Review: Booq’s Slimpack gives DSLR-toting MacBook users another all-in-one bag option
Ever since I upgraded from an 11″ MacBook Air to a 13″ Retina MacBook Pro, I’ve been hunting for the perfect hybrid computer and camera bag — a compact backpack that could hold my laptop, DSLR, lenses, and accessories at the same time. Six months ago, I covered several MacBook/camera bags from Incase, including the DSLR Sling Pack I’ve loved for years, and larger “Pro” options for bigger laptops. Each hybrid bag makes different compromises: for my needs, the Sling Pack’s too small, and the Pro bags are too large. But users of 11″ MacBooks might find the Sling Pack “just right.”
Seeing potential in a new alternative, I jumped at the opportunity to test Booq’s upcoming Slimpack ($195), a MacBook-sized evolution of its earlier iPad/DSLR backpack $145 Python Slimpack. Booq makes excellent bags, but apart from offering a multipurpose camera/headphone compartment in Boa Flow, it hasn’t taken a deep dive into the camera-laptop hybrid category. While the new Slimpack’s laptop compartment is just a hint too small for the 13″ MacBook Pro and iPad Pro I’m currently using, it’s right-sized for 12″ or smaller MacBooks, as well as 10″ or smaller tablets, any of which can be paired with a full-sized DSLR, three or four lenses, and accessories. Bundled with a rain shield and Booq’s standard Terralinq loss recovery protection system, it’s a very nice bag, and one I would certainly use if I switch to a 12″ MacBook next year…
9to5Toys Last Call: Infinity Blade Trilogy $5, Canon T5 w/ lens kit (refurb) $252, App Store free App of the Week, more
Keep up with the best gear and deals on the web by signing up for the 9to5Toys Newsletter. Also, be sure to check us out on: Twitter, RSS Feed, Facebook, Google+ and Safari push notifications.
Today’s can’t miss deals:
Last Call Updates:
App Store Free App of the Week: Matter 3D photo effects goes free for the first time ($3 value)
- Aukey Tempered Glass Screen Protectors and Cases for iPhone 6/Plus from $2 Prime Shipped
- The new Graava action camera uses your heartbeat to capture the best moments and make a highlight reel
- The CydeKick uses renewable energy to charge your iPhone while you ride
- Blizzard brings the new World of Warcraft: Legion expansion & character class to Gamescom 2015
- Home: Smart Body Weight/Fat Glass Scale $27 (Reg. $36+), Philips Bodygroom Shaver $20 (Reg. $45), more
Save 50% on the entire Infinity Blade Trilogy: $5 (Reg. $10)
Canon’s refurbished T5 DSLR w/ 18-55mm lens kit is on sale for $252 shipped (Orig. $549)
Anker 31-inch Bluetooth Selfie Stick for iPhone/Android $10 Prime shipped (Reg. $20)
Pay What You Want For The 10 App Mac Power User Bundle (Orig. $383)
$50 iTunes gift card for $40 w/ email delivery from PayPal (20% savings)
13-inch Retina MacBook Pro w/ Force Touch (newest) 2.7GHz/8GB/256GBL $1,280 shipped (Reg. $1,499)
The coolest Apple-certified MFI Lightning cables you can buy for your iPhone, iPad and iPod
More new gear from today:
Sony Headphones: Bluetooth over-ears $95 (Orig. $150), Extra Bass w/ mic (refurb) $25 (Orig. $118), more
- Games/Apps: Pokemon X/Y $30, $100 PlayStation credit for $90, Motocross Elite goes free, more
- Daily Deals: TurtleCell iPhone 5/5s headphone case $25, Mpow Bluetooth 4.0 Receiver $20, more
- Harman Kardon HKTS9 5.1-channel Surround Sound System w/ Subwoofer: $190 shipped (Orig. $600)
- TigerVPN Lite Lifetime Subscription: $29 (Orig. $790)
Apple TV 1080p streaming media player (refurb.) $50 shipped (Orig. $69) http://t.co/4UKETElykB pic.twitter.com/JjtgSbS3tU
— 9to5Toys (@9to5toys) August 6, 2015
More deals still alive:
Apple iPad Air 2 Wi-Fi 128GB in all colors: $590 shipped (Reg. $699)
Two Philips Hue connected light bulbs (multiple styles) for $100 shipped (~$120 value)
