HAZARD 4 Freelance - Camera and Drone Tactical Sling Cross Body Bag, Molle Attachment, Water Resistant, 6 L

I had been looking for a smaller sling bag to replace my large Tamrac photo backpack for day and weekend photo outings when I came across the HAZARD 4 Freelance on Amazon Warehouse. I decided to give it a shot. I’ve had my Freelance for about a year and a half now and I have to say that I really love it. I also have the HAZARD 4 Jelly Roll lens case attached to it.At the time I purchased my Freelance, I had a Canon Rebel T6i with a battery grip attached. The two lenses I use most are the Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6and the Canon EF 24–105mm f/4L. I found that my T6i with the grip fit very well with either lens attached and whichever lens was not mounted easily stowed in the well-padded Jelly Roll case.A few months back, I traded up to the Canon 5D Mark IV. I did not opt for the battery grip this time because I felt it would make the already large 5D a bit too heavy and unwieldy. Also, the 5D has much better battery life than the T6i so I felt the extra battery capacity was not necessary. I was a bit concerned that the larger 5D wouldn’t fit as well in the Freelance. I was pleasantly surprised to find that it fit just fine both with both the 24-105 as well as the 70-300 attached.There are a number of reviews here complaining that the Freelance is not roomy enough. I have to disagree. At the end of the day, it all comes down to how you’re looking to use it. If I’m planning to go on a long trip and want carry a bunch of extra gear, then I’d opt for my Tamrac backpack. With that said, the vast majority of my photo outings are daytrips and for that, I find the Freelance to be the perfect pack, especially with the add-on Jelly Roll lens case. It’s relatively light, highly configurable, and has plenty of nooks and crannies to store all of the extras like lens cleaning cloths, cables, extra batteries, a flash, lens hoods, and even a poncho. I also like the MOLLE integration which allows me to easily attach a tripod, hang my keys and sunglasses, and fasten various clips and straps within easy reach for when I need them.I find the construction of Freelance to be exceptional. It’s very sturdily built and all clasps fasten securely. It also swings easily from back to front for quick access to my camera. About the only thing the Freelance leaves me wanting for would be a bit more room for my Microsoft Surface. For me, this, is a very minor complaint as I typically don’t need to bring my laptop with me on day trips and if I do, I just toss it into a sleeve.I really love my Freelance and would highly recommend it for day or weekend photo outings. I’ve included some photos with this review to show how I have my Freelance configured and how well my gear fits.

very good

Se siente de calidad

*** I have not been offered any compensation by Hazard 4, Amazon, or otherwise, for my opinions regarding this product ***Ok, so I've only had the bag for about a week now, but have already loaded it to (main compartment) capacity with my photography gear and gone on a few solid 3-5 mile hikes (level packed gravel and dirt trails, mostly). I'll be adding pictures of my loadout as it sits now, and I'll also be updating my review for this over time as things progress with my usage of the bag.First, you should know that, in no way, am I currently a practitioner of the survivalist lifestyle (though I'd like to be), nor am I former military (shout out to all of our military personnel, both current and past). I don't use this bag as an EDC, and I don't concealed-carry a firearm (just need to get that pesky pistol-license, first!). I'm just an average dude who likes to take nice pictures in/of nature, but who also likes to work a little harder to get there, so I need products that are up to that task. I'm a big fan of the destination, but even more so, the journey before and after it._______________________________________________________________________________________________________Here were my INITIAL considerations, wants, and needs (in no particular order, all of generally equal importance to me) BEFORE I looked at any bags at all:-- Lightweight, small, modular bag (so I can add or remove desired features as necessary, with the bag itself being the baseline minimum); Laser-cut or stitched MOLLE was a no-compromises requirement, in my case, due to its versatility for expansion. I want something that I can take out with a minimal, but comprehensive, kit, or attach a whole gamut of bits 'n' bobs to, if the situation calls for me to carry additional equipment. Being able to rearrange my storage options, on the fly, to fit in different physical spaces (while you're not wearing it) can open up a lot of possibilities for travel.-- Durable construction; preferably Cordura 1000D or 1050D Ballistic fabric, mated to good quality zippers & buckles. A padded main compartment is required for equipment protection. Also, a well-designed compact hard-shell is a big bonus; a stiff-walled main compartment is always faster to use than one that collapses around its contents. Water resistance is important to me, but the abrasion- and cut-resistance are more important. I can always ScotchGuard it.