I know what you're thinking...

How can camera bags be interesting?

Well, if you've ever had the experience of using a camera bag that's uncomfortable or poorly made or simply not very functional, you understand the value of finding a camera bag that's well put together.

If you know me, you know that I have a pretty high threshold for what I consider "well made."

And in the case of Xennec's new line of camera bags, I can safely say that we've got some very well made and interesting camera bags on our hands.

I've had three Xennec bags in my possession for about a week - the CityScape Messenger 13, the CityScape DayPack 15, and the CityScape BackPack 15 shown above.

Naturally, the messenger bag is geared towards photographers that need to run and gun and have ultra-quick access to their gear.

Worn as a shoulder bag or a sling, it's a simple matter of flipping open the large flap, grabbing what you need, and start taking photos.

 

The CityScape Messenger Bag is small enough to allow you to work in tight spaces - like busy city streets for a little street photography - while also giving you plenty of room for your camera, 3-4 lenses, and other camera accessories, as well as a 13-inch laptop and a 10-inch tablet in case you need to get some work done.

In my case, I can carry a Nikon D850 with an L-bracket and 14-24mm lens attached as well as a 24-70mm lens and a 70-200 lens in this bag, as shown below.

There's a magnetic side pocket built specifically for a water bottle, while the closures on the front are also magnetic, which makes for a quick and easy process to open the bag and secure it when you're done.

The carbonate-coated bottom resists water and is highly durable so you don't have to worry about dirt and grime soaking the bag. The seam-sealed rain cover is a nice touch as well.

The CityScape DayPack 15 offers even more storage capacity than the messenger bag.

You can easily carry a DSLR or mirrorless system with 3-4 lenses and all the needed accessories, including a travel-sized tripod or monopod, which you can carry in the magnetic tripod pocket on the side of the bag.

There's a laptop compartment that accommodates up to a 15-inch laptop while the 12-inch tablet pocket provides additional space for your devices. There's even an A4-sized document folder in case you have some paperwork you need to bring along with you.

The DayPack features waterproof zippers for the laptop and tablet compartments, a seam-sealed rain cover, and Twiz-lock zipper pulls for added security.

On top of all that, this bag can be converted to a traditional backpack by removing the padded internal compartments.

Speaking of the internal compartments, Xennec has integrated an easy-access panel on the back of the bag for super easy access to your camera when time is of the essence. And when you're wearing the DayPack, no one has access to your gear! Extra protection and stealth design!

The biggest of the three bags - the BackPack 15 - holds an absolutely incredible amount of gear, but does so without feeling overly big or bulky.

You can carry a DSLR or mirrorless system, 5-7 lenses, and all the accessories you need for shooting, in addition to a 15-inch laptop and a 12-inch tablet.

And like the DayPack, there's an integrated magnetic pocket for carrying a tripod or monopod.

But what's so great about this bag is that the interior space is flexible to meet your needs.

That is, if you have multiple cameras, you can easily add in a couple of extra bodies in place of having 5-7 lenses. As you can see above, you can even fit a drone in the bag without issue.

As with the DayPack, the BackPack has all the bells and whistles you could ever want to carry your gear safely. That includes waterproof zippers, Twiz-lock zipper pulls for added security, a sternum strap with magnetic closure, and a removable waist belt that's heavily padded for additional comfort, just to name a few features.

All told, Xennec has knocked it out of the park with these bags.

Not only do they hold a ton of gear and have smart features that ensure your gear is safe, but they also look like a million bucks.

On top of that, it's evident when you look at the construction of these bags that there's a lot of pride in the way they're made.

The stitching is spot on, the materials look and feel great and provide excellent durability, and they're comfortable to carry as well.

If I'm this impressed after just a week of testing these bags, I can't imagine how much I'll enjoy them after I've used them for a longer period of time!

Xennec has a Kickstarter campaign ongoing as we speak to fund these incredible bags.

If you've been looking for a camera bag that offers both form and function and does so in a way that keeps your gear safe and organized and keeps you comfortable, then I strongly urge you to give Xennec a good, long look.

I know I'm glad I did!

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If you're in need of a camera bag and do a quick search on the internet for one, you'll end up with dozens of results, and probably hundreds at that.

So that begs the question, do we really need yet another camera bag company with more bags for an already saturated market?

The answer to that question is yes!

