Jun 29, 2021 8:00 AM

After Years of Searching, I Found the Perfect Camera Bag

The updated Wandrd Prvke is burly, comes in a lot of sizes, has a lot of pockets and compartments, and most important—it's pretty!

In the summer of 2019, I had just bought my very first camera—a Nikon Z6 that I treasured more than life itself. I scoured the web, searching for a camera bag that would keep my preciousssss safe, but unfortunately it led me nowhere. Looks are just as important as functionality, OK? So I did what any New Yorker would do: I went to B&H, one of the largest camera stores in the city.

Little did I know I would spend several hours on the second floor, stuffing all my gear into different backpacks and messengers. Domke? A little too flimsy. Peak Design? Not a huge fan of its … design. I was probably starting to scare away all the other customers with my Smaug-like snarling and rummaging, then I finally saw it. It caught my eye with its deep green color—pretty!

The bag had “Wandrd” splattered on the front, and the tag said “Prvke." Prev-keh? I ignored the company's egregious assault on vowels because it looked great, fit all my gear with room to spare, and felt durable. I left the store with it on my back and used it nearly every single day until the pandemic put life on hold.

Parts of the world are now slowly opening back up. Since then, I've learned that Prvke is pronounced provoke and that Wandrd has released version 2.0 of its backpack. What was originally a near-perfect camera bag is now practically flawless.

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Eye-Catching Comfort

The new version of the Prvke comes in more sizes than ever before: 11, 21, 31, and 41 liters. I've been switching between the 11L (also called the Prvke Lite) and the 31L. The Lite is compact and lightweight, perfect for when I'm traipsing around town with my camera, but the nearly 3-and-a-half-pound 31L is my go-to when I need all of my gear.

You get color options of black, blue, green, and tan—Wandrd sent me black, which is fine if you're all about subtlety, but I'd have picked any of the other colors to stand out. Add some pizzazz to your life! (Though I admit the colors are still muted.) Whatever the color is, there's something about the Prvke that makes it look simple and elegant. Like the Elven cloaks from The Lord of the Rings, it disguises its functionality surprisingly well.

Photograph: Wandrd

The most important part of something that sits on your back for several hours is comfort, and Wandrd nails it. The company updated the padding on the back and shoulders, so it's very cushiony, as if someone is holding a pillow against your back. The straps are wide and don't dig into your shoulders, and I like using the chest strap to reduce the pressure even further. I initially switched from messenger bags to backpacks to stop getting sore shoulders, and the Prvke really feels great to wear.

I like the attention to detail too. Every single strap comes with an elastic band, so you can neatly roll up any annoying, dangling cords. The two handles at the top are magnetized, so they stick together instead of flopping around. (These magnets are stronger in version 2.0 as well.) And there's now a luggage pass-through, so you don't need to tote it around at the airport!

The whole thing is made from tarpaulin and Robic 1680D ballistic nylon, with YKK weather-resistant zippers (and really great zipper pulls!) and a durable, polyurethane-coated fabric on the interior to repel water. It's safe to say that you don't have to worry about wear and tear. Seriously, my original Prvke looks as good as new despite constant use. I've also worn the new version in heavy rain, and my gear didn't get the least bit wet.

Glorious, Glorious Pockets

Pockets can make or break a camera bag. Because every photographer is a unique shining star, and the cameras, lenses, and SD cards they choose are all different, the Prvke doesn't come with a default camera cube. If you don't want to buy a la carte, you can grab the appropriate Photo Bundle for whichever size you buy, which includes a removable cube and accessory straps.

You don't have to have either. I don't use the straps, but they can be helpful if you want to tie on bigger equipment, like a tripod, to the outside of the bag. The Essential Cube really is, though. In the 31L, I can fit in my camera, a shotgun mic, another lens, and a chunky external monitor, with space for more. In the 11L, I can squish in my camera, the shotgun mic, and another small lens. The adjustable velcro dividers keep everything snug.

I can access the camera through the side pocket without taking the bag off my back, but for everything else I need to take it off. The original Prvke had a flap that covered the cube on the inside, which was annoying. Happily, Wandrd removed it, so snagging gear is a more streamlined process now.

Photograph: Wandrd

The update to the main compartment includes more pockets. Yay! Now there's a padded sleeve for a laptop, a smaller one that can fit a tablet or a Switch, and three zippered pockets for other tchotchkes (aka my neutral density filters). The inner part of the side camera access has mini elastic pouches, perfect for storing camera batteries and memory cards.

Above the side access is a cleverly disguised passport pocket, with a hook for keys inside. The top has a roomy, fleece-lined pocket for more delicate items like a phone or sunglasses. I keep cables, portable batteries, and chargers in the large pocket on the front, and the ever-important expandable side pocket houses my tripod (or a water bottle), with a buckle to keep it from tipping out.

Of course, I can't forget the roll-top! Remove the hook and it expands to give you a heck of a lot more room. I usually save it as a space to store any items I suddenly find myself with, such as Tupperware of leftover food, a jacket, or souvenirs. You can access the contents of the roll-top from the main compartment—handy if you don't want to rip apart loud Velcro in quiet spaces. In the old version, the fleece-lined pocket flopped around in the middle of this roll-top area, but Wandrd has neatly integrated it with the opening in the main compartment.

I'm addicted to pockets and wouldn't have minded a few more in the main compartment or within the exterior front pocket. The 31L with the Photo Bundle costs $299—this is a spendy bag. But it fits everything I own, is comfortable to wear, is durable, and it looks great. The search has ended. For years, I went from bag to bag, but I wasn't happy until the first time I swung that deep shade of green over my back. With version 2.0, I'm now ecstatic.

Of course, it's totally possible that despite its many perfections, the Prvke might not work for you—and that's fine! Everyone is different. But I wish you similar success on your journey. Like Frodo and Sam, I've finally found my trusty camera bag companion.

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