Think Tank Airport Roller Derby Camera Bag: Effortless Mobility for Your Photography Gear – An In-Depth Review

As their tagline suggests, Think Tank is the choice of many working professionals and has such a wide range of camera bags, cases, and accessories, that they really have something for everyone. As a professional outdoor lifestyle advertising photographer (http://JesseStarrProductions.com), I’m always seeking the best methods for transporting gear, weather by plane, car, or while hiking. Think Tank and their adventure photography specific sister company Mindshift Gear consistently create well thought out solutions that are extremely durable and practical. Below is my Think Tank Airport Roller Derby review.

Think Tank Airport Roller Derby: What is it for?

Anyone who has travelled on a plane with their camera equipment knows the hassles presented by the converging goals of keeping everything protected and still fitting in to the overhead so it stays with you. We all know how baggage handlers like to toss your things as violently as possible, which makes it vital that your camera bag doesn’t get relegated to the checked baggage storage. With the Airport Roller Derby, Think Tank managed to make a case that swallows a ton of gear and fits comfortably into almost every overhead compartment on US and Domestic flights. Keep in mind, a smaller bag is necessary to fit under your seat if you are travelling on a small regional plane that has tiny overhead compartments. (For that, look for my upcoming review of the Think Tank Airport Commuter camera backpack.) The beauty of the Roller Derby is that I can fit an entire professional camera kit with lighting into the bag and be confident that it will be coming with me in the cabin. See lower section for a list of gear I travel with. The size is great for a serious amateur as well.

Travelling with the Think Tank Airport Roller Derby

A fully loaded camera bag can be a very unwieldy thing to travel with and Think Tank did a lot with the Airport Roller Derby to alleviate this. Firstly, the size is perfect because care was given to the ability to roll the case down a narrow plane aisle, which is greatly appreciated. Secondly, the 4 wheeled roller design is my favorite part of this case because it tackles a lot of issues at once. Being able to simply push the bag along a flat surface takes the heavy weight off of your arm and shoulder and makes such a difference while travelling. Being able to tilt and roll the bag on its side is perfect for super narrow spaces and has the bonus feature of being a great stair-walking method. You can tilt the front wheels down onto the next step and gently bring the back wheels down, saving you from lifting the bag down curbs and stairs. Like all Think Tank rollers, the wheels are very high quality, smooth rolling, and user replaceable. While not intended for off-road use, I found the double-wheels to work rather well on uneven and rough surfaces. The Airport Roller Derby has very well padded side and top grab handles as well as a thinner grab handle on the bottom for pulling it out. The rolling handle extends smoothly from the top of the bag and rests in a zippered storage compartment when not in use. All of the materials used are very durable and my experience with Think Tank bags is that they last forever. Ballistic nylon and heavy duty zippers keep everything working through rough use.

I like using the 4 wheels to gently drop the bag down stairs.

Customization and Configuration

The Think Tank Airport Roller Derby comes with a solid array of movable dividers that let you configure the bag for your needs. The customization of the padding makes it a great bag for non-professionals as well and you can configure the dividers in a way that lets you take your camera and a couple of lenses and store clothes for an overnight in the rest of it. It’s easy to move the dividers around, harder to determine what works best for you. I suggest taking out most of the dividers, laying out all of the equipment you want to put in the bag, dry fitting everything, and then putting the dividers back in. Below is a list from Think Tank of what fits in the bag and a list of what I put in mine.

What Fits in the Think Tank Airport Roller Derby Camera Bag:

15” laptop
10” tablet
2 standard DSLRs with lenses attached
1 pro DSLR and 1 standard DSLR both with lenses attached
6–7 standard zoom lenses or strobes
400mm f/2.8 unattached (without laptop in the bag ONLY)
Example: Canon 5DMIII with 70-200mm f/2.8 mounted, 1DX with 24-70mm f/2.8 mounted, 16-35mm f/2.8, 90mm TS-E, 2x Extender, 580EX
Example: Nikon D700 mounted to 70-200mm f/2.8, D810 mounted to24-70mm f/2.8, 14-24mm f/2.8, 105mm f/2.8 macro, 50mm f/1.4, SB900

Stored in my Think Tank Airport Roller Derby Camera Bag:

Macbook Pro 15″ laptop
Nikon D810 camera body
Nikon D750 camera body
Nikon 24-70 2.8 lens
Nikon 60 2.8 micro lens
Nikon 50 1.8 lens
Nikon 35 1.8 lens
Nikon 85 1.8 lens
Nikon 70-200 2.8 lens
Profoto B2 strobe head and battery pack

My bag packed with an entire pro kit.

I use dividers for extra protection of lenses.

Another example configuration.

Specifications and Feature List

Internal Dimensions: 12.6” W x 18.5” H x 5.5–7.5” D (32 × 47 × 14–19 cm)
Exterior Dimensions: 14” W x 22” H x 9.0” D (35.6 × 55.9 × 22.9 cm)
Tablet Compartment: 10.5” W x 10.3” H x 0.6” D (26.7 x 26.1 x 1.5 cm)
Laptop Compartment: 10.5” W x 14.5” H x 1.0” D (26.7 x 36.8 x 2.5 cm)
Weight: 9.5–11.5 lbs (4.3–5.2 kg) depending on accessories used
Lock & cable to secure lockable zippers and tether the bag
3-ways to roll: upright at your side, back wheel tilt, or side wheel tilt
Seam-sealed rain cover included
Bottom handle for easy over head lifting
Tripod mount and water bottle pocket on side
2-position locking handle extends to 39–42” for better ergonomics when pushing
Interior zippered pockets for batteries, CF cards, filters and accessories
Top zippered pocket for wallet or cell phone
Rapid access side pocket for travel essentials
Reinforced back panel for increased durability
User replaceable wheels
Seam sealed rain cover included

Grab handle on bottom.

Tripod/light stand carrier.

Think Tank Airport Roller Derby Review: Conclusion

I love this bag! This is my new go to for getting my camera gear to and from a location when I’ll be travelling on a plane. Combined with the Think Tank Airport Commuter backpack, which fits under the seat on the plane, I can carry an entire professional kit with cameras, lighting, modifiers, and computer as carry-ons. If you want a bag that will protect and transport all of your gear to your next adventure, last forever, and be super friendly to your body as a result of the 4 wheeled design, you can’t go wrong with the Think Tank Airport Roller Derby. For more, visit www.thinktankphoto.com or www.amazon.com/thinktankphoto.