WANDRD Transit Travel Backpack Review

Wandrd’s new Transit Travel Backpack was designed specifically to appeal to travel enthusiasts. It’s part of the Transit Line, which includes a carry-on suitcase, a tote bag, a travel wallet, and a backpack. In this article, I review the Transit Travel Backpack after a couple of months of use. 

This backpack can be an excellent solution for travel photographers and filmmakers. The modular design not only fits our clothes and travel equipment but also leaves plenty of room for our photographic equipment thanks to the camera cube.

Wandrd products have always been favorites of our editorial team, and this bag is no exception. I tested it for months in different scenarios and photoshoot settings. Over the years, I have used many bags, but this was the first one that my colleagues repeatedly complimented on several different occasions.

 

Strengths and Weaknesses of the Wandrd Transit Travel Daypack

The bag has an incredible number of pockets. A particular delight is that it resembles a suitcase, not a bag with the usual opening flap. Instead of packing from the top, you can open the bag like a book to gain access to the other storage space.

It is available in two different sizes: 35L and 45L. The standard sizes are 30L and 40L, but you can expand it by five liters thanks to a zipper.

Travel was the primary consideration when making this bag. But Wandrd hasn’t let photographers and videographers down with the Essential Camera Cube, which can be purchased separately. Perhaps the only drawback here is that while the bag is large, the size of the camera cube is limited. So it’s not ideal for a big shoot.

However, with a bit of creativity, the size of the camera cube didn’t limit me, thanks to the well-placed and roomy pockets.

 

Design and Color Options

As I mentioned, the crews I worked with immediately noticed this bag on set. I felt like a celebrity as everyone was asking what it was.

It’s available in two colors: black and wasatch green. I had the wasatch green during the test, and despite the fact that I like to buy almost everything I use on set in black, I’ve grown fond of the green version.

On the website, it looks more vibrant than the real thing. In certain lights, I find that it looks more greyish. But I find it to be a particularly fashionable color in real life.

Build Quality and Durability

You may already be familiar with the quality of the material from previous WANDRD bags, but if you haven’t used one before, I can only tell you this: it’s impressive.

Exterior Material

It is made of the same tarpaulin that the WANDRD Prvke is made from. And the Prvke was the overall winner of our hands-on best camera bags test. This material gives the bag a more special look, a bit like faux leather.

It’s an interesting look because, at first, you would think it is a fragile material. But trust me, it is not. The tarpaulin and ballistic nylon combine to form a strong housing. I didn’t give it any special care on my shoots, but there are no scratches on it. I’m sure micro scratches will occur in the long run, but it’s a work tool after all.

Weather Protection

WANDRD refers to this bag as not submerge-proof, but damn close to it. I can confirm that, as I did get caught in a downpour on one occasion. And my camera gear inside stayed perfectly dry thanks to this material and the robust zippers. 

Interior Material

The inside of the bag is a shinier nylon material. The pockets are made of transparent nylon mesh, which makes it easy to find things.

The material on the inside doesn’t seem as durable as the outside. But upon further inspection, they are definitely durable. For months, I’ve packed and unpacked a lot from the bag, from camera equipment to clothes, but so far I haven’t found a single stake.

The pockets in the main compartment are elasticated, and the ones on the left are zipped. If you open the left compartment, there is also a larger packable compartment with the same inner lining as the main compartment.

Straps and Back Support

The shoulder straps are not the softest I’ve ever seen on a bag, but they are surprisingly comfortable. I didn’t have any issues or discomfort wearing the bag for long periods.

Both the back and the shoulder straps are made of well-ventilated material. Adjusting the shoulder strap is not the easiest or quickest, but that is a positive in my experience. Because once you adjust it to how you want it, it stays that way. It doesn’t slip, even under the heaviest loads.

You also get a chest strap, which can come in handy when you’re really loading up the bag with clothes and gear. With that said, it’s a bit fiddly to use. Putting the strap back into its little “rail” is not so easy. I took it off after the first couple of times.