-- Enough room to fit my camera (Pentax K5) with my [physically] largest lens (Sigma 8-16mm f/4.5-5.6 DC HSM FLD AF Ultra Wide Zoom) attached in the main compartment, as a unit. Enough room to carry a couple of additional smaller manual prime lenses, extra batteries and a few photography-related odds 'n' ends. Eventually it would be nice to be able to carry a small drone as well (I'm thinking DJI Mavic Air or Air 2).-- Enough extra compartments & pockets that I can fit some basic essentials in the pack; a few snacks, a bottle of water or small hydration bladder, small notebook, cell phone, etc. Velcro separators are handy, but in some cases I don't see them being as large of a requirement, for me personally. I can fill up any excess space pretty easily if I have to.-- Outside attachment point suitable for carrying a smaller tripod comfortably (in my case, currently a GorillaPod); bonus points if I can carry a full-size tripod without it feeling inhibiting.-- Physically comfortable to wear for LONG periods of time without many breaks, and easy to don and doff; the ability to change lenses while wearing the bag weighs heavily into this particular criterion. Open to either a two-strap or a sling-strap design, whichever fits the remaining design of the chosen bag more effectively. A large range of fitment adjustability is an important factor to me.-- Highly rated BRAND (not just a single well-rated product; many products, old and new, still available) with reputable Customer Service, in the event of something going wrong after purchase. Bare minimum, a decent return policy (pretty standard for Amazon, these days).-- Cost under $150 for the baseline bag, with reasonably-priced accessories available from the same manufacturer, for guaranteed compatibility. Specifically, dedicated lens-cases and carrying pouches of various types are what I have in mind, so they hold their functional (not monetary) value to me over time.-- "Tacti-cool"; Let's be honest with each other here. Every dude (or dudette) wants to look a little cooler doing whatever it is they they do. Photographers are no different. I personally like the standard brown "Coyote" color option that's generally available, but depending on the piece, black can also be good. Not generally a fan of OD Green, or busy camo patterns. Since I'll likely buy another bag, at a different time, for city carrying, GreyMan is a desirable, though ultimately unimportant color option at this time._______________________________________________________________________________________________________Review Time for the Freelance Photo! I'll address how the bag either meets, exceeds, or falls short of my requirements and desires listed above.Initial review - 4/30/2020 (~1 week of ownership; ~10 miles hiked with it @ about 8-12 lbs of weight)Preface - If you're this far into reviews, then you're probably already aware of Hazard 4's generally stellar reputation. I'm not normally one for expensive imported products, but like me, I think you'll agree that this brand is worthy of your attention and dollars.To begin with, the Hazard 4 Freelance Photo IS lightweight, even being made of Cordura 1000D (heavier fabric than the average 600D or 400D). The pack alone weighs all of 2.1 lbs -- Hardly a nuisance weight when you compare that against the weight of the equipment it can hold. It has MOLLE on most available areas of the bag that aren't otherwise being actively utilized for a pocket or compartment. Hip flap, chest strap, back of the admin pocket/Velcro panel, above the main compartment door, on the "back" surface; it's everywhere. Many logical placements, in my opinion, but a few perplexing exclusions; why not include it on the bottom, where the Jelly Roll is shown attached in the promo photos? Seems like an oversight to me. It does have a set of buckled straps that are more than suitable for carrying a small, lightweight tripod comfortably, though I'd guess that it becomes more unwieldy, the larger the tripod.The pack (so far) seems to be solidly made; inspecting the inner and outer seams, it all appears to be well-sewn and stitched appropriately for its intended purpose. All of the webbing seems well-attached and solidly supported. Supposedly this pack has a PU-based water-resistance coating, which I expect should perform well enough. Again, I can ScotchGuard it, if necessary. I will echo some of the thoughts expressed in other owner's reviews: The zippers do not seem overly substantial, and I can see them being the first thing to fail prematurely on an outdoor pack, such as this, especially if overloaded. Time will tell, though. I would have liked to see heavier-duty zippers used, but the existing ones seem sturdy enough for the time being.I was disappointed to learn (through the other reviews) that this pack does NOT have a thermo-formed shell supporting its main compartment walls. This, again, seems like a bit of an oversight to me, as it would absolutely help protect sensitive equipment. The only hard shell on this pack