Kata D-3N1-22 3 in 1 Sling Backpack, Medium

Comments about Kata D-3N1-22 3 in 1 Sling Backpack, Medium:

Very well designed. A little bulky, but very secure.

Comments about Kata D-3N1-22 3 in 1 Sling Backpack, Medium:

Overall I like the backpack but it has some downsides, the biggest being it is hard to organize the camera compartment in a way that is easy to access all of your lenses.

Comments about Kata D-3N1-22 3 in 1 Sling Backpack, Medium:

I've got a lot of bags and my preferred way to carry my gear is with a messenger style bag. I usually only carry a few lenses and of those 2-3 are primes along with my 70-200 2.8 zoom which goes most places. Messenger bags are tough to lug when hiking on trails, or riding a bicycle or long strolls along a lakefront so I wanted a easier handling bag when needs dictate. I have a Lowepro AW200 sling bag but it just doesn't "work" right for me. Access is difficult and it doesn't hold gear in the right spots.
The 3N1-22 is about as perfect as I could need. It holds just the right amount of stuff including my iPad. Access is a breeze and the well positioned clips hold everything together while a panel is unzipped which gives even faster access to gear. The zippers are a bit stiff and they will catch on the curved portions but they do break in with use. Padding is excellent - not to thick, not too thin and the configurations are mind boggling. The bag is well made and tough! Used as a sling, its easy to shoot out of; then you pull out the other strap, cross it up over the chest and hike on to the next photo op. Its not as easy but you can shoot out of the bag in a pinch when its in backpack mode. It will still slide around like a sling, sort of. To be honest I'm still playing around with how to use it. I find new ways all the time. Its a versatile bag. I still love my messenger bags for the most part but when you need to travel and cover some ground, especially when its not paved, the 3N1 packs are freakin perfect.

Comments about Kata D-3N1-22 3 in 1 Sling Backpack, Medium:

great backpack with plenty of room for gear and extras

Comments about Kata D-3N1-22 3 in 1 Sling Backpack, Medium:

If you read my review, I'am sure by now you already confident of backpacks' excellent construction quality and wearing options.

Main point of my review is that this Kata backpack is comparable in quality and style with LowePro gear. Since 2003 I was admirer of LowePro bags and never before I thought to change the brand. I was looking for a bag for Sony NEX 5N with 18-200 lens attached and iPad. There was not much to choose from in LowePro camp hence I checked other brands. Kata perfectly fits the camera equipment, iPad (in own case, in rear pocket), charger, spare battery, filters and still there is more space for other personal items.

I also use the tripod holder with this bag to carry a small sony tripod(1.5kg / 45cm). Tripod grips well and doesn't add too much weight disbalance even if bag is worn as a sling.

The only drawback is there is no special compartment for raincover and I don't want to open the bag when its raining. This is where LowePro bags win!

Overall it is a very nice bag. Highly recommended!

Comments about Kata D-3N1-22 3 in 1 Sling Backpack, Medium:

I love this bag due to how small and well made it is. I just bought a MacBookAir 11" model and was surprised that it fits perfectly in the sleeve. I pack in a D700 with attached f2.8 14 - 24 AFS Nikor, f1.4 50, Speedlight, and remote shutter. There is still some room for more gear. I can't really fit in the f2.8 70 - 200 but I don't really need that lens for most hiking trips where I'm looking for landscape shots.

Comments about Kata D-3N1-22 3 in 1 Sling Backpack, Medium:

Well made and easy to use. I like the ability to switch from sling to backpack for long treks. I based my purchase decision on other user comments. The 3N1 is even better than I expected.
I use this for my Canon T2I with 2 zoom lenses, my ipad, and critical travel items.

Comments about Kata D-3N1-22 3 in 1 Sling Backpack, Medium:

I purchased this for a trip to Barcelona and Valencia. I've been wearing this comfortably around narrow medieval city streets carrying a D80, an 85mm, 50mm, 35mm, a 12-24mm, and even a 70-200mm, plus my iPad. Now, at about two weeks, I still have no complaints.

Comments about Kata D-3N1-22 3 in 1 Sling Backpack, Medium:

Easy to carry and spacey, very durable

Comments about Kata D-3N1-22 3 in 1 Sling Backpack, Medium:

rugged, well built and maintains a light weight. but it's smaller than I'd like a "Medium" pack to be.

Comments about Kata D-3N1-22 3 in 1 Sling Backpack, Medium:

I love the versatility of this pack. I get the benefits of a backpack and a sling bag. It's comfortable for long walks or bike rides. I can put it into sling configuration for quick access. Overall a well designed product.

Comments about Kata D-3N1-22 3 in 1 Sling Backpack, Medium:

This Kata Backpack is well designed, plenty of space. I currently carry my Canon t2i with a 70mm-300mm zoom( attached), 2 extra lenses and a canon flash unit. The extra compartment at the top of the bag can hold extra gear such as filters, lens hoods, or personal items. It has a space for a small laptop like a ipad or smaller. You also have many strap configurations with this bag. I prefer the crisscross strap because i hold more gear for most of my assignments. I really like the sling options especially when you need to take a quick pic, you swing it around and open fast, pull the camera out and your done. It also has a rain cover to protect your gear just in case you get caught in bad weather. I researched many bags and this was my final decision, very Impressed!!!!!!!!!!

