I’ve been a big fan of Holdfast Gear for a number of years now.
My fandom started when I bought the Holdfast MoneyMaker dual camera strap. Actually, it started when I unboxed the MoneyMaker...it was impressive, to say the least.
The build quality, the materials used, the functionality, and the comfort of the MoneyMaker were all off the charts.
Given what a great product that was, I decided to buy Holdfast’s Roamographer camera bag.
Expectations were high, to be sure. The question is - were those expectations met?
Holdfast Gear Roamographer Camera Bag Features and Benefits
Photo by Brandon Burk
One of the best features of the Roamographer is that it offers a highly customizable interior that allows you to carry different types and amounts of gear.
The regular Roamographer (which is the one I have) is ideally suited for DSLR kits, with room for a body with lens attached, an additional zoom lens, a flash, a tablet, a laptop, and various other necessities.
The camera insert keeps everything tidy and organized, and on those occasions when you need the bag to act as an overnight bag, you can simply remove the insert, stuff the Roamographer full of clothes and toiletries, and you’re off for the weekend.
The benefit to you, of course, is that you have a bag that can fit tons of stuff and pulls double-duty for work and for play.
Another feature that’s worth mentioning is that the Roamographer gives you the option to carry more gear on the outside of the bag.
While your camera and lenses are safe and sound inside, you can use the carrier straps on the outside to carry your tripod.
Additionally, you can attach a small camera to the Roamographers shoulder strap, that way if a must-have shot arises as you’re walking around, you have a camera at-the-ready.
In other words, with this bag, you can carry all the gear you need without any of it being in your way of working hands-free.
Speaking of hands-free, perhaps the most genius feature of the Roamographer is that it can be carried as a shoulder bag and as an attachment to the MoneyMaker dual camera strap.
The Roamographer has a big, beefy, padded camera strap that makes carrying the bag quite comfortable, but no matter how comfortable a shoulder strap might be, having the option to attach the back to a harness and carry it on your back is going to be more comfortable any day of the week.
Obviously, having this kind of versatility is a huge bonus for photographers of all types, because again, you have all your gear right at your fingertips, but it’s out of your way so you can work.
Holdfast Gear Roamographer Camera Bag Construction
When you buy a camera bag, you want something that’s versatile in addition to being durable.
The Roamographer certainly ticks both boxes…
Handcrafted from Great American Bison Leather, the exterior of this bag is absolutely beautiful. The leather on the body of the bag has a gorgeous texture to it that tells a story about the animal. The smooth carrier straps contrast nicely with the texture of the body to create a look that’s definitely eye-catching.
But this bag isn’t just about looking good. One look at the stitching and you understand that the bag was meticulously constructed to be a durable part of your kit for years to come.
And since leather ages so well, this bag can take its lumps and come out looking even better on the other side.
The shearling-lined shoulder strap is a nice addition as well.
Like the rest of the bag, the strap is beautifully made, and the addition of the shearling is a nice touch both from an aesthetic point of view and a comfort point of view. Even when the bag is full of gear, the shearling-lined strap helps soften the blow and distribute all that weight over a larger area.
Add in beautifully designed stainless steel hardware, and you have the makings of a bag that will turn heads while standing up to use and abuse for years and years to come.
Photo by Brandon Burk
The inside of the bag is every bit as well put together as the outside.
The removable insert is heavily padded to keep your expensive gear safe and sound on even the bumpiest of rides.
The lining inside the bag is light so you can see what you have in the bag, and it’s soft, too, so you don’t have to worry about your tablet screen or other delicate items getting scratched.
Holdfast Gear Roamographer Camera Bag Dimensions
The Roamographer comes in two sizes - small and regular.
The exterior of the small version measures 14.5” long, 9” tall, and 8” deep. The removable insert for the small bag is 13” long, 7” tall, and 7” deep, and has six pockets, two dividers, and one lens chassis.
The regular Roamographer’s exterior dimensions are 18” long, 14” tall, and 10” deep. The removable insert measures 17.5” long, 8” tall, and 8” deep. The regular insert consists of eight pockets, three dividers, and one lens chassis.
Holdfast Gear Roamographer Camera Bag Available Colors
Photo by Brandon Burk
Photo by Brandon Burk
The Roamographer comes in two colors, brown and dark chocolate.
Holdfast Gear Roamographer Camera Bag Price and Worth
I’ll come right out and say it...this is an expensive camera bag.
The regular version sells for $725 while the small version sells for $560.
However, the steep price tag is a bit misleading because once you buy this bag, you won’t have to buy another one.
By that, I mean that if you invest in a top-quality bag like this, you’ll get years and years and years of usage out of it rather than having to buy a new, cheap bag every couple of years.
In other words, the price up front is more, but in the long-run, it might very well be less expensive to buy a Roamographer than a long line of cheap bags.
So, for my money, this bag is certainly worth the price of admission.
From a versatility standpoint, a construction and quality standpoint, and a comfort standpoint, I think you’d be hard pressed to find a better leather camera bag on the market today.