Review: Think Tank Skin Set, Belt & Harness
November 11, 2008 by Gavin Gough
Think Tank in Dorset © Jo Power
This is a long overdue review of the Think Tank Skin Set with accompanying Steroid Belt and Pixel Racing Harness.
Let me start by saying that I’m not sponsored by Think Tank Photo so you should have no fears about my review being in any way biased. However, I should declare that I was supplied with this gear by Think Tank with the express purpose of testing and reviewing it.
This review is the culmination of a year’s extensive testing.
Searching for the Holy Grail
I’ve used all sorts of camera bags. I’ve had a variety of LowePro Trekkers and Computrekkers, which have served me well. I’ve had massive Crumpler bags (Brian’s Bathtub was, I suspect, named literally!), I’ve used classic Domke bags and the even more classic Billingham bags. I’ve had rucksack models, over the shoulder models and slingshot models.
And all, without exception, have been the source of great frustration at one time or another. Either too small to comfortably carry enough gear for a day’s shoot or so big and bulky that even when empty they exceed the maximum size and weight for airline carry-on restrictions.
At one stage my growing collection of day-to-day camera bags threatened to consume my study whilst redundant bags were already taking up valuable storage space in the cupboard beneath the stairs. It reached the point where my Significant Other explained to me in no uncertain terms that if the bags weren’t quickly put up for sale on eBay then I might find myself put up for auction.
And so the search for the Photographer’s Holy Grail: the perfect camera bag, continued.
Think Tank in Bhutan © Lee Ann Durkin
Rucksacks v Shoulder Bags v Belts & Pouches
I find that rucksacks are better for spreading the heavy load of camera bodies and lenses than over-the-shoulder models but they’re such a hassle to get into. The nightmare memory of desperately trying to rummage in a Crumpler rucksack in search of a lens in Budapest will stay with me for a long time. The light was gorgeous but the setting sun was about to disappear behind Castle Hill and the golden dome of the Parliament Building was threatening to fade to an uninspiring grey at any second. I quickly shrugged the backpack onto the ground, hearing a simultaneous splash and crack as I dropped it into a large puddle, forgetting that I’d just placed a rather expensive polarising filter into the rear pocket. I got the shot but picking up the sodden rucksack and clearing away the splintered glass left me vowing to find a solution that worked.
I’ll cut to the chase and say that I think the Think Tank Skin Set is the closest I’ve come to finding the perfect camera gear carrying solution.
Think Tank Skin Set ($149.00 / £95.00)
The set comprises five Skin pouches. Each is designed for a particular purpose and the size and shape of each varies to accommodate different configurations. I’ll talk about them in terms of my specific gear although they’re flexible enough to be used with variations of bodies, lenses and accessories.
The Skin 50 carries either my 16-35mm 2.8 or my 24-70mm 2.8 lens with, and this is important, the hoods in position. I tend to keep the hoods on my lenses as a matter of course but having to constantly remove and reverse them to squeeze them into rucksacks is annoying and time-consuming. The Skin 50 is also the perfect size for carrying my large pouch of Lee Grad filters.
The Skin 75 easily accommodates my 70-200 2.8 with room to spare and includes a canny “pop-down” section where the bottom extends to allow the lens to be inserted with hood attached. The pop-down section can be zipped back into position at the end of the day but works as a kind of deep drop bag for anything that you want to quickly get out of your hands.
The Skin Strobe carries, unsurprisingly, my 580 EXII flash. What’s more surprising is that I can easily fit it inside with an Omnibounce still attached and I’m pretty sure that it would be large enough to cope with some of the other flash attachments that are on the market.
The Skin Double Wide is ginormous and can easily swallow up large zoom lenses. I tend to keep my 85mm 1.2 in there together with personal items and accessories and perhaps a drink bottle. It’s another pouch that I tend to use to drop things into and is flexible enough to cope with any of the gear that I take out with me.
Finally, the Skin Chimp Cage can carry a spare body, another lens, books, maps or pretty much anything else and also has a pop-down section for extra storage.
Each of the bags is made from rip-stop nylon and after a year of extensive testing, none of the pouches are showing any significant signs of wear and tear. Indeed, they all look remarkably unscathed given the abusive treatment they frequently receive. Each bag also has large pockets which can carry spare batteries, pens, notebooks, memory-cards etc.
