Flipside 400AW

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tazy7

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Alex Sloat
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Hi All

After some opinions on the flipside 400AW. I need a new bag to replace my slingshot due to the fact i tend to use my camera bag with kit in as my hand luggage when travelling so need the extra space to fit a book in, psp, ipod etc etc in as well as the camera and lenses.

Any one that has the bag what sort of space does the front pocket offer, cant really tell by the videos on the net.

Cheers
Alex
 
Big enough for ipod + netbook + other bits. The front pocket has a thin amount of padding for protection.
 
Great bag, I love mine. Front pocket is big enough for a few lens hoods and a jumper so probably fine for ipod/book/small netbook.
 
in mine i managed to fit:

main compartment

Gripped Canon EOS 7D + 400/5.6 down centre
70-200 with hood
24-70 with hood
17-40 with hood in front pocket
580 ex 2 flash in case

front pocket

lee filter holder in case
lee filters in 10 holder lee case
artic butterfly
CPL
loads of mem cards
17-40 hood
remote release

extender in side pocket sometimes also along with tripod on the front, weighed a tonne! lol :)

drew
 
I have the same bag (and a Flipside 200 for when I don't need to carry as much gear)... It's well made, does what it's supposed to and like Drew, I can get a huge amount of equipment in there. :)

Si
 
Any chance of any pictures of folks' 400AW packed to the gunnels?! I'm also considering one of these for longer trips.
 
The best part about the flipside design is that I don't have to worry about someone coming up behind me in a crowded place and simply opening the bag + grabbing contents. It also means that nothing will fall out when it's on your back.
It's also good for setting down on the ground, so the straps don't get dirty.
 
tdodd said:
I'm also thinking of buying this bag, but I have never seen one in the flesh, so the more research and pictures the better :)
Click to expand...

Hi Tim,

Just taken these for you...

Contents (inside):
EOS 7D + grip & 24-105mm F4L
EOS 40D + grip & 18-50mm f2.8
Sigma 70-200mm f2.8 + hood
EF 100mm f2.8 macro
EF 85mm f1.8 USM
EF-S 10-22mm

Front Pocket:
Cokin Z-Pro Filters + Holder
B+W 10-stop ND
Cable release (too bloody long)
Remote release
Headtorch
Business Cards (just in case) ;)
2x Cloths
Camera Strap with extra CF card
Sigma 1.4x converter
Spirit Level (useless) ;)
Pen (shamelessly pinched from the RPS stand at Focus)

Side Pockets:
580EXII on one side
Drink and a carrier bag on the other.

There's also a Leatherman Wave attached to the waistbelt and room for my tripod using the outside attachments.

And yeah, it weighs a bloody ton fully loaded. :D

IMG_6420tp.jpg


IMG_6421tp.jpg


The price has come down quite a bit too...
Hope that helps,

Si
 
Nice one, Si. Thanks.

Yeah, price is not too bad. I've certainly spent more on bags in the past, not least £190 on the ThinkTank Airport Acceleration, which is nice enough, but completely bloody useless for working out of, particularly in wet/muddy conditions. I've also got a £128 ThinkTank Urban Disguise 60, which is nice in its own way, but having lots of weight on one strap is not ideal either. In particular I'm thinking of our one week togging trip to Wales in June this year and the thought of humping kit around all day long, including beefy tripod, is leading me to want a better solution than the ones I have now.
 
No worries Tim... Hope you found it of some use! :)

My missus says I've got more camera bags than Imelda Marcos had shoes (and that's saying something). As we speak, the little Flipside 200's just been dragged out for this afternoon. Although it's not an AW, it's still pretty good. I can get the 7D and 24-105 in there along with one flash, the 10-22 and another lens so it's quite versatile and again, not too expensive...

Si
 
Thanks also for those guys, very usefull to see it 'in use' :thumbs:



.
 
