Think Tank City Walker 20 (Features Score: 19.5; Access. Score: 7.7)

Overall:

Pros =  23.5 points; Cons =  -4.0 points; The Think Tank City Walker 20 Features Score = 19.5 points. (Score sheet posted below.) Accessibility score: 7.7 out of 10. (Details in Accessibility section below)

Video:

Think Tank City Walker 20 - Thoughtful Design with a Couple of Key Missing Features

If you go to any photography-related website (such as dpreview.com) and do a quick search for "favorite camera bag" more often than not, you will read about Think Tank bags.  They make a huge variety of camera bags to suit the needs ranging from the pro to the soccer mom.  In fact, they also make bags designed around laptops rather than camera gear.  It is easy to understand why Think Tank has such a devoted fan base: they make tough bags with thoughtful design.  I reviewed one of their bags recently (the Urban Disguise 40 V2.0 here) and came away from the experience having an overall positive feeling about Think Tank's products.  While the Urban Disguise did not quite meet my needs, given their vast lineup, I felt that there MUST be a bag that does meet my needs as a Crossover Commuter Bag.  This brought me to the City Walker 20.  

Similar to other messenger camera bags, the City Walker 20 comes with a customizable, foam-padded camera insert. Unlike most inserts in this type of bag, the City Walker 20 insert does not take up the entire main section of the bag. Because of this, I did not feel the need to replace the insert with my tried-and-true Timbuk2 insert that carries just the right sized kit (for me).  While the City Walker's insert is a bit larger in all dimensions (see the comparison photo below), it is not so big that it makes the bag unnecessarily bulky and stiff.  Also, it is designed for this bag with three velcro contact points that allow it to remain in place.

In general, there are a lot great features that make this bag a good choice as a camera bag for a small kit.  I do think, however, that it fall just short as a Crossover Commuter Bag for a few reasons.  I will elaborate with the usual "The Good Stuff," "Stuff That I Will Never Use, But You Might," and "The Not So Good Stuff" assessments below.

The Good Stuff

1.  The City Walker 20 has a smart handle design. Unlike most messenger bag-making companies, Think Tank did not sew the handle of the City Walker 20 into the top of the flap.  Instead, they essentially created a shortened shoulder strap that spans the entire length (left to right) of the bag and attaches to points just above where the shoulder strap attaches.  See the photo below:

This really works well in so many ways.  When handles are sewn into flaps, depending on how much you load the bag and therefore how much you can cinch the flap down, it will shift the location of the handle backwards or forwards. When a handle is not centered (front to back), the bottom of the bag will kick in or out and lead to the bag hanging at and angle instead of straight down and parallel to your leg. (See this phenomenon in the photo below.)

The Think Tank City Walker 20 eliminates this problem entirely with the "mini-shoulder strap" design that allows the handle to be completely independent of the flap.  It always centers itself over the bag.  It might look a bit funny, but it is perfectly functional and I think all bags should adopt this feature.

2.  The shoulder strap is THE beefiest I have reviewed as of April 2015. I cannot imagine that it will ever be beat.  The fabric is like a triple thick seat belt.  Just as importantly, the hardware that holds the strap to the side of the bag and the hardware that allows its length to be adjusted is welded steel. One thousand years from now, the shoulder strap and hardware of this bag will be dug up by archaeologists and look exactly as it does today.

3.  The shoulder pad that wraps around the strap is thickly cushioned, long, and has strips of sticky vinyl that keeps the pad from slipping off your shoulder.  The length of the pad is more important that you think since it allows the weight of the bag to spread over more of your shoulder/chest.  It is entirely comfortable when used in shoulder or cross-body configurations.

4.  There are several outside pockets on the City Walker 20. First, there is a zippered compartment on the front flap where you can keep items you frequently access (first photo).  There are also two stretchy mesh pockets on the sides that can hold large water bottles (second photo).  And finally, there is a large slash pocket along the back of the bag that is perfect for holding magazines or file folders (third photo). Not having to dig into the main compartment or move a flap to access your stuff is a simple luxury.

5.  The City Walker 20 does have Velcro strips holding down the flap.  Normally this is a huge strike against a bag as the annoying sound of tearing open your bag is not appropriate in the boardroom or, for that matter, many places where you are taking photographs (e.g., theaters or churches).  However, Think Tank includes ingenious "Sound Silencers" which do just what they say.  They cover up the Velcro.  In the photo below, you can see that the right is silenced while the left is in its functional state.

6.  The camera insert is removable as mentioned above.  This allows the bag to convert to a conventional messenger bag where it will be able to hold a lot more of your business essentials or a bottle of wine and two glasses.

The other thing to note, is that the insert does not fill up the entirety of the inside compartment. This allows you to easily place items on either side of the insert. You may see that Think Tank has provided pockets in these side regions. Those are really thoughtful details!

7.  The City Walker 20 is stiff enough to stand on its own (even without the camera insert in place).  The bottom is wide and flat further increasing its stability.  You may not realize how convenient it is when a bag does not fall over as you pack or unpack it.

