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Grado GW100 Wireless Bluetooth open-back headphones review

REVIEW – Let’s be transparent— I’m a big fan of Grado headphones and earphones. Their 325e headphones are one of my favorite open-backed headphones and the GR10 earphones are a go-to pair I still love and use. However, it’s becoming a wireless world and it appeared that Grado was being left behind—until now, that is.

What is it?

Grado’s new GW100 headphones are the world’s first wireless headphones that are open-backed. If you’re unfamiliar with the term open-backed, it means that you can see through the headphone ear cups. This openness makes the speakers sound like they are not sitting on your ears, but rather away from your head giving music an expanded soundstage. (However, this soundstage is not as pronounced as on other Grado headphones—more on that later.) Some people prefer the open-backed approach so much that they refuse to listen to any other type of headphone. Add Bluetooth wireless to the mix and you have something special. 

What’s in the box

  • GW100 headphones
  • Mini plug audio cable
  • Mini USB charging cable

Specs

  • Bluetooth Version: 4.2 with apt-X
  • Battery Capacity: 320mAH
  • Working Distance: 30+ ft.
  • Battery Life: 15 hours (at 50% volume)
  • Frequency Response: 20Hz~20KHz
  • Mic Sensitivity: 42dB +/- 3dB
  • Transducer Type: Dynamic
  • Operating Principle: Open Air
  • SPL 1mW: 99.8 dB
  • Nominal Impedance: 32 ohms

Design and features

These are Grado headphones. That may sound a bit obvious, but if you’re familiar with the Grado brand, you get it. One look and that Grado look is immediately apparent. The overarching design language of these headphones has not changed much since the first Grado headphone in the early 90s. The look is a postmodern/mid-century classic style that looks old, but never dated.

The ear cup design, the sliding sizing rod, those foam ear pads are all Grado. The ear pads on these are on-ear like the SR60 and SR80 headphones as opposed to over-ear like Grado’s more expensive models. The GW100s are clad in an abundance of matte black plastic and faux leather. On some headphones, this would look and feel cheap, but the pieces fit together well and there’s no rattling or squeaking. Plus they are incredibly light. I’ve worn them for hours with little to no discomfort. The one comfort issue I do have is the foam on the ear pads. My skin mildly reacts to whatever the foam is made of and can sometimes become itchy. It could be something worth noting if you have sensitive skin.

The headband on the GW100 headphones could use more padding, but it’s almost identical to the headbands of Grado’s upscale headphones. It feels fine to me but might not have enough cushion for someone with thinning to no hair.

One design flaw I noticed is that if you want to wear the headphones around your neck, the ear cups only swivel one way and that way is backward. Let me explain: when headphones are around your neck, the foam part of the ear cup should face your body so they won’t get dirty. However, when worn correctly, the ear cup’s foam on the GW100s only face outward—unless you flip them around which then makes the right speaker be on your left side and left on right. Who wants that? Maybe this shouldn’t bug me so much, but it feels completely backward. 

Even though the GW100s are wireless, they can also be used with the included mini plug cable for (slightly) improved audio quality or if you forgot to recharge the battery. The headphones are charged via a mini USB plug, also included. I would have preferred a newer, faster, more durable USB-C connection that many wireless headphones now employ. Also, the Bluetooth is version 4.2 instead of the latest version 5. 

As far as extras go, that’s it. They are housed in cheap foam inside a thin cardboard box. Plus, there’s no case included, but that’s true of most if not all Grado headphones—no matter the cost. It appears that Grado puts all of their money into the product instead of extras that have no effect on audio quality.

The GW100 headphones may be Grado’s first wireless model, but you would never know it. Out of the box, the GW100s are easy to pair and easy to use. I didn’t even need to read the manual—I was able to figure out the buttons fairly quickly. The buttons are on the large-side making them easy to feel and use. When pressed, there is a voice prompt that tells you if you are powered on or off and either connected or disconnected. It’s nice that I don’t have to translate what different beeps mean as with other headphones. Oh, the voice is female and has a trace of a British accent—nice touch.

Call quality is so-so using the GW100 headphones. People I spoke with could tell I was not using my iPhone (unlike the crazy good call quality of the Apple AirPods). I was told my voice had static in the background. Even so, I could hear the other person quite well. However, the open-backed design lets me hear myself talking—something sorely lacking on regular headphones.

