Customer reviews from WANDRD
WANDRD - PRVKE Backpack Weather-Resistant and Expandable Bundle - Black
Average customer rating
4.8
(1,195 Reviews)
Rating breakdown 1,195 reviews
5 Stars
1,045
4 Stars
118
3 Stars
18
2 Stars
7
1 Star
7
99%of customers recommend this product.
(
1,163 out of
1,177)
Customer Reviews for WANDRD - PRVKE Backpack Weather-Resistant and Expandable Bundle - Black
Customer Rating
4
Love the bag but needs to include the ESSENTIAL CAMERA CUBETM
on January 10, 2023
Posted by: Elicia M.
from United States
[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] After watching the video of the bag I thought it included the ESSENTIAL CAMERA CUBETM so I didn't know I had to add that to my purchase. Not sure why anyone would want just the bag for camera and lenses and why WANDRD doesn't include the ESSENTIAL CAMERA CUBETM with the bag. It's confusing. Now I have a great bag I can't use because I live in Costa Rica and I had to have someone bring the bag to my on their trip down here from the US.
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting WANDRD
Customer Rating
5
Love
on January 10, 2023
Posted by: Deneichia E.
from United States
[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] We bought a camera bag originally with no pockets and not as rugged and then we saw this and returned the other. This has all the things! I do live in Utah and know what these designers were thinking! Finally something! Awesome product!
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting WANDRD
Customer Rating
4
This backpack is fantastic for a traveling photographer and with a few improvements, "perfection."
on January 10, 2023
Posted by: Gary M.
from United States
[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] PRVKE by Wandrd Photography Backpack ReviewThis is a 4 1/2 star backpack that is the best travel photography backpack on the market today. Fixing a few minor - but very annoying - negatives would make this a solid 5 stars.First: The purpose of what this backpack is designed for - and is not designed for - and what this review is based on, is as follows. First and foremost, this backpack is a photography travel bag. It is not a travel bag. It is not a photography bag. It is not a daypack. It is a photography travel bag. There are much larger, more specifically dedicated bags for each of those individual purposes. So whining about “it needs more space for my gear” or “it needs more pockets to attach my hiking equipment” or such means one is misusing this bag.Now let’s define what this bag IS for. This bag is a photography travel bag. It is for photographers who are “vacationing” (using that word in the broadest possible terms) and need a bag that expands so they can also take other important basics with them - such as their amenity bag or computer and accessory bag, a change of clothes, snacks, passport/documents, etc., while traveling from point A to Point B by plane, boat, train, taxi or bus - and then leave all that extra stuff at their destination, e.g., hotel, and reduce this backpack down to a small size to carry their camera gear somewhat discretely, comfortably and securely around all day, and have their camera gear easily and quickly accessible.If that sounds like a long definition, then it is to outline that this is a very important niche for many traveling photographers who usually have to “make do” with something else that’s too big or too small or too heavy or ill-suited to the needs of a photographer.Note: if you work for National Geographic and can take all the gear that a sponsoring camera company gave you that you might possibly need and of course can have others carry all your gear for you, then this bag isn’t for you. But if you are a photographer who needs to carry your own gear on your own back all day long for days on end, and also needs to perform the function of a carry-on bag specifically designed to carry your basic camera gear and personal essentials, then this will work well for you.I have used this for several months now, both on overnights, domestic travel and 3 weeks of intense use across Europe. Overall, this will be my “go-to” pack going forward. The positives are as follows:PROS:1) First and foremost is the expandability and contractibility. This is a perfect size, (if you max it out) for all your camera gear (NatGeo work not withstanding) plus enough room for several days’ worth of clothing, hygiene necessities, laptop and accessory/dongle bag. There really isn’t anything else like it currently made on the market. Of course, at that point, it’s pretty heavy, but the next big “pro” is that..2) It is very comfortable and adjustable. Well thought out. 3) The sternum strap lock is unique, and after figuring it out, works well enough most of the time one-handed. I like that it can be used one handed - it allows you to pick up the back fling it over your shoulder and secure it while already walking away.4) Very water resistant - not waterproof but pretty much “not to worry” about getting caught in a sudden shower for a while.5) Discreet. It definitely does not look like a camera bag that screams “I have lots of valuable equipment inside!” Always a plus.6) Large front vertical zippered pouch is convenient to slide your hand in, and has good space at least for flat objects. It’s not for thick items, but papers, some clothes, and other items than are more on the flat side.The Cons:1) Giant unnecessary handles get in the way. What are those giant handles for? Useless except to impede smooth and quick opening and closing of this backpack. They are always in the way. This is a backpack, not a suitcase! They interfere with smooth one-handed opening of the backpack back. They are always flopping in the way of opening and closing. When you pick this