Whether you're a travel or commercial photographer, getting your bag around the airport or to your next shoot can get annoying—if only there were a bag that made traveling a little easier.
The Think Tank Airport Roller Derby V2 is the traveling or commercial photographer’s newest and best friend. It is a four-wheel rolling camera case built for the serious user. It allows easy maneuverability in tight spaces with minimal effort to push through that congested airport or down the hall to your next photo shoot. Need to take a lot of gear and fit it in the overhead compartment internationally and domestically? It can do that, too! How about fitting your 400mm f/2.8? It does that as well!
Who Is Think Tank?
Ask Think Tank who they are, and they will say, “We are a group of designers and professional photographers on a mission to design and create the highest-quality travel gear for the world’s traveling observer.” Founded in 2005, Think Tank desires to help photographers see the world and capture moments while creating the highest-quality travel gear. Think Tank has become the leading company for high-quality travel gear for the most dedicated photographers and professionals.
First Impressions and Design
I have yet to meet a Think Tank bag I didn’t like, and the Airport Roller Derby V2 is no different. This bag is packed with features—no pun intended! I am not talking about useless features! Think Tank Photo puts a lot of thought into designing its bags for the avid and everyday working photographer, as well as a bag designed for traveling or commercial photo shoots. The bag is built to take a beating, so it's a great travel and commercial photographer's bag. The outer bag is made with 1680D ballistic nylon, so you know it will hold up and take a beating. Coated with a durable water-repellent (DWR) coating, a little moisture won’t be a big deal, and it also comes with a seam-sealed rain cover.
Capacity and Layout
I am always looking for a bag I can stuff full of gear in a smaller footprint, even with roller bags. The Airport Roller Derby V2 does just that for me; it is packed with gear and keeps a small footprint. This is great when traveling through a congested airport or crowded space. Sometimes, I find myself in a small, crowded space on a commercial shoot, so space is vital. The bag has external dimensions of 14” W x 22” H x 9” D (35.6 × 55.9 × 22.9 cm) and internal dimensions of 12.6” W x 18.5” H x 5.5–7.5” D (32 × 47 × 14–19 cm). I love shooting tethered, as many commercial photographers do. I hate having to take a separate bag for my laptop as it's just another bag to carry and keep track of all day. The Airport Roller Derby V2 has a compartment for my computer and tablet. I will take my tablet while taking a road trip and make quick edits in Lightroom on my iPad Pro. It's nice to have laptop and tablet compartments to store one or the other. The tablet compartment comes in at 10.5” W x 10.5” H x 0.6” D (26.7 x 26.7 x 1.5 cm), and the laptop compartment is 10.5” W x 14.25” H x 1” D (26.7 x 36.2 x 2.5 cm). Both of these compartments will fit most tablets and laptops.
What Fits in the Bag?
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2 standard-size camera bodies with lenses attached
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1 gripped camera body and 1 ungripped camera body, both with lenses attached
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6–7 standard lenses or strobes
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16” MacBook Pro
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12.9” iPad Pro
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400mm f/2.8 unattached (without laptop in the bag only)
Organization Features
The Airport Roller Derby V2's design features several organizational elements, including compartments for your tablet and laptop.
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A dedicated, plush-lined pocket for your phone and sunglasses is on the front flap.
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A zippered organizer pocket is on the front of the laptop compartment.
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A pocket for a tripod mount or a water bottle is on the side.
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Interior zippered pockets for batteries, memory cards, filters, and accessories.
Portability and Travel Readiness
Nothing can be more frustrating than arriving at the gate to board the aircraft and checking in your bag—especially camera bags. Who trusts the airlines with their cameras? Not me! The Airport Roller Derby V2 has a specially designed interior that maximizes gear capacity while meeting most U.S. domestic and international airline carry-on requirements! The bag also includes lockable YKK RC Fuse zippers, allowing your gear to be secured. The Travel Sentry-approved lock enables security authorities to open, inspect, and relock your bag. Another great feature included in the bag is the Security ID Plate. The plate features a unique serial number that, when registered with Think Tank, increases the chances that your lost bag can be returned to you!