Comments about Kata D-3N1-22 3 in 1 Sling Backpack, Medium:

this is an excellent bag... it has lots of pockets and compartments which can be use in many ways.
it is medium size... so make sure you really check this and try it at the store. it won't fit your body and 70-200 2.8 mounted... unless you separate them. when I checked the bigger version, it was way to big for my needs, but you could fit the set lens above mentioned. so the trade off wasn't worth it for me... I went for a more comfortable medium version.
the only thing I would change on the design is the velcro inside the bag is constricted to certain positions... if you want to partition it your own way... you might not get what you want. So, Mr designer: why don't you allow the velcro pads to be more versatile by adding more areas to stick the pads on the inner walls of the bag...
other than that... excellent bag.

Comments about Kata D-3N1-22 3 in 1 Sling Backpack, Medium:

This is a very nice pack. Very versatile, holds my 300mm zoom while attached to the Nikon body. Quick access. The only thing I didn't like about it is that it's designed for a smaller frame. I'm 6'1", 240lbs, and it feels a little small on me. Would have been nice to try it on first, but thats a risk you take when shopping online. I'm still very satisfied with the product.

Comments about Kata D-3N1-22 3 in 1 Sling Backpack, Medium:

I use the backpack to carry my camera and gear. It is a convient way to carry your gear. I wish I had gotten the larger size.

Comments about Kata D-3N1-22 3 in 1 Sling Backpack, Medium:

The 3N1-22 is an awesome camera backpack. It holds my camera (D7000 w/18-105mm), an extra lens (70-300mm) and flash unit. I can also pack accessories like a charger, extra battery, hoods, filters, cleaning stuff and a netbook into it without any problem. I especially like the yellow material used inside the bag which makes the equipment stand out. It is a quality made backpack very rugged and sturdy.

Comments about Kata D-3N1-22 3 in 1 Sling Backpack, Medium:

I ended up returning this backpack because it did not fit my laptop, but I will share my thoughts. I am very new to photography. My family is going to Alaska for summer and I wanted a combo camera/backpack for the trip. My main focus is protection for my camera and space up top for a thick sweatshirt and other goodies for our hiking around.

I have a Nikon D90 with 70-200mm lens. Attached, it DID fit in the bottom compartment. The side access was easy enough for me. The yellow interior was great for finding things. Unfortunately, my laptop did NOT. Not sure the screen size, but it is 9.6" wide (not depth). I could PUSH it into the compartment, but I could not zip it up.

I really have nothing to compare this to from an ownership perspective. I ended up going to a camera shop and looked at a few packs. It seems like the kata & lowepros are "skinny." I looked at the aero 80 from tamrac and that had plenty of upper storage.

I ended up going with a mountainsmith that I purchased at a local REI. It is wide like a normal backpack.

I am a 5'6" female with an archy back. I say this because many backpacks do not sit comfortably on me. The kata did sit well. I LOVED the different configurations with the straps. They were all padded. Waist strap is nice. I never hiked in it so I can not give you that perspective, but putting it on with some gear in it felt good on my shoulders and back.

I gave it 3 stars just because it is very narrow. I only have the D90 with attached lens and the small lens that it came with- NOTHING else. So I can't say much about "HOW MUCH" gear can go in the bottom. But I do know that I could not get a sweatshirt in the top, which is a must for me. I wish KATA would make the backpack wider-like a normal school backpack. Then I would have jumped on this bag in a heartbeat.

Comments about Kata D-3N1-22 3 in 1 Sling Backpack, Medium:

After significant research and hands-on trial at my local camera shop, I selected the 3N1 for its relatively compact size given the amount of equipment it can hold, its comfort and build quality, and because I can carry my iPad in the same bag. So far, it has been great taking in everything I need for a weekend or weeklong trip. I do wish the organizational aspects for personal items were a little better (there's not even a place designated for pen or pencil), but as a camera bag, can't go wrong.

Comments about Kata D-3N1-22 3 in 1 Sling Backpack, Medium:

I love how versatile this bag is; use it as a sling bag (left or right handed) or as a backpack! I also like the fact that it doesn't scream camera bag. Well, at least if you haven't got a tripod attached with the tripod holder accessory.

I'm able to fit a Nikon D90 with 18-250mm lens, SB600 flash, and an extra lens comfortably. I don't even have to reverse the lens hood for storage either.

There is plenty of storage available though I wish there was a way to organize the top storage area rather than just dumping stuff in there. It's a very minor quibble though.

I haven't used the included rain wrapper yet but it's a must for Northwest weather. I have it in my other camera bags and it's saved my equipment in sudden downpours.

If you're carrying a small/medium tripod, it is worth it to get the STH-3N1 tripod holder attachment as well.

Comments about Kata D-3N1-22 3 in 1 Sling Backpack, Medium:

Have used this for three months now, and literally taken it from the Sierra Nevada Mountains to the Puerto Rico rainforest. The included rain cover did an outstanding job in both snow fall and heavy rain.

With no problems pack holds my D90 w/ vertical grip and attached 18-200mm, plus Sigma 8-16 plus 35mm prime plus SB-600 flash plus netbook plus some small stuff. The netbook pocket also perfectly doubles for a hydration system bladder.

Accessing gear is a breeze through the side flaps (usually carry the pack as a sling pack or in X configuration).

I couldn't be happier with a camera pack.