Designed for wildlife and sports professionals needing transport for enormous lenses and full kits in remote locations
The Vanguard Alta Sky 69 is a camera backpack quite unlike any other. Key to its existence and quantifying its 49L capacity is the ability to carry a 1200mm lens. That does mean this is the largest backpack I’ve ever seen, and even when testing 20 cameras, compact and mirrorless for a recent review, almost all, plus lenses fitted in this pack, it’s that big.
To bundle that much kit into one backpack, it needs serious build quality, and from the back panel to the shoulder straps, every aspect of this backpack is designed to provide maximum comfort when carrying a heavy load.
Through this test, I unfortunately didn’t have a 1200mm lens, not for want of trying; what I did have was a 200–600mm Sony lens fitted onto first a Sony Alpha A7 V and later on my own Sony Alpha A7 IV.
What was instantly apparent from the design, was that whilst it felt more like kit-loading for transport or storage, this backpack is very functional for specific uses. There’s room for a tripod and gimbal on the exterior and like many previous Alta Sky backpacks, the attention to detail, such as connection points on the exterior means that it’s as easy to load kit to the exterior as it is to place stuff inside. While primarily designed for camera kit, there’s also plenty of room if needed for food and clothing to go with it.
Inside, there are Velcro dividers with the usual padding that comes with this style of pack, so all your kit stays fully protected despite the large internal cavity. There are also plenty of zipped pockets throughout, including a huge one on the front, and, most importantly, when it’s not on your back, there are numerous carry handles so you can manoeuvre it in and out of vehicles as needed.
For most people, this backpack is well beyond what’s needed, but if you are travelling off on safari, you need to carry all of your kit, or you’re a professional on a multi-day hike and need to carry a good volume of kit in the most comfortable way possible, then this is certainly the pack for you.
Through this test, and just to see its capabilities I was able to load in two Sony Alpha A7 IV bodies with 200–600mm lens fitted, a spare Sony Alpha A7 IV body, 14, 24, 35, 50 and 85mm lenses, then because there was so much space left over I popped in a PSP Vita for a bit of downtime gaming and of course, my MacBook Pro and stapped the Vanguard Alta Pro 3X to the exterior. While the weight was quite excessive once it was on my back, the straps and support actually help to alleviate some of the feeling of weight.
The first thing I noticed was how easy it was to handle in and out of the car, with plenty of straps to grab, very handy when you have that volume of kit inside. Once it was on my back and I secured both the chest and waist straps, it sat comfortably. Although you can obviously feel the weight, it feels manageable.
What I liked it here was when I set the backpack down and opened up the top I had direct access to the camera, a quick withdrawal and it was ready to use, and if I needed to change the lenses then I could rest the backpack on its front keeping the back that’s normally against my back dry to extract lenses, filters and whatever else I needed.
While it was a bit excessive for just a couple of hour-long hikes, I have to say that the large capacity is really handy, especially if you’re travelling. I can see the benefit of being able to carry the 1200mm and possibly a couple of extra lenses, even if it’s more than most people need. However, there’s enough space to pack gear for a multi-day hike, which makes this bag really interesting. Although it’s mainly photo-centric, the adaptable interior lets you easily convert it into a multi-day pack that holds a 200–600mm lens and even the 1200mm lens the Vanguard was designed to accommodate.
What is the Vanguard Alta Sky 69?
The Vanguard Alta Sky 69 camera backpack has been designed to hold a 1200mm lens alongside additional lenses and kit, and features a full capacity of 49L, making it an expedition-style pack rather than a day-to-day option.
Whilst there are other backpacks designed for 1200mm lenses these often are single camera and lens combinations and designed to get you and the camera to a location in the most comfortable manner, whereas the Alta Sky 69 has been designed for more of an expedition approach with a full-scale backpack that not only comfortably accommodates a 1200mm, in my case a 200–600, but also the DSLR or mirrorless camera to go with it, and quite a few extras, if you wish.
Obviously that space is so vast that if you also want to include, say, a Jetboil, clothing and food there’s plenty of space for that as well, and because this is an Alta Sky after all, a design synonymous with multi-day packs, there are of course plenty of attachment points so if you do want to hook on your tripod, sleeping bag and tent, then that is more than possible.
