Fifty-Fifty Backpacks

Verdict

If you're looking to strike a balance between carrying photo kit and other essentials, a fifty-fifty backpack is a great type of bag to choose. In all, three bags have picked up an 86% rating. First is Kata's 3N1-20 DL. It's suitable if you own an entry-level DSLR kit and like the idea of slinging it over the shoulder but as we found out it's trickier to access than others and you can barely fit anything in the top compartment.

Tamrac's Adventure 9 holds lots of kit but unfortunately the zipper cover got caught in the zip on more than one occasion and became a real nuisance over time.

As for Vanguard's Adaptor 46 it's well constructed and comfortable, just a tad too small, so you may be tempted by its bigger brother - the Adaptor 48. In stark contrast, Manfrotto's Veloce VII swallows kit with ease, but of all the bags, we found it was hardest to prevent our kit moving about in transit.

Crumpler's Jackpack Half Photo is a top-notch bag: durable, stylish and comfy, it's a pleasure to use, and despite the camera compartment being slightly smaller than we'd have liked, the main section is spacious enough for a spare pair of shoes!

Our winner here though is Lowepro's DSLR Video Pack 350AW, which has everything you need and want with this type of bag. With pockets galore and space to accommodate even a pro DSLR, it offers exceptional value for money at just £69 - and it's for these reasons it deserves a WDC Gold Award.