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Tamrac introduces colorful, water-resistant Hoodoo backpacks

Published Mar 18, 2016 | Damien Demolder

Bag manufacturer Tamrac has introduced a pair of water resistant backpacks designed for 'hiking and outdoor' photographers. The two Hoodoo bags are made with waxed canvas and PU-coated nylon that’s intended to keep out the rain, and they come in a choice of Kiwi green, pumpkin orange and ocean blue.

There are two versions; the Hoodoo 18 and the Hoodoo 20. The 20 is the larger and comprises two separate compartments and a removable camera module that has its own strap for carrying over a shoulder. The camera module has room for a small DSLR with a few extra lenses, while the upper part of the bag can be used for clothes and features a slot for a 15in laptop.

The Hoodoo 18 is suitable for a DSLR and a pair of lenses, and again the camera module is removable. The camera’s Goblin pouch fits into the upper compartment, while the front of the bag is for other items and a 13in laptop.

The Hoodoo 18 costs $79.95/£89.99 and the Hoodoo 20 $129.95/£130. For more information see the Tamrac website.

Press release:

New Tamrac Hoodoo Backpacks

Designed for adventure, the new series of backpacks take you and your camera anywhere you want to go.

Made from water resistant waxed canvas and PU coated, lightweight ripstop nylon, Tamrac Hoodoo packs feature comfortable harnesses and high-grade components. Available in 2 sizes and three vibrant colours, the Hoodoo series is destined to be your go to camera bag for hiking and outdoor use.

The Hoodoo18 is designed for carrying compact DSLR cameras or mirrorless systems plus a lens or two. Tuck your camera and extra lens into a Tamrac Goblin pouch and then pop them in the Hoodoo 18’s upper padded compartment, your personal gear in the main compartment and up to a 13” laptop in the laptop sleeve and you are ready for the day’s adventure.

Larger than the 18 model, the Hoodoo 20 is actually 3 packs in one: a fully protective camera backpack, stand alone camera shoulder bag or stylish day pack.

As a camera backpack, the Hoodoo 20 has easy access through the front of the pack to grab your camera. The fully protective camera module carries compact DSLRs and mirror-less camera systems with extra lenses. The top portion of the bag carries personal items as well as most 15" laptops in it's own protective sleeve. Or take out the protective camera module and use as a shoulder bag with included shoulder strap. The included dividers are fully customizable to adapt to your camera gear.

Both models are available in 3 colours: Kiwi green, Pumpkin orange and Ocean blue.
Suggested retail prices as follows:

Tamrac Hoodoo 18 £89.99 inc VAT
Tamrac Hoodoo 20 £130.00 inc VAT

Both bags are available immediately.

www.tamrac.co.uk

Tags: accessory-news, bags, tamrac

Comments

Total comments: 28

ugly

1 upvote

Well I didn't need a camera bag, but seeing as they come in different colors I've ordered a couple. :p

Edited 3 times; latest 3 minutes since posting

0 upvotes

MacArt!

0 upvotes

Looks like another feeble attempt to make a camera bag for outdoor enthusiasts. I have yet to find a dedicated camera bag that actually works for anything but casual short strolls in good weather, when I am not doing anything strenuous and don't need to carry anything non-photo related besides maybe a windbreaker.

I imagine most outdoor adventurers who also take photo gear along like myself already know that the best solution is to find a non-photography backpack that suits your style, and then deal with adapting it to the gear you take. What would be awesome is if someone like Osprey or Gregory decided to add a section of the pack designed for a body and some lenses, but that's probably getting too niche.

Also, gear loops! You can use them for an ice axe, or a tripod, or both like I sometimes do.

4 upvotes

That exists, it's the Jack Wolfksin pack that I already mentioned...The photo compartment is configurable and can be taken out (or used to compartmentalise other stuff). It's a good general purpose backpack... There's a bigger version now too. But the standard one is already big for taking on planes or busses etc.

0 upvotes

For a bag with proper waist straps etc., see e.g the Jack Wolskin ACS photopack. I used the predecessor of the current model a few years ago, and used the photocompartment also for other stuff, even 1 litre cartons of fruitjuice fit perfectly, multiple ones if you don't have much photo gear :)

Perfect for shopping for juice while on a long trek in cities...

Edited 1 minute after posting

1 upvote

I ended up finding this pack and getting in imported to Australia from Germany... shows just how hard it is to find a decent hiking pack. The harness is great on the Jack Wolfskin. I just wish it had a more expandable upper cargo compartment.

0 upvotes

Always amazes me when photo backpacks appear without a waist strap (cummerbund). Toting weight on shoulders is tiring/painful. All proper outdoor backpacks put the weight onto the waist band, and shoulder straps only need to be thin mesh -not weight bearing.

1 upvote

A belt on a small pack isn't very effective. What puzzles me is the lack of decent side pockets for bottles.

1 upvote

My comfortable backpacks transfer weight to hip not waist and keep center of gravity near torso. My photo packs carry the weight on shoulders with ineffective transfer to hip and have the weight centered too far away from body. My thinktank packs are wonderful for fitting camera gear but can be punishing to carry. This is why we all have a collection of packs!