It’s worth noting that even though the GW100 headphones are open-backed, Grado has noticeably reduced audio “bleed.” People next to you may still be able to hear what you are hearing, but it won’t be as loud to them as with other Grado models. Note that this also reduces the soundstage a bit, so if you’re looking for that ultra-wide Grado soundstage, you may be disappointed.

So what is that Grado sound? Grado headphones are tuned to middle to slightly higher frequencies, but without being too bright-sounding in any way. Bass is present but well controlled. They are well suited for rock and jazz but can be easily used for any genre of music—except for bass prominent hip-hop or some electronica.

Since I’m a fan of classic rock, the GW100 headphones sound just right, whether it’s the Beatles, Stones, Bowie or even more recent rock. It’s a “mama bear” kind of headphone. However, if you’re a bass-head, I would look elsewhere. If you’re used to a brighter, ”Etymotic” type of sound, The GW100s may come off as a bit flat sounding. They still sound energetic, but not to the point of becoming harsh.

But what’s really nice about the GW100 headphones is that they can disappear. The Grados put music first and when coupled with their open-backed design, it’s easy to become lost in the music where you can forget you’re wearing headphones. It’s a weird sensation and it doesn’t happen with many headphones.  

What I like

The GW100 headphones are extremely light and comfortable. They can be worn for hours with little to no discomfort. Oh yeah, they also sound great.

What needs to be improved

The GW100s are almost all plastic which can feel a bit cheap when first held. Be careful cramming them into a backpack—the ear pads easily come off and can be misplaced. The ear pad foam can be scratchy feeling for sensitive skin.

Final Thoughts

Grado took their time making a Bluetooth headphone, but the wait was justified. The GW100 headphones have managed to retain that illusive Grado character that fans love. It’s a Grado headphone, period.

Price: $249 US
Where to buy: Amazon
Source: The sample for this product was provided by Grado.

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Grado GW100 Wireless Bluetooth open-back headphones review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on January 9, 2019 at 9:00 am.

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Pelican Go G40 Case review

REVIEW – We all have our EDC essentials and some of us lug them into environments that are potentially a bit more harsh than average.  If you are one of the aforementioned folks, then you probably already know that Pelican has been making hard cases that are water- and drop-resistant for a long time and are arguably the gold standard for such containers.  Pelican’s most recent product in the personal hard case space is their Pelican Go G40 Case.   It not only has many of the features that have made Pelican’s products successful for many years, but also has a few additional features for EDC fans.  How did it fare?  Let’s check it out!  Gadget on!

What is it?

The Pelican Go G40 Case is a water- and drop-resistant personal hard case that is designed to hold and keep save several small items in potentially extreme conditions.

Hardware specs

  • Colors: Anthracite/Grey, Blush/Grey, Lime/Green, Surf Blue/Grey (reviewed here)
  • Dimensions: 7” x 3.5” x 1.6”
  • Material: ABS plastic
  • Waterproof rating: IP67 (Submersible for 30 minutes in a depth of up to 3 feet (1 meter))
  • Exterior: Equipped with a rubberized bumper, easy carry handle and secure closure latch to protect even the smallest valuables.
  • Interior: Cushioned EVA Lining in Lid and Base to keep cellphones and valuables safe plus Organization Tray with built-in credit card pockets and cord management strap
  • Warranty: Pelican lifetime warranty

What’s in the package?

  • Pelican Go G40 Case

Design and features

Fends off dust, dirt, sand, and water up to 1.5m deep for up to half-an-hour.

I actually already own two Pelican cases, both their 10xx and 1050 cases, which I purchased through GORUCK, and I have been very happy with them; they have protected my cell phone, wallet, car keys, and several other items through all sorts of adventures and harsh conditions.  When I first saw a photo online of the Go G40 Case, my initial thought was, “Hey, where’s the transparent lid?”  I was a bit skeptical, but the Go G40 Case’s other features intrigued me enough to want to review it.  

Other than the lack of a transparent lid as mentioned above, the Go G40 Case does share many similar features to existing Pelican cases, each of which will be covered in more detail below.  For starters, it looked and felt very rugged and durable.

Another thing that I noticed about the Go G40 Case immediately was its matte finish.  Most personal Pelican cases that are sized similarly to the Go G40 Case have a high-gloss finish.  While this has an appealing appearance initially, I’