Si, with the bag fully loaded like that, can you genuinely use it as advertised, with the bag sticking out from your waist like a table, or does it need to rest on something, such as a raised knee? I can just imagine needing one hand to support the bag, another to move the flap out of the way, and a third hand to actually do something useful. If it was a lens change that was required I count four hands being needed. Have I missed something?
 
Oh very handy thread, I'm also in the market for one of these, I only have two Qs, is there a way to remove/hide the "waist strap" so that I can use it like any other backpack? and second how big is it really? I mean the exterior, is there any pic of someone actually using one of these somewhere? I dont wanna look like I'm going camping all the time =/ I prolly wont have it packed, just a gripped D90 with the 24-70, a 70-300, nifty fifty, sb600, and smaller items like filters,cards,batteries..
 
Ditto for both of the questions above! :)
 
tdodd said:
Si, with the bag fully loaded like that, can you genuinely use it as advertised, with the bag sticking out from your waist like a table, or does it need to rest on something, such as a raised knee? I can just imagine needing one hand to support the bag, another to move the flap out of the way, and a third hand to actually do something useful. If it was a lens change that was required I count four hands being needed. Have I missed something?
Click to expand...

Hi Tim,

No, you haven't missed anything and I wouldn't dare use it as advertised! :D

I'd be terrified of having the whole lot spill onto the floor. I always take mine off and put it down before I do anything. Granted, that makes it a little slower than something like the Slingshot but I wanted something safe and secure for my kit when I was out and the back opening means that my gear doesn't touch the ground unless I want it to.

I also have the added problem of being a little more er... rounded than some so spinning the waist belt around isn't really a very convenient option. :)

Hope that helps,
Si
 
Spiritflier said:
I also have the added problem of being a little more er... rounded than some so spinning the waist belt around isn't really a very convenient option. :)
Click to expand...

I have the same ailment, probably more so. So the only advantage really, for me, would be to keep the straps/back off the mud. Other than that it sounds like it is as fiddlesome as a regular backpack, which I already own. Since I also have a Slingshot, and a messenger bag, and a waistbelt system, and a Cotton Carrier, it sounds like I might be better off saving my money. It's a shame, though. I had high hopes that the Flipside would be my magic bullet. I might have to try one in person, just in case.

Thanks for all your input. It's appreciated. :)
 
I have a number of backpack type bags and the Flipside 400 is the one I use most of the time as it is relatively small, will hold any of my cameras with a lens plus two others beside. To answer Igor and Ed above the waist belt does not come off, it is not too big, therefore not too heavy.
I use it as intended by swinging it around and resting it on my knee and have changed lenses as well without removing it. It is a knack but surprisingly easy to learn.
I regularly have the 1d4 plus 70-200 plus the 16-35 and 24-105 and it never leaves my back till i get back to the car.

The cons for me is the curved back is not very tripod friendly and they tend to swing around a bit and the space in the outer pack is not very useful as it will only take thin items. To make up for this lack of space I put my coat under the two top straps.

I hope this helps.

Paul
 
Humm cheers, that cleared it up.
 
tdodd said:
...Thanks for all your input. It's appreciated. :)
Click to expand...

Hi Tim,

You're welcome mate... Given what you're already using, I'd probably come to the same conclusion as you. :)

I think you're probably pretty well covered already. I'd still go and have a look at one and try it just to be on the safe side though.

Cheers,
Si
 
tdodd said:
Si, with the bag fully loaded like that, can you genuinely use it as advertised, with the bag sticking out from your waist like a table, or does it need to rest on something, such as a raised knee? I can just imagine needing one hand to support the bag, another to move the flap out of the way, and a third hand to actually do something useful. If it was a lens change that was required I count four hands being needed. Have I missed something?
Click to expand...

I have one. It holds:

D300
28-70mm 2.8
105mm Macro
35mm
10-20mm
70-200mm 2.8

and various other "stuff".

