Manfrotto Pro Light RedBee-210

l £99 l www.manfrotto.co.uk WITh a striking design, the Manfrotto Pro Light redBee-210 is a bag that not only looks good but its generous size and excellent build allow you to carry plenty of kit safely. And with useful grab handles on the top, sides and back, it’s easy to pick up when on the ground or stowed in an overhead locker on a plane, for instance.

Kit is accessible from the top, back and both sides of the bag, so you can position your camera(s) at the top and bottom for quick access. This is possible with two pro-spec DSLrs, without a grip attached but with up to a 70-200mm on each. The bag is also large enough to carry one camera with up to a 400mm lens attached which, alongside the ability to fully customise the internal dividers, makes it a versatile option for photographers who need to frequently rearrange their bag to carry different gear configurations. As well as several internal pockets for memory cards and larger accessories, there’s also storage for a tablet and a 15in laptop.

When you access all kit through the back of the bag, there’s a zipped mesh to provide additional protection to your kit. Whether or not this is necessary is open to debate, and this is the type of marmite feature that some will love while others may find an unnecessary hindrance. Another small negative is that the tripod attachment consists of two straps, which work just fine but could be easily misplaced.

At just £99 for a cavernous, highly versatile and lightweight backpack, the Manfrotto Pro Light redBee-210 is an extremely attractive option, both for individuals on a budget and for those who need a large and lightweight backpack. While the back panel isn’t the most comfortable and doesn’t offer much in the way of airflow, you’ll be hard pressed to find a backpack of this quality and capacity at such a competitive price.