Bag Week: Kata 3N1-33 Sling Backpack
Features:
- Kata 3n1-33
- Tons of padded storage
- Versatile carrying system
- Laptop sleeve
- Weather cover
- $145 MSRP
Pros:
- More versatile than a Leatherman
- Plenty of padded and customizable storage
- Surprisingly low price
Cons
- It’s like wearing a big shoe box on your back
- It looks like a big shoe box
The 3N1-33 could be a photographer’s happy place. You could probably fit a whole Ritz Camera store in it and still have room for a sack lunch. The bottom portion is meant to house your camera, lens and accessories. The top section unzips to reveal a handy storage compartment and could hold nearly anything including a spare pair of shoes. The 3N1-33 even has a laptop sleeve big enough to handle a bulky 15-inch notebook.
Let’s say you want to make it into a sling. Pull one of the back straps out and snap it into the clip on the bottom. Want a backpack? Pull both straps out and clip them into place. When in sling mode though, the bottom side zippered doors act as a quick access panel to your gear. But watch out, you’ll look like a gigantic nerd if you use the bag this way. Watch the video at the bottom to see what I mean.
Basically the 3N1-33 is for professional photographers that prefer function over fashion. The bag is essentially a large, soft box with a cool internal storage system. It’s the same shape whether it’s full or empty. Totally expect to get some weird looks wearing this bag; it’s that funny looking.
The boxy shape and strap hiding ability also makes it a great home-based storage system. It doesn’t matter if the bag is ass-ugly if it never leaves the house. (There has to be a joke somewhere in there) Even the most eclectic photographer should have enough room to store his all his gear in this bag.
But the 3N1-33 is too serious for me. Or maybe I’m not serious enough for this bag. Whatever the case, I doubt I could ever fully utilize this bag. But I’ll certainly try.