I also have the somewhat serious medical complaint "chest of drawers syndrome" (I.e. My chest protrudes quite considerably over my drawers :D)

I do actually use it as advertised and it does swing round fairly well as the waste straps are fairly sturdy. But, as you describe I usually lean the bag against something. Not my knee as I'm not that atheletic and would probably fall over if I stood on one leg :), normally a rock/bench/wall/wife which then gives you a reasonably sturdy platform from which to change lenses.

HTH

Barney
 
These don't look too different in size and layout as the mini trekker or have i missed something at twice the price?

It does seem that i too have a bag fetish and no one bag does it all. Currently have a mini trekker plus Nova 160AW, Stealth 400AW and some other holster type Lowepro i can't remember the model number of but i keep looking at slingshots and a few others....
 
Livin The Dream said:
These don't look too different in size and layout as the mini trekker or have i missed something at twice the price?
Click to expand...

Much bigger than the mini trekker.

Barney
 
Sorry for bringing this up again :(

I was having a look at an email from wex today and noticed this:

captureow.png


"Detachable waist belt" Is that only on the 200 and 300 models or does the waist belt come off on the 400AW too? This looks like the backpack for me but I dont like the idea of having that around my waist =/ If its not possible to remove it, can I just use the backpack without the belt getting in the way? I mean, can I leave it there hanging? :shrug:

Thanks!
 
I just double checked my 400, bought a couple of weeks ago, and I can find no way to remove the waist belt. Everything looks to be very firmly stitched into place.
 
Just checked mine and agree and I can't find anywhere tuck each side out of the way either.
 
But does it get in the way if you don't use it?
 
I guess you could loop the belt to the rear and fasten it behind the bag if you were bothered by the loose ends. I use the belt, so it is a non issue for me. It seems the easiest way to avoid a "problem".
 
How are you getting on with the 400 Tim? It would be good to hear some feedback. I'm hoping to order mine next week.
 
I've had my 400 for a week now and finding it a lot easier to get gear out than it was with my slingshot. It doesn't appear much larger than my slingshot 300 although there is a wee bit of spare room. I really like the fact that the zip for the main compartment is next to my back as it feels a lot safer in a crowd. The bag is also a lot more comfortable than the slingshot as the weight is spread over both shoulders.

Mike
 
I think it was a good choice, just big enough to take everything I need to cover most of my typical shooting needs, and yet small enough not to tempt me to overload it. I think my portly build does not facilitate swivelling the waist strap as well as I might hope, but it does work. I am also surprised that the bag can work as an "operating table" when fully loaded, although a little care is needed. It's not as quick to use as a sling or shoulder bag, but the comfort brought about by the two straps easily makes up for that.

Right now mine is kitted out with....

Main compartment :
- 7D with attached 100-400, hood reversed;
- 5D2 body only;
- 24-70/2.8L, hood removed but in bag;
- 16-35/2.8L, hood removed but in bag;
- 85/1.8, hood reversed, tucked into the hoods above, wrapped in Optech Rain Sleeve;
- 580EX II with attached Omnibounce and 8 additional AA batteries + RF602 wireless flash trigger;
- Cokin GND filter set and UV filter for 16-35;
- 2 X Optech neck straps (which I don't normally use but have just in case).

Outer Pocket :
- Rocket Blower and Lens Pen;
- 77mm CPL and UV filters;
- Cotton Carrier attachment inserts;
- Kirk Flash Extender (Better Beamer);
- 50/1.4 with reversed hood;
- Wired timer remote.

Outer pouches :
- Kenko Macro Tubes;
- Bluetooth GPS (for Memory Map OS maps on my phone, not cameras).

Strapped to top :
- Slik Sprint Mini II GM tripod and Manfrotto 468MGRC2 head.

I think that finding the "perfect" bag is nigh on impossible, but this one comes close. :)
 
Tim> Your list is very close to that of mine in terms of volume (excluding some of the accessories), so I should be good to go.

Many thanks chaps :thumbs: I think that has convinced me to take the plunge.
 
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