Attention to detail
Now here are two of my favourite points about the Skin Set pouches: Firstly, all of the pouches come with a closely-fitting, detachable rain cover that stows in a small zipped section at the bottom of the respective pouch. If it starts chucking down then whipping out the detachable cover is quick, easy and effective. I know what you’re thinking, what if you detach the five individual rain covers on a dry day, they’re going to get mixed up and you’ll never get the right rain cover back inside the right pouch. Don’t fret! With an example of the kind of attention to detail that I find really reassuring, each bag is named with a tag and each rain cover carries a corresponding name tag. It reminds me a little of when my mother used to sew name tags into my P.E. kit and, in the same way that it used to help me quickly find my shorts and T-shirt when my “mates” had dumped them at the bottom of the Lost Property bin, little things like this can save a lot of time and confusion - and potentially damp equipment.
I hate Velcro. I know, I know, it’s very versatile and amazingly clever but it’s so damn noisy. I hate the sound of Velcro closures being ripped open and it’s a bloody nuisance when you’re trying to be quiet and go unnoticed. Skin pouches close with large Velcro squares but Think Tank have included a secret weapon that I think should be a legal requirement wherever Velcro is found. It’s called The Sound Silencer and is a simple device that allows you to fold the Velcro square back on itself, thereby disabling it and leaving you able to open and close the pouch flap without any disturbing ripping sounds. The flap even has small speaker icons on it, which I think is a nice touch.
Steroid Speed Belt ($47.50 / £30.00)
Each pouch carries a “Rotate or Lock” mechanism that allows it to be attached to a Think Tank belt. The pouch can either be locked into a specific position on a belt or left to rotate freely around the belt’s circumference. Locking pouches into place means that you can position them just where you want them whilst leaving them unlocked allows them to be rotated to a position behind you when they’re not needed. It’s a nifty solution that works well in practice.
The Steroid Speed Belt is padded, adjustable and I have little more to say about it other than it transfers the weight of your gear to your hips, is robust and works without hassle.
Pixel Racing Harness ($35.00 / £22.00)
The shoulder harness is designed to attach to a Think Tank belt and after a bit of fiddling around can be adjusted so that there’s a good balance where the weight is spread across your shoulders and around the waist. It attaches securely but there’s still enough wiggle room to swing the belt around your waist by a few degrees, bringing rear-mounted pouches within reach.
The harness also offers an elasticated pocket by each shoulder, which would be ideal for carrying a mobile phone and GPS device but I found that the top of the pocket was so tight that it was difficult to squeeze anything inside it and almost impossible to remove again. A pen or two maybe but nothing larger.
And the proof of the pudding?
The first time I loaded up the pouches and attached them to the belt and harness combination was a telling moment. I was unpacking the car in readiness for a day’s shooting and had slid into the harness and buckled the belt. I laced up my walking boots, picked up a hat and my wallet from the passenger seat and then cursed myself as I looked around the car for my missing camera bag. Such was the difference in terms of weight and comfort from carrying a rucksack that I’d forgotten that I was already carrying all of my gear.
Although the pouches are sizeable, almost tardis-like in terms of what they’ll carry, they never seem bulky when on the belt. I’ve tested the Think Tank gear in all sorts of environments, from day-long treks up Cumbrian mountains to hectic, urban assignments. They’ve accompanied me on trips to Europe, Asia and, most recently, to Bhutan. Because the pouches are detachable it’s possible to change the configuration to suit the job in hand. I can squeeze all the gear I need for a day-long shoot into four pouches or I can just take a spare lens in a single pouch when I’m only going to be out for an hour or two.
I’ve recently removed all of the foam dividers from my travelling carry-on luggage (review to appear here next Tuesday) and now simply load it up with my packed Skin pouches so that when I arrive at my destination I can simply slide the pouches onto the belt and I’m ready to head out.
What’s the catch?
I’ve spoken enthusiastically about the Think Tank pouches, belt and harness because I’m genuinely enthusiastic about them. And after 12 months of continued use, that’s quite something.
However, there are some niggles although they’re little more than that. A balanced review should list the shortcomings as well as the advantages and so they’re listed here although I honestly struggled to think of what to include in this section.
OK. Firstly, when you remove the harness with the pouches attached the whole contraption begins to act like an ill-behaved octopus. Unlike a rucksack, which you can shrug off your shoulders and which will sit politely on the floor where you leave it, a Think Tank belt and pouches lose their shape once removed and it can be a bit of a juggling act to control them. It’s not a big issue but it can be awkward to know which part to grab when you’re getting out of a taxi in a hurry, for example.
It’s also easy to forget just how much gear is stowed in those pouches and it can be tempting to just grab a seat whilst still wearing the harness. That speaks volumes for how comfortable the harness and belt feel but you might find yourself perched on the very edge of a chair with your gear taking up the bulk of the available space behind you.
