Creative: CRDBAG

Full disclosure, I have no idea how to pronounce this brand, but I will also tell you I have a thing for bags, and most likely, so do you. It’s in our photographer DNA. One thing to hold other things. On the surface, just a container, but so, so much more. I still have my original Domke bag from 1988, which now holds all my film Leica stuff. The Domke felt right for this job. It reminds me of Under Fire and Salvador. “John, can you lay another roll of TRI-X on me?” And who can forget, “I don’t take sides, I take pictures.”

Chills, goosebumps. Check, check.

I’m also a Tenba fan, have been for decades, and I have and use five of their bags. My audio kit requires a bag, as does my Nikon film kit, so there are two, but both are no longer offered. Both sizes of the Fulton get used nonstop on our global travels, and I have another, slightly larger Tenba (Axis 20) that holds a strange assortment of pieces from multiple systems that aren’t being used at the time. I need to figure out how to return this bag to its original layout because I’ve destroyed it.

And let us not forget about my NYA-EVO pack. My Fjord 50-C pack, which came in very handy on my Patagonia trip. This pack is built for a place like Patagonia, and it worked perfectly over my two-week trip. This company offers several ingenious little additions to a pack like this, including a fanny pack and an additional removable camera insert that pulls out and doubles as a shoulder bag. I like their materials and the pack carries extremely well, even when full.

Then come all the other bags I use. The list is long, but many of these are smaller and hold the kit that supports the kit. I have Think Tank tech bags, Fujifilm tech bags, Mystery Ranch bags, and Ortlieb bags, and I even have a new waterproof rolling case on the way that I am receiving for something I did a few weeks ago. Did I mention I LOVE bags? (There is a company out there that has something called “The Dan Bag,” which is based on yours truly. I still have my Dan Bag, but due to my serious neck and back issues, I can no longer carry a messenger bag.)

And now comes the CRDBAG pouch. A friend was wearing one of these, and I asked what it was as the brand was unfamiliar to me. Let me also state how simple my setup is. I’m about to embark on a three-country “tour,” and I have two bodies and two lenses, two small wireless mics, a mini tripod, and a bag of batteries. Oh, and a few extra SD cards. One camera is for stills but also doubles as my video interview camera, which is part of my Blurb duties. The second camera is stills only. I choose one camera for each country based on what story I’m trying to tell.

And now the moment you’ve all been waiting for. I also use a fanny pack.

I know, I know, further proof of my extreme Mountain Dew Code Red level of cool. (I recently drank a Red Bull and didn’t eat for twenty hours.) I love my fanny pack. There, I said it. As I mentioned above, my neck and back aren’t great, so anything that takes weight off my back is a good thing. Enter my Cotopaxi fanny pack. Ya, it’s not a camera pack, but I don’t put cameras in it, although I can fit the Fujifilm X100VI quite easily. This fanny is great because it has numerous internal compartments. Heck, I’ll count them. Two main compartments, with five additional internal pockets (most zippered), perfect for hiding and securing wallet, passport, batteries, and money saved for buying more Red Bull or Matcha-flavored KitKats.

I’m digging this new CRDBAG. It’s super slim, slings, but has almost no weight, even when filled with my minimal essentials. I don’t do commercial shoots anymore, but if I did, I’d have one of these for sure, maybe more. If you check out their site, look for the film about someone modding out a Wandrd bag. I always wanted to be that guy when it came to organization, but my parents cursed me with defective DNA. Filmmakers will probably better understand the requirements of good organization. So many moving parts. So many. My CRDBAG has all the Fujifilm patches, essential for the true camera geek. My wife immediately tried to steal this bag, quickly snatching it and running off to fill it with girl stuff, then coming back in the room, modeling the bag with spins and twirls and exaggerated movements I’ve never seen her do in real life.