There is a section of the back that is held together with Velcro. You can tuck the shoulder straps in here so that they don’t hang all over the overhead bin when you travel by plane. Or if you put them on top of your suitcase using the suitcase handle sleeve, they won’t get stuck there.

Thinking of little things like this is a testament to the WANDRD ethos. It’s clear they really wanted to create the best bag they could.

 

Seams and Stitching

Thanks to the quality stitching, the bag looks like it was carved from a block. There are no weak points at all. During the test I had the opportunity to travel with the bag to several places, often very packed. The stitching did its job when I lifted the bag by the strap. I never felt for a moment that it couldn’t handle the load.

The mesh nylon pockets sometimes made me worry that those little holes would tear easily, but it hasn’t happened so far. And that’s true even though I’ve had multitools, screwdrivers, and drone propellers in there.

Internal Padding

There are really no padded linings inside. The whole interior is held in place by a shiny nylon material. You can feel a bit of softness in the main compartment, but that’s just the padding on the back.

The bottom of the laptop/tablet holder pocket is raised and somewhat padded. This is good because when you put it on the ground, your device doesn’t touch the ground, but an extra layer helps to keep it safe.

When you insert the camera cube, you get a fleece Velcro-friendly material. It’s very soft to the touch. With that said, I’m happy putting my camera gear in it because the dividers are well-padded and hold the gear firmly in place.

Zippers and Fastenings

The first thing you notice about this bag is that it has lots of zippers. The main exterior zipper pulls are quite large and prominent but still fit this rugged design.

When it comes to pulling the outer zippers, be prepared to exert quite a bit of force to do so, as they don’t slide very easily. However, if you look at why, you’ll see the quality of the giant zipper rail and that it won’t fall apart. The rubber along the zipper also adds a bit of friction when you pull, but this is what gives it its weather-resistant seal. So, it’s a bit of a tradeoff.

An awkward thing about the amount of zippers is that it’s not always clear which one belongs to which pocket. I often found myself pulling on the wrong zipper, even though I’d been using the bag daily for months.

The inner zippers have a different set of rails. They are much easier to pull but still feel high quality and durable.

Functionality and Ease of Use

Looking at the travel aspect only, this bag was my obvious choice. It’s a perfect size for an extended weekend trip. But as a photographer’s bag, you need to get a little creative.

Size and Weight

Although not the most compact bag in the world, the Transit backpack is surprisingly slim when not full. When empty, it weighs 4.1 lbs (1.9 kg). That might not be considered super light, but that’s due to the materials’ quality.

The dimensions are as follows: It’s 19.5 inches (49.5 cm) tall, 11.5 inches (29.2 cm) wide, and 8.5 inches (21.6 cm) deep, which can be expanded to 10.5 inches (26.7 cm) deep.

When fully loaded, and even with the extra five-liter zipper open, be careful when turning in tight spots to avoid knocking something over or bumping into someone.

Capacity

I chose the 35L version, and I can still manage to pack all my important (and even extra) clothes. The bag is 30 liters, but the zippers on the front allow you to increase this by another five liters.

If you look at the bag from the top, the right side is the main compartment. You can insert the camera cube in this section, which can be the essential camera cube or the essential plus camera cube. I chose the latter. I would probably recommend the 35L version for shorter people because the 45L might feel oversized.

Organization and Customization

People who like to keep their gear well organized will love this bag. Because of the size of the camera cube, you’ll need to be a little creative if you want to carry a lot of tech with you, as it offers limited space for the size of the bag. Even though you can fully customize all the little separators inside the cube, you might still be cramped for space if you have a lot of gear.

A small job can always be taken on with this bag. It can very easily hold a full-frame camera and two or three lenses. There’s also room for extra batteries and some filters. If you use an APS-C sensor camera, you might even be able to squeeze more stuff in since those lenses tend to be smaller.

However, if you’re using a DSLR, think carefully about what you want to take. Longer focal-length lenses may need to be left at home. But considering how many pockets the bag has, the camera cube’s limited size is not a problem.

