[Portrait of me with my Crumpler bag in front of the Colosseum – photo © Tony Boccaccio]
Review: [rating system = 1 to 5 with 5 being excellent and 1 being poor]
• Sex Appeal: [2.5] This bag has many great attributes, but sexy-in-black-leather-boots isn’t one of them. Sexy-on-the-back-of-a-mountain-bike? Yes. Sexy at the mall or at the office? No. Don’t let this discourage you though – it’s a bag worth owning.
• Sport Appeal: [5.0] Here is where the Crumpler 6 Million Dollar Home really shines. It is waterproof and rugged but still light and manageable. I was surprised at how small and light it seems compared to how much camera gear I can fit into it. It has a lot of sporty charisma and there is a color combination that is sure to entice you. I field tested the blue dot print bag (below) and I found it’s wild, happy colors brought a smile to my face.
• Day-tripping: [3.75] If your day trips include nature photography in exotic locales, hiking, biking and the like, then – yes. If your day-trips include a dressy lunch at an elegant bed and breakfast and shooting local architecture, then – no. If you like a bit of both, then consider purchasing a Crumpler bag as your “inclement weather and sports activity” camera bag.
• World-trekking: [4.25] A few years ago, I traveled through Italy with a Crumpler bag. I was impressed with its sturdiness. It fit all the gear and extras I needed for a 14-hour+ day of exploring. At one point (all aflutter with excitement over gorgeous Italia) I put the bag down in a puddle. Yes – a puddle. Thank the camera gods that the bag is waterproof and nothing was ruined.
[6 Million Dollar Home in Blue Dot Print – photo © Crumpler Camera Bags]
• Wearablility & Comfort: [1.0/5.0 (dependent on body shape)] It’s worth noting that despite my positive feelings about the bag, when I returned home, I gave it to a male friend. I only parted with it because the strap was quite difficult to manage with my curves. The wide, rigid sturdiness of the strap makes it uncomfortable and even painful to wear. If you are blessed with smaller curves, this will not be an issue for you – in fact, you may find that the wide strap makes the bag easier to carry.
• Dimensions: 11.4″L—-9.8’”H—-7.7’”D
• Price: $115.00 (plus shipping)
• Price-to-coolness ratio: [2.5-4.5 (depending on your body shape)]
[6 Million Dollar Home in Black and Green – photo © Crumpler Camera Bags]
• Comments from women: 50-50 – split down the middle on hobby lines. Those with active/outdoorsy hobbies loved it, but everyone agreed that it can’t be carried as a purse in a formal office setting.
• Comments from men: None.
• Drawbacks: Mentioned above in wearability and comfort.
• Highlights: The bag is tough and strong and yet stylish too. As the website says they are “built to last a lifetime.” I also feel the need to say again how truly comforthing it is to travel with a bag that is waterproof. Here’s what the website has to say about waterproofing: “The seamless one-piece 900D base prevents water seepage when the bag is placed on wet surfaces, while the double thickness 900D flap does the same to rain, hail, sleet, snow, beer and mixed drinks.” Traveling with this Crumpler is traveling well prepared indeed. 🙂
[6 Million Dollar Home in Olive Dot Print – photo © Crumpler Camera Bags]
• Crumpler Camera Bags Website: http://www.crumpler.com/us/Camera-Bags.html?LanguageCode=EN (Crumpler Blog: http://www.crumpler.com/blog/)
• Crumpler Camera Bags on Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/Crumpler
• Crumpler Camera Bags on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Crumpler/103144793058903?sk=info
In joy,
Melinda
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