thinktank airport acceleration or antidote

[Flats]

Hi - I was about to buy the acceleration when I read a couple of reviews that suggest the thinktank-provided dimensions are smaller than the actual bag.
Specifically they state the acceleration as being 47x33x18cm (LxWxD)

The reviews both stated that the 18cm depth in particular was erring very much on the thin side, and that the depth dimension was closer to 22cm, and if you hid the straps behind the padding as designed, more like 23cm - and that was without the laptop bag in it, which with a laptop in it, makes the depth more like 29cm!!

A number of budget airlines, particularly ones that like to charge hefty fees for putting hand-luggage in the hold at the last minute have very stringent size guides.

For instance

whizzair 55x40x20cm
ryanair 55x40x20cm
flybe 50x35x23
easyjet 5645x25

bigger airlines are better (in many ways!)

aa 56x35x23
ba 56x45x25
quantas 56x36x23

So 20cm depth is fairly critical if check-in staff are having a bad day, and I anticipate using Ryanair etc quite a lot.

The antidote bag is very similar, but smaller - 43x30x18cm. Is the 18cm depth accurate as the bag is smaller, or the same as the acceleration, ie at least 22cm?

I much prefer the length of the acceleration - I have a 500 f4 I need to fit down one side, it will definitely fit in the internal length of 45cms. The internal length of the antidote is only 40cm. I already have a Glass Taxi with an internal length of 41.4cm - the lens is a tight fit!!

Any user opinions gratefully received!!

Regards
Jonathan

 

[pete.rush]

Well I got the thinktank acceleration V2 for exactly the same reason, because I needed something depth wise smaller than my Lowepro AW which didn't meet the 25cm limit and lighter. The acceleration is definitely lightweight and still a decent size to fit some large lenses into (because the antidote was just too small), 300mm f2.8, 2 camera bodies and 2 or 3 more lenses and accessories.

Yes the dimensions are closer to 21/22 because of the laptop pocket, but its just the materal / padding, definitely had no problems with easyjet, never flown ryanair (no intention to) so don't know how anal they are about baggage size and also flown some internal carries in south africa with no problems that had the same restrictions as ryanair.

The bag itself doesn't look that big compared to some of the hand luggage I've seen carried on the cheap airlines, but if you intention is to have a laptop as well, then unfortunately, yes it would be too big as the laptop pouch you get with the bag adds 5-6cms to the depth of the bag.

 

[Steve859]

Hi Jonathan, I have an Airport Acceleration V2 and have used it several times on Flybe flights. I don't have the laptop bag inside the main bag and its a tight fit but does fit. On the first occasion the bag was so tight i measured the contraption they use to determine if your bag's the right size and found it was 1/2cm under size for the depth. So if you have an issue it may pay you to have a quick measure

 

[Flats]

Hi Pete
Thanks for that. I've spent some time looking at the Antidote, including videos on youtube, and it is just too small. Acceleration or nothing it seems. I suspect that if I fill the Acceleration to the brim I'd never be able to lift it, and many of the airlines also operate an 8 or 10kg policy (so I have a coat with many pockets...)

So how squishable is the case? If not fully loaded up, could I somehow squish it into a 20cm departure gate "cage"? Although boxy, is it also rigid?

I wouldn't have a laptop - in the field I'd use that space for a coat, food etc.

Thanks
Jonathan

 

[pete.rush]

so how squishable is the case? If not fully loaded up, could I somehow squish it into a 20cm departure gate "cage"? Although boxy, is it also rigid?

Squishable to fit 20cm, but check one out if you want to make sure. London Camera does this range of bags if you have a store near you.

 

[Flats]

Hi Jonathan, I have an Airport Acceleration V2 and have used it several times on Flybe flights. I don't have the laptop bag inside the main bag and its a tight fit but does fit. On the first occasion the bag was so tight i measured the contraption they use to determine if your bag's the right size and found it was 1/2cm under size for the depth. So if you have an issue it may pay you to have a quick measure

I read a very cynical story today about how one budget airline had one size "cage" at check-in, and then their "cage" at the gate was of a different design and so intrinsically smaller. Needless to say that airline had people at the gate using the second contraption and stinging people. In a civilised society budget airlines would be banned.

Thanks for sharing your experience with the bag. I'm amazed that Thinktank continue to publish a depth of 18cm for a bag which is clearly not 18cms deep!

 

[bigbigblue]

Just come across this as I am looking for a bag to take on a Flybe flight at the end of Jan 2015. Does anyone have any practical experience of taking this on a Flybe flight and if so did you have any problems?

 

[miker]

I've taken an Osprey ozone 36 on a few easyjet flights now with no issues. It's a big bag and IMO slightly larger than the 20cm they imply!

Easyjet only seem to take issue with truly huge cabin bags, you can also help yourself by getting speedy boarding and an exit seat. It means that you get yours in the locker first!