Oh, also the webbing on the rear of my harness has started to unravel and looks a bit shabby now but I think that’s down to my tendency to lean against walls when I’m waiting for the “decisive moment”.
When the pouches are arranged behind you they can be a bit awkward to reach. The belt will slide round a bit to bring a locked, rear-mounted pouch within reach but there’s some yoga-style twisting involved. I’ve taken to putting the gear I use most regularly into side-mounted pouches and easy to grab items, like drink bottles, into the rear pouches. Think Tank also offer a harness that they’ve called, worryingly, the Belly Dancer, which provides pouch loops at the front. I think both Matt Brandon and David duChemin have said that they’ll be trying this type of harness in future although the image of those two wearing anything known as a “Belly Dancer” is probably not one that you want to dwell on for very long.
Which reminds me of my final point. Although the pouches and belt are ideal for my type of work I was concerned at first that the combination might look a little cumbersome and perhaps draw more attention than I’m comfortable with. I favour camera bags that don’t scream “Look at me, I’ve got lots of gear” and would choose an old army surplus satchel before using a flash, neon, bells and whistles bag. In fact, the pouches get in the way less than a big rucksack does and are probably less conspicuous. It’s also true to say that Style is a land untroubled by a visit from me for many years and the desire to look fashionable is something that I’ve long since stopped worrying about.
Summary
My dream camera bag would condense my gear into a pocket-sized container and magically reduce it to the weight of a feather. Assuming that it’s going to be a while before such a bag hits the shops, the Think Tank Skin Set, belt and harness will remain my preferred camera-lugging gear. The combination of all three removes the back-breaking chore of carrying weighty equipment around and the ability to gain quick access to gear without the hassle of taking off and unzipping a rucksack means that I get shots that might otherwise escape me. That’s no small consideration in my job.
The cost of the Skin Set, Steroid Speed Belt and Pixel Racing Harness is a fraction over $230 / £147, which puts them firmly within the range of anyone looking to buy a decent camera bag. Given the quality of the gear I think that’s a very reasonable price and I wouldn’t worry about paying that for a quality product which I know can help me do my job. Hefty rucksacks can sap energy like a sponge and I know that I shoot for longer and stop less frequently when wearing my Think Tank gear.
The attention to detail is outstanding and small but crucial things like the Velcro silencers are evidence that the bags were designed by working photographers who understand what’s important. The only person who I know isn’t celebrating the ease and comfort offered by my Think Tank gear is my Osteopath.
Pros:
- No more bad back!
- Makes shooting a much more comfortable experience
- Helps, not hinders, me when I’m working
- All gear within reach
- Loads of space inside pouches
- Built-in rain covers
- “Silent mode” velcro suppressor
- Attention to detail in manufacture
- Reasonable price
Cons:
- Can be awkward to reach around to pouches on the back of the belt
- Loses shape when taken off
- Harness webbing could be more rugged
- Shoulder pockets are too small
Great review, Gavin. Spot on. A shame you’ve had that wear on the harness - mine looks brand new after a full year of use. Wonder if yours just has a defect…
I’ll let you know how the, er, Belly Dancer (worrying indeed) works - I’m taking it along on this assignment to Kenya to give it a run. Leaving 14th, back on 23rd, short trip…
I’ve not had a chance to read the review, I will do as soon as I get back in tonight, but is that what you wearing in Swanage? My memory’s a bit fuzzy but if it is, I remember thinking at the time that it looked a lot more sensible than the entire Milletts store I was carrying own my own back
Nothing fuzzy about your memory Ian, that’s what I was wearing when we took our coastal walk.
Happy days!
Happy days indeed, and a great review. I’ll be taking myself off for a closer look when next months pay packet hits the bank I think. One question though:
What’s the potential for stealth around town? I mean, you mention some things being quite bulky and your concern for the attention it could bring, but imagine using say, a double wide & one or two 75’s, d’you think you could get away with that worn over a t-shirt and then a large ex-army style (or similar) jacket over the top of that? From the pics it looks a possible solution.
With a backpack you look like half the office workers out there these days, with the harness i’m wondering if it might scream “rob him!!” a bit too much for walking around London, etc.
Good question Ian. I think this gear is perfect for events where people would expect to find photographers and I’d also be happy walking through the countryside wearing it, for example.
However, I do hesitate to wear it around cities, especially London. Such is the paranoia in London these days that getting on the Tube wearing this gear would, I fear, see other passengers beating a hasty retreat to the far end of the carriage.
It’s nonsense of course and there’s no logic to such reactions but I think wearing something that might look “out of the ordinary” could be tempting fate.
