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Home → Reviews → Camera Gear Accessories

Think Tank Airport Roller Derby

By John Bosley 11 Comments
Last Updated On April 17, 2018

This is a review of the Think Tank Airport Roller Derby rolling camera bag. When I first saw that Think Tank had released a new 4 wheel camera bag, I was immediately curious. I had been using the Airport 4-Sight since it first came out and was very happy with it, but had filled it with as much gear as could fit in it and simply needed more room. The Roller Derby is a larger bag that looks like it has a few improvements over the 4-Sight. Could it become my new camera bag?

Think Tank Airport Roller Derby Camera Bag-1
NIKON D810 + 85mm f/1.4 @ 85mm, ISO 800, 1/160, f/2.8

Table of Contents

  • Product Specifications
    • Features
    • Dimensions
  • Overview
    • Initial Impressions
    • What’s In The Bag?
    • Build Quality
  • Field Use
    • Daily Use
    • Travel
  • Summary
  • Pricing and Where to Buy

1) Product Specifications

1.1) Features

– 4 dual wheel sets (8 wheels)
– Meets US domestic and most international carry-on size requirements
– Fits up to 2 standard DSLRs with lenses attached or 1 pro DSLR and 1 standard DSLR both with lenses attached
– Fits 6–7 standard zoom lenses or strobes
– Accommodates a 400mm f/2.8 unattached (without laptop in the bag ONLY)
– Fits up to a 15” laptop and a tablet in 2 dedicated interior pockets
– Lock & cable to secure zippers and tether the bag
– Tripod mount and a compressible pocket on the side
– 2-position locking handle extends to 39”–42” for better ergonomics when pushing
– Replaceable wheels
– Interior zippered pockets for batteries, SD/CF cards, filters and accessories
– Top zippered pocket for wallet or cell phone
– Rapid access side pocket for travel essentials
– Padded top and side grab handles
– Reinforced back panel for increased durability
– Seam-sealed rain cover

1.2) Dimensions

Exterior Dimensions 14” W x 22” H x 9.0” 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)
Weight 10.5-11 lbs (4.8–5 kg)
Tablet Compartment 10.5” W x 10.3” H x 0.6” D (26.7 x 26.1 x 1.5 cm)
Laptop Compartment 10.5” W x 14.5” H x 1.0” D (26.7 x 36.8 x 2.5 cm)

2) Overview

2.1) Initial Impressions

First impressions of Think Tank bags are generally the same. They all look very similar and you know that it’s a quality product. Once I started unzipping zippers and digging around a bit, I saw a lot of little things that I liked. For example, the front zippered pocket that has the the laptop and tablet compartments also has storage space for pens, pencils and other supplies that you don’t want cluttering the inside gear storage compartments. Another noticeable difference was the wheels, but I’ll talk about those more in a bit.

Think Tank Airport Roller Derby Camera Bag-5
Think Tank Airport 4-Sight (left) compared to Think Tank Airport Roller Derby (right)

2.2) What’s In The Bag?

Included with this bag are a rain cover and gear lock. The rain cover doesn’t take up much room and fits nicely into one of the rear compartments that isn’t good for much else due to the curve of the bag. The gear lock has a dedicated zippered compartment on the outside of the bag.

The dividers aren’t as easy to configure as some of the other Think Tank bags I’ve used in the past. There are many different sizes of dividers that seem to only work with specific configurations. I found myself wanting more of one particular divider size and having too many other another size. Eventually I found a layout that works for my gear, but it isn’t ideal.

Think Tank Airport Roller Derby Camera Bag-8
NIKON D810 + 85mm f/1.4 @ 85mm, ISO 800, 1/160, f/2.8

So, what did I end up fitting into the bag? Here’s the full gear list:
– Nikon D810
– Nikon D800
– Nikon 85mm f/1.4 AF-S (attached to the D810)
– Nikon 35mm f/1.4 AF-S
– Nikon 135mm f/2 AF-DC
– Nikon 50mm f/1.4 D
– Nikon 20mm f/2.8 D (not pictured)
– Nikon SB-800 x 2
– Pocket Wizard Plus 2 x 2
– Pocket Wizard Plus 3
– Vello Extension Tubes
– Lens Pen
– Gum
– Spare AA batteries x 8
– Spare Nikon EN-EL15 batteries x 2
– Spare CF and SD memory cards

In the exterior compartments I have my business cards, pens, energy snacks, backup cash and an emergency beauty kit.