- $200 Staples Gift Card for $170 w/ email delivery (15% savings)
- Readdle app sale 50% or more off: Scanner Pro 6, Printer Pro, Calendars 5, PDF Expert 5, more
- Lenmar MAVEN Apple-Certified MFi 3000mAh iPhone 6 Battery Case: $30 shipped (Reg. $62+)
- Belkin QODE Keyboard Cases for iPad Air from $80 shipped (Orig. $130)
- Lumsing dual-port USB wall charger plus Elinke 3-ft MFi lightning cable $11 (Reg. $20+)
- 802.11ac Routers: Linksys AC1200+ $87 (Orig. $130), TRENDnet AC1200 $20 shipped (Orig. $52)
- Twelve South BookArc möd in Walnut from $37 shipped (Reg. $60)
- PreSonus Ceres 3.5-inch Powered Speakers w/ Bluetooth streaming $100 shipped (Reg. $230)
- Power banks w/ Prime shipping: KMASHI 15000mAh Dual USB $14 (Orig. $20), more
- SoundPEATS Bluetooth 4.1 in-ears $20 (Reg. $26), Sennheiser HD280 + HD439 $10, more
- OtterBox Defender Series Case for iPhone 5/5s in many colors $10 shipped (Orig. $22)
- Pre-pay for 3 months of Sling TV and receive a $50 Best Buy credit towards streaming devices
- Logitech $20 off $49: MX Master Wireless Mouse $80 shipped (Reg. $100), gaming accessories, more
- TP-LINK V2 N300 Powerline Adapter/Wireless Range Extender $25 Prime shipped (Orig. $60)
- Gears of War: Ultimate Edition owners will get the entire GOW collection for free on Xbox One
- GoPro Hero3+ Silver Edition camera refurb $180 shipped (Orig. $300)
- ALEX Learning and Building Toys 40% Off: science kits from $13, connector sets from $22, more
- Two D-Link DCS-934L Wireless IR Surveillance Cameras: $75 shipped (Reg. $100)
- Aukey USB roundup w/ free Prime shipping: wall charger $9, dual-port car charger $10, more
- Free PS Plus Games for August: Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris, Limbo, more
- Free Xbox Live Gold Games for August: Metal Gear Solid V Ground Zeroes, more
- Stream Pixar’s animated short Lava in its entirety for free
- Drive Genius 4 app for maintaining & repairing your Mac: $50 (Orig. $99)
- Complete this Chipotle trivia game & receive a buy one, get one free coupon
New products & more:
Bang & Olufsen brings it all together with new whole home audio capabilities for existing products
Review: Sony’s RX100 IV is the best compact photo/video camera that money can buy (Video)
DJI reveals a new Phantom 3 for beginner pilots loaded with specs
- The Lexus Hoverboard is here: watch as it flies around a skatepark and over water
- Metal Gear Solid V The Phantom Pain gets brand new trailer & gameplay footage w/ commentary
- EA Gamescom 15: deep Need for Speed campaign mode, new Battlefront gameplay, more
- Microsoft announces new Halo 5 Limited EditionXbox One Console, DVR functionality, games and more
- Epson’s new EcoTank printers have enough ink for “two years” right out of the box
- The new off-road nipi cooler uses renewable power to keep your devices charged and your beer cold
- ECOXGEAR’s new rugged Bluetooth speakers and power banks are waterproof and solar powered
- Team 17 announces a pair of new Worms games coming to iOS, Xbox One and PC
- Amazon’s Dash Replenishment Service is here and Prime members can order today
- Olio announces new Gold and Rose Gold options for its luxury smartwatch
- Star Wars announces new Team Deathmatch mode for Battlefront, pre-order discounts
- Livid’s new wireless iOS/Mac MIDI instrument clocks in at the same size as iPhone 6 Plus
Review: Incase’s DSLR Sling and Pro Packs are durable, versatile MacBook/camera bags
Eventually, pocket-sized cameras will compare in low-light performance to today’s large and expensive DSLRs. Although pro photographers will have moved on by then to even more powerful large cameras, the vast majority of people will see no need to carry big, heavy lenses and camera bodies around. The iPhone’s ascendance demonstrates that “eventually” is at least foreseeable, even though it’s not happening in the near term.