The bag’s top pocket is notably large. It easily fits extra batteries, powerbanks, and chargers. Next to it, you’ll find a small pocket from which you can pull out a carabiner, the perfect place for your keys.

There are also two pockets on the front. From the front, the left zipper opens up to a spacious pocket. You can fit anything from books to filter holders and rocket blowers.

On the opposite side, there is also a similar spacious pocket that goes deep, but it is separated by a small organizer, so you get four decent-sized pockets. Inside the main compartment, two elastic pockets on either side of the bag will easily hold accessories like batteries and grey cards.

On the right side, there are two zippered pockets, which are also very roomy. If you open the lid, you also get another main compartment, which you can expand by another five liters. Don’t forget the hidden passport pocket and the cleverly hidden Airtag holder.

 

If you buy the Packing Cube Set separately, you can pack your clothes more easily. Thanks to the compress zipper, you can also make better use of space by compressing your clothes even smaller.

It’s also a very good idea to invest in WANDRD’s Tech Bag, which, when inserted over the camera cube, gives you even more pockets. The same quality materials were used for this bag. Or if you buy an additional strap, you can leave the big bag at home and take the essentials with you. My personal recommendation would be the dallol yellow color.

The camera cube can be attached by unzipping the top and folding it under itself, which seems strange at first but works. The two sides are held by two Velcro straps, and the bottom is also held by two Velcro straps that attach to the inside of the cube.

Access Points

There are two access points to choose from because both sides of the cube can be zip-locked. The zippered flap can be folded into a special pocket on either side of the bag. This way, you can access the camera if either side of the bag is unzipped.

No matter how tightly you secure the camera cube, it will always move a little but stay securely in place. That’s the price you pay when you want a bag to have more than one use at once.

Security

In my opinion, a camera bag should always be accessible by opening the back of the bag. Unfortunately, some of my colleagues have had their bags pickpocketed without noticing it on time.

At first, I was worried that this was not how the bag opened, but WANDRD’s zippers are a clever solution. If you connect the zipper handles, you can’t open the pockets because one zipper pulls the other one along. You can combine them in many ways so that the important pockets are always safe.

 

Additional Features

The back of the bag also has a laptop sleeve that fits my 16-inch MacBook Pro. This pocket has a small divider for your iPad or Kindle.

It would have been nice to see a different material instead of nylon. Something plush like the camera cube would have been nice, but this material still provides adequate protection for your devices.

I like the design solution that when you put the bag on top of your suitcase, these pockets face upwards so they are always easily accessible.

There are also pockets on both sides of the bag. Opening the large pocket on the left side reveals the main compartment, which can be an excellent access point to the camera cube. In this pocket, you will also find a zipper with an elongated pocket. There is also a water bottle holder on the other side, but thanks to the strap on the top, you can also place your tripod here.

 

Compatibility and Versatility

It may be perfect for mirrorless and ASP-C cameras. But as I mentioned above, the size of the pockets means some DSLR owners might want a bit more space.

Compatibility for Cameras and Lenses

During my test, I stored a Sony FX30, a Sigma 18-50mm f/2.8, and a Sigma 10-18mm f/2.8. I also took my ND filter and spare batteries with me.

I had to be creative with the DJI Mic 2, but two front pockets were large enough to hold the kit. On top of the camera cube, I placed the Audio Technika MTH-50X headphones in their case and the tech bag with all the accessories next to them.

The inner zipped pockets also held my lens-cleaning kit and a roll of duct tape. And the expandable internal pocket looks like it was designed for a gimbal. Even with all that gear, free pockets remain in the bag.

 

The real difficulty is carrying multiple cameras or drones because they don’t fit in the camera cube at the same time. Although you can put them in the other pockets, I wouldn’t recommend it because they can slip in there, and the padding is thinner than the main compartment.

Carrying Versatility

This bag has handles on each side in addition to regular backpack straps. This is great if you’re traveling by plane. You can put it in the overhead compartment and always have a handle to grab. You don’t have to twist it or carry it in any other awkward way.

