A back door on the Tenba Sling Bag gives you a bird's eye view of the interior.

In general, I haven't been much of a fan of those immensely popular, one-strap photo sling bags. First of all, I think you look ridiculous when you wear them (nerd alert!) and second of all, they never seemed that safe to me. On at least one occasion, I've seen a photographer casually swoop his sling bag around on one shoulder to get to his gear and then watched in horror as it all accidentally came tumbling out. Not a common occurrence, perhaps, but once was enough to turn me off, especially considering how expensive pro digital SLRs and lenses are these days.

Though I still prefer a conventional two-strap photo backpack with easy side-access to a one-strap sling bag any day, I've been impressed with how manufacturers have been able to improve sling designs recently. One company that has come up with a great one-armed pack for professional photographers is Tenba with its rugged and well-designed new Shootout Sling bag.

The Shootout Sling bag seems to have evolved directly from the Tenba's Shootout Daypack which I gave a positive review to in the November 2007 issue of PDN. I tested the Shootout Medium Photo Sling bag (it also comes in a Small version), which can hold up to two DSLR bodies, four lenses, a flash and assorted accessories. Along with a side access panel for quickly grabbing your camera, the Shootout Sling can fit a DSLR with a jumbo-sized lens of up to 400mm f/2.8 through the top of the bag, after you remove some of the interior panels. While it's not exactly ideal—it's a bit cumbersome in this configuration—it works in a pinch, which is a big advantage over competing, consumer-oriented sling bags.


Quality Materials

Another difference between the Tenba Shootout Sling Bag and some competing models is the quality of the materials. Tough, water-resistant nylon is used on the bag instead of cheap polyester. On the downside, those weather-sealed zippers are slower to open and close than regular zippers—which tied me up a couple times when rushing to grab my camera. Having said that, I'd prefer to have the weather sealing protecting my gear than the one or two split seconds longer it took me to open the zippers.

The single, slightly curved, padded shoulder strap fit snugly across my chest and was surprisingly comfortable. I didn't feel, at all, like it was going to accidentally slip off my shoulder. This, obviously, was reassuring. I also liked the small pouch on the strap which is big enough to fit a Blackberry or an iPhone.

Despite having dimensions of just 9(W) x 16.5(H) x 8 (D)-inches and weighing only about three pounds, the Tenba Shootout Sling is surprisingly roomy.

A front pocket on the bag is good for carrying cables, extra batteries or small accessories while providing a home for the included, auxiliary rain cover. An adjustable bungee coil on the exterior of the pocket is a good place to stash a light jacket or an umbrella. Compression straps on the side of the bag can fit a small tripod or a monopod.

I also appreciated the modular approach to the interior of the bag with its classic, removable Velcro dividers that allow you to customize the interior of the bag just as with a regular photo backpack.

A back door on the sling gives you a bird's-eye view of the interior of the bag, eliminating some of the guesswork of where to put all your stuff in such a small pack. Other nice touches include a zippered flap with sleeves for memory cards; a sturdy, padded handle on top for picking up the bag and/or quickly slinging it across your body; and rubberized bars on the bottom of the bag to protect against moisture and ground seepage. There's also a comfy, padded and ventilated mesh back that doesn't stick to you when you sweat.


The Bottom Line

If you've been wary of sling bags in the past because they've never seemed safe or comfortable, check out the Tenba Shootout Sling. It provides quick access to your gear but with the security and build of a traditional two-strap photo backpack.

Tenba Shootout Sling Bag (Medium)

www.tenba.com Pros: Comfortable and secure design; professional build with quality weather-proof materials; gives you quick, off-the-shoulder access to a range of photo gear Cons: Weather-sealed zippers are slow to open; sling bags still make you look like a dork Price: $115