0 upvotes

It's a non starter for me, if there is not the possibility of attaching a tripod

1 upvote

Just what the world needs, some more photographic backpacks.
Fortunately it's impossible to get them right so we can look forward to an endless supply of new versions. And of course many colours haven't been tried yet.

1 upvote

I have the Hoodoo 18 since 3 days. I'd like to see this new concept of the easily accessible top compartment on even bigger backpacks for hikes. The advantage compared to pockets which are normally integrated in the top lid of a big backpack is when you want to reach your private things:

In such situations, usually the backpack is standing upgright on a dirty ground and is lending against your leg or a wall. To access the main compartment one has to open a top lid, with the heavy camera inside, flap the lid aside and the whole thing topples down.

With the new concept the weight of the camera now stays in the top center of the backpack. Okay, you find your main compartment only under the internal 'balcony' of the top compartment.

Unfortunately, the Hoodoo 18 is in general not standing very well, because its bottom is more a point than a line. Maybe Tamrac designers haven't even recognized by themselves what nice idea they have created - but not fully implemented.

0 upvotes

I have the Hoodoo 18 in addition to three other larger packs. I find it almost perfect for quick trips when I want to travel light. There are only two changes I would like. The camera compartment is slightly too squeezy for an E-M1 with the 12-40mm f2.8. It is rare that I would want to carry a tripod if I'm travelling light but I would like to be able to strap one on if necessary. Tripods are such awkward things to carry if not strapped on. All camera backpacks should have tripod straps.

1 upvote

Tamrac spelled backwards is Carmat.

13 upvotes

ouch...

0 upvotes

And for those who prefer train travel to hiking, re-arrange "tamrac" to give "Amtrac" (well, close anyway).
Alternatively those of us who prefer to drive rather than lugging around sacks full of photographic gear on foot, it's "Tarmac".
.

2 upvotes

something that amazes me about the proliferation of camera backpacks for "hiking" etc, that pay almost no attention at all to the most important aspect which is the harness... where is the padded waist strap? it seems to be a niche no-one is interested in really filling.

6 upvotes

I have a Mindshift Panorama which has a very nice padded waist strap... and also allows you access to your camera plus a lens without taking off your sternum/shoulder straps. It is convenient, but the drawback is overall carry capacity is a bit lower than a regular camera backpack.

As a side note... what backpack isn't "water resistant"? I wish there was standard way to describe the level of water resistance to l4 basic levels like:

1. Will drench your gear in your own sweat
2. Can handle heavy rain
3. Can can handle a monsoon
4. Can be submerged in water for X mins

3 upvotes

I find even the chest strap a PITA and don't use it. I would suggest that if you hike that extreme that you need a complete harness then you need a far more advanced pack any.

Edited 13 minutes after posting

0 upvotes

@BobT3218 - Do you mean taking off your chest strap? Or do you just not like chest straps in general (why?)

. I like chest straps even on day picks as I have narrow shoulders and it help distributes the weight more comfortably. What do you mean by "completely harness"?

0 upvotes

LowePro has real good harnesses on their Photo-backbags (because the have the same good technique on their hikingbagbacks), Manfrotto has a hikingbagback with a good harness and thinktank too ...
The problem with small backpacks is that they don't reach down to your hips, they are simply not long enough to reach to that point were a harness could work

0 upvotes

What I miss are packs that are actually suited for multi-day distance hiking / mountaineering while carrying photo equipment.

I.e. bags big enough to also store clothes, sleeping bag, cooking equipment; somewhere to strap tent / tarp to, etc and the comfort features of traditional heavy duty backpacks - while also featuring the ease of access to and protection of photo equipment of these designated packs. Niche thing, of course, but if just one or two companies had something like that in their lineup I'd be much happier :)

2 upvotes

@Mnemon have you heard of Aarn Packs? They intrigue me.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K0pgp1hTNrU

0 upvotes

@LagacyGT - I like chest straps for general hiking but not for camera packs. It seems almost inevitable that as soon as I do up the chest strap, I see another scene worth taking a pic of.

0 upvotes

@LegacyGT Oh, yes, I remember coming across that system quite a while back. I am not quite sure I am convinced yet - can get that wearing something as a counterbalance at the front might help with balance, but also remember just how much hotter I'd got the few times I'd done the "have extra smaller backpack at front" while travelling with train / plane.

The extra insulation that comes with that really makes a difference (in a bad way) even on flat terrain. So I dunno. Interesting concept, not that sure it's really all that comfortable.

0 upvotes

@BobT3218 that's why I said I like the Mindshift Panorama because it "allows you access to your camera plus a lens *without* taking off your sternum/shoulder straps." (emphasize on the WITHOUT). It's not perfect as I mentioned in my original post, but it does avoid the very situation you are talking about.

@Mnemon - yea, I'm not convinced it will be that comfortable... I wish they offered like 24 hour demo/rentals to try it out.

0 upvotes

Yes, yes, we know, you don't have to repeat everything several times.
http://www.dpreview.com/news/8619242149/tamrac-hoodoo-series-launches-with-two-camera-bags

11 upvotes

Total comments: 28

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