Review on BLACKHAWK Cyane Dynamic Pack Blk by Aaron Campbell

Short version: ideal for my purposes. Pleasant even under load. In the months I've had it (including 3 decently "difficult" hikes) I've seen no signs of poor build quality and haven't been able to break it. The main downside to this bag is that the main compartment, which is covered by a beavertail flap, has mesh sides. So don't expect the bag to protect anything you put in this compartment from water, dust or dirt. bought it a few months ago to use mainly for carrying my camera (Canon 70D, 10-22mm, 50mm, 18-135mm, 580exII, extension rings, about 6 filters, lens grip, cleaning brush, spare batteries). With that load + 3 liter hydration reservoir, that's about the maximum capacity in the main compartment, and I could pack quite a bit more in the zipped compartments. I've opted for a backpack design rather than a more photography-oriented bag (one that's easy to access without taking it off) as I mainly photograph landscapes while hiking, so I don't usually have time to get my gear out of my bag, preferring the ergonomics of the burden on shoulders and back. . I'm a big guy and the backpack fits me well (I prefer carrying loads high) and at no point does it feel like it's struggling not to fall apart when it's about 20 pounds of stuff Has. There's plenty of room to adjust the shoulder straps as well as the sternum strap (again, big guy) and you have the option to tighten the main compartment with locking clips. If you're considering this for the same purpose I use it for, please note that unless you invent and build some sort of compartment system that does, this main compartment alone is big enough to hold something larger than a filter You stop rummaging through things to get what you want. I thought a bit about how to attach my tripod and finally found a solution with a 550 cable and a MOLLE system. You can just slide your foot through one of the lower center compartment latches, but that would unbalance the load too much in my opinion. Based on my hiking experience, this is an everyday backpack as it is comfortable, has more room for a few days' supplies and can hold a 3L bladder with enough space for other emergency essentials like a small first aid kit, poncho and the like. I mean, after all, it's a bag.