Serious photographers won’t be giving up their DSLRs any time soon, and in fact will be toting plenty of camera hardware — many times, along with a laptop — to any event or destination important enough to photograph properly. Over the years, I’ve learned that the “ideal bag” for my personal needs is one that can hold my camera, several lenses, and whichever MacBook I’m using. Having hunted for the ultimate carrying solution for both computer and photo gear, the best solutions I’ve found are made by Incase.
The bag I’ve used actively for the last three years is Incase’s DSLR Sling Pack ($90, above left), and incredibly, it looks virtually identical today to when I first started using it. The DSLR Sling Pack is perfect for 11″ MacBook Airs and 12″ MacBooks, plus a big camera body with three lenses. But since my 13″ MacBook Pro barely fits inside its zippered compartment, I’ve been struggling with whether to replace the bag. That’s why I’m checking out two larger models today: the DSLR Pro Sling Pack ($170, middle), and traditional DSLR Pro Pack ($150, right). They’re large enough for up to 15″ MacBook Pros and have more room for DSLR gear, as well. Which is right for you?…
9to5Toys Last Call: HooToo Travel Router $15, Omaker Splashproof Bluetooth Speaker $25, Seagate 5TB Desktop HDD $118
Keep up with the best gear and deals on the web by signing up for the 9to5Toys Newsletter. Also, be sure to check us out on: Twitter, RSS Feed, Facebook, Google+ and Safari push notifications.
Today’s can’t miss deals:
Last Call Updates:
- Sony’s new 43-75″ 4K UHDTVs bring an incredibly thin design, pre-orders start today
- HooToo TripMate Wireless N Travel Router w/ USB port $15 Prime shipped (Reg. $20)
- Seagate 5TB USB 3.0 Desktop Hard Drives from $118 shipped
- Western Digital Red 5TB 3.5-inch NAS Hard Drive $190 shipped (Orig. $250), more
- Omaker Splashproof Bluetooth 4.0 Speaker with NFC Tap & Play Technology $25 (Orig. $70)
- Printers: Brother Wireless laser (refurb) $120, Canon imageCLASS w/ AirPrint $130, more
- USB power: 50W 5-Port Charger $12, 3200mAh battery pack w/ dual-port car charger $13
- Lumsing wallet design magnetic leather cover for iPad 2/3/4 bundle $7 shipped (Orig. $25)
- Extreme Micro Drone 2.0 W/ Camera Shipped $75 (Orig. $139, ends today)
- Sony’s new soundbars and A/V receivers include Google Cast and up to ten HDMI inputs
- Blizzard’s latest multiplayer brawler Heroes of the Storm heads to beta & gets release date
- Home: Dyson AM08 Pedestal Fan $250, Black & Decker Lithium Snakelight $20, more
Canon EOS Rebel T3i DSLR (refurb) w/ 18-55mm Lens Kit $336 shipped (Orig. $599), more
Headphones: Audio-Technica QuietPoint over-ears $100 (Reg. $150+), Sennheiser HD 202 on-ears $15 (Reg. $24), more
Daily Deals: iPad Air 2 Wi-Fi 128GB $590, DJI Quadcopter w/ GoPro mount $305, PNY 64GB microSDXC $25, more
iTunes Free App of the Week: Pursuit of Light ($1 value)
Review: Moleskine’s new myCloud Smallpack offers plentiful storage in a tidy design, $150 giveaway