That doesn’t really leave room for more gear (or larger lenses if, for example, I wanted to replace my 50mm with the new 58mm), which is disappointing since it’s larger than my previous bag but has the same amount of gear in it (although in my old bag I had lenses stacked on top of other lenses). Of course, everything is easier to access and there’s less risk of damage to my gear. I just feel like if the dividers had been a little easier to use I could have created a better layout that would have allowed for more optimized storage.

Think Tank Airport Roller Derby Camera Bag-9
My storage configuration in my Think Tank Airport 4-Sight
Think Tank Airport Roller Derby Camera Bag-10
My storage configuration in my Think Tank Airport Roller Derby

2.3) Build Quality

It’s a Think Tank bag. Build quality is one of the reasons that so many photographers use and trust Think Tank. The grab handles are very comfortable to use. The telescoping handle is smooth and secure. The zippers are rugged. The material is sleek and tough. The wheels roll smoothly. I can’t complain about build quality one bit.

Think Tank Airport Roller Derby Camera Bag-2
NIKON D810 + 85mm f/1.4 @ 85mm, ISO 800, 1/160, f/2.8
Think Tank Airport Roller Derby Camera Bag-3
NIKON D810 + 85mm f/1.4 @ 85mm, ISO 800, 1/160, f/2.8
Think Tank Airport Roller Derby Camera Bag-7
NIKON D810 + 85mm f/1.4 @ 85mm, ISO 800, 1/160, f/2.8

3) Field Use

3.1) Daily Use

On a day to day basis, this bag is pretty much like any other camera bag that I’ve used. Inside the bag, everything stays securely in it’s place and doesn’t shift around. There are plenty of storage compartments for miscellaneous items such as batteries, filters, pens and business cards. The velcro dividers stay secure and don’t scratch my hands when I reach into the bag. It’s simple and straightforward to use.

3.2) Travel

Traveling with the Roller Derby was an absolute joy! I took two trips with it, one to Cancun and one to San Diego. Both times I took it on the plane with me as a carry on and it fit into the overhead baggage compartment without any trouble. Navigating through airports and airplanes was very easy thanks to the telescoping handle and amazing wheels on this bag.

Let me tell you a bit about these wheels. First, they are larger than the wheels were on my 4-Sight. They’re also made of a soft yet durable material that makes them roll smoothly over cracks and bumps. But the thing that really stands out about these wheels is how easily they roll. Walking through airports across tile and carpet, it takes almost no effort to roll this bag. Honestly, this bag almost rolls too easily. There were times when I stopped on a slight incline and it started to roll away when I let it go. When I walked down a ramp, I actually had to hold onto it so that it wouldn’t get away from me. Really, though, this just means it’s very easy to roll, something that you’ll appreciate when navigating crowded airports, hotels or airplane aisles.

Think Tank Airport Roller Derby Camera Bag-6
NIKON D810 + 85mm f/1.4 @ 85mm, ISO 800, 1/160, f/2.8

Another feature that I didn’t expect to use but quickly came to appreciate is the laptop compartment. When I travel for work I generally bring my laptop with me. In the past, that meant a separate bag for my laptop and charger. Now, I can slip my 15″ MacBook Pro into the front of this bag and always have it with me. The charger easily fits inside with my camera gear or not-so-easily in the front pocket with my laptop. I chose to toss the charger in with my luggage and keep a book and magazine in the front pocket instead.

