//
//
As Android users, tech enthusiasts and travelers, we often find our selves needing things that aren’t so much Android specific, but more life and work specific. A large majority of you have your phones, tablets and a laptop, probably a Chromebook even. Another percentage of you are also either pro or amateur photographers with some lens and such. A number of bags out there cater to one need or the other. While many camera backpacks will have some room for a laptop to travel along with you, they aren’t always designed to protect it. The same is true on the other end of the spectrum. Why not have one bag that can easily transport your camera, your laptop and slew of other things? With spring creeping in and summer right around the corner, it is time to start planning how you will get out there and enjoy the world we live in. The Pelican S130 Sport Elite Camera/Laptop divider bag is a pretty good place to start.
I usually start off with a ‘what’s in the box’ section, but, really, it is bag. So I am going to skip that and lead you right into the physical specs of the bag.
Pelican S130 SPort Elite spec overview
- External dimensions: 18.50 x 13 x 10 inches ( 47 x 33 x 25.4 cm)
- Internal Hardshell Case Dimensions: 15.15 x 10.40 x 1 inch (38.5 x 26.4 x 2.5 cm)
- Weight: 7.14 lbs (3.24 kg)
- Bag Volume: 25L (Durable Rip-Stop Nylon)
- Hardshell Case material: ABS
- Bag Material: 1000 Denier Kondra Nylon PU Backed
- Front Plate Material: Polypropylene
It is a pretty serious bag if you ask me. The S130 has quite a few little secrets to it that make it a rather interesting bag to have handy. The main focus of the bag is a way to protect your laptop and keep your camera gear organized while making both easily accessible. Before I get into details, let do a quick walk through around the bag.
The top of the bag is where you will find a heavy duty handle and the latch that opens up the watertight crush-proof laptop case. The case runs the whole height of the bag and there for, your entire back. The case is rated waterproof to 1 meter for 30 minutes as long as you close it and lock the clip down.
Also on the top, more towards the front, you will find zipper access to a pocket that is lined with a very soft soft material.
If we continue moving down the front of the bag you will notice the two sets of clips. These unhook and open up the top half of the bag which also gives you access to another organization pocket that is zipped. This pocket has your typical business card style slots, pen slots and larger pocket to carry various things. The clips are adjustable depending on how stuffed your bag is to help ensure it stays closed up.
The final zippered access point on the front is where you find the Polypropylene front plate. It is basically just a hard plastic. This is the primary access point to get to your camera goods quickly and easily. The Polypropylene front plate is there to help protect your camera gear from being banged on. I will get to what the inside holds and how that looks opened up in just a minute.
If we move around to the sides we have matching pockets ideally for water bottles, or what ever else it is you drink while out shooting. You could stuff whatever else it is you might need in there too, but they are open pockets without zippers. You also have an adjustable strap that on either side that can be loosened or tightened to ensure the things in the top half of the bag are secure.
On the back you have three main cushions that are designed to give you pressure and support of the weight you will be carrying. It also ads a buffer so that the laptops flat case isn’t sitting directly on your back. They are also there to help keep the air flow on your back… flowing. Keeping gaps between your shoulders and your lower back. The padding is also housed in a mesh material and the inside, rubberish, padding looks like Swiss cheese with plenty of holes for ventilation. The shoulder straps have the same material in the, and they float.
The shoulder straps are fairly thick and padded. They adjust at the top and the bottom allowing you more control to make the bag fit your back. There is a chest clip that can be re-positioned to better help pull the shoulder straps in further on your shoulders and keep it comfortable. Not to mention to help keep it on your shoulders and distribute some of the weight. Further down is a removable hip belt, for similar uses.
Now we can get to the unique inside aspect of the bag. Remember that front panel that unzips and is covered by the Polypropylen material? Well, here is what you get when you open it up.
Inside that front panel is direct access to the camera carrying bag that is placed inside the S130. The camera compartment offers up a photographer a soft lined, padded divider box that can be manipulated in any fashion you need. Every divider is removable and can be re-positioned since each end is velcro. Even the straps you see over certain compartments int he photo are velcro. Also, the whole thing comes out of the bag, only through the top, and can be zipped closed and carried by its self with the handle. If you need something a bit more over-the-shoulder there are are two hoops on either side to attach a longer shoulder strap from, say, another older camera or laptop bag.
What I like about the Pelican S130 Sport Elite
The bag is a serious piece of packing hardware aimed at getting your camera, some outdoor gear and your laptop into nature safely and securely. The look and feel of the material makes it look mean and that you are there for business. You have easy access to your water bottles while hiking, and just as easy access to your camera for those opportunistic image grabs without necessarily needing to have your camera hanging around your neck.
I greatly appreciate the care taken to design the bag with load compression in mind. With the dual adjustable straps, hip belt and chest strap, you can can get the bag placed in the right spot on your back and distribute the wait more evenly. Nothing takes the fun out of a hike if your shoulders are on fire from a heavy bag that slips to the edges of your shoulders and forces you to hunch to hike.
The crush-proof watertight laptop case is always a nice touch. I previously reviewed the Pelican ProGear U140 which was aimed at netbooks and tablets. Having the full size slot for a laptop, or your Android tablet, is nice. Pelican also sends along a set of pads to help custom fit the inside of the case for your laptop.
What I don’t like about the Pelican S130 Sports Elite
There are always a few things about just every product I review that I am not so much a fan of. My only real gripe about the bag is the material change from the U140 in terms of the adjustable straps. On the U140 the sliders to adjust the houlder straps are metal and the S130 is made from thicker hard plastic. The plastic is fairly thick and it doesn’t feel like they have much of a chance of breaking, at least not very easily.
Overall thoughts
I have 4 or 5 trips planned for this summer where this particular bag is going to be perfect. While I don’t personally own a high-end DSLR ( All these images are with the Xperia Z1s from T-Mobile) I will be borrowing my neighbors Canon. I know he will be pleased to know his camera will be safely tucked away on the trips. Being able to easily carry the camera and the laptop, I can get out and take photos and edit them in the great outdoors. Heck, if I have a shred of service I can turn around and get them shared too. Even if I don’t get my hands on a camera to take on the trip, the resizable compartments can still function as a way to keep cables, battery banks and my lunch all separate from each other.
You can pick up your own Pelican S130 Sport Elite bag through Amazon right now for a pretty stellar discounted price tag. It is up for $169 vs the usual $305. Hit the link below and be sure to check out the gallery for more images.
// 