The same is true for the trunk of a car. It’s always very easy to grab the bag from whatever position you put it in. If you hide the shoulder straps, it is also very comfortable to carry it on your suitcase thanks to its suitcase handle sleeve.

Price and Value

The price of the bag is not among the lowest ones on the market. But when you look at the quality, capacity, and customizability, it’s a different story. If you’re just looking for a simple camera bag, this might not be the best choice, as the camera cube has to be bought separately, and prices can easily add up.

Mounting the cube is cleverly designed but a bit fiddly for me, which is a bit disappointing at this price point. However, if you travel a lot and want to take your camera with you, you only need one bag, and this is it.

Complemented with the Tech Bag and the packing cubes, the price enters the expensive category. But this is a high-quality bag that will last you a very long time. Once you’ve bought your expensive camera gear, you don’t want to risk damaging it by keeping it in a cheap bag.

Warranty

Encouragingly, WANDRD is offering a lifetime guarantee with the bag. This shows that they have not skimped on quality and instills a feeling of confidence. And if you don’t like the bag, you have 30 days to change your mind and return it.

Sustainability

Sustainability is at the core of WANDRD’s mission, evident in its commitment to reducing environmental impact at every stage of production. From sourcing eco-friendly materials to implementing responsible manufacturing practices, WANDRD strives to create products that minimize harm to the planet.

They aim to leave a positive legacy for future generations through initiatives like carbon offsetting and waste reduction. This ensures that their bags not only meet customers’ needs but also support a healthier, more sustainable world. The bags’ high quality ensures a longer lifespan, minimizing textile waste.

Alternatives to the Wandrd Transit Travel Backpack

Traveling with photography gear is always a challenge, but the WANDRD Transit Travel Backpack is a great solution for the adventurous photographer. If this bag isn’t right for you, here are some alternatives.

Gura Gear Kiboko City Commuter 18L+ Camera Backpack

The Gura Gear Kiboko City Commuter 18L+ camera backpack is a product of photographers’ insights. And it’s an ideal travel companion.

It’s lightweight, made from high-tech weatherproof materials, and offers superior protection for camera gear. It’s designed to accommodate mirrorless cameras but can also fit a full-frame DSLR.

This backpack is not just about protection; it’s also about convenience and organization. Its various dividers allow you to customize the space according to your needs.

It also features a laptop and tablet section. And both are padded for extra protection.

But the Gura Gear Kiboko City Commuter isn’t just about functionality. It’s about responsibility too. The main component, the external fabric, is produced in a carbon-neutral factory. This makes it a great choice for the eco-conscious photographer.

But, like any product, it’s not perfect. Some may find its design a bit mundane.

Also, accessing the main flap requires removing the bag, which can be inconvenient for some. But these are minor issues and don’t overshadow its overall performance.

Thule Covert 32L Camera Backpack

The Thule Covert 32L camera backpack is a top-notch travel choice for photographers. Its robust build quality and durable materials ensure it can withstand the rigors of outdoor adventures.

The Swedish brand Thule has a longstanding reputation for quality outdoor equipment. And the Covert backpack is no exception.

Despite being on the heavier side, its weight is justified by its superior construction and functionality. It offers ample storage and customizable padded dividers, making it versatile for different gear setups.

Its weather protection is excellent, safeguarding your equipment from the elements. But the main drawback is its weight. At 4.7 lb (2.14 kg) empty, it’s noticeably heavier than many other camera backpacks.

But traveling photographers who want durability and protection over lightweight convenience will find this a good investment. It’s designed to withstand the challenges of outdoor travel, And it’s a reliable companion for your photo adventures.

Final Verdict of the WANDRD Transit Travel Backpack 35L

It’s not a regular photographer’s bag but a travel bag that can be upgraded to a photographer’s bag. With this in mind, I didn’t calculate the point for the empty bag, but for the Camera Cube Essential Plus that can be bought separately.