downside’ - I guess at around £80 it is more on the ‘expensive’ side - However, with a bit of internet hunting, you’ll find much better deals out there. Overall, the bag is great and is well worth considering if you are in the market for a new bag.
Find out more and buy here - Manfrotto