Pacsafe Camsafe Z15 (Features Score: 20.5; Access. Score: 9.3/10)

Overall:

Pros =  27.0 points; Cons =  -6.5 points; The Pacsafe Z15's Features Score = 20.5 points. (Score sheet posted below.) Accessibility score: 9.3 out of 10. (Details in Accessibility section below)

Video:

It might look funny, but it certainly works well

The Good Stuff

1.  "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder." I like the intersecting planes and contrasting zippers.  It reminds me of Frank Lloyd Wright's Fallingwater. Sort of... 

2.  It has an unsnap-to-open water bottle pocket.

3.  It has a dedicated file folder pocket.  I mean dedicated.  There is little label showing an icon of a file folder on the pocket.

4. The side pocket is stiff and is similar in feel and function to the hood on the Billingham Hadley.

5. The organizer pocket opens wide.  So does the pocket behind the organizer.  Amazingly, they do not compete for volume with each other.  

6. The top of the bag opens away from you so that you do not have to hold open the lid when accessing items in the main compartment.  It also holds itself open at an angle in case you want to access an item from the mesh pockets built into the underside of the lid.

7.  There is a SHOCKING amount of room in this bag. But at 9.4" H x 14.2" W x 8.7" D or 19 L it's  compact. It holds all my stuff so easily I feel like I forgot to put something to the bag.

8.  Every compartment is incredibly accessible.  The iPad pocket is in the main compartment yet the compartment is so accessible, it doesn't bother me.

9.  Great shoulder pad, excellent handle, metal hardware and fat zippers throughout.

10.  It is so clearly well-made with quality materials. I love the canvas-like feel of the fabric.  It is stiff, holds its shape, and feels like cotton rather than nylon.

The Not So Good Stuff

1.  The bag really does look too much like a camera bag as opposed to a briefcase.  In fact, my daughter just told me that it looks like a giant insulated lunch bag (shown below). Shoot.  She's right.  I don't think I can get over this.

2.  The stiffness of the bag prevents it from conforming to your body and together with the cubic shape, the bag feels heavier when you wear it that a more flexible, skinny equivalent.

3.  The attachment points for the shoulder strap get in the way of opening the main compartment when you are wearing the bag.  Since the point of having an lid that opens away from you is so that you CAN get to your camera while wearing the bag, this pretty much eliminates the convenience.

4.  The little pouches into the which the security hooks spring back are too small for me. I cannot reach in to these mini sleeves to grab out the hook making it a non-starter for me to use this security system.

5.  The metal zipper pulls clink when you walk.

6.  The RFID wallet pocket needed to be gusseted a bit more to make it easier to pull out your wallet. It is hard to get your fingers into the pocket when it is filled.

7.  The zippered organizer pocket in the organizer panel should have been a see through mesh.

8.  The two small mesh pocket under the lid of the main compartment should have been gusseted instead of flat, to allow for easier access and flexibility of use.

9.  The lower snap button for the water bottle pocket is too difficult to snap together. The male part is in a place where it sinks into the bag as you press the female part onto it.

10.  How about a slip pocket on the back made out of a smooth nylon to prevent pilling of your clothing?

After item number 3, these "Not So Good Things" are pretty minor.  I keep thinking that this bag looks like a giant insulated lunch bag, however.  Shoot.  All camera shoulder bags give off this vibe.  and it's a vibe I was trying to avoid for my Crossover Commuter Bag.  As much as I love its functionality, I think it has to go back.

Accessibility:

A bag's accessibility is rated on a 1 - 10 scale (10 = most).  Three major compartments are judged.  The accessibility scores for this bag:

Organizer pocket = 10. It open easily and opens wide.  There are small things that don't deserve docking points. The RFID wallet pocket is a bit small making it hard to remove your wallet.  The zippered pocket on the front wall should have been mesh so that you can see into it without unzipping it.  Otherwise one of the best I have reviewed in terms of accessibility.

Main compartment = 9. The only issue here, which could be big for you, is that the points where the shoulder strap connect to are just below the zipper.  If you are wearing the bag, the straps lift the D-rings into the zipper (see photo below). If you want to unzip past these D-rings, you will need to lift the bag up to take the weight off the strap, thereby allowing the D-rings to fall out of the way.  This is a non-issue if you are trying to open the bag when you are not wearing it.

Laptop/tablet compartment = 9. Indeed, there is no external compartment.  You need to go into the main compartment to access the tablet sleeve.  However, the design of the bag is such that unzipping the main compartment is not different than unzipping a separate compartment. You don't need to lift a flap or deal with zipper shoulders. That said, a separate compartment is STILL the way to go.

Accessibility Score: 9.3 out of 10.

Other Photos

Score Sheet:

Item	Points +	This Bag	Notes
Made with Cordura or similar nylon material	2	2
Straight stitching, doubled in high stress zones, taped seams - well put together	1	1
Made with soft polyester making it flexible, quiet, gentle on clothing	2
Stout zippers, large pulls, and hardware	1	1
Reinforced bottom for durability and/or weather resistance	1
Compression straps to slim bag	0.5
Large external water bottle pockets	2	2
Separate, external access to laptop/tablet compartment	3
Separate iPad pocket	3	3
Fleece-lined external pocket for eyeglasses or phone	3
External pocket for eyeglasses or phone	2	2
Large rounded or paddded handle	1	1
Handle centrally placed (front to back)	0.5	0.5
Multitude of pockets for organization	2	2
Open slide in pocket for file folders (internal)	2	2
Open slide in pocket for file folders (external)	2
Ability to slide over handle of rolling luggage	1
Laptop section that is TSA friendly (opens up without laptop removal)	1
Flat bottom and perpendicular sides allow bag to stand on own	2	2
Organizer panel within an outer pocket to allow to easy access	1	1
A dedicated cell-phone pocket	1	1
A dedicated cell-phone pocket that is large enough to fit an iPhone 6	0.5
Large padded shoulder pad with stick coating	1	0.5	no stick coating
No Velcro used to keep flap closed (quiet and professional)	2	2
Xtra bright inner lining allowing you to see items easily	2
Light inner lining allowing you to see items easily	1	1
Stiff build that maintains the pack's structure when loading/placing	2	2
Outer lashing points for attaching accessories	1	1
	Total	27
Item	Points -	This Bag	Notes
Soft material that will not wear as well as nylon	-1
Simple handle that digs into hand	-0.5
Cannot stay upright due to design	-3
Tips forward when sitting - unstable	-1
No fleece lining in outside pocket for glasses	-1	-1
No fleece lining in the laptop or tablet pockets	-0.5	-0.5
No pass through for attaching to rolling luggage	-1	-1
No dedicated tablet pocket	-2
No external pocket for glasses, phone	-1
No flap for weatherproofing	-1	-1
No external pocket for holding a water bottle	-1
No lash points	-0.5
Handle in middle prevents easily hanging bag on hook	-0.5	-0.5
Poor hardware choice or design (small zippers, placement of compression straps, etc.)	-1
Lack of reinforced bottom allow for excess wear and poor weatherproofing	-1	-1
Black interior making it hard to see item in the bottom of bag	-1
No open file folder pocket	-2
Velcro closure for main flap (loud and unnecessary)	-2
No strap or buckle to hold laptop in pocket if in main compartment	-1	-1
The dedicated cell phone pocket will only fit a small phone	-0.5	-0.5
Thin or nonexistent shoulder pad	-1
Handle is located in such a way that picking up the bag kicks it into your knee	-0.5
Deep zipper covers that impede opening	-2
	Total	-6.5