Think Tank Signature 13 Review

Internal design

Lifting the Signature’s top flap reveals a second level of closure: a wide, zippered cover for the whole camera compartment. The shape of this cover is leagues ahead of the single straight zipper sometimes found on messenger bags. The latter create a narrow opening, while Think Tank’s solution ensures that when the cover is removed, the bag opens as wide as possible.

The cover is partially folded, which means that it can expand outwards if the main compartment is overfilled. When unzipped, it can attach to the main flap via a button-and-hole fixation. Sadly, on our sample, this fixation was not very reliable: the cover kept separating from the top flap.

There is a missed opportunity here. Making this fixation stronger would have allowed the user to slip a tripod between the cover and the top flap for easy storage and carry. As things are, it IS possible to place a tripod under the flap, but it won’t stay in place if the flap is lifted.

When the zippered cover is not needed, it can be folded and inserted in a dedicated pocket inside the bag, near the back. A small Velcro patch closes this pocket. When not needed for the folded cover, this pocket can serve for passports, wallets, filters or other thin objects.

The top flap folds completely flat on the back of the Signature.

The shape of the bag is such that a compact, travel tripod can be placed above the camera and lenses for transportation on the Signature 13 (the Signature 10 is too small for this). There is no other obvious way to carry a tripod with the Signature.

There are two main compartments inside the bag. The smallest is at the front. On first inspection it looks like the typical thin compartment that’s almost an afterthought on many bags. A closer look shows that this pocket offers a lot more than the usual.

The front compartment is closed by yet another leather band. Two snaps are available for closure, depending on the volume of the load. While the front of the compartment is somewhat rigid, the sides are folded so they can expand quite a lot.

Inside the compartment is a main section featuring a (leather) sleeve meant for a smartphone. The compartment can serve a multitude of purposes, but Think Thank is keen to mention that it’s particularly well suited for an extra flash or two. The stiff front panel, coupled with the thickness of the top flap (when closed) offers a decent level of protection.

On the inner wall is a thinner, zippered pocket with small internal compartments for filters, business cards, cleaning equipment and the like. The lining inside this pocket and in the front compartment is smooth nylon to prevent scratches.

The main compartment will, of course, be the most interesting for photographers. It is shaped in a rectangle, with almost no tapers on the sides or bottom. We argue that this is a good thing for general organization. This compartment is stiff and will protect the equipment well.

The padding on the sides and bottom is similar to the supplied dividers. In fact, the bottom itself is made of dividers which can be removed if needed. This clever idea lets the user create unpadded sections is so desired, thicken the protection elsewhere, etc. This offers some added versatility.

As is customary with Think Thank, the bag comes with a generous supply of dividers. It is common to see manufacturers provide the bare minimum; not so here. There are probably more dividers than what most users will need.

The dividers are thick, stiff and, contrary to some other bags, they can attach to one another. The Velcro is particularly strong and, once attached, will definitely stay in place. The dividers come in many sizes and shapes: three tall dividers and three short ones, each half the height of the taller ones. The smaller dividers are actually stiff enough that they can be stacked to create one tall section. They can also curve without problem. There is a trend on the market currently to make thinner dividers intended to hug lenses closely. Think Tank went the opposite way with thick, almost plush dividers.

Click to enlarge

Two of the taller dividers can fold about 1 inch below the top. The folding section has its own Velcro pads and can thus be positioned at an angle or horizontally. Placing them horizontally can create a shelf or closed compartment. However, for the most part it’s hard to understand the purpose of these folds. Given the strength of the Velcro, the folding sections can’t just be lifted or folded at will; their positioning is more or less fixed.

With the large number of dividers and considering that they can attach to one another, configuring the inside of the bag is easy and many arrangements are possible. Some manufacturers propose messenger bags that can be reconfigured on the fly with flexible dividers and the like. Think Tank went the other way, offering many possibilities but hinting that the photographer should configure everything and then leave it at that.

Even though the Signature 13 is not the largest on the market, we were able to position the dividers to carry quite a lot of equipment. For instance, the configuration presented below allowed us to hold the following list of items:

• K-3 or K-1 with 16-85mm lens mounted
• DA* 60-250mm F4
• A flash
• FA 77mm
• DFA 100mm macro WR
• Two of the DA 21mm, FA 43mm of FA 50mm F1.4
• Think Tank Battery Holder 2 (above the smaller lenses)
• Think Tank Cable Management 10 V2 (above the camera)
• Sirui T-025X tripod (above the camera compartment)

Click to enlarge

Many other configurations are possible, the one we present is the most dense that we have been able to achieve. In most cases, there will be room left above the photo equipment for accessory pouches, snacks or other odds and ends.

The bag is tall enough that it can accept longer lenses (for instance the 60-250mm) mounted on camera.

There is yet another storage section inside the bag, near the back. This sleeve is the ideal size to carry a large tablet and adds yet another layer of padding. A wide Velcro pad hides inside this sleeve when not needed and attaches to the inner padding when used.

Verdict

The Signature 13 is just as refined on the inside as on the outside. The bag is capacious and easy to organize. The padding is thick and strategically positioned. The front pocket is more useful than what is usually found on messenger bags, being able to carry larger items such as flashes.  The large total volume even allows the user to carry extra gear and accessories with ease.

We would have enjoyed a faster way to reconfigure the bag on the fly, especially considering the folding element on the taller dividers. Nonetheless, this is a well-thought bag with multiple features and few limitations.