backpack up from the ground, 99% of the time you are grabbing one of the shoulder straps. The large handles aren’t as easy to grab as the shoulder straps in any case. And, who buys this to carry as a suitcase? The only reason you would grab one of these over-sized handles is when you lift the pack up to slide it onto the handle of a roll-aboard. Then it is easier than using the shoulder straps (which brings me to the second “con” below.) However, you still don’t need these two huge floppy straps that interfere with the operation of opening and closing the backpack the other 99% of the time. I’ve cut mine off. (See illustration.)BETTER: put a SMALL, short strap across the top of the pack that hugs the material and doesn’t interfere with anything but allows you to slip your fingers under it to pull the backup up for the aforementioned use in mounting it on a roll-aboard handle.2) The roll-aboard handle slip strap on the back is made to cleverly cover the zipper of a “secret compartment” there. I get it. BUT, that “secret compartment” is so small, it barely will hold anything. Made to keep your passport there you say? OK, but there are other places to keep your passport if you need to keep it with you while using this pack - and internally is probably better, as you’d want to keep other valuables in the same place. You are not saving any time or making it any easier by having a small compartment here rather than some other place. It’s not a purse. And if you need to access your passport quickly a/o frequently, put it in your pocket, because that “secret compartment” isn’t made for quick and easy access. If you don’t need to access your passport quickly a/o frequently, then you can put it someplace else besides here. (See illustration.)The problem with this design is that this strap, which one uses frequently for mounting/dismounting from a roll-aboard, is extremely tight - even more so when there’s camera equipment and other stuff in your pack, it’s very tight. My fingers ache from trying to fit this over the handle of my roll-aboard - and it makes it harder and takes longer to mount/dismount. I’ve seen the looks of angry impatience from my fellow airplane passengers in the aisle behind me when I struggled so long to remove this pack from the roll-aboard to place it in the overhead bin and it wouldn’t come off. It’s even worse trying to put it on in a hurry after the plane lands and we’re getting off. Talk about angry impatience! The strap is so tight when this pack is full that it becomes almost impossible to put it on easily and quickly. It needs to be redesigned. That would require thinking about a more useful purpose for the “secret compartment” as well. (See illustration.)3) Internal cube. Considering most people will assemble this once, Wandrd should remember that instructions must be made for first-and-only-time assemblers. 4) There is a big space between the internal cube and the internal compartment. This clearly was inadvertent BUT this is a good space for large slender items like filters, but it hasn’t been designed for any use at all. I have it jerry-rigged with extra small velcroed pieces from another product to prevent stuff from falling out the access flap when it’s open. It would be good for Wandrd to a) have some velcro strips to allow velcro pads to be placed in there, and b) to make the outer walls of the camera cube velcro-compatible for this purpose. (See illustration.)5) The internal zippered compartment in the camera section has a useless middle strap that interferes with smooth and easy access to the compartment. What’s with all the useless straps on this thing? There is a useless strap in the middle of the zippered internal compartment that forces you to use either two hands or two separate motions to open the compartment. Why? Instead of a single smooth, quick zip or unzip from one end to the other, this strap blocks the path and you have to do it in two steps. Again, I cut this useless strap off and now it works much better. Wandrd should just eliminate it altogether and save us the trouble of cutting it off. (See illustration.)6) The above Internal zippered compartment is not sealed /zippered off from the top compartment. This is a real pain. The entire point of a “convertible” type backpack such as this is that expands and contracts (in this case by rolling the top part down or unrolling it up) allowing you to put extra items in the top - which are most likely non-camera gear things such as jackets, clothes, amenities, etc.,etc. Who wants these mixing in with camera gear?! But since there is no top compartment “wall” to separate the compartment from the top section, everything you put in the top comes crashing down into the camera gear section compartment. While, on occasion, you might want to utilize both the camera gear compartment section and the top section as one big backpack area (unlikely but possible) it still makes no sense not to have a zippered wall flap that you can utilize to separate the top section from the camera compartment, and then unzip to open this into (the unlikely event of a) one big happy compartment. This is a big oversight and easily remedied. (See illustration.)7) It would be good if the top zippered pouch on the back, top could be a bit bigger. This is most convenient when traveling and going through security, for example, when you need to put all your stuff (wallet, watch, passport, pocket stuff) in there for a brief period. Right now, it’s just a bit too small. (The tight “secret compartment” on the bottom of the backpack is useless as it’s way too tight and difficult to quickly and easily access, as pointed out previously.) (See illustration.)This backpack is fantastic for a traveling photographer and with a few improvements, "perfection."
