GEAR REVIEW | The Rolltop Camera Bag by Brevite Design
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As a photographer, one of the most frustrating things that can happen to you is your gear not working the way it needs to, and camera bags are no exception to that. If your bag is too big, you're hauling around a massive pack that's not easy to transport and adds excessive weight that you have to carry. If your bag is too small, you're left holding half of your gear in your hands while trying to take photos or travel from location to location, potentially putting your gear at risk of damage. When purchasing a camera bag, your goal is to find something that's easy to carry around, fits all your gear needs, and isn't too cumbersome to work with. Enter: The Rolltop camera bag by Brevite.
The Brand
Brevite is the best camera bag company you've probably never heard of. They specialize in sleek, modern camera bags that can double as your gear bag or your favorite weekend bag thanks to its removable modular insert that comes standard with any Brevite backpack.
The Brevite camera bag line is small but mighty with three bags currently available for purchase, and two more designs available for pre-order and slated to drop in June. The company has a limited lifetime guarantee on every bag in addition to a 100-day trial that allows you to return your bag for a full refund if you don't like it (but spoiler alert: I doubt you'll want to return your bag once you get your hands on it).
The Rolltop
What first drew me to The Rolltop was the fact that it was specifically designed to withstand the elements. The bag itself is made from a soft, water-resistant material and also comes equipped with a rain cover that's hidden on the bottom of the bag. As a drum corps photographer, it's imperative to have gear that fully protects your equipment from rain and extreme heat at the drop of a hat, and The Rolltop perfectly delivers that sense of security.
What makes this bag (and all of the Brevite bags) unique is all of the features packed into it. The Rolltop has a capacity of up to 25 liters, a laptop sleeve that holds up to a 15" laptop, a tripod holder, a lens cap buckle, plentiful pockets for all of your small accessories, a large top compartment for clothes or miscellaneous items, and a quick-access side zipper to easily get to your gear compartment. All of that is in addition to the removable modular insert that comes standard with the Brevite backpacks. It's seriously amazing how much you can fit into this bag (over-packers rejoice!) and all while being comfortable to carry. While this bag may be considered a little pricey coming in at $185, I truly believe there isn't a better bag available that comes with all of the features you can find in The Rolltop.
Pros:
- Capacity - this thing holds a LOT of stuff (Brevite states The Rolltop has a capacity of 22.5-25 liters)
- Has a light magnetic closure at the lip of the rolltop for added security
- Features a large, dual side pocket perfect for holding a water bottle, tripod or any other item that you need easy access to
- Removable lens cap buckle on the strap of the bag (so you NEVER misplace your lens cap again!)
- Built-in rain cover that easily folds up and hides on the underside of the bag
- Comes with a modular insert so you can uniquely lay out your gear bag to best suit your needs. Additionally, this modular insert has side zippers that line up with easy-access openings on the side of the backpack so you can access your gear without putting down your bag
Cons:
- Personally, I think the straps of this bag are a little... aggressive. While the straps are definitely sturdy and well-padded, part of me feels like a hiker every time I put this bag on my shoulders. The more you walk around with this bag on your back, the more you get used to it. However, this was a bit of an adjustment for me to initally get over
- The outermost front pocket has a lot of awkwardly-sized compartments. I wish the Brevite website included some photos of examples of what to best put in those pockets because some of them I'm completely clueless as to how to utilize them to their full potential
- I wish the buckle that secures the rolltop closure had just a little bit longer of an adjustable cord. While I have easily secured all of my camera gear and clothes for a weekend getaway, I would have preferred to have a little more wiggle room even if I don't end up utilizing it
My Overall Grade:
A-
A perfect blend of style, functionality, and durability culminates in a bag that is perfect for any photographer that is frequently on the go. If you have a lot of gear and a lot of ground to cover, look no further than The Rolltop by Brevite.
Have you purchased a Brevite bag or are looking into purchasing one? Which one would be the best fit for YOUR needs? Let me know in the comments below!