is big enough to hold... well, not much, anyway. You'd be lucky if you get much more than a spare battery, a Zippo lighter, and a 50mm pancake lens into it and zipped up. That said, it wasn't a deal-breaker for me. I still feel as though the dividers, when attached properly, do an OK job of supporting the compartment's shape. Not good, just OK. Honestly, the Velcro interior panels are a nuisance and frustrating to put in place, and to subsequently rearrange, in my opinion. Another reason that the lack of a semi-rigid shell inside the main compartment is a problem, is because when you tighten the tripod straps, it tends to collapse the whole side of the pack inward, possibly damaging equipment or lenses on the inside of the pack. I actually plan to thermo-form my own custom-fit Kydex shells to put inside to hold my equipment how I'D like to have it positioned to suit my own carrying/shooting style.Which is a reasonable segue, because -- dunh dunh DUNH! -- it JUST barely fits my camera with this lens in the bag, with no room for anything else in the main compartment (when the floor divider is in place). The largest lens I can fit while mounted to the K5 body, and still have a bit of storage room left using the dividers, is the 18-55 kit lens (which I'll be selling soon). I'd provide dimensions, but it'd be arbitrary based on your own equipment dimensions. Even a few millimeters can make the difference from fitting to not. I actually have to store my Sigma 8-16mm UWA in the top part of the main compartment (behind the small hardshell compartment, and to which it arguably fits into perfectly when I'm not using it), and carry or leash the camera when I am. Due to the physicalities of that lens, it cannot easily live on the camera, inside the bag, and must be switched out with a (physically) shorter lens for transportation, at least the way I have it right now.Storage-wise, it's a bit Spartan; There are only a couple of usable pockets on the bag; the admin pocket (under the Velcro-loop panel) seems reasonably useful for storage of ID, cards, GPS, etc., but I don't currently use it for that. I haven't quite figured out what I want to use it for yet. Been keeping gloves, snacks, and other random items in it for the moment until it speaks its true purpose to me. The smaller pocket (on top of the main compartment flap), I could see being useful for a 500-750ml hydration bladder (even though they don't list it that way). I normally store a disposable 0.5L bottle in it and zip it up towards the taper in the bottle, works well enough for that. There is a narrow-ish sleeve built into the outside surface of the same pocket, so I suppose if you had the right size phone/device it could be carried there for easy access. And as I said before, the small hardshell is barely big enough for a pancake lens, and hasn't shouted a usage to me just yet. Lastly, the wearer's back-panel is a zippered microfiber-lined tablet sleeve. I don't have a tablet, but I imagine it would be a useful feature if I did. Looks like it could handle a standard iPad or smaller, and the sleeve is thermo-formed for structure.Now onto some brighter notes; there are many additional accessories available from Hazard 4 (and many other retailers) to expand the storage and functionality capabilities of any of their various pack offerings. Specifically, the Jelly Roll (which is available in 3 sizes - S, M, L). I purchased the Large size, which is intended, in my case, to house a longer telephoto lens up to around 9"Lx4.5"D (~143 cu.in.), or two smaller lenses with the included divider. I also ordered the Hazard 4 Broadside pouch, which can be MOLLE-attached to the Freelance and adds an additional 9"x5"x3" (~126 cu.in.) of storage. I haven't received the Jelly Roll or the Broadside yet, but will add to this review when I do. Unfortunately, Hazard 4 doesn't currently offer an IFAK, so I opted for a different brand that had a matching Cordura 1000D IFAK available for a reasonable price. In addition, I purchased a few other goodies that I'll be detailing more once I receive them. There are also plenty of small loops, etc., for things like carabiners.HOWEVER, on the point of accessories, I have one MASSIVE gripe: This bag is marketed as a Tactical Photographer's equipment pack, and yet they didn't include the SINGLE most useful piece of kit they offer; the Photo D-Ring & captive screw! Not only that, they EACH have to be ordered separately, even though they only cost a few dollars! And to top it all off, there is already a plain D-Ring being used on the bag. Why not just switch it out at the factory and include a couple of screws in the package?Come on, Hazard 4, this is a pretty sticky point for me. It severely reduces the usability of the bag in its entirety (for a photographer on the move), because I can't just set my camera down anywhere when I need my hands free. And because of the space premium inside this bag, I don't use a strap directly attached to the camera grommets (wearing an additional neck-strap is unwieldy while simultaneously wearing the pack). For now, I've just been trusting my handhold on the camera