Review on 🎒 Super Compact Domke F-3X Ruggedwear Bag by Carrie Snethen

I'm a part-time photographer. As I have written in other reviews and as any photographer will attest, one day you will be surrounded by many bags of gear. It just happens - don't try to fight it. After my last cull. Bags in search of minimalism I still have a bag Domke F-2 (brown wax finish), Domke F-1x (tan), Domke F-802 (tan) and now F-3x (wax clothes). As any photographer will tell you, there are specific bags for specific needs, and your needs (and style) change regularly. For example, do you really want to bring a loaded F-1x to your daughter's birthday party? What if you need to mix gear and a day's supply of food and weather gear? Need a tripod in your bag? Two camera bodies or one? In each case, many variables come into play and they are as unique as each photographer. As always, the F-3x is an excellent bag in every respect. I have never been disappointed with the Domke and their build quality is highly regarded by most in the business. All belts are durable and made from high quality materials. The shoulder strap has a "grip" feature that prevents the bag from slipping off the shoulder. The hardware is flawless. The lower padding is adequate while maintaining a minimalist approach. There's no side or interior padding other than a divider that attaches to the interior Velcro, but if you're considering buying a Domke you probably already know about this and know that it's actually a feature. The bag fits you, unlike many other bags that require you to fit the bag (e.g. LowePro Stealth Reporters). The design of the bag allows you to stand out from the crowd. The design of the bag is best suited for those who want to travel light. Inside you have a main compartment and a side compartment. Outside you have a front and a back pocket, as well as two side pockets. The main compartment fits a bag with a lens attached, in my case a Nikon D300s with a handle and an 85mm lens with free space. Inner side pockets hold a lens and flash. You can load the bag with extra lenses, flash, etc. via the external pockets. Interestingly, when compared side by side, this bag is almost the same size as my F-2 (just a little smaller and not as deep). A lot of people complain about the waxwear finish. I have had many Domke bags with this finish and only had one problem. I smeared the bag with too much wax (to polish it) and then went out into the 104-degree Tennessee heat to shoot in the bright sunshine. I've found that some of the wax on the bag will melt if I touch it. However, it was my fault for applying too much wax and not using a heated blow dryer to 'seal' the bag as recommended. I prefer the waxed version simply for stylistic reasons as the canvas or waxed fabric offers enough rain protection for my needs. Result? Since I threw away the big padded bags I feel so much better. Domke bags were designed by a true photographer and it shows. While many aspiring photographers start out with large gear bags with tons of padding and dozens of individually padded compartments and pockets, in my experience and observation, experienced shooters tend to lean toward Domke or other similarly minimalist gear bags. You just need to understand that the camera can touch other devices and will not be damaged.