WANDRD PRVKE 21L Zip V4 Evaluate: Finest Bag for Photography and Extra?

The WANDRD PRVKE 21 L has been a well-liked digicam bag, usually nailing its Kickstarter marketing campaign objectives simply minutes after launching. V4 of this bag has simply been launched. This is a assessment of the 21 L Zip, with this mannequin allotting with the roll-top. I’ll go over what I like and what I did not like.

The WANDRD PRVKE 21 L V3 line was already nice. It provided fast entry to gear, versatile and intelligently designed group, robust climate resistance, and an expandable roll-top that stays out of the way in which if you find yourself not utilizing it for storage. There will not be such a factor as a “perfect bag,” a lot much less a “perfect bag” for particular folks, however for a lot of, together with me, the PRVKE baggage ticked a lot of the bins.

I’ve been buying and utilizing WANDRD merchandise for a number of years now, starting with the WANDRD HEXAD Access Duffel Backpack, which was discontinued a short time in the past. I’ve additionally been utilizing a WANDRD PRVKE 31 L V3 roll-top digicam backpack since summer time 2024. There is a few overlap in options between this and the PRVKE 21 L V4 Zip, so I’ll point out a few of these on this assessment.

I’ve been buying and utilizing WANDRD merchandise for a number of years now, starting with the HEXAD Access Duffel Backpack, which was discontinued a short time in the past. I’ve additionally been utilizing a PRVKE 31 L V3 roll-top since summer time 2024. There is a few overlap in options between this and the PRVKE 21 L V4 Zip, so I’ll point out a few of these on this assessment.

As an evening photographer, my digicam bag performs a significant position within the pictures course of and workflow. It must be snug sufficient to haul all my heavy gear, together with lights, further batteries, cables, and a tripod, by means of lengthy hikes within the desert. I additionally have to entry all of this gear simply whereas at midnight. If you are still constructing a basis for taking pictures in various circumstances, Fstoppers’ The Well-Rounded Photographer: 8 Instructors Teach 8 Genres of Photography is a stable broad refresher.

PRVKE: What I Like

What I like has remained in keeping with the WANDRD PRVKE baggage by means of every era.

For occasion, the PRVKE line of baggage is sturdy, utilizing weatherproof supplies and development. The predominant materials is waterproof tarpaulin and 1,680-denier Robic ballistic nylon, which holds up nicely in tough climates. Also, I really like the organizational logic and format, in addition to the final flexibility. It makes use of area effectively. Add to that the deep facet pockets and full rear clamshell opening on the surface. I really feel just like the bag has simply the correct amount of pockets, if that makes any sense. And lastly, I really like the glossy, minimalist aesthetics.

Also, I wish to level out that, on home and worldwide flights, I can match my 31 L PRVKE bag beneath airplane seats, though it does stick out barely. This noticeably smaller 21 L Zip bag could have no points becoming as nicely. I needn’t concern myself with questioning if there may be sufficient room within the overhead compartments. Also, it’s safer and handy to have it stashed beneath the seat.

PRVKE V4: What’s New

I’ll cowl what I believe are essentially the most vital adjustments from V3 earlier than diving into real-world utilization.

Shoulder Straps Have Been Redesigned

There are three main redesigns of the shoulder strap:

• The shoulder straps are hooked up to the physique of the bag, not the again panel.
• The shoulder straps are softer and have a rolled edge, not edge sure.
• The sternum strap connecting the 2 straps now not pops off, as they use a piping sternum strap.

Anyone who has gone on lengthy hikes throughout pictures shoots with me is aware of how a lot I detest the sternum strap on the PRVKE V3. It regularly pops off and falls on the bottom. Recognizing the latter as an issue immediately, I tied the strap to the shoulder strap with a string so I would not lose it. But actually, I ought to by no means want to try this. To make issues worse, it is tougher to lock than a standard buckle when sporting the backpack.

The new model makes use of a piping sternum strap, so it does not pop off. Aside from that, the chest strap now has an elastic part to extend consolation.