More new gear from today:
Amazon Gold Box – Kindle Fire HD 7 Tablet from $79 shipped (Reg. $139)
Huge Innori 22400mAh 3 Port USB Battery Pack $35 Shipped (Orig. $70)
- New! Games/Apps: New Nintendo 3DS XL w/ choice of game $209 ($240+ value), more
- New! GoPro HERO3 White Edition Camera (refurb) $149 shipped (Reg. $200)
- New! Tailgate-ready Cuisinart Compact Gas Grill for $120 shipped (Reg. $200)
- New! Philips Hue 60W Equivalent A19 Single LED Light Bulb: $45 shipped (Reg. $60)
- New! Yamaha RX-V377 5.1-Channel 4K A/V Home Theater Receiver w/USB: $180 Shipped (Orig. $300)
More deals still alive:
Apple AirPort Express w/ AirPlay & Wireless Printing $79 or refurb $65 (Reg. $99)
- Spigen iPhone 6/Plus cases from $4 Prime shipped, multiple colors/styles available
- Refurbished Apple laptops: MacBooks from $259, Pros starting at $459
- Headphones: Sony over-ears (refurb) $50, 2 pairs Able Planet $20, more
- Garmin nüvi 7-Inch GPS w/ Lifetime Maps (Cert Refurbished) $110 (Reg. $130)
- Intocircuit Power Castle 11200mAh Dual-USB Power Bank: $18 Prime shipped (Reg. $30)
- Free 1-month unlimited access to over 15,000 digital Marvel comics
- Satechi’s Premium Aluminum 4-Port USB Clamp Hub: $20 Shipped
- Magazine subs from $4.50/yr: Rolling Stone, Maxim, GQ, Dwell, Runner’s World, more
- Lowe’s coupon: save $10 on purchases of $50 or more in-store or online
- Two free months of Audible audiobooks for new accounts
- Toys: UDI Quadcopter RC Drone $53, Star Wars figure play sets bundle $29, more
- Dr. Seuss The Lorax interactive book app $2 (Reg. $5) + Free giveaway codes
- Audio-Technica ATH-M50X Over-Ear Headphones w/ Hard Case $135 shipped ($200 value)
- Stream the first season of Orphan Black for free without a Prime membership
- Choice of 2 rugged, highly-rated Bluetooth speakers from Lumsing: $19 Prime Shipped
- Fleksy customizable keyboard app w/ GIF support goes free for iOS (Reg. $1)
- ZyXEL AV500 Powerline kit with N300 Wireless Range Extender $30 shipped (Orig. $60)
- Aukey Aluminum 7x USB 3 portable 30W powered hub: $30 Prime shipped
New products & more:
Are Verizon’s new FiOS bundle plans the answer to ala carte programming?
IKEA details its new wireless charging furniture, add-ons and iPhone cases
- OWC put a 480GB SSD in a pocket-size USB 3.0 Flash Drive
- Carbonate your booze from an iPhone app with SodaStream Mix
- Design your own pair of headphones with AiAiAi’s new TMA-2 modulars
- Guitar Hero returns w/ new gameplay modes and a refreshed controller, pre-order today
- LG brings Google Cast to its line of Music Flow speakers for wireless music streaming
9to5’s Last Minute Apple Gift Guide
Christmas and the end of Hanukkah are only a week away. You’re looking for a last-minute gift that’s guaranteed to arrive in time for the holidays. We’re here to help with a collection of top picks for Apple fans, all at great prices.
Welcome to 9to5’s Last Minute Apple Gift Guide!
