Think Tank’s Very Practical Sling, The PhotoCross V2, Is a Winner

Think Tank released two new slings earlier in the year that are perfect for street, urban, and travel photographers. Depending on your gear, there are 11L and 14L options to choose from. I got my hands on the 11L in a rather fetching Desert Sage, and have been using it for around four months on the streets…

I’ve never been a fan of slings. I prefer a little shoulder bag, if I’m honest, but I figured I should give this new PhotoCross V2 a try because the design looks very well-considered and functional. And one of the best small shoulder bags I’ve ever tested comes from Think Tank—the PressPass 10. I get the impression they put more thought into their products than any other camera bag brand, and those little practical details really do make a difference.

The first thing that jumped out when I picked up the PhotoCross V2 was the really well-designed strap. It’s large and padded where it needs to be, and has load lifters and waist wings for additional comfort and support. The webbing on the top part of the strap allows you to add accessories and a camera clip. There is an additional waist harness that tucks neatly away in its own little hidden pouch. For slowly ambling around while shooting, it’s not required, but if you need to walk to your next location, it becomes useful to help keep the sling securely in place, eliminating bouncing and slipping forward.

The 11L features a main compartment that fits one standard camera body attached to a 24-70mm f/4, a 14-24mm f/2.8, or a 50mm f/1.4. Or you can stow a standard camera body attached to a lens plus 2–4 additional lenses. The main compartment is customizable. For general outdoor outings, I’ve had a Nikon Z6III fitted with a 50mm f/1.8, and two other lenses. For street outings, I carried my Leica Q2 Monochrom and Leica M10 fitted with a 35mm, plus an additional 50mm lens. It’s easy to access the compartment while wearing the sling by simply sliding it to the front of you.

There’s a generously sized water bottle pocket on the side that I found to be a perfect place to stow my mini tripod, which I often take out with me for nighttime shooting. If you wish to take a bigger tripod, you’ll find two straps in a zippered pocket in the main compartment. There are attachment points on the front of the sling.

The front compartment on the 11L version has a 1.5 L capacity, increasing to 2 L on the 14L version. This is the perfect place to stow personal gear, and it’s where I store my filters, spare batteries, phone, and sunglasses. Within this front compartment, there’s a zippered pocket with a key lanyard, which I appreciate.

The PhotoCross Sling V2 is made with rugged Cordura and ripstop nylon, and can handle a light shower, but for heavy rain, there is a seam-sealed waterproof cover. There are weather-resistant YKK AquaGuard zippers for reliable protection in wet conditions, and the breathable dual air mesh on the back keeps you cool and dry. Both the 11L and 14L versions come in either Basalt Black or Desert Sage. The 11L retails for $159.75, and the 14L retails for $175.75.

Since I’ve had a chance to use the PhotoCross V2 11L for a while now, I’ve grown to really love it. It simply does what it’s designed to do, and it does it well. I rate this a 9.5/10.