In what is likely one of the greater redesigns, the shoulder straps are actually hooked up to the physique of the bag, not the again panel. This retains the highest of the bag nearer to your physique and takes the burden off the zippers, putting much less stress on them. Now, it’s essential to roll the shoulder straps out of the way in which to entry the inside, much like most different back-panel-access backpacks. I assumed attaching the shoulder straps to the again panel was an uncommon design because it pulled on the zippers as a substitute of the physique (though I’ve by no means really had a problem with this up to now).

Speaking of Zippers…

The zippers have been up to date to water-repellent YKK reverse-coil zippers with a DWR (Durable Water Repellent) coating, which WANDRD states are a lot smoother than their predecessors, extra sturdy, and fewer susceptible to guarantee points. Sternum strap apart, their exterior zippers had been certainly one of my bigger considerations since they did not appear sturdy sufficient to take repeated abuse within the discipline. That stated, I’ve by no means had a problem with the V3 zippers.

Redesigned Interior

Lighter Interior Color

The inside configuration is just a little completely different—actually just a little extra versatile. WANDRD has made the inside colour match the outside on three baggage and altered to a grey inside on the black bag.

To some, altering the inside colour won’t be that large of a deal, maybe extra of an aesthetic change.

However, to nighttime photographers or anybody working in low-light circumstances, that is big. Having a lighter colour lets you see the contents way more simply at midnight and presents larger distinction, particularly in mild of the truth that most cameras and digicam gear are black.

Pockets and Sleeves

In V3, the highest pocket had a bar and deal with, for lack of a greater phrase, that impeded you from opening both of the 2 zippers all the way in which when accessing the inside compartment. In V4, you possibly can unzip every part all the way in which round and have full entry. But an even bigger change is that this lets you put the shelf divider down and open up the compartment to the remainder of the bag utterly. This presents larger flexibility and the flexibility to put bigger objects inside if you want.

Finally, the laptop computer sleeve, which additionally has all of the mini-compartments, now has foam on the outer half in order that it protects the gear in the principle compartment. There is a brand new AirTag pocket within the prime facet pocket, so it is simpler to cover one inside.

The PRVKE 21 L V4 Zip mannequin is a barely smaller backpack and doesn’t have the roll-top, not like among the different fashions. This additionally appears to assist lighten the burden noticeably. I discovered myself wishing that my bigger 31 L bag was this light-weight!

Photo Bundle

You should buy the Photo Bundle should you really feel like it’s essential to retailer bigger objects inside. Otherwise, in my view, the inventory configuration is kind of good.

When you change the inventory inside with the WANDRD Photo Bundle, the aforementioned shelf divider folds down and is Velcro’d out of the way in which. This offers you the potential to retailer bigger objects inside. Therefore, should you unzip the top-pocket zipper compartment, you see solely the surface wall of the Photo Bundle. This is as a result of you’ve allotted with the highest pocket!

The foam dividers that include the Photo Bundle have about the identical thickness and performance because the dividers that come inventory with the bag. WANDRD offers fairly a number of foam dividers inside it doesn’t matter what you get. If you are like me, you will have to take a number of of them out to make it be just right for you until you might be storing principally small objects. Also, I ought to point out that the froth dividers are reasonably thick and take up a stunning quantity of room, so eradicating a number of of them saves area that manner as nicely.

You could take away both the inside that comes inventory with the bag or the Photo Bundle from the backpack. Both of them have a zippered cowl. This permits you, if you want, to take away the inside to retailer within the room or automobile, and likewise permits you to simply reconfigure the bag for one thing else. Also, these detachable interiors are suitable with different WANDRD merchandise, do you have to dive additional into their ecosystem.

Other Updates

• The facet pocket, which can be utilized to carry a water bottle or tripod, has gotten taller—in different phrases, deeper. WANDRD saved the expandable zipper, which is a superb design.
• The again panel has elevated airflow and assist.
• On the facet of the bag that provides facet entry, the buckle is all steel as a substitute of plastic. The facet entry has elevated in depth, making it simpler to get the digicam out and in.

What I Can Fit Inside the PRVKE 21L V4 Zip?

