GOING MODULAR: THINK TANK MODULUS BELT SYSTEM AND THE AIRPORT ADDICTED BAG
by Nikonian Jason Odell

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GETTING FROM POINT A TO POINT B: THE THINK TANK AIRPORT ADDICTED BAG

While a modular belt system is truly great in the field, it can be a little complicated to carry on a plane. I don’t travel a lot, but when I do it usually is via an airline. That means figuring out how to pack all my stuff and get it in the overhead bin. I received Think Tank Photo’s “Airport Addicted” bag just prior to the 5th ANPAT. I have now taken this bag on several trips, and I think it serves its function well. Whether or not this bag is right for you will depend on how you use bags in the field.

The Think Tank Airport Addicted Bag

DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION

The Think Tank Photo Airport Addicted bag was designed with one purpose in mind: fit as much gear as possible in a space compatible with the overhead bins of most airlines. With that mission in mind, the Airport Addicted’s dimensions are obvious: 14”W x9”D x 22”H. The Airport Addicted looks just like a typical piece of carry-on luggage. Inside, the bag measures 13”Wx 6.5-8”D x 21”H. Why the variable depth? Well, this bag includes an internal laptop case that is accessible from the outside of the bag. This is the feature that makes this bag a winner for me. Ever since I switched to digital, my laptop computer has become an important component of my gear. With the Airport Addicted, I can carry the laptop in the same bag as my gear—internally. The laptop case is minimal, but holds my 15” PowerBook with no trouble. The Airport Addicted is made from sturdy ballistic nylon, has large, strong zippers, and is padded on the outside for protection. The shoulder harness and waist belt tuck neatly away under padded Velcro flaps. The waist belt is removable.

There are handles on the top, bottom, and on one side of this bag, making it easy to grasp and remove from an overhead bin. The rectangular shape makes it easy to pack in a car with your other luggage.

On the side of the bag is a flap that can hold a monopod; a tripod holder is also included. I don’t use the tripod holder, as my Gitzo 1325 is a little too tall. Smaller tripods, such as the 1200 Gitzos should fit in the tripod holder with no problem.

Access to this bag is incredibly easy. The main flap opens completely for easy access. There is also a smaller flap opening in the main door that opens partially, allowing access to accessories when the bag is standing up. There are lots of other “nice touches” on this bag, including a side pocket for small accessories, a business card holder for ID, and elastic pockets in the shoulder straps that can hold a wireless phone. The laptop case is stored in the rear panel of the bag, allowing easy removal when going through airport security. Lastly, the Airport Addicted includes a seam-sealed rain cover that can be used in inclement weather.

CAPACITY

Because this bag was designed with sports photographers in mind, it can hold up to a 400mm f/2.8 lens with hood reversed! The Airport Addicted devours your gear and leaves room to spare. The bag comes with more dividers than you can possibly imagine, allowing you to configure it pretty much however you want. In fact, there is enough room in this bag that I can use half of it for clothes if I’m only bringing a sub-set of my gear.

What I have recently done is remove all but a few dividers and use the Modulus Speed Set for holding my lenses and accessories. When I get to my destination, the lenses are already in their modular pouches and ready to load onto the Speed Belt. However, in a more “traditional” configuration, this bag holds pretty much everything I throw at it, including: • Sigma 500m f/4.5 lens • D2X body • Sigma 10-20mm lens • Nikkor 70-200mm VR lens • Nikkor 17-55 Dx lens • TC-14E • Wimberley Sidekick • Kirk BH-1 ball head • SB-800 flash • Flash X-tender • Wimberley flash brackets • Extra batteries • Rain cover for bag • gloves • filters • 15” laptop computer with accessories

In other words, if I need to carry my gear on a plane, this is the bag to do it. The major drawback is weight. If you use an airline that weighs carry-on luggage, be very careful not to overload the Airport Addicted. While this bag is very well designed and manufactured, it cannot replace a serious backpack. The harness system is designed to be compact, and while it is great in airports, I wouldn’t recommend it for hiking long distances. On the other hand, the Airport Addicted would be very much at home on the sidelines of a sporting event or in a vehicle, where it can operate as a portable “base camp” for your gear. If you use a modular belt system, the capacity is diminished. However, I find it still holds everything I need when used with the Modulus Set (I usually pack my tripod and tripod accessories in my checked luggage).

MY EXPERIENCE WITH THE AIRPORT ADDICTED

I used the Airport Addicted on the 5th ANPAT. I configured it with dividers in a typical manner for travel. With all my camera gear and my laptop, the bag was really heavy. However, going through the airport was no big deal for me. The shoulder harness and waist belt were comfortable, and they tucked away very quickly when it was time to get on the plane. When I went through the security checkpoint, I had no issues whatsoever. I was able to quickly access the laptop and place it in a bin while the rest of the bag cruised through the X-ray machine.

On the other side of the checkpoint, I was reunited with my gear and I replaced the laptop in the rear compartment. I flew on a tiny commuter plane, so I had to gate-check the bag. None of my gear was harmed.

When I arrived at our hotel in South Dakota, I removed most of the dividers from the bag and put my gear into the Modulus Speed Set, which I then packed into the Airport Addicted. I soon discovered that this was not ideal for ANPAT shooting, as there were eight Nikonians sharing a van, all with lots of backpacks. I had to wait until everyone had removed their gear from the van before I could remove my belt system from the bag. By the end of the trip, I only carried the Modulus Speed Set with me in the van, along with a day pack that held my 500mm lens. Had I been in a smaller vehicle with fewer people, I would not have had this issue. In fact, if I were using a car as a blind, I would have just used the Airport Addicted with dividers to hold my equipment; belt systems don’t work to well in cars!

I took another trip with the Airport Addicted, and this time I was on a larger aircraft. I can report that this bag fits easily into the overhead bin of a normal jet. Obviously, it won’t fit into the overhead bin of a commuter aircraft (regional jet), but that is ok with me, as gate-checking has always been good to me. Although I don’t recommend checking expensive photo gear as luggage, the Airport Addicted does have lockable zippers.