while walking, though I did also order a Photo D-Ring and 2x Captive screws to go with it (have not received yet, will update). Kinda frustrated they didn't include this fairly essential piece of kit. That said, I can't actually reduce the bag's rating simply because it didn't include another product they sell. This is more of a commentary for Hazard 4 (if you're reading!) -- If you're going to market a bag/pack for photographers, just include the extra $10 worth of bits, mark up the bag cost, and call it a day.Ok, now let's talk about comfort; quite obviously, this is 100% subjective, but here's my take: The Freelance, for me, is very comfortable, 95% of the time I wear it. The other 5% is spent adjusting the straps to carry the load properly with respect to my body, as it tends to slip around a bit if it's not VERY snug to my chest. I actually have posture problems, so I'm not complaining about the added core support from it, though. Speaking of things that make the Freelance personally endearing to me: I really DO like the LEFT-SHOULDER-ONLY strap arrangement. It leaves my right arm & shoulder (I'm right-handed) able to have a large degree of freedom, in movement, and feels far less limiting than wearing a two-strap backpack. I also have neck/back problems from a decade of working in an office environment, and the specific arrangement of the Freelance helps pull me back into a more comfortable spinal alignment. Your results may vary, especially if you're like me, but favor the opposite side of your back (I suppose it could even exacerbate an existing problem in some people). Either way, the pack does a great job of keeping the load centered over the middle of my back, even when I increase how much I carry.Donning and doffing the pack is a pleasurable experience; you can do it in a variety of ways, depending on how cramped your space is, while doing so. The locking buckle design on the main strap is intelligently-designed, solid, and well-executed. It's easy to operate with one hand, and is very tactile. If I have one complaint about the straps, it's that the stabilizer strap would benefit from being a bit wider, and lightly padded, with some additional MOLLE, and another larger, locking buckle. In addition, a slight upward change in the angle of the waist-pad/strap, relative to the pack, would also benefit the pack. It's difficult to wear the bag loosely without the straps kinking a bit due to the angle of the waist-pad. Disconnecting the stabilizer strap allows the wearer to swing the bag around, and with practice, this can be done quickly and efficiently to grant you nearly instant access to your equipment. If the care is taken to properly arrange components, both in & attached to the outside of the pack, almost all of it can be accessed from the same position in front of the body, without removing it.Appearance: I'm digging it, so far. I've tried to keep everything I ordered for it in the same family of colors: Coyote (though I did consider purchasing a Bright Red version of an IFAK). It definitely qualifies as Tacti-Cool, and the more stuff you strap to it, the more it acquires that sense of distinct purpose. I decided against the Black, because I felt as though it would show wear and tear more directly, and look "worse" faster, than the Coyote. HOWEVER, the color is definitely NOT what it appears to be; it's actually darker & more Olive than it seems in the picture. It's tolerable, but don't expect any kind of Light Desert Brown. If the Freelance was available in the GreyMan color, I probably would have opted for that, but alas, it's not. Slightly-Olive Coyote it is._______________________________________________________________________________________________________Conclusions: This is a great minimal-kit bag if you have 1-3 standard lenses in your dSLR kit. It's well-made, has a plethora of MOLLE attachment points, and is comfortable to wear for longer periods of time, even with heavier loads. The left-shoulder-only design may be problematic for some, but works well for me (and I'd assume, many right-handed photographers). For $150 or less (I got the Coyote version for $116), it's a very capable day pack, and a solid value for the money. With accessories aplenty, space becomes a non-issue; but you have to go into it knowing that you're likely to spend anywhere from $10-$100 in additional customization to make the bag into exactly what you want. However, keep in mind that this affords you the ability to do exactly that: minimize or maximize as desired, quickly and easily. All-in-all, I feel that as long as the material and build quality holds up, the bag will last me a very long time for my intended purposes. This is really more of a niche product than it may seem at first, but a worthwhile purchase for the right person. If you're looking for a mix of mobility, selective-minimalism, and almost unlimited expansion when needed, this may be the pack for you. I will update this review as time goes on, and as I acquire different accessories.*** I have not been offered any compensation by Hazard 4, Amazon, or otherwise, for my opinions regarding this product ***