The bottom handle makes lifting your heavy bag into the overhead bin on the aircraft easy. The Airport Roller Derby V2 easily glides as you pull using the two-position locking handle, which extends to 38”–42.75” for better ergonomics when pushing and pulling. The wheels feature three ways to roll: upright at your side, back wheel tilt, or side wheel tilt. Also, the four dual-wheel sets provide 360-degree maneuverability in tight spaces, and large rear wheels enable effortless, tilted two-wheeled rolling. Another great feature is that the wheels are user-replaceable.
Durability and Weather Resistance
The Airport Roller Derby V2 is extraordinarily durable, built like all Think Tank bags, and takes a beating! The bag has a reinforced back panel for increased durability. The bag's exterior is made of NY 1680D ballistic material and three-ply bonded nylon thread, durable water-repellent (DWR) coating, polyurethane coating, and the handles are made of 3D air mesh. The bag's interior has a Poly 200D PU grey and navy, 210D silver-toned nylon, and polyurethane-backed velex liner and dividers. The bag includes a very nice 2x polyurethane-coated nylon 210T seam-sealed rain cover. It will withstand the elements.
Price and Value
Regarding price and value, the Airport Roller Derby V2 is $429.75. This is a “buy-it-for-life” bag. With heavy use, you won't be replacing it every few years. It will hold up with heavy use and can take a beating. Though the bag may not be as cheap as some would like—I already said it—it’s a “buy-it-for-life” bag. If you ever have issues with the bag, I highly recommend emailing Think Tank Photo’s customer service. I have been there and done that—we’ve been taken care of, and they made it right, even on a bag that was several years old.
Who's It For?
This bag is mainly designed for photographers on the go. It has plenty of features that make traveling easier, like ways to roll: upright at your side, back wheel tilt, or side wheel tilt. It meets most international and U.S. carry-on requirements. It has a lock and cable to secure and tether the bag, interior zippered mesh pockets for batteries, memory cards, filters, and other accessories, and a bottom handle for easy overhead lifting, to name a few. This bag is for you if you are a commercial or travel photographer. In the right situations, this bag can be utilized by almost any photographer.
Notable Features
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Meets most international and U.S. carry-on requirements
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Fits a 16” MacBook Pro and 12.9" iPad Pro in dedicated, padded pockets
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Lock and cable to secure and tether the bag
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Lockable YKK RC Fuse zippers
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Seam-sealed rain cover included
Specifications
- External Dimensions: 14” W x 22” H x 9” D (35.6 × 55.9 × 22.9 cm)
- Interior Dimensions: 12.6” W x 18.5” H x 5.5–7.5” D (32 × 47 × 14–19 cm)
- Tablet Compartment: 10.5” W x 10.5” H x 0.6” D (26.7 x 26.7 x 1.5 cm)
- Laptop Compartment: 10.5” W x 14.25” H x 1” D (26.7 x 36.2 x 2.5 cm)
- Weight: 9.9 lbs. (4.5 kg)
Pros
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There is plenty of space for gear, and a 16” MacBook Pro and 12.9" iPad Pro fit in dedicated, padded pockets
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Durable, reinforced back panel for increased durability, and seam-sealed rain cover is included
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Meets most international and U.S. carry-on requirements
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Security ID Plate features a unique serial number that, when registered with Think Tank, increases the chances that your lost bag can be returned to you
Cons
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I would like to see a slightly heavier lock
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Dedicated pockets for batteries
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An outside pouch dedicated to holding a power bank with a slot to run your phone's charging cable through to the phone
In The End
In conclusion, the Think Tank Airport Roller Derby V2 stands out as a thoughtfully designed, travel-ready camera bag built for the working photographer who refuses to compromise on space, durability, or convenience. With features that cater to both commercial and travel photographers—like ample gear capacity, overhead bin compatibility, smart internal organization, and exceptional build quality—this bag proves itself to be a long-term investment. Whether navigating a tight airport terminal or heading into a demanding shoot, this bag rolls with you every step of the way.