The Stuff That I Will Never Use, But You Might

1. Think Tank is never shy about tossing in stuff that most manufacturers make you pay for after the fact. The City Walker 20 comes with a rain fly.  It's inside that little blue pouch.  I will never use it or even bring it with me.  I know that this sounds bold, but it's actually just the opposite.  If I think there is going to be a threat of rain on my commute, I always carry an umbrella (after all, I need to keep my suit dry, too).  If I am going to be outside shooting on the weekend, I would likely switch over to my day pack where I can carry more gear more comfortably. 

The Not So Good Stuff

1.  As you can see from the photo below, the City Walker 20 is a messenger bag style.  This is both a curse and blessing. Generally speaking, flaps that cover the bag limit your ability to access the items inside of your bag. The process of unbuckling the flap and then holding it out-of-the-way as you reach in to grab an item can quickly become a drag. This issue becomes more apparent if you are wearing the bag at the time. That said, a flap does provide weather-proofing and a near instantaneous way to close your bag without having to use a zipper or buckle. Additionally, many people like the clean look of the flap.  Only you can decide if the cost/benefit ratio of a messenger design is favorable to you.

A messenger bag CAN offer a feature that can virtually eliminate the costs associated with a flap.  Note that the Tenba bag below (reviewed here) is a messenger bag yet it has a zipper running the length of the top of the flap:

As a result, you can UNZIP the top of the bag to get into the main compartment. In this way, a messenger bag can now operate like a soft sided briefcase in terms of ease of access.

I think of this feature as being similar to when the concept of putting a windshield on an automobile was developed. It makes you scratch your head and wonder why it took so long.  

Boy do I wish that Think Tank had included a top flap zipper on their City Walker 20.

2.  Think Tank placed the fastex buckle under the flap of the City Walker 20. I presume this was done to maintain the clean look of the messenger bag style. Unfortunately, this hidden buckle has proven to be difficult to use. To secure this buckle, you must lift the flap to grab the other half of the buckle, hold the bottom edge of the flap out-of-the-way, and then engage the two buckle pieces together. 

This is definitely a two-handed operation.  True, you get used to doing this, but it is a problem that could have been eliminated had the buckle assembly simply been placed on the outside of the bag.  

3.  The organizer panel has surprisingly few options to organize.  It seems like it could be divided more than it is. There is no obvious place for a cell phone or wallet (medium sized vertical open pocket).  There is one large open slash pocket that is too big. It might be hard to see but the pocket spans from the pen slots all the way to the right edge of the panel (see photo below).  I don't understand why Think Tank did not cut this pocket into two.  I also think that there is no need to have a Velcro closure on an organizer a pocket if there is already a flap covering the entire panel.  It unnecessarily limits accessibility.  Obviously, the simple fix is to tuck the Velcro flap out-of-the-way (as you can see I have done in this photo).

4.  The front pocket on the flap of the City Walker 20 is simply an undivided and large open pocket that spans the flap. I think this is an opportunity wasted.  It could have been an easy access organizer panel.  They could have added in pen slots, a slot for your iPhone, a fleece-lined slot for sunglasses, and a slot for your wallet.  Instead, anything you put in that pocket will fall to the bottom and mingle with everything else. Even if Think Tank had split the pocket in two and you could use one side for a phone and the other for a wallet it would have been better than a big gaping pocket.

5.  The shoulder strap does not have pivot points. When the shoulder strap inevitably becomes twisted, it can be a pain to un-twist it.

6.  The padded iPad pocket is great, but it is located inside of the main compartment.  Because of the flap, it is difficult to access the iPad. (If the bag has a top zipper that gave you access to the main compartment then it would not be such a big deal.)  Think Tank should have had an external iPad compartment much like they have in their SubUrban Disguise 30 bag.  

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 = 8.  The organizer pocket is behind a flap.  This means that you need to undo the buckle and/or the velcro to get access to the pocket and then you need to undo the velcro that holds the pocket closed.  As always, it is much better to have the organizer pocket on the outside - on the flap itself in this case.

Main compartment = 8. The bag has a flap.   The problem with flaps (without a top access zipper) is that you need to hold them out of the way or flip them behind the bag when you want to access items.  This is even more of a headache when you are while wearing the bag and you are forced to hold the flap out of the way with one hand and grab your gear out with the other.

Laptop/tablet compartment = 7. There is no external laptop/tablet access. You need to go into the main compartment to access your tablet and this involves dealing with the flap.

Accessibility Score: 7.7 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	Shoulder strap hardware!
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	1	Not dedicated
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
Open slide in pocket for file folders (external)	2	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		Behind flap
A dedicated cell-phone pocket (padded, lined)	1
A dedicated cell-phone pocket (padded, lined) that is large enough to fit an iPhone 6	0.5
Large padded shoulder pad with sticky coating	1	1
No Velcro used to keep flap closed (quiet and professional)	2	2	Built in silencers
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
	Total	23.5
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
No external pocket for holding a water bottle	-1
No lash points	-0.5	-0.5
Handle in middle prevents easily hanging bag on hook	-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		Silencers on main flap velcro
No strap or buckle to hold laptop in pocket if in main compartment	-1
The dedicated cell phone pocket will only fit a small phone	-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	-4