Think Tank Photo Urban Disguise 35 V2.0 Review

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Over the last few months we’ve looked at numerous ways to carry and protect your camera and gear and today we are looking at yet another! This time out we have the Think Tank Photo Urban Disguise 35 V2.0. It has an MSRP of $159.75 and what you get for the money is rather impressive. Yet again the bag “comes in any color you want so long as you want black”. That isn’t an issue to my mind, especially since this is a bag that is intended to carry a ton of gear without calling too much attention to itself. While I like the bag on its own, I LOVE the fact that you can purchase an additional accessory that turns this shoulder bag into a backpack. The bag is perfect for carrying a lot of gear AND a tablet or laptop up to 13″. Let’s jump in and take a look.

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From Think Tank Photo:

A perfect size working bag for photographers on the go who use a compact laptop. The Urban Disguise 35 V2.0 holds up to a 13.3” laptop with a standard size DSLR or a 10” netbook with a pro size DSLR. A 70-200 f2.8 lens can remain attached to any size DSLR, inside the bag. it features a large opening for easy access to equipment and can be attached to the extended handle of a rolling bag. The Urban Disguise 35 V2.0 can also be carried as a backpack by using the Shoulder Harness V2.0 accessory (sold separately).

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This is truly a “working photographer’s bag”. It can handle both a standard and a pro DSLR, a good bit of additional gear AND a laptop of up to 13″. That makes it perfect for someone like me OR someone who really is a photographer.

Features:

Professional appearance, does not look like a traditional camera bag

Carry a complete DSLR kit with a compact laptop

Special hinged divider allows room for either a regular or pro size DSLR

Tall enough to carry a 70-200 f2.8 lens attached to DSLR

Easily accessible front organizer pocket

Leather handle clasp keeps two carrying handles together

Easily accessible front organizer pocket

Expandable front pocket for carrying one pro size DSLR body

Rear panel for roller handle attachment can be closed for use as another pocket

Optional accessories sold separately: Urban Disguise Attachment Straps and Shoulder Harness V2.0

Here’s our video review, after which we’ll run down a few specific “likes” and the one issue that arose for me but may not for you!

As you can see, I really like this bag. It isn’t too large (we’ve got the review of one of those coming up shortly) but it isn’t so small as to, at times, leave you feeling cramped. (Think LowePro Urban Photo Sling 150 or Think Tank Photo Retrospective 7)

I also like the fact that it is so well-constructed. Then again, that shouldn’t be a surprise considering that every bag we have seen from Think Tank has been well-constructed from top-quality materials and have designs that really take into consideration how a photographer on the go would make use of the bag.

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One of the things I really appreciate is the front pocket design. The company went to great lengths to make it simple to access a lot of your smaller gear without having to go into the main portion of the bag. This includes the pocket at the very front AND the front flap that lifts to reveal plentiful organizing space.

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The central clip under this flap is rather hefty. I like a beefy clip since it makes me feel confident that the gear stowed behind it is safe. The added protection of velcro further increases that confidence.

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The laptop pocket is great. It is perfect for a laptop of up to 13″ in size. In fact, that is the reason I requested this size for review. I figured it would be perfect for use when traveling with my Canon T3i and my MacBook air. Little did I know I would be selling my MBA and upgrading to the 15″ MacBook Pro retina. It is, one the one hand, a personal bummer. Then again, the laptop pocket work just fine for an iPad and Bluetooth keyboard.

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The bag is comfortable to carry as a shoulder bag and the option to purchase an additional accessory that turns the bag into a backpack is great. (As of this writing the should accessory is out of stock.) I have to agree with this customer review from the product page-

Oh my gosh, I love this bag! It is small enough to count as a personal carry-on for commercial flights, easily fitting under the seat in front of me, but it’s holds oh-so-much. I’m carrying a pro-DSLR w/ attached 50mm and hood, a 100mm macro lens w/ pouch, a 24-70 zoom w/ reversed hood, a flash w/ pouch, AND a MacBook Air 11″ or a MacBook Pro 13″. Unbelievable capacity and it looks great! All it lacks is a loop on the back to hang it over the handle of my carry-on bag, but that’s a small issue that can probably be overcome w/ accessory straps.

The Think Tank Photo Urban Disguise 35 V2.0 is available directly from the company. Details and ordering information can be found here. You can also order through our Amazon Affiliate Store.

We’ve signed up to be part of Think Tank’s Photographer Support Program. With this program, any time you visit the company website using this special link to go to Think Tank and, when you order $50 or more you will get free gear added to your order. You will also help support Gear Diary in the process, and we thank you in advance. Yes, it is a win-win-win prospect and, best of all, their camera bags are awesome!!!

MSRP: $159.75

What I Like: Well-constructed; Practical way to carry, protect and access a good deal of gear; Let’s you carry up to a 13″ laptop; Easy access to gear stowed in the front pockets

What Needs Improvement: Nothing so long as you like this style of bag and only need to carry a laptop of 13.3″ or less

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About the Author

Dan Cohen
Having a father who was heavily involved in early laser and fiber-optical research, Dan grew up surrounded by technology and gadgets. Dan’s father brought home one of the very first video games when he was young and Dan remembers seeing a “pre-release” touchtone phone. (When he asked his father what the “#” and “*” buttons were his dad said, “Some day, far in the future, we’ll have some use for them.”) Technology seemed to be in Dan’s blood but at some point he took a different path and ended up in the clergy. His passion for technology and gadgets never left him. Dan is married to Raina Goldberg who is also an avid user of Apple products. They live in New Jersey with their golden doodle Nava.