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Product Review: Think Tank Urban Disguise 70

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I’ve had the chance to use one of Think Tank’s newest bags, the Urban Disguise 70. It’s an impressive bag, both in capacity and build quality.

To say it holds a lot is an understatement. I usually shoot out of a Tamrac 787 backpack, the largest they make. The Urban disguise holds almost everything the big Tamrac holds, in a much more compact form factor. Below is my general gear, the only thing missing is one body and a couple of accessories. It’s surprising how well almost 30 lbs of lenses, bodies, etc. can fit into a relatively small and unassuming bag.


I love things that are well-made. Buying quality gear is an investment that will pay off in many ways, from longevity to the fact that it is more dependable and usually better function.

The details on the Urban Disguise 70 are fantastic. Not only is the material rugged, and the stitching solid, but it’s beautiful. The hardware, like the clips for the shoulder strap, are beautifully made from metal. The zippers are YKK, and even at that they’re some of the nicest I’ve seen. This bag is made as well as it is designed. It’s not a designer bag with logos all over it, so it doesn’t scream “look at me!”, but it is very elegant in its simplicity. Like Think Tank’s other bags, it doesn’t advertise to the world that it’s a camera bag.



There’s an attached (but removeable) card wallet. These things hold ten cards, I bought one earlier this year at PMA because I liked it so much. It velcros closed, and unfolds to open and display your card collection. If you use the old large format trick, label up means it’s ready to shoot and label down means it’s full. Ten cards at a glance just can’t be beat. There are pockets aplenty in this bag, including a nice one hidden under the inside of the flap and several pockets and places for pens, accessories, snacks, whatever you want to put into them to get the job done.




Inside one of the inner pockets, and attached with a cord, there’s a pouch that holds a rain cover. What a great touch! If you’re stuck in a rainstorm, it won’t take but a couple of seconds to cover the bag, though I expect that the nylon used in the construction of the bag is pretty water resistant for any minor sprinkles or splashes.


The interior padding is great, and in the large inner compartment it can be used to section off areas for all of your bodies and lenses. The top-loading setup is solid, no chance anything will fall out, even if you leave it open. If you’re careful in planning, you can easily get to the most-used gear, but it’s not nearly as easy as something that opens fully. Fantastic for traveling, not as great if you are constantly in your bag for lens selection.


Overall it’s a beautiful, well-made bag that may or may not be ideal for working out of, but very well suited to travel (it might even fit under the seat in front of you on a plane, will fit in the overhead compartment of almost any plane, even puddle-jumpers).

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