I bought this backpack about a year ago to replace the Manfrotto Advanced Travel Backpack which was a great backpack but within just a few months the zippers and seams started to come apart and soon it was unusable. Then, as I prepared to go on a trip to Hawaii I knew I needed a replacement. I watched a million or so Youtube reviews and spent a few days researching possible travel backpack options. My favorite feature and the one I wanted to make sure I had and that a lot of bags get wrong is the access panel on the side. It allows you to not have to take the backpack completely off and set it down to get access to the camera, lenses, and other gear. The Thule Aspect has a large enough side compartment to hold my Canon 80d with the Canon 100mm Macro attached, my Sigma 150 - 600 contemporary lens, a 24mm pancake, sd cards, batteries, and a small light. It has customizable velcro dividers that are easy to reconfigure to needs. I do a lot of hiking and with this bag, I have the ability to change lenses or grab something without setting the bag down which is nice, especially in bad weather or when I am in a hurry.

I have taken this bag on dozens of hiking trips deep into the brush and mud and trees and it has stood up to all of it so far. It has a full-size waist belt to help keep the weight off the shoulders and a chest belt to keep it tight. I weigh my bag down quite a bit and it is still very comfortable over the few hours I spend on my hikes. It has a pocket for a water bottle and the top compartment is big enough for the rest of my gear, including a flash, a diffuser, Kenko extension tubes, a headlamp, a small towel, snacks, and a few other things if I fill it all the way. The front pocket is large enough to fit a hoodie or a light rain jacket. Also, there is another pocket designed for a 15-inch laptop. I don’t usually bring a laptop around but when I traveled to Hawaii I did and it was perfect for that. Now I just keep a trash bag in it just in case it rains really bad or I need to pick up some trash. There are even a couple of tiny mesh pouches on the waist belt that could be used for small items but I don’t really use them.

I conclusion:

The Thule Aspect is a great travel photography bag, especially if you want to be able to grab gear on the move from its side access compartment. It holds plenty of gear and has stood up to a lot of use over the year I have had it. I have definitely gotten my money’s worth and it is in the same shape as it was when I bought it. I recommend this backpack to any photographer who wants a versatile and durable travel backpack.

Check out my video below to see what’s in my bag on a typical hike and to see some of the photos I have taken while out and about.

If you need a great travel backpack for photography, especially outdoor photography then I really think you will like the Thule Aspect. Click the photo link below to get yours today using my affiliate link! All links to Amazon are affiliate links so if you want some of the other gear I use click the links above and in other posts. Thanks!