The Compagnon Backpack Gen III is the backpack that I feel slaps every corporately bought influencer in the face — and I love it. I remember a famous YouTuber once telling me that canvas bags aren’t worth their hassle because they’re too heavy. Yet I’ve consistently asked manufacturers to make canvas rolltop backpacks for photographers. But no one did — or at least noone made them very well. Just like body weight, it’s all about how you wear the weight on your body. I’m 5’6″ and range between 168 to 174lbs with only around 15% body fat. By many standards, I’m considered overweight — but I wear it well and am considered incredibly healthy. And with the Compagnon Backpack Gen III, we truly just have to get over the idea of the number fixation.
At $557 and coming in at just under 6 lbs of weight, the Compagnon Backpack Gen III is a reminder that tech specs aren’t all that important if the functionality is there. And I truly have to say this, this is the best backpack I’ve used in years.
Table of Contents
The Big Picture
Want to not look like every single dude rocking Patagonia? Cool. This is the backpack for you. Especially if you’re still into fitness and need to look actually stylish on your shoots or at your meetings. The Compagnon Backpack Gen III sports canvas and leather, along with straps galore. You can even add more if you wish. The rolltop makes access and separating out gear pretty easy, and overall, this is incredibly comfortable. More importantly, my gear was always safe and I had no issues running upstairs to catch subways even with it on and fully loaded.
I love the Compagnon Backpack Gen III, and think that any photographer who wants the buy-it-for-life kind of style and doesn’t want to look like every other tech bro will truly appreciate this bag.
The Compagnon Backpack Gen III receives five out of five stars and our Editor’s Choice Award. Buy one on their website.
Pros
- Well built
- Canvas and leather
- Great warranty
- Surprisingly comfortable
- Lots of dividers
- Stylish
- Lots of pockets and places to put things
- The rolltop design means that it can accommodate a lot of extra gear
Cons
- Doesn’t come with a waist strap attached to it, you need to buy it separately
Who is the Compagnon Backpack Gen III For?
Photographers who want the durability and styling of a leather and canvas backpack should go for the Compagnon Backpack Gen III. Basically, if you like Billingham but want a better backpack. Furthermore, if you’re the type of photographer who likes rear access to your gear and needs a rolltop, you should really consider this bag.
Truly, after 15 years of running this website, I think I’ve finally found the best camera bag for me. I didn’t think it existed, but they finally made it.
Gear Used
We used the Compagnon Backpack Gen III with lots of gear. The bag was purchased on eBay for a cheaper price, meaning it was already worn in a bit. We used it with the Leica SL3 and the Panasonic S5 II — both which are loaner products. We also used it with various Panasonic lenses, Sigma lenses, and Leica lenses along with the Leica SL2s and Profoto B10. All that stuff is our own gear. We shoved a 12-inch iPad Pro in here too.
Innovations: What Makes This Bag Different?
One of the biggest things that makes the Compagnon Backpack Gen III so different from other bags on the market is the materials. While Tenba will incorporate canvas, they don’t really do canvas and leather together. And the one time they did so, they kind of failed. But the Compagnon Backpack Gen III has a rolltop feature, incredible durability, great comfort, and the ability to carry lots of camera gear. Specifically, it can carry up to 32L of gear, according to Compagnon’s own website as 8 liters is in the rolltop alone.
The Compagnon Backpack Gen III is the best general photography camera bag I’ve used and owned.
Hardware
There’s a lot to love about the Compagnon Backpack Gen III. I purchased my bag in brown and green and found that it matches so many other pieces of hardware I own. I have similar jackets, a Filson duffle bag, a Billingham Hadley Pro, and pairs of pants that are a similar shade of green. More importantly, though, the canvas is durable yet doesn’t feel too rough. At the same time, the leather already feels pretty pliable and simple to work with. This, more than anything else, helps contribute to how the backpack feels as it molds to your attire and body.
The materials are also why the bag is said to be heavy. But when packed correctly and adjusted to your body, it will feel absolutely great. Throughout the tougher times of winter and springtime, I wore a jacket and the Compagnon Backpack Gen III with no issues. Part of why it didn’t cause any issues is because of the sternum strap.
I have to admit, there are things about the Compagnon Backpack Gen III which are a bit odd — such as how the sternum strap works compared to those from other brands. But it’s effective nonetheless. The pockets on the side are also not designed to work like so many other camera bags offer. Sure, I can stuff a tripod on one side, but I can’t put a thermos there. I need to put that in other places. Typically, I carry a small flask with me, and that can be enough if I’m around refillable water sources. But sometimes, I was to bring a lot of chai with me. This bag can’t accommodate my bigger water bottle unless I lock it into the side. Even then, it won’t have any support on the bottom. That’s a bit of a sadness-inducer.
However, what’s really bringing me joy is that the company put straps on the bottom of the bag to hold a tripod. This is much better for my back as it doesn’t throw off the weight distribution.
You probably also realized that I haven’t talked about how it’s storing my gear. And that’s because when I configured it to just the right way I wanted, it was perfectly fine — so much so that I barely bother speaking about this aspect of the bag. Their divider system needs some getting used to as it’s totally different from many others. But that’s not necessarily a bad thing.
Ease of Use
While using the Compagnon Backpack Gen III for this review, I remember bringing it on the subway, in Uber, on trips, etc. Sometimes, I’d leave the bag in one place to access my gear later. At other times, I’d bring it with me. It consistently worked out. I never felt like I couldn’t get to my gear in time. Truly, if I needed quick access, I’d bring a messenger bag. But this was about durability, comfort, style, and heavy lifting. Even when using this bag with one strap around my shoulder, I felt it wasn’t too bad. I walked several blocks in Brooklyn like this.
On a particularly cold night on the West Side of Manhattan, I walked around Hudson Yards and waited for a friend with a ton of camera gear on my back in the Compagnon Backpack Gen III. We walked several avenues over, did a quick shoot, and then went out for food. Even after stuffing my face, I had no issues walking around the subway, up and down several flights of stairs, and getting home.
Sometimes, the best design is something you never have to discuss. And truly, everything simply just worked about the Compagnon Backpack Gen III from the start.
Tech Specs
Taken from their tech specs
External dimensions | approx. 50 x 35 x 20 cm (HxWxD, empty) | |
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Interior dimensions | approx. 40 x 30 x 16 cm (HxWxD, empty) | |
Roll-top interior dimensions | approx. 30 x 30 cm (HxWxD, empty) | |
Laptop compartment | suitable up to 15 inches (from Macbook Pro 2019 also 16″) | max. approx. 35 x 24 x 3 cm (HxWxD, empty) |
weight | approx. 2.6kg |