Sure, there's tons of camera bags available today, but the problem is that so many of them are just not up to snuff.

Whether it's cheap materials, poor functionality, a lack of carrying comfort, or a combination thereof, most bags just don't cut it.

That's why I'm so excited about the Xennec bags that I've been testing the last couple of weeks.

There's three different models, each for a different type of photographer - the CityScape Messenger 13, the CityScape DayPack 15, and the CityScape BackPack 15.

As you can see in the graphic above, all three bags look great thanks to an attention to construction and detail that some camera bag companies seem to neglect.

When you actually hold one of these bags and examine it up close, you can see that the stitching is beautifully done. That, to me, is a top indication of whether a bag is well put together and if it's going to be durable for the long haul.

Aside from aesthetics and construction, Xennec has packed plenty of innovative features into these bags to make them more functional.

For example, on the DayPack 15 and BackPack 15, there's a side pocket for easily carrying your tripod.

But the innovative part of that is that the pocket opens and closes thanks to magnets, that way you can easily open it with one hand to put your tripod in and close it again with one hand when you don't need to carry a tripod.

Furthermore, this magnet system is used on the Messenger 13 to secure the flap, on the BackPack 15 on the sternum strap, and the water bottle pockets on each bag.

On top of that, Xennec has used a Durable Water Repellent (DWR) coating on the bags to keep your gear safe and dry. The waterproof zippers on the laptop and tablet compartments only further the bag's ability to keep moisture out.

Another neat feature that sets these bags apart is the Twiz-Lock zipper pulls on the DayPack and BackPack.

As you can see in the GIF above, the zipper pulls actually lock together to ensure a tight closure. Not only does that help ensure that you've actually zipped the bag up, but it also serves as a theft deterrent for would-be thieves.

But all of those amazing features aside, what really sets these bags apart from the crowd is the sheer volume of space they have inside for your gear.

Now, I'm not advocating that you carry every piece of equipment you have with you at all times.

However, if you have a big photo shoot coming up and you need to get your gear there in one bag (and in one piece), it's hard to beat these bags from Xennec.

In the photo above, you can see the Messenger 13 bag that I've been testing.

Inside, there's a Nikon D850 with an L-bracket and a 14-24mm lens attached. Also in the shoulder bag is a 24-70mm lens and a 70-200mm lens.

As you can see, all that gear fits in the bag beautifully. It's not bursting at the seams. My gear isn't piled on top of each other. It's nice, neat, and organized, just as it should be.

There's even room left over for a 10-inch tablet, a 13-inch laptop, and photography accessories like a flash, memory cards, batteries, and so forth. That's a huge amount of gear!

But, like any good camera bag, the Messenger 13 makes the experience of carrying a full load much easier.

The bag doesn't feel overwhelmingly large, and with a large shoulder pad to distribute the weight of the bag over a larger area, it's a comfortable bag to carry, even when it's loaded for bear.

When I'm roaming the city looking for things to photograph, this is the perfect bag to take with me. It's a perfect combination of aesthetics, functionality, and capacity!

Xennec's other bags follow suit with vast amounts of space for storage.

The DayPack 15 can accommodate a 15-inch laptop, a 12-inch tablet, a DSLR or mirrorless body, 3-4 lenses, a tripod or monopod, and all your small accessories.

And, as you can see above, Xennec has integrated an easy-access panel on the back so you can grab your gear in short order.

Of course, that panel can't be seen when you're toting your bag around, so it acts as an extra layer of protection for your gear.

The DayPack is perfect for photographers that have a long day of shooting ahead of them. I'm thinking of my portrait photography friends here in L.A. that have to go from one location to the next all over town. This bag would make the task of getting gear from Point A to Point B so much easier! If only the bag could make the traffic better...

And for photographers that have a big adventure lined up, Xennec's BackPack 15 (shown above) is the way to go.

We're talking your camera, 5-7 lenses, a tripod or monopod, a 15-inch laptop, and a 12-inch tablet with room to spare.

It's like having a little office right there with you wherever you go!

But, just like the Messenger 13 bag makes easy work of carrying a full load, so do the DayPack and BackPack bags.

These bags really are amazing in that they've achieved what so many other bags can't - dashing good looks, next-level storage space, superb functionality, and excellent comfort.

So, yea, there's a lot of bags out there, but after testing these bad boys, I can say with great confidence that we really do need another camera bag company - and that company is Xennec!

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