Digital Camera World Verdict
The PolarPro RoadRunner 6L shoulder bag is a simple yet tough camera bag. The rigid sides keep gear protected while the small design prevents back strain from an overloaded bag. It's just enough for packing a small mirrorless kit or a drone and a tablet. Minimalists will want to take a look at this quick-access bag,
Pros
- +
Compact
- +
Quick access
- +
Well-made
- +
Just enough pockets
Cons
- -
Tablet pocket is tight
- -
No water bottle pocket
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I once attempted to pull a wagon full of props to an outdoor photo shoot – but I’ve since learned the error of my ways and prioritized keeping my kit portable. Minimalist camera bags prioritize staying both simple and mobile. The PolarPro RoadRunner 6L certainly fits in that description.
As the name hints, the RoadRunner 6L is a compact bag with just 6L of interior space. That’s enough, however, for me to pack both my DJI Mini series drone with a controller as well as a compact mirrorless camera and a small lens. There’s even enough space for an iPad and a tripod.
The question with any minimalist gear, however, is whether or not it strikes the right balance between simplicity and functionality. I used the PolarPro RoadRunner 6L as my mobile drone command center. This is how it fared.
PolarPro RoadRunner 6L: Specifications
Exterior | 600d ripstop nylon |
Interior | Microfiber, 8mm xpe foam |
Exterior dimensions | 12’’ x 6’’ x 7.5” |
Interior dimensions | 11”x 4” x 6.25” |
PolarPro RoadRunner 6L: Price
The PolarPro RoadRunner retails for $99.99 / £99 / AU$159. PolarPro also has a larger 12L version of this bag, which sells for $119.99 / £139 /AU$189.
For more bags in this series, read the PolarPro RoadRunner backpack review or the RoadRunner 1L compact camera bag review.
PolarPro RoadRunner 6L: Design and Handling
The PolarPro RoadRunner 6L shoulder bag is a minimalist gear bag designed for smaller kits. I used the bag to stash a DJI Mini drone, a controller, and a compact mirrorless OM System OM-1 with a small lens. While small, the bag has enough room for a smaller mirrorless camera with an attached lens and an extra lens or two.
The interior of the bag is split into up to three sections with the included dividers. I did wish for one more divider so I could stash my GoPro and mounts along with my drone, but the room left after the drone and controller was still enough for a compact mirrorless and lens.
Underneath the clamshell-style zipper for the main compartment, there are three mesh dividers that can be used to stash smaller accessories like filters, memory cards, cords, and extra props.
On the front of the bag is a smaller front zippered pouch, inside that are five more mesh pockets and a key leash. A smaller pocket sits outside that front pocket and there are two lines of loops for attachments.
The back of the bag has a slim, open pocket without a zipper or clasp that’s good for stashing frequently-grabbed items like a smartphone.
Underneath the bag, two attachment points allow for adding a small tripod.
The bag’s exterior is a mix of textured nylon and a smoother, shinier material that gives the bag a bit more interest for a black camera bag. The zippers are all paired with gold-toned pulls that match the logo and attachment loops on the front.
The compact bag has a quick grab handle at the top and an adjustable nylon shoulder strap that has an adjustable strip of mesh-lined padding.
There’s really not much to the RoadRunner 6L – but that’s actually why I liked it. This shoulder bag is a minimalist design for sure, but that makes it comfortable and quick for accessing compact gear. There are enough pockets for stashing the basic accessories, but not so many pockets that you forget which pocket you actually stashed everything in.
PolarPro RoadRunner 6L: Performance
There’s a key advantage to smaller camera bags: fitting less gear inside makes them far lighter. That, in turn, makes the bag far more comfortable.
The PolarPro RoadRunner 6L may be fairly minimalist, but that creates a rather lightweight bag. The bag itself weighs 575g / 20 oz, and since the bag is meant for minimalist kits, it’s easy to keep the weight light even after filling with gear.
That, mixed with the simple padded shoulder strap, makes the bag fairly comfortable to wear around.
The other key feature that I liked about the PolarPro RoadRunner 6L is that the bag makes it quick to access gear. Just a quick unzip and gear is at your fingertips. Unlike a backpack, you don’t need to pull the bag off to access that gear.
The bag also has two built-in lens cloths, which I appreciated since they are nearly impossible to lose.
The shape of the RoadRunner 6L is certainly boxy, though. I typically prefer messengers that will shape more to my body, but the 6L is so small that its stiffness isn’t an issue. In fact, my 6-year-old thought it looked like a good improvised stepstool, much to my horror, and those stiff sides are probably what saved my drone from being totally crushed.
The bag is also missing a rain cover (not really an issue if you’re using it to stash a drone), and there’s no space for a laptop. That back open pocket can accommodate a tablet, but I had to take the case off my iPad to get it to fit (see above paragraph for the reason why I don’t like to keep any tech unprotected).
PolarPro RoadRunner 6L: Verdict
The PolarPro RoadRunner 6L is probably the simplest camera bag that I’ve ever tested – but it just works. The simple, minimalist design keeps gear quick and easy to access. The limited space means it's hard to overload the bag to the point of shoulder aches. Most importantly, the rigid sides did a fantastic job of keeping the gear inside protected.
I can nitpick a bit and say I wish for a rain cover or a slightly roomier tablet pocket. But the beauty is in the simplicity here, so it’s hard to complain about a lack of features when that’s sort of the point of a minimalist bag.
For creating a lightweight mobile workstation, the PolarPro RoadRunner 6L is a simple bag – but it works well.
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