Manfrotto Noreg Backpack 30
Michael Topham tests a modular backpack
£159 www.manfrotto.co.uk
THERE’S a lot to be said for making sure your camera bag meets your requirements. Choose one too small with not enough space for daily essentials and you’ll be forced to leave items behind. Choose one too big and you’ll be left not knowing what to fill it with. Manfrotto’s Noreg 30 is designed for those who’d like a versatile backpack suitable for accommodating a mediumsized DSLR or mirrorless camera with a couple of lenses, while offering a convenient space above the camera compartment for clothes, food or other items you might like to take with you on a day trip.
The upside of the bag is that it’s modular and consists of two detachable parts that can be used separately. The internal camera compartment can be removed and used as a small shoulder bag when you only want to carry your camera and lenses. There’s also a well- cushioned 15in laptop compartment at the rear that can be unzipped and used as a stand-alone laptop sleeve. If you don’t require the camera compartment or laptop sleeve, both can be removed and left behind, allowing it to be used like any conventional backpack.
Manfrotto have thought the bag through very well. It has a tripod holder and large pocket on the front, two zipped pockets on the inside that are perfect for thin accessories like filters fifilters or memory cards, and it’s supplied with a rain cover. The shoulder straps, back of the laptop compartment and rear of the bag are well padded and although it lacks a waist strap, it does have an elasticated sternum strap to keep the shoulder straps in place. The materials, stitching and overall finish is first- class, with the red pulls to the external zippers offering quick entry to both the lower and upper sections of the bag.
The bag was tested on a weekend trip and offered sufficient space for a premium mirrorless camera, a 70-200mm f/4 lens and additional 24-70mm f/4 zoom. My only criticism is that the shoulder strap for the pull- out camera compartment doesn’t come supplied with an anti-slip shoulder pad – something I’d want to add.
Verdict
If you’re not one for lumping around vast amounts of photo kit and want a backpack that gives you the flexibility to carry daily essentials while out walking or exploring, the Noreg 30 makes a very valid choice. It’s essentially two bags in one, and the luxury of the modular system gives you the option to customise it for whatever you have planned. All in all, a very versatile backpack with dedicated camera storage.