• Two full body DSLRs with giant hooked up lenses
• A big flashlight for mild portray
• Six 18,650 batteries for the light-painting flashlight
• A six-inch plastic snoot for the light-painting flashlight
• Three digicam batteries
• A small flash
• A small Wurkkos FC11 flashlight
• Two intervalometers
• Cables for intervalometers
• Thick winter pictures gloves
• Miscellaneous different objects

Using PRVKE 21L V4 Zip within the Field

Shoulder and Waist Straps

The shoulder straps really feel moderately snug, even when loaded down with two heavy DSLRs and different gear. Because the shoulder straps are hooked up to the physique of the bag, not the again panel, they’re nearer to my shoulders and subsequently do not draw back and create discomfort as a lot. This is a welcome design change.

The WANDRD PRVKE 21 L V3 digicam baggage are designed with attachment factors for waist straps, which could be bought individually. The 31 L V3 got here with completely hooked up waist straps.

The shoulder strap anchor factors are up to date on each the highest and the underside. I’ve observed that, up to now, when I’m sporting the bag and open the facet entry, my hand typically hits the anchor level of the strap, making it just a little tougher to open. This is as a result of the strap is pulling on the nook and angling outward, getting in the way in which of my hand. This shouldn’t be a problem when I’m not sporting the bag. I do not are inclined to put on my bag a lot when photographing, however this can be a problem for others.

Using the Bag within the Dark

I do principally evening pictures, so attempting to entry a bag at midnight could be completely different from somebody doing a vogue shoot. As anticipated, gear was simpler to see in low mild due to the sunshine grey colour of the Photo Bundle or the sunshine colour of the insert the bag comes with, which works fairly nicely, too. The group of the pack made it easy to search out issues at midnight as nicely.

I’ll point out right here that I wish to buy a number of yellow or orange zipper pulls for the outside and inside of the bag so the zippers are simpler to see and seize. I’ve finished this to all of the digicam baggage I’ve owned.

The redesigned zippers appear to around the corners extra easily.

The prime sunglass pocket is sweet for very small, skinny objects, and that is about it. The pocket may be very small. The a lot bigger 31 L bag has a prime pocket that’s nearly cavernous compared! I exploit it to retailer an intervalometer, LED panel, and flashlight—one thing I can’t do with the 21 L. The 31 L bag’s pocket additionally has a softer felt lining. I do miss that softer lining. The V4 Zip doesn’t have such a lining, presumably to avoid wasting just a little weight. This shouldn’t be a good comparability, after all. There must be trade-offs in area when you’ve a bag that’s 10 L smaller.

PRVKE 21L V4 Zip: Summary

WANDRD has been good previously about listening to suggestions from its customers and implementing adjustments. For me, the largest adjustments are the redesigned shoulder straps, sternum strap, zipper entry to the roll-top, exterior YKK zippers, lighter-color inside, and the elevated flexibility of the inside compartment. If you want to open up your entire bag and fold away the shelf divider, you possibly can. I do know that some folks desire to make use of protecting wraps for his or her gear as a substitute of digicam cubes. This wouldn’t solely permit that but additionally let you retailer a lot bigger objects as nicely.

I really feel that the connection of the shoulder strap to the underside of the bag makes it tougher for me to zip and unzip the facet panel when I’m sporting it and the bag is comparatively full. That stated, I hardly ever attempt to entry my digicam on the facet anyway.

The bag is designed for… nicely, photographers, positive. But it could make an excellent bag for quite a lot of issues, together with content material creation, journey, and commuting. Add to that its waterproof tarpaulin and water resistant zippers, and you’ve got your self what is perhaps as near an ideal bag as doable, particularly given the most recent V4 updates. Currently, WANDRD makes this Zip bag in 21 L and 31 L. All their merchandise include a lifetime guarantee.

The waist straps and shoulder straps are stable total, greater than as much as the duty. They’re not as snug or nicely padded as many high-end, devoted backpacking baggage which might be particularly designed to take a lot of the burden off your shoulders and onto your hips (there is no such thing as a waist strap). But they’re nonetheless good.

Overall, the PRVKE 21L V4 Zip improves on what was already a stable design, one which had already gained me over. There will not be such a factor as “best bag for photography,” however the PRVKE line has acquired to be concerning the closest I’ve seen.