This article is going to be less of a review, and more of an overview of these Tamrac products. The Goblin, Tradewind, Derechoe, and Hoodoo products were products that I can give you an opinion on without writing an entire review for each product.
Goblin Pouches
Let’s be honest, if you have a family like mine and a couple kids, traveling with them entails packing up more items than you even knew you owned. While I always want to have a camera on me, I can’t always warrant taking one or two bags dedicated only to my camera gear. In these situations, I need something that can protect a camera and a lens, without the bulk of entire bag. The Goblin lens and body pouches from Tamrac are perfect for that occasion. I was able to use the Lens Pouch 2.4, 1.4, 1.0, and Body Pouch 1.0, and Accessory Pouch 1.0. All of the pouches, with exception to the Accessory Pouch 1.0 are can pull tight with a cinch strap. The Accessory Pouch uses a zipper. I was able to fit a 70-200 2.8 in the Lens Pouch 2.4, an 85mm 1.2 in the Lens Pouch 1.4, a Sony a6300 in the Body Pouch 1.0, and a Zeiss 25mm f/2 in the Lens Pouch 1.0. Personally I carried the RODE Filmmaker Kit in the Accessory Pouch 1.0, which is a perfect fit. Each of the pouches are nicely padded on the inside and bottom of the pouches. I could easily see myself throwing these pouches in a suitcase full of clothes, saving the extra bag for more of the kid’s items.
Also check out the video review!
Tradewind Backpack 24, 5.1, 2.1
Starting from smallest to largest, the Tradewind 2.1 is geared towards people traveling extremely light. My Sony a6300 with Zeiss 25mm F/2 fit perfectly. The inside of the zippered flap also has a small pocket for SD cards
If your camera is a little bit bigger or you need to carry an added accessory like a flash, then the 5.1 would be a better option for you. I was actually able to fit a full frame Canon 5Ds with 35 mm for 85 mm lens attached. Both the 2.1 and 5.1 have three stretch mesh pockets on the outside, and I would put batteries or other small items here. The inner flap pouch also has a little bit more room in the 5.1, giving you a few more options for items that can be put inside it. The 5.1 also has room for an iPad mini.
Carrying more than just a single camera or lens, but don’t want A hefty camera bag? Check out the Tradewind backpack 24 then. I have to say that I was not initially thinking that I was going to be impressed with the smaller backpacks from Tamrac. However, I absolutely am. The Tradewind 24 can hold a 13-inch laptop, a bunch of stuff for a day trip, and a surprising amount of camera gear. I was able to fit a full frame DSLR with lens attached. Depending on the size of your other lenses, you will be able to get one or two more inside, with a flash and room for your chargers and cables as well. I feel like this backpack would be great for someone who is a beginner in photography, and who doesn’t need to lug around a ton of gear. One body with a few lenses and flash is more than enough for most portrait sessions, and I believe something like the Tradewind 24 would be perfect for that situation. The backpack is very lightweight, and because you won’t be able to fit 30 pounds of gear in it, it stays pretty comfortable.
While I touched on the sizing of the 2.1 5.1 and 24, There are several other sizes in the Tradewind series, so check them out and see what is right for your needs.
Derechoe 5
The middle child in the Derechoe series, the Derechoe 5 from Tamrac shows off a more urban aesthetic. I appreciate the diversification in the Tamrac lineup, because I always enjoy a more aesthetically pleasing bag. The Derechoe 5 is a pull-tab messenger style camera bag designed as a day shooting bag. It has a water resistant outer, with a Fidlock magnetic latch. This feature allows for quick access to anything with in the bag.
Inside the bag you can fit a compact DSLR with lens attached, with an extra lens depending on its size, or a mirrorless camera with lens attached and an extra lens. The Derechoe 5 also has an extra organizer pocket to set your keys and personal items.
For my style of shooting and the gear that I take with me, the Derechoe 5 fits me more. An added plus to this bag that I have taken for granted is that the shoulder pad slides up and down, Not making it 100% necessary to center keypad file adjusting the length of the strap. Because I like bags that are a little bit more as aesthetically pleasing, I am happy that Tamrac has decided to offer this bag in two colorways as well, Iron and Truffle. I’m a bigger fan of the Iron, because I like the sleek urban feel that the gray gives.
Hoodoo 20
The Hoodoo 20 was maybe the biggest surprise in the series of reviews that I’ve done of Tamrac gear. The outside of the bag looks a bit similar to the Tradewind 24, but I quickly found that it was a little bit more robust and durable. Available in three colors in waxed canvas and ripstop fabrics, the Hoodoo 20 is designed for more rugged adventure style photography. With a removable camera inserts and more than enough space for personal items, the Hoodoo 20 is a contender in the $130 price range.
While I don’t think that I would actually take out the removable camera insert from the Hoodoo 20, it is nice to have that option. This is definitely my go to Dave bag when I want to bring one mirrorless or full frame camera and a couple lenses, but still have space for personal items and even a low-profile 15-inch laptop like a MacBook Pro. It also has a couple inner and outer pockets for items like phones or keys. The thing that I was most astonished with when it came to the Hoodoo 20 was just how comfortable it was. The padded mesh back is very breathable and actually feels very good on the back. It also essentially weighs nothing, so I could wear this all day. The Hoodoo 20 is by far my favorite “more affordable item” in the Tamrac lineup.