Fifty-Fifty Backpack group test

Have you ever attempted to cram clothes, food or a laptop in a general camera bag that is intended to carry photo kit and nothing else? If your answer is yes you're using the wrong type of bag.

Fifty-fifty backpacks, as we've named them, are designed to split the capacity of a bag in half, leaving you with a dedicated area for your camera equipment and a separate space for carrying other items such as a packed lunch, waterproofs or a change of clothes.

Getting the capacity just right for each compartment is half the battle of producing a great fifty-fifty backpack, but it must also tick all the other essential boxes. These include offering a waterproof cover to keep your kit dry, a tripod holder to leave you with both hands free, as well as waist and chest straps to make sure it's comfortable and secure to carry on the move.

There's a large selection of these type of bags available so we've gathered together a selection of similarly sized ones from the likes of Crumpler, Kata, Lowepro, Manfrotto, Tamrac and Vanguard.
Loaded full to the brim with camera kit and other general accessories, we put each one through the demands of a daily commute to find out how they fared in terms of the capacity they offer, their general usability and how comfortable they are on the shoulders.

IN THE TEST

• Crumpler Jackpack Half Photo
• Kata 3n1-20 DL
• Lowepro DSLR video pack 350aw
• Manfrotto Veloce VII
• Tamrac adventure 9
• Vanguard adaptor 46
  
• Verdict