I think you could get away with the belt and one pouch, the 75 for instance but anything more might be conspicuous.
I’ve tried wearing a long coat over this gear too but it’s never worked very satisfactorily. The pouches are bulky when they’re full and wearing a coat over them is too awkward.
I think for urban environments, Think Tank’s Urban Disguise bag or their Speed Freak belt pack might be the solution,
Great review. Just what I was looking for after a 4-days trip back from Angkor Wat wearing my Lowepro backpack and all the lens. It is cumbersome to take off the backpack and changing lens. I was looking for a solution to help with my travels and also allowed me to quickly get my stuff and change lens without taking anything off. This looked like a great solution. However, I’m afraid that this looked too noticeable and too serious. Hope there is another solutions that is the same (quick access) but less of a showoff. Thanks
It’s great to see an honest and balanced review from first hand experience. Thanks Gavin!
You say you did a day walk with this system. From your experience (or opinion) would it be possible to use this system in conjunction with a normal walking rucksack? This may be a solution for me when trekking.
Dave
You could use this system with a backpack too and I’ve considered taking a smaller rucksack for waterproof gear, first-aid kit etc. for when I’ve been walking in more remote places. Yes, I think that would work.
Peter
Hope you had a good time in Angkor.
I’ve just used this gear exclusively on a two-week trip in Bhutan and didn’t feel it was too conspicuous. It depends very much on where you’re going and how you’re travelling I guess and whilst it may not suit everyone, it’s been working really well for me.
Great review Gavin. I’ve been using ThinkTank gear since 2006 and it’s been pretty much bullet proof. The Skin series is especially nice because it’s lighter and more compact.
jack
Thanks Gavin. The trip to Angkor was great and memorable. I can’t keep my mind of it, will go back again very soon. I think after your review and comments, I will buy this set and test it out at the next Angkor trip. Thanks….
A most useful review Gavin, thank you. I’ve been looking at the Think Tank range recently as part of my never-ending quest to find the ultimate camera carrying system. I suspect that it is still a little too obvious for much of London or other similar urban conurbations but the fact that it can be worn as well as a conventional back pack would make it most useful elsewhere. It’s amazing what clever redistribution of weight can do, I’ve been trying several tripod carrying solutions recently and it’s amazing how much easier some of them make carrying even really heavy tripods.
PS: Did you know that you could nearly a whole cup of tea inside a Logitech wireless keyboard? The keyboard doesn’t work afterwards and the tea gets somewhat tepid but I think these things should be known.
Many thanks for the reply Gavin, i’ll have a look at that option in the coming days. I’m back down in London on tuesday for a couple of days & I think i’ll be using the defender again which is why I was wondering about it. I’ll need that for chucking a few clothes in and stuff but walking around is always a different perspective to being prepared. For my photography i’ll probably get away with the 70-200 & the 10-22 plus body. If the speed freak does it there, then with the addition of the harness that might be my all-round solution.
Thanks again
Ian
Gavin - I wear mine all over the place without worry about looking conspicuous. When has this lot ever looked anything but? Khaki vests stuffed with gadgets? Not much better. I agree they look somewhat, uh, tactical, but when you’ve got a camera or two people just write you off as a nutter photobug and leave you alone.
I just figure I’m a working professional there to do my job and I do it - people stop staring after a while in the west, and everywhere else they stare because I’m a goofy white bald man, not because I’m wearing a crazy looking rig on my shoulders.
Goofy, David? Never let it be said.
I think the concern about being conspicuous amounts to more than just not wanting to be stared at. In cities like London, for example, where the Metropolitan Police have just run an ad campaign asking the public to report photographers who look “odd”, wearing a full belt and harness is likely to be asking for trouble.
I’d like to think that anyone would be free to wear whatever they fancied without fear of unwanted (and unwarranted) attention from the authorities but the truth is that stepping onto an Underground train or walking through Regent’s Park wearing a full body harness and belt is going to get you, at best, stopped and questioned.
As you say, it’s all about blending in and I can happily walk through the centre of Bangkok wearing my Think Tank gear without fear of being conspicuous because Farang (white foreigners) are expected to look unusual. However, I couldn’t walk through my home town in the UK or through central London wearing the same get-up because people would be suspicious and the chances of me getting stopped by the local constabulary would be very high.
It’s a sad fact but this is the world we live in.
Shoot Gavin, that means I can’t use this then because I live in Vietnam and am short tan Asian man. I can’t look unusual like a Farang. Oh well, gotta look for another solution for an Asian photographer shooting in Asia.
Gosh, this is much harder than buying camera and lens.
