Vanguard Alta Rise 48
Andy Westlake explores a large, well-made backpack
● £125
WHEN you need to carry around a full-frame DSLR and a set of large lenses, a backpack is a much better option than a shoulder bag. With the Alta Rise 48, Vanguard has produced a well-made backpack that offers pretty much everything you might need.
This bag is designed in the front- opening fashion, with a full-height front lid that folds down to give unrestricted access to your kit. The idea is that you can put the bag down on its base, which is covered in waterproof vinyl, and then use the adjustable straps on each side to hold the lid part- open, so neither the backpack harness nor the front get mucky. There’s also a large flap on the side that gives access to your camera while you’re on the move.
The roomy main compartment will hold a large DSLR such as a Nikon D850 or Canon EOS 5D Mark IV with a battery grip and 70-200mm or 100- 400mm telezoom attached, along with three or four more lenses including f/2.8 standard and wideangle zooms. Alternatively, you could fit in a second body and a couple of extra lenses. In the upper section there’s plenty of space for flashguns, filters, hard drives, chargers and the like, along with mesh pockets designed to separate your empty and used memory cards or batteries.
An array of small external pockets – including a handy concealed one on the back for a wallet or travel documents – helps to organise your bits and bobs. There’s a stretchy neoprene side pocket for a water bottle along with an attachment point for additional pouches, although neither can be used when you’re carrying a tripod. Externally accessible pockets in the lid will hold a 10in tablet and A4 documents.
The quality of materials and construction is excellent, and the back and shoulder straps are really well padded to ease the strain of carrying a heavy load. There’s even a tuck-away belt strap to help distribute the weight better when you’re carrying your kit over a long distance. The discreetly styled black exterior shouldn’t attract undue attention, while the bright orange interior makes it easy to find things inside.