Jeremy’s holiday gift guide: Mac, iPhone & iPad gear you can trust
My first post for 9to5Mac is on a topic near and dear to my heart: best-of-breed Apple products and accessories. Why should you trust me? I’ve been a professional product reviewer for 23 years and an Apple user for 28 years. Last week, I finished an 11-year stint running the editorial side of iLounge, the leading Apple product review site, where I tested literally thousands of Apple accessories from every major company on the planet. Readers have praised my reviews as accurate and insightful, and I always put my readers’ needs first when testing new products.
9to5Toys Last Call: Infinity Blade II FREE, LifeProof sale, Samsung EVO 1TB SSD $540, more
Be sure to follow 9to5Toys to keep up with the best gear and deals on the web: Twitter, RSS Feed, Facebook, Google+
Today’s can’t miss deals:
IGN’s FREE iOS game of the month: Infinity Blade II ($7 savings)
LifeProof Sale up to 75% off: Arm Band for iPhone 5/5s: $13 (Reg. $50), frē iPhone 5 Case: $60 (Reg. $80), free shipping
Samsung EVO 1TB 2.5-inch SATA-3 SSD: $540 shipped (36% off)
Other great deals from today:
- New! Canon EOS 6D 20.2 MP CMOS Digital SLR Camera Kit+Bag, 16GB SD Card+$28 gift card, more: $1405 shipped ($2084 w/EF24-105mm IS lens)
- New! Game/App Deals: Animal Crossing: New Leaf $25, Zelda: A Link Between Worlds: $35, COD: Ghosts $44 on next gen, iOS freebies, more
- New! VIZIO 47″ 1080p 120Hz LED LCD Smart HDTV Refurb. $328 shipped (Reg. $550)
- New! Keurig Vue V600 Brewing System $70 shipped (Reg. $140)
The best deals that are still alive:
- Amazon Promo: Free $5 credit on purchases of $35 or more
- PNY StorEDGE flash memory expansion for MacBooks: 64GB $40, 128GB $94
- Amazon offering 50GB free Cloud Storage with “select” smartphone purchases
- Skype offers 30% off $10-$200 gift cards for a limited time
- Save 44% on 1Password for iOS, the gold standard in mobile password security
9to5Toys Last Call: PlayStation 3 GTA V bundle $230, Lacie Porsche USB drives, Anker power bank $20, BOGO Starbucks, more
From 9to5Toys.com:
Be sure to follow 9to5Toys to keep up with the best gear and deals on the web: Twitter, RSS Feed, Facebook, Google+.
Today’s can’t miss deals:
Game/App Deals: 500GB PlayStation 3 Grand Theft Auto V bundle $230 (Reg. $270), iOS freebies, more
LaCie’s new Porsche designed USB 3.0 key drive available now
Anker Astro Slim2 4500mAh portable battery charger $20 shipped (Reg. $28)
Other great deals from today:
- New! Buy one, get one free Starbucks coffee promotion
- New! 50% off Select K’NEX Toys: Angry Birds $25 (Reg. $50), Mario Kart Track Pack $13 (Reg. $26), more
- New! The first three seasons of Breaking Bad on DVD for $10 each (Reg. $27)
- New! Kindle DX 9.7″ eReader w/ free global 3G connectivity $189 shipped (Reg. $239)
- New! Wireless Printers: Canon PIXMA AirPrint all-in-one $80 (Reg. 150), HP laserjet $85 (Reg. $160)
- New! Logitech G510 gaming keyboard (Refurb.) $50 shipped (Reg. $120 new)
The best deals that are still alive:
- Logitech K760 Wireless Bluetooth Solar Keyboard for Mac/iPhone/iPad $50 Shipped (Reg. $80)
- This week’s best entertainment releases: Pearl Jam free stream, Eminem, Monsters University (early release), Hangover III, more
- Apple iPod Touch 32GB 5th gen. black (pre-owned) $190 shipped (Reg. $299 new)