Peter
Probably best to get a Farang to carry your gear for you.
I could be persuaded
Like yourself and many others, it seems, I struggled to find a suitable system for carrying my gear around.
Eventually, I devised my own bag and it has worked well over the years. It is surprisingly roomy, flexible and waterproof. And for just a little extra outlay, it can be made to last a lifetime.
If anyone is interested, I’d be happy to provide several of these at cost.
CLICKY
T.E.S.C.O.?
Transitional Equipment Solution for Cameras & Other things?
Interesting storage solution there Masher. One that perfectly reflects your unique sense of élan and panache.
Where do I sign?
Thanks for the review!
You already answered a question about this system with a backpack, but would you mind posting a photo with this setup + a 30L (max) backpack?
Thanks
Hi Jeroen
I don’t have a picture of the skin set and a backpack unfortunately. I think you can see from the pictures above that you could also wear a small, day backpack with the harness and belt but you might find there was more room for a backpack with Think Tank’s “Belly Dancer” belt that puts the pouches around the front.
With a Think Tank set AND a backpack you’d have room for a hell of a lot of gear. More than I’d want to carry I guess but if you have that much gear then it would work.
Thanks for the review!
Now… how do you carry your camera(s) ? Do you use a strap (R-strap, Y-strap…)? And when you are not using it, where do you put it?
I was wondering if a small backpack would allow me to carry the Think Tank pouches and the camera (and possibly a small tripod) when I am not using them.Then, when I need them, I would place the needed pouches on the belt, and keep the backpack for less used items. What do you think?
Thanks Gavin.
I’m thinking about buying the skin system for my main photo gear and a small backpack for my other stuff (jacket, food, first aid kit).
Seems like it would work
Bernard, I carry my camera with an Optech strap (review coming soon). I carry it over my shoulder and that’s pretty much where it stays. I can remove the lens and tuck the body into the Chimp Cage pouch but I rarely do that in practice. I prefer to keep the camera to hand and ready to shoot.
Jeroen, I think that would be a good solution. Come back and let me know how it works for you.
Thanks Gavin. No tripod?
… and you use one camera, not two I guess?
Gavin, Dito on the review, very well written. As you know I am also a lover of Think Tank gear. I use the skins and up till now the Steroid belt. But like David, am going to try the Belly Dancer to keep my gear up in the front and away from by backside. Bernard and others were asking about backpacks. Think Tank is coming out with a new model in Dec called the The Shape Shifter. It just might fit the bill for what folks are looking for.
Great review Gavin,
I have a mixed set up of holsters, skins and modulus units on the pro speed belt and racing pixel harness. They are working great so far.
I’m not sure how the holsters will go down in London!
I’m also finding the Rotation 360 bag (plus a holster or one or two skins) works quite well for travel (especially with non-photographer family/friends). It means I keep people waiting less when getting in and out of vehicles whilst (with the holster, rather than the skins) there seems to be adequate protection once the kit is placed in the boot (trunk) of a vehicle. The 360 has proved really comfortable so far - though it probably wouldn’t work capacity wise for more than a day hike (which I don’t do anyway)
One thing I personally like with both the harness and the 360 bag is hanging the camera(s) off the front of the shoulder straps with the attachment straps/think tank camera strap (the 360 comes with these - they are optional extras for the harness). Spreads the weight even better and gives you that quick access to the camera. You have 2 hands free for lens changes and you can quickly slip the camera and lens off and into a holster (or back of the bag at the end of the day). May not work for everyone though.
Still in the early days of using these but really pleased so far (I have to protect my back and shouders at my age) and trying to stay away from websites & shops with Think Tank gear to resist buying any more for a while! I can see myself using a belt system for events/photography outings and the Rotation bag (plus holster/skin/modulus components) for travel and days out with family and friends.
Cheers
Andy
I found another great use for the Think Tank Skin 50 besides carrying lens. I’ve owned a pair of Canon 10X30 image stablization binoculars for over a year now. While I love these binoculars, I have never been happy with the Canon nylon zipper case that is included with the binoculars as any binocular straps get in the way of the zipper. It has been very difficult to look for a better 3rd party case for these binoculars due to the irregular shape as it is a hybrid of a roof prism and porro prism design. After a lot of searching, I finally found that the Skin 50 is a great case for these Canon 10X30 binoculars.
The zipperless loop-and-hook design of the Think Tank Skin 50 allows me to place my binoculars inside without having zippers get in the way of my Pacsafe binocular/camera strap. The noise-less velcro option make it easy for my to remove or secure my binoculars during plays and concerts.
Another great use. Thanks for pointing it out Andy.