What makes it suitable for is all sorts of situations, for example, if you’re a wildlife photographer heading out into the woods and bedding down overnight to ensure that you get those early morning shots, or you’re a sports or aviation photographer and you need to be at a location for a considerable amount of time then once again this is a superb option. And of course, if you’re off on your travels and you want to carry your camera kit plus a load of accessories, food and possibly some night gear then this is definitely the pack for you, however if you’re just nipping out for a few hours to capture wildlife or sport with your 1200mm lens then possibly a slimmer and lighter bag might be a better option.
Specification
- Capacity: 49L
- External Dimensions: 410 × 300 × 690 mm
- Internal Dimensions: 380 × 200 × 650 mm
- Weight: Approx. 3.6 kg
- Fits: 17″ laptop and 13″ tablet
- Rain cover: Included
- Multiple access points: Top and rear access
- Tripod carrying system: Yes
Build and Handling
I’ve been using Alta Sky backpacks for several years, and I’ve always been impressed by the build quality. The one thing you always have to take into consideration compared to many other backpacks is that these have been designed to be ultimately robust, so when you first pick them up, they generally feel far heavier and more supportive than your average backpack. However, lifting up the Alta Sky 69 for the first time was surprisingly lightweight at 3.6kg, ok that’s not light, but considering the size. Vanguard has really gone to town on ensuring they preserve the quality of the materials and the strength of the backpack that the product line is known for, whilst trying to keep the bag as lightweight as possible, and they’ve certainly succeeded.
After checking the weight, the next thing you notice is the scale, which is far more like that of a roller bag I use when I travel abroad for work than a standard backpack. Taking a look inside the main back section, which is accessed through a back flap, it’s all neatly laid out with Velcro dividers, which, once again, are yellow so they’re easy to see in lower light but also contrast well against your camera accessories. Opening up the top and there is another large section one part of which goes straight through to the main pack and this is the area for your camera and 1200mm lens which means that if you set the backpack down vertically it will sit with its protective waterproof base on the ground so you can withdraw your camera out of the top of the bag without having to lay it down and unzip. It’s a very neat design, and we have seen it before, just not on this scale.
On the flap that gives you access to the main section, there’s also a laptop compartment that measures 320 × 30 × 430mm, so it’s more than large enough to carry a 17-inch laptop.
The bag also features a full-size tripod carrying system, and after looking at the Alta Pro 3X, it seemed like a perfect partner for the backpack. And, obviously, when I did head out to test the bag in a more straightforward way.
One thing that strikes you from the outset, once you put the backpack on, is just how comfortable it is. There’s plenty of padding, and with the air system on the back, which is fully adjustable to your back, along with the waist and chest harnesses, you can keep yourself relatively comfortable despite all that weight on your back.
One of the features that I rarely use but at present is in constant use is the rain cover, and this is pulled out from the base of the pack and then stretched over the entirety of the bag, and it does keep everything nice and dry, well, the kit in the bag at least, the person carrying the kit can remain soaked.
Features
A quick run-through of some features and the main focus of the backpack is that it can fit a 1200mm lens with a DSLR or full-frame mirrorless body attached. There is also plenty of additional room for up to 8 lenses, personal kit, and a 17-inch laptop. You can even squeeze in an additional 13-inch tablet if you so wish.
There are two main access routes into the bag through the top front or lower rear, with the top front enabling you to pop the bag down onto the floor and withdraw the 1200mm lens and camera if you’re out shooting wildlife or sporting events whilst the back access enables you to take out accessories or personal items when you want to fit a smaller lens.
The interior of the bag is bright yellow and this helps to contrast with the normal black of most cameras and accessories. Indeed even in lower light conditions where you can often find yourself scrambling around through the interior of a grey backpack, here with the bright yellow contrast works superbly, and even when you drop a lens cap or plastic hot shoe plate, they’re relatively easy to locate on that interior.
Built into the exterior design are a series of fabric loops and harnesses that let you strap in additional equipment. This system easily enables a full-size tripod to be attached to the back, and the dedicated carrying system works exceptionally well for both holding the tripod and balancing the weight across the shoulders when the backpack is on.
Performance
I realised just how big this backpack is when I sat with all my Sony gear, and was able to place the interity inside, and there still seemed to be ample room. Just as a test I popped in my two Sony A7 IV bodies, a 14, 24, 35, 50 and 85mm lens, 200–600 with an A7 IVs attached, a Godox V100, a few Lee filters and holder, a Jetboil, bottle of water, a few snacks for both myself and the dog and an all-important rain jacket, a towel and a few other items before the backpack seemed completely full.
