Wandrd Prvke Lite$219 | Wandrd. com When we reviewed the original Wandrd Prvke back in 2018 we called it a 'near-perfect' bag – a rare way to describe a camera backpack, even as the market has become more diverse in recent years.
If you are primarily a mirrorless shooter or someone who uses a DSLR but likes to travel light, there is a whole lot to love about this updated Prvke
The Prvke Lite is, as the name suggests, a more compact version of the original Prvke bag. Cameras systems keep getting smaller as manufacturers expand mirrorless lines and so it makes sense to see bag capacity shrink down as well. While the original Prvke bags came in 21L, 31L, and 41L sizes, the new Prvke Lite is only 11L. If you are primarily a mirrorless shooter or someone who uses a DSLR but likes to travel light, there is a whole lot to love about this updated Prvke.
Specifications
Exterior: 53. 3 x 30. 5 x 14cm (21 x 12 x 5. 5 in. )
Interior Volume: 11L (14L with roll top fully extended)
Laptop/Tablet Sleeve: 31. 8 x 24. 1 x 2. 5cm (12. 5 x 9. 5 x 1 in. )
Weight: 1. 1kg (2. 5lbs)
A shrunk-down version of their popular full-sized Prvke bag, the 'Lite' model is perfect for smaller kits, including mirrorless cameras.
Design and Construction
Most of the bag's internal real estate is for storing camera gear, but this section can be collapsed down to store other stuff as well.
The Prvke Lite is very similar to the original 25L Prvke, with a few key differences that give it its lower profile. It’s made of the same waterproof tarpaulin and robic 1680 ballistic nylon with YKK weather-resistant zippers. To achieve the bag's smaller size, the Prvke Lite has a built-in camera cube (instead of a removable one) that can be collapsed down if you want to use the camera bag as a traditional backpack.
A look inside the Prvke Lite's expandable rolltop.
The bag offers quickdraw access to the main camera compartment via a side zipper.
The bag has three points of access for grabbing gear: the expandable roll-top, a quick-draw side access pocket, and the clamshell opening on the back of the pack. The laptop and tablet sleeves have been combined into one pocket and can be accessed by unzipping the clamshell opening.
The Prvke Lite can fit up to a 16" Macbook Pro.
The front of the laptop/tablet compartment has three zippered pockets perfect for storing spare batteries, memory cards, a small SSD drive, or any personal items. A small zippered pocket above the built-in camera cube gives you access to the items in the roll-top, while a fleece-lined pocket on the top back of the bag is the perfect place for stashing items like your phone.
On the side of the bag, you will find an expandable pocket for a water bottle or a small tripod. The front of the bag features a large zippered pocket that’s good for storing a small notebook.
A fleece-lined pocket at the top of the bag is a great place to carry your phone or anything else prone to scratches.
There's also a front pocket, perfect for storing a notebook or small tablet as well as an exterior water bottle pocket.
The roll-top is secured using the familiar velcro and metal hook found on the original Prvke. The bag also has tote handles on the top, a luggage pass-through for stacking on top of a roller bag, and a removable chest strap.
The Prvke Lite has six different attachment points for connecting accessories, like a full-sized tripod, to the bag. To use them you will have to invest in some of the Prvke accessory straps though, as they aren’t included with this version of the bag.
The Prvke Lite eliminates some of the other features that are found on the full-sized Prvke to simplify the design and save on space. The dedicated passport pocket and key clip have been removed and the Lite version of the bag doesn’t come with the previously mentioned accessory straps, a removable waist belt, or a rainfly (though it's fairly well weather-proofed without it). Those three accessories all still work with the bag, you will just have to buy them separately.
In Use
Don’t let this bag’s small size fool you, the Prvke Lite can still hold plenty of gear comfortably. Although the Prvke Lite was clearly designed with mirrorless cameras in mind, it will work just fine for a DSLR shooter who likes to travel light. During my time with the bag, I used it with both a lightweight mirrorless setup and a heavier DSLR setup and found the bag plenty functional for both.
The Prvke Lite is perfectly balanced when packed with a Fujifilm X-T2, 50mm prime, 18-55mm lens, and some additional accessories for filming a livestream event. There's even space to bring along a compact film camera.
Things got a little heavier when the bag was packed with a Canon 5D Mark IV, 24-70mm lens, 35mm prime, 85mm prime, some LED lights and a full-sized tripod attached to the bottom of the pack. Although packing it took some maneuvering, it was comfortable enough that I was able to bike eight miles to my photoshoot without the bag feeling overly heavy or unbalanced.
Things got a little heavier when the bag was packed with a Canon 5D Mark IV, 24-70mm lens, 35mm prime, 85mm prime, LED lights, and a full-sized tripod attached
The side access on the bag makes it easy to grab a camera body without having to remove the pack from your back, while the expandable roll-top is great for stashing extra layers of clothing and other odds and ends.
Even stuffed to the gills with gear, the Prvke Lite is well-padded and comfortable to wear.
The zippers unzip and close smoothly and the shoulder straps and back panel have just the right amount of padding for a comfortable carrying experience.
It would be nice if the bag came with the accessory strap system since you can’t attach a tripod without them
It would be nice if the bag came with the accessory strap system since you can’t attach a tripod without them, but I didn’t find myself missing some of the additional features found in the original Prvke. I actually found the built-in camera cube easier to organize than the original removable camera cube; because it’s built into the bag, there is no issue of zippers getting tangled together when trying to remove gear.
Bottom Line
The Prvke Lite delivers as a compact version of the very well-liked original Prvke bag. It’s comfortable to carry but roomy enough for a mirrorless camera setup or a DSLR with minimal lenses. Although it lacks some of the features found in the original pack, I honestly didn’t find myself missing them since it makes for a bag with a slimmer profile and a more streamlined design.
The original Prvke was 'nearly perfect' and if you are a photographer who likes to travel light, the Prvke Lite may be even closer to the mark of perfection
The original Prvke was 'nearly perfect' and if you are a photographer who likes to travel light, the Prvke Lite may be even closer. We do wish that it came with at least one set of the accessory straps ($15), although adding them to the bag as a bundle still makes the Prvke Lite setup cheaper than Prvke’s full-sized bags when you add in the cost of the required camera cube.
What We Like
Compact bag with a slim profile
Comfortable to carry even when it's fully loaded with gear
Streamlined design
Built-in camera cube
Roll-top makes it easy to expand capacity
Lots of pockets to stash personal items
What We Don’t Like
Accessory straps for tripod attachment sold separately
No option to 'bundle' specific accessories with the bag when shopping online
. dpreview.com
2021-5-10 17:00