- Urge Basics Soundbrick Bluetooth speaker w/ built-in mic (many colors) $34 + $3 shipping (Reg. $80)
- Dual-band router deals: Linksys EA6900 AC: $200, WD N900 w/ 2TB wireless storage: $135
- LifeBox Water/Dust/Shockproof Case for iPhone 5 (multiple colors) $50 shipped (Reg. $80)
- Apple iPad 4th gen. 16GB WiFi $449 (10% savings), iPad 2 16GB WiFi $349 (13% savings)
- Philips Twin Play portable iPhone, iPod, iPad video viewer w/ two 9″ LCD displays $80 shipped (Reg. $220)
- Canon EOS Rebel T3i EF-S 18-55mm IS II Lens Kit (refurb.) $384 shipped ($579 new)
- OtterBox Defender Series case for iPad (gray/white) $37 shipped (Reg. $100)
- OtterBox iPhone 5 Defender Series case in multiple colors $20 shipped (Reg. $50)
- The best Apple-certified (MFi) Lightning cables in various lengths, colors, and styles
Mac software bundles:
- Design Bundler #2 with Premium Photoshop Layer Styles and 4 other Mac apps – Name your own price
- The Mac Freebie Bundle 2.0: 10 Apps To Enhance Your Design, Photography & Productivity
New product announcements & reviews:
- OtterBox begins shipping new Commuter Series Wallet case for iPhone 5/5s and Galaxy S4
- Belkin announces Express Dock for iOS devices w/ adjustable dial to accommodate cases
- GoPro’s new HERO3+ cameras are smaller, more capable, and ready for next-level action
9to5Toys Last Call: Free Klipsch Earbuds (After rebate), Budget Office Toys, $60 Toshiba 1TB USB 3.0 Portable HD
From 9to5Toys.com:
A large majority of the deals we cover each day come from a variety of ‘Daily Deal’ websites or are so popular that they don’t even last 24 hours. We know you can’t be at your computer every second, so we’re going to roundup the best deals each day to make sure you have a fair shot at the deals you want. Be sure to follow 9to5Toys.com so you never miss a deal... Twitter, RSS Feed, Facebook
Today’s Featured deals:
Klipsch E1 In-Ear Headphones: FREE after $25 rebate
Budget office ‘productivity-killing’ gadgets:
-
App-controlled Deskpets w/ combat mode and infared ‘weapons’ $5 Shipped (Reg. $25)
-
MiniTune Portable Bluetooth Speaker $12 Shipped (Reg. $25) – It’s hard to wrong with a $10 Bluetooth speaker…
Toshiba Canvio 1TB USB 3.0 Portable Hard Drive $60 Shipped (Reg. $120)
Other great deals we love:
- Logitech Bluetooth Keyboards w/ free shipping: Compact style $25 (Reg. $50), Illuminated w/ easy-switching between devices $60 (Reg. $100)
- Sold out
Canon EOS Rebel T3i EF-S 18-55mm IS II Lens Kit (Refurb.) $395 Shipped (Reg. $560) - Western Digital 3TB MyBook USB 3.0 Hard Drive $110 Shipped
- Samsung 840 Series 250GB 2.5″ SATA III Solid State Drive (SSD) $150 Shipped (Reg. $250), 500GB $300 (Reg. $450)
- Apple iPad 4th Gen. w/ Retina Display 16GB WiFI (black or white) $450 Shipped (Reg. $500)
- iTunes Gift Cards: Save 10% off a $50 card.
- Office Depot 25% off one regularly price item (Online or in-store)
- Foscam FI8910W Pan & Tilt Wireless Camera w/ 2-Way Audio & Night Vision $65 Shipped (Reg. $90)
- Seagate Backup Plus 1TB USB 3.0 Portable Hard Drive $80 Shipped (Reg. $130)
- Free MP3 download of popular Jam Band live album, Dispatch – Ain’t No Trip to Cleveland: Vol. 1
- AT&T Wireless: 50% off smartphones from $1 to $200 + free shipping, activation
- Western Digital My Passport 2TB USB 3.0 Portable Hard Drive $119 Shipped (Reg. $200)