There’s no doubt that when it was fully loaded, it was extremely heavy, but as this was a test to see how much this thing could hold, I carried it out of the van loaded it in, and was glad there were so many grips and handles around the bag so it was easily manoeuvrable. Once in the van, I then drove with the dog to our usual location and went for a brisk one-hour walk. Halfway through, I was absolutely exhausted due to the weight, but when it came to the comfort of the bag itself, it was surprisingly well adjusted, and I had spent some time prior to venturing out making sure that the fit was absolutely spot on and carrying that full load ensured that the waist strap and chest strap were securely tightened.
Once I’d done the loop, got back to the van, had a rest, driven home, emptied the backpack, readjusted the kit load, and then headed out the following day with far less kit and a more realistic load, a 200–600 with an A7 IV attached and a 24mm lens. I’d also popped in some filters just in case and attached the Alta Pro 3X to the bag. I also added a bottle of water and some dog treats, and that, to be honest, was it.
That load was far more comfortable to carry, and, making sure all of the straps were properly tightened and adjusted, we once again set off.
Looking at the adjustments to the shoulder straps, compared with some lighter backpacks, there’s far more adjustability, resulting in a truly comfortable fit. You can even pull the pack closer with two top straps, and adjust the back length, which is essential for very heavy packs. There’s also ample padding around the hips on the waist strap, helping to distribute the load and reduce the weight on your shoulders.
Again, the chest strap also gives you plenty of adjustment flexibility, and once everything is in place, despite the bag still being quite heavy (it weighs 3.6kg before you even put any weight into it), it actually feels quite light and easy to carry.
Setting off on a slightly longer walk, the backpack really did come into its own. Despite its size and weight, the load is evenly distributed, and the air system, back, harness, and waist belt make for a much more comfortable carry than expected.
It is worth noting that the size of the pack you can venture out with on a day-to-day basis, and having that huge cavity ready to hold your camera with an oversized telephoto lens. It is large, so if you’re thinking of a backpack with quick access to the camera, the size and weight make that difficult without putting the backpack down.
Venturing out into the wild with the backpack on a few occasions, I also used it just to transport a huge amount of kit, in place of the usual roller bag I would normally pack full of lenses, cameras, laptops and everything else I need on a job. However, here I can fit pretty much exactly the same kit in but with a few more pockets and dividers that just help keep things a little neater and what I did really like was that when handling the bag there was plenty to grip onto and it felt like everything inside was really well protected just like with the roller bag, but I had that added advantage that I could pop it onto my back and carry it, whereas that’s near impossible with the larger roller bags.
So when it comes to transporting loads of kit, especially large 1200mm telephoto lenses, this is a superb option. Even if you don’t own a 1200mm lens and you just want a huge backpack to store all your kit when you’re going off on an adventure or expedition then again this backpack is an ideal solution however there are plenty of other smaller backpacks that should suffice for most use and obviously with the Alta Sky ranging in sizes there’ll always be an option in this range that will fit you and your kit.
Final Thoughts
After testing this backpack for the last month, I have to say I’m impressed with many aspects and as ever the build quality and the versatility. There are plenty of straps on board and pockets, so wherever you’re going in the world, this makes an ideal solution for transporting your kit, including that huge 1200mm lens, and all your personal items.
If you’re a professional photographer who needs to carry lighting, a camera, and other accessories again, this makes a great alternative to a roller bag. And because it’s Vanguard, if you do have a pack-down roller, this pack has been designed to be completely compatible, just adding to its personal utility.
However, for most photographers, if you’re just looking for a way to carry your kit for a day shoot, then, to be honest, this is complete overkill. 49L has a huge internal volume, and even when I gathered together all of my Sony kit, including two bodies and countless lenses, there was still ample room for a little bit more.
The size is also something you need to consider. During the test, there was nowhere in the house where I could visibly store it, so thankfully, I do have an office, and it stays there when not in use, taking up a not too substantial amount of space.
But then it is sitting right next to my large roller bag, which, again, is huge and often required, and through this test, there were definitely situations where I would opt for this bag over that large roller bag. It just makes sense, especially if I’m having to trek over some ground to get to the location, and with some Profoto B10’s, these are all packed neatly inside, along with my camera kit and everything else I needed for that product shoot I mentioned earlier in the review.
The thing here is that the Alta Sky 69 is exceptionally well-priced, and one of the big features of Vanguard backpacks is their comfort. Here, they’ve fine-tuned the fit, accounting for the weight that will inevitably be packed inside.
If you do need an ultra-capacity camera backpack or you own a 1200mm lens and need a safe way to transport it, then the Alta Sky 69 is an exceptional value and a great option.
