Review Hama Katoomba 170 RL
The Hama Katoomba 170 RL belongs to the Vario Sling Bags series of Hama. It is a backpack with only one shoulder strap and we know more of those. The uniqueness of the Hama is that the shoulder strap can be quickly put from left to right so you can choose whether you wear your photographic equipment with your left shoulder or your right shoulder. Another distinctive detail of the Hama Katoomba 170 RL is the included rain cover that is almost entirely in place.
Hama Katoomba 170 RL
Dimensions exterior: 17 x 30 x 40 cm
Dimensions interior: 15 x 28 x 24 cm
Number of adjustable dividers: 6
Weight, including tripod straps: 1,157 grams
Recommended retail price: 01-01-2012, NL € 119
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What will fit in? |
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The bag is built high and consists of 2 compartments. The upper compartment can be used for supplies or clothing for example. The padding of this compartment is good, this makes it also good to use for an extra lens. The lower, and also the largest, compartment is designed for the photo equipment. The content is quite big but it is not possible to carry long lenses. For example, the Canon 70-200 mm 4.0 L IS is already too long to pack. Short lenses with a filter size of 72 mm just fit in this compartment.
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Design and finishing |
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The outer fabric feels strong and the bottom is made of a thick impermeable material. This is a good protection for the backpack and contents if you put this on a wet or dusty surface. The stitching is carried out carefully and the zippers protect against rain. The zippers go fairly smoothly. I miss the familiar clip for the securities, a pocket for a water bottle and a compartment for the mobile phone. On the other hand, this bag is carried out completely. The included rain cover is very handy and both tripod and monopod are easy to carry. |
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Wearing comfort |
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The wearing comfort of this backpack is very large. The padded shoulder strap is good and all straps are easily adjustable. A very important feature of this bag is that you can choose with which shoulder you carry. It is a pleasure, due to the intelligent design, that it takes little time to move the shoulder strap from left to right. The handle at the top is padded and therefore does not cut into your hand. |
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Convenience |
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The loose dividers on the inside are easy to move but the placement and its shape are not perfect. If you hold your bag on the wrong side it can happen that the lenses bump into the camera body. Due to the clever placement of the zipper you can get to the photographic equipment quite well while walking. Since the bag is quite spacious, you can also quickly place the camera strap and the zipper is not against the camera body. The rain cover is on the outside and can quickly be unfolded, useful if you are overtaken by a tropical downpour.
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Conclusion |
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Pros
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Cons
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The Hama Katoomba 170 RL has one shoulder strap and has some very good qualities. The finish is of a high level and you can decide for yourself with which shoulder you carry the bag; the shoulder strap can be attached on two sides. This benefits the comfort much. The accessibility of the photographic equipment is pretty good. Under certain circumstances, the lenses and camera body can hit each other. Due to the special zipper, the enclosed cover, and the choice of material at the bottom of the bag, the protection against water is good. It is unfortunate that there is no compartment for a water bottle. Since the camera and lenses are placed in the bag transversely, the maximum length of the lens is limited. If that is not a limitation to you, the Hama Katuumba 170 RL is a very good backpack. |
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