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting WANDRD
Customer Rating
5
skeptical at the price
on January 11, 2023
Posted by: Cholo A.
from United States
[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] Ima bit skeptical at the price but loved the rad look.After taking it around town walking testing, the looks are the second best part. It is surprisingly convenient, maintains its shape well without over packing and let me get a surprising amount of gear in there.i am not sure how well it will hold up over time but i really like what i have seen so far.
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting WANDRD
Customer Rating
5
SWEET SPOT BETWEEN EDC AND SHORT TRAVEL BAG
on January 11, 2023
Posted by: Michael B.
from United States
[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] I'll not I'm coming from this from a photographers perspective. One that goes on short day trips of weekend getaways. I think this bag is perfect fit for that. I got the 31L as I'm not a minimalist traveler but I feel this is more than enough to carry me through a long weekend (a lot longer if I don't use the camera cube and/or bring my DSLR in something else). But, I got this so I could bring my DSLR in it as well as clothes/accessories for a trip. So far it's fitting the bill nicely! Doesn't look super big on me (5'8" relatively muscular upper body). Love the quality of it and the thought about the design. I debating for awhile about what bag to get and ultimately settled in this, save yourself some time and if you are even thinking about buying it: just get it...you won't regret it!
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting WANDRD
Customer Rating
5
Just the bag I've been looking for
on January 11, 2023
Posted by: David G.
from United States
[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] I've been using the Prvke 21, but it's a bit too small for my equipment and travel needs. So I decided to "upgrade" to the larger 31 bag, and it's just the right size for almost everything. Couple of tradeoffs still. It won't hold some lenses standing up or a larger camera with battery grip because the bag is not very deep. Another one or two inches would make it perfect for these things. Also, the hand straps flop over and get in the way. I'd prefer a single sewn-in strap on the top, like the Peak Designs bags. But together with the Photo Cube Pro+, it's a great bag.
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting WANDRD
Customer Rating
5
Versatility is king!
on January 11, 2023
Posted by: David L.
from United States
[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] I took this bag on a 3 week vacation to Singapore via a 18 hour flight. While initially skeptical about the storage space given its thin cross sections both in width and depth, it has served me well especially when it comes to unplanned last minute shopping items. It took the weight without complaints and still gave me soft space for the unexpected rain coat and umbrella, though heavy but never feeling my shoulders or back aching. The ability to open the bag both on its belly and from the top helped to optimize the space for odd shaped gifts and fragile ones too. The best part was being able to store a 10,000 watt battery pack connected to a wifi hotspot at the top where it was most easily accessible without having to mess with the already packed main storage area. Kudos to the design team for taking the time to come up with the design!
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting WANDRD
Customer Rating
5
In Love
on January 11, 2023
Posted by: Angelique V.
from United States
I love this bag. This is my first professional camera bag and it is meeting all of my needs so far. I recently used it on a trip to Indonesia and was able to take all the equipment I needed and still had room to slide it under my seat on the plane. During my outdoor adventures in Bali, I was able to customize the pack for the needs of the day. I has so many pockets and compartments for all the little things. The pack is pleasing to the eyes and doesn't look like a typical camera backpack. The only thing I would have wanted was to have the waist attachment included. I recently purchased the essentials plus cube, accessories straps and waist belt attachment and all seem to be working in percent harmony with one another. I definitely recommend this backpack.
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting WANDRD