Like most photographers, I’m always on the hunt for the perfect camera bag. When I came across the Vanguard VEO Active 46 backpack (Amazon / B&H), I immediately saw a lot of potential. It’s a good-looking bag, big enough but not massive, with several unique and useful features. Now that I’ve spent some time with this bag, including some out-of-town travel, I can say that while I wanted to love it, the Vanguard VEO Active 26 doesn’t fit my style of carry for everyday use…but I won’t be getting rid of it, either.
Note: Vanguard sent us the Vanguard VEO Active 46 Backpack to review and keep. However, this is a completely independent review. All thoughts about this product are our own.
Vanguard VEO Active 46 Backpack — First impressions
Upon opening the box, I was quite taken with the overall look and quality of the pack. But my excitement quickly waned as I puzzled about how actually to use it. Backpacks shouldn’t be difficult to figure out, right?
The VEO Active 46 opens from the back, meaning you have to remove the pack to get to your gear. There is no side access. It features a steel frame that keeps it rigid and has a removable camera cube inside.
Vanguard VEO Active 46 Backpack — The camera cube
A separate camera cube is a genius idea. It provides amazing flexibility in how the bag is used. It can easily be a general-use backpack or camera-specific.
However, this camera cube was also the first thing to frustrate me. It has its own zipper closure (to be expected), and at first glance, it looked like I would need to deal with not just one zipper but two to get to my gear. It took some internet sleuthing, and watching some other review videos, to discover that the top cover of the packing cube was designed to be wrapped behind the cube itself, stowed so it wouldn’t be in the way. Nothing in the documentation that came with the backpack mentioned this. Figuring this part out felt way too hard.
Getting the camera cube in and out of the backpack frame is challenging. The fit is very snug – not necessarily a bad thing, but it is worth noting that taking it in and out, especially while fully loaded, isn’t easy.
Once I figured out the camera cube, the next step was to load this bag up. I was able to easily fit my Canon EOS R6 with 24-105mm lens, along with two other RF lenses, into the camera cube with room to spare for a battery charger, filters and other accessories.
Vanguard VEO Active 46 Backpack — Computer and tablet compartments
The back flap of the VEO Active 26 is designed to hold a laptop and tablet. My 14” MacBook Pro, along with my 11″ iPad Pro, fit snugly in the respective laptop and tablet pockets. For larger laptops, users will have to leave the computer at home or consider another bag.
Vanguard VEO Active 46 Backpack — Fit and function
Once I had the bag configured, I eagerly put it through its paces. Between outdoor photo shoots and a short trip, I had a fairly good feel for the Vanguard VEO Active 46 Backpack. The fit worked (mostly) well for me.
The size of the backpack on my 5′ 5″ frame was appropriate; not too big, but big enough to hold my gear. I will mention that if you are particularly well-fed, the waist strap isn’t ideal. The waist strap (needed for optimal comfort and weight balance) has several useful loops and an accessory pocket, but with the waist belt extended, the functional parts of the belt sit quite far back on the hips. Otherwise, carrying this bag is very comfortable with great padding and ventilation.
In using this backpack, gear access was its primary downside. With no side-access, anytime I needed to get to my camera or switch lenses, I had to fully take off the backpack, lay it on the ground and wrestle with the back panel and shoulder straps. If your goal with a camera backpack is to securely and comfortably transfer your gear from one place to another, it is great…but if you need on-the-go access, this bag may prove frustrating.
Pros
- Extremely well-made, rugged, nice materials
- Super comfortable to wear, even when fully loaded
- Pockets, straps, and loops galore for securing a variety of gear
- Hydration pack pocket
- USB charging-ready
- It looks like a good-quality backpack, but it doesn’t scream, “I’m carrying $5k+ of camera gear”
Cons
- No access to the main compartment while wearing the pack
- Challenging to figure out how to use the inner camera cube (documentation is really lacking)
- No little pouches specifically for memory cards/batters (but it does come with a small removable pouch for small accessories)
- Pouches on the waist belt are hard to access for someone with a bit of extra padding around their middle
