We review Think Tank’s robust and versatile StreetWalker HardDrive Camera Backpack

The Think Tank StreetWalker HardDrive Camera Backpack is a very well designed backpack that can comfortably carry a lot of gear. It's the largest in Think Tank's StreetWalker series with interior dimensions of 11” W x 19” H x 6–7” D. Despite its large interior space, the backpack only weighs between 3.8 and 4.6 lbs depending on what is attached to the bag, such as the included detachable tripod straps and interior dividers.

While the backpack has a lot of interior space, it still maintains a surprisingly slim profile. The HardDrive backpack can also hold a 15” laptop (or a 17” laptop when not holding a camera body with a battery pack or vertical grip). There are also some accessories available for the backpack, such as special camera straps that can attach to metal rings on the shoulder straps of the backpack to allow quick access to your camera when out in the field.

Pockets:

There are several zippered pockets on the Think Tank StreetWalker HardDrive camera backpack. On the exterior of the backpack, there are two pockets on the front and two pockets on the sides. The top front pocket can fit a lot of items and has various smaller pockets inside of it which works well for carrying extra memory cards, batteries, and other small items. The lower front pocket can extend further out than the top front pocket, but does not have any smaller pockets or slots inside. The two side pockets are quite tall and stretch out from the backpack quite a bit. They both also have a cup holder that stretches and will hold most bottles. Inside the backpack, there are two large, clear plastic pockets on the interior of the main flap. These pockets are ideal for carrying thinner items, such as filters and filter holders, as well as something like a cable release or a small booklet.

Interior:

Where the Think Tank StreetWalker HardDrive backpack really shines is in its interior customizability. The backpack arrives with lots of padded Velcro dividers distributed fairly evenly throughout the interior. Depending on the gear that you want to fit into the backpack and how you want to organize it, you can reposition or remove dividers. The Velcro is strong and securely maintains its positioning. The material inside the backpack is soft, but repositioning the Velcro doesn’t pull pieces of the material from the backpack. You can fit a wide variety of lenses of various sizes as well as additional camera bodies, flashes, and more inside the backpack. The backpack comes with a rain cover as well, which folds down nicely and fits easily inside a small divided section.

Comfort:

The StreetWalker HardDrive backpack is very comfortable to wear. The straps have cushioning and are breathable. Adjusting the fit of the straps is fast and easy to do while wearing the backpack and the strap length does not shift as you put the backpack on and off. When properly fitted, the straps did not slip off my shoulders even when wearing a rain jacket. The chest strap and waist straps are both comfortable and are easy to adjust. The backpack sat well on my back and did not shift when walking, climbing, and hiking, even when fully-packed. The back of the backpack also has a breathable cushion to increase comfort when wearing it for an extended period of time.

Out in the Field:

The backpack fits well, is comfortable to wear, distributes weight nicely, and is just generally excellent to use. Being able to strap my tripod to the backpack is great as well and the process of strapping it down and removing it for use is quick and easy. For longer tripods, there is an attached pouch for the legs of the tripod that can be pulled from the underneath area of the backpack and flipped down. All of the zippers are heavy-duty and never got stuck. The material used for construction is excellent.

Conclusion:

The Think Tank StreetWalker HardDrive backpack looks good, feels great to wear, and offers a lot of flexibility. If you’re looking for a backpack that can carry a lot of gear while remaining comfortable to wear, you can’t go wrong with the Think Tank StreetWalker HardDrive backpack. You can pick up a Think Tank StreetWalker HardDrive backpack for $229.75 on B&H.