It’s a DSLR bag! But I don’t use a DSLR, so the next question is: How is the Crumpler Mild Enthusiast as a regular belt bag?
The Crumpler Mild Enthusiast makes for a pretty big belt bag and a rather compact messenger bag. It’s wide enough to wrap around your torso, and yet deceptively slim thanks to its angular design.
All in all, it’s not a bad looking bag. As always with Crumpler, attention is paid to the toughness, the design, and of course the bright, bright innards:
So you get a main compartment up front, specifically designed to hold your DSLR and lens. But remove the Velcro-docked mid separator and it turns into a regular bag.
I’m wondering how much this thing can hold. So here goes. If you’re really thirsty, it can hold four cans of Dr. Pepper, which is no mean feat. Except that you won’t be able to close the bag. Notice how the fourth can is nuzzled inside an interior pocket:
Oh, so you want to take this exercise seriously and see how many Dr. Peppers you really can take with you? The answer is three. Plus more than enough room to spare for your wallet and more:
Aside from the main compartment, there’s also a zipper compartment at the backside, though the Mild Enthusiast does a good job of making it seem invisible:
And there’s an additional zipper pocket inside the main compartment:
Bottom line is that you will get lots of storage space for small items and gadgets with the Crumpler Mild Enthusiast.
But I read someone on Crumpler’s main website claiming that he was able to fit an iPad tablet into the Mild Enthusiast. And I thought, no frickin’ way! The front compartment doorway isn’t big enough! And the back zipper isn’t wide enough!
Still, that got me thinking. So I tried it. And after quite a lot of yanking and pulling (fortunately this is one tough bag), I did manage to get an iPad into it! Here’s the proof:
Verdict: Yes it will fit an iPad. But I don’t advise it because it won’t be the easiest thing to put in or pull out. You’ll have to clear the bag first of all its contents before you can even get your hands around the iPad. But it’s nice to know that, in a pinch (literally), you can take it with you.
So is there anything that I didn’t like about the Mild Enthusiast? Probably just this:
What’s that, you say? It’s just a loop of nylon cloth that is used to keep the belt straps in place. It’s a small detail and, truth be told, it’s pretty functional. But whereas this is par for the course for some other bag maker, on a Crumpler it just looks like a letdown. Where’s the character? Where’s the design value? Hey Crumpler, next time replace this with, say, a silicon slider with your logo on it.
Bottom line
Again, the Crumpler Mild Enthusiast makes for a pretty compact messenger bag… or a humungous belt bag. Either way, it’s a rather capacious companion for carrying your mobile devices and articles with you (including an iPad, if absolutely positively necessary).
And if you do have a DSLR, then this makes for a really great traveling bag for ya. Love that thick skin and vibrant interior.
Crumpler Mild Enthusiast DSLR bag. Or belt bag. Or messenger bag.
Likes
- Pretty capacious little critter
- Toughness and durability that Crumpler is known for
- Deceptively compact
Dislikes
- The loops that hold the belts together can use a quality and aesthetic upgrade
- Other than that, what’s not to like? It’s a tough, good looking bag with lots of volume to spare
Price:
Small = Php 3,450
Medium = Php 3,950
Large = Php 4,450
Availability:
The Crumpler Concept Store located at The Fort and Trinoma