Think Tank Airport Roller Derby Camera Bag-4
NIKON D810 + 85mm f/1.4 @ 85mm, ISO 800, 1/160, f/2.8

4) Summary

You should strongly consider this bag if:

– You travel and want a mid-sized camera bag that fits into overhead compartments.
– You travel and want a bag that is easier to navigate through crowded spaces than most luggage
– You want a camera bag that can also hold your laptop and tablet
– You want a well made rolling camera bag that’s going to last you a long time

In my opinion, this bag is one of Think Tank’s best. It’s not the biggest, nor does it hold the most gear, but it should hold enough to keep most photographers happy. That’s what makes it so nice. It’s not so big that you’ll have a hard time traveling with it and it doesn’t hold so much stuff that you’ll give yourself a hernia lifting it into an overhead compartment. Rolling it around is nearly effortless. Could the dividers be easier to configure? Yes they could, but if that’s the only fault I can find, I can’t think of any reason not to recommend it. It’s not just a camera bag… it’s a mobile office.

5) Pricing and Where to Buy

The Think Tank Airport Roller Derby is regularly priced at $389.75 (as of 11/25/14) and is available at either Think Tank Photo, B&H Photo Video or Adorama.

Think Tank Airport Roller Derby
  • Features
  • Build Quality
  • Handling
  • Value
  • Size and Weight
  • Ease of Use

Photography Life Overall Rating

4.6

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Disclosures, Terms and Conditions and Support Options
Filed Under: Camera Gear Accessories Tagged With: Product Reviews, Roller Bag, Think Tank

About John Bosley

John Bosley is a wedding and portrait photographer in Denver who loves creating authentic, emotional images with his clients. He has a soft spot for functional antiques. You might see him writing with a fountain pen from his collection or shooting with one of his many film cameras. You can view his work on his website or see what he’s been up to lately on Instagram.

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11 Comments
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Abbie
Abbie
November 19, 2018 12:21 pm

Hi – reading this it seems like you prefer it from your old 4sight (which I own). Is it worth upgrading? The way you describe the wheels makes me think so!

0
Reply
John Bosley
John Bosley
Author
Reply to  Abbie
November 19, 2018 2:20 pm

Hi Abbie,

I definitely think this is the superior bag. It’s a bit bigger than the 4sight, but is still smaller than many of the big Think Tank bags. The wheels are amazing. Overall I’d highly recommend it.

0
Reply
yen
yen
July 2, 2018 11:25 am

hi
how to replace the wheels of my Think Tank roller derby as it broken, where i can buy ?
tks

0
Reply
Abbie
Abbie
Reply to  yen
November 19, 2018 12:24 pm

Go to thinktank photo.com for replacement parts

0
Reply
m35g35
m35g35
November 25, 2014 10:20 pm

How does this bag fit on a metro jet/commuter overhead bins?

0
Reply
John Bosley
John Bosley
Reply to  m35g35
November 26, 2014 4:14 pm

I honestly have no idea, as I only flew in large commercial jets on my trips. Hopefully someone else can help!

0
Reply
Blake
Blake
November 25, 2014 8:09 pm

It seems a little on the heavy side at 11lbs empty. Most airlines have a weight limit of 10kg (22lbs) for carry-on which is going to be surpassed with this full.

0
Reply
bd7891
bd7891
Reply to  Blake
November 26, 2014 7:51 am

Very few airlines (at least US commercial ones) will enforce the 22lb weight limit. I am almost always over this weight limit with either my Pelican 1510 in the past, or my current Streetwalker HD. The only time I have had my carry-on rejected was flying with Air New Zealand back into the states.

0
Reply
Blake
Blake
Reply to  bd7891
November 26, 2014 7:49 pm

Yea, but it only takes 1 time having to submit your carry on to check baggage for >$5k of glass to go *poof*

0
Reply
Christian Feeger
Christian Feeger
Reply to  Blake
December 27, 2014 4:31 am

Absolutely. In Australia and Europe typical onboard luggage weight is 7kg. So a bag that already weighs c.5kg is totally unsuitable for onboard use. Unless of course you happen to be travelling in business class! (o;

0
Reply
John Bosley
John Bosley
Reply to  Blake
November 27, 2014 8:41 am

I just took a look at the rest of Think Tank’s Airport series bags and it seems most of them weigh in at between 9-11 lbs, I’d be willing to bet that most rolling camera bags weigh this much and the only way to get your gear on a plane in a lighter bag would be to use a shoulder bag or backpack, which isn’t always ideal. Still, good to know about the carry-on weight limit, even if it is rarely enforced!

0
Reply

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