Tamrac Hoodoo 18 backpack at a glance:
Price: £69.99
Website: www.tamrac.com
At first glance, the Tamrac Hoodoo 18 looks like any other backpack, but there’s something unusual about it. It doesn’t feature a fancy independent camera module, like its larger sibling, the Tamrac Hoodoo 20. Instead, there’s a designated pouch in the top, just for your camera. The pouch is well padded and its soft material, with silicon detailing, stops the camera moving around, preventing unnecessary wear.
At the rear is a sleeve that Tamrac says holds a 13in laptop (we managed to squeeze in a 15in MacBook Pro, but it was really tight). The main compartment zips all the way down one side to reveal a seriously spacious bag. On the front, there’s a zip-up pouch for storing keys, a wallet and documents.
The Hoodoo 18 is made from a water-resistant waxed canvas and has ripstop material to prevent the bag from tearing if it gets snagged on brambles, for example. The rear of the bag is thick, padded and breathable, making it ideal for long walks.
The main camera compartment is quite small and will only hold a camera no bigger than an entry-level DSLR with a lens attached. While it’s possible to put another small lens in the pouch alongside a DSLR, there are no dividers, so you’d need a decent padded case to avoid contact between the two.
The Tamrac Hoodoo has room for a mirrorless camera with a decent all-rounder lens, a laptop, a charger and a few other bits. It’s comfortable and there are very few bags out there like it. It’s also worth noting that while our review example has an ocean-blue finish, pumpkin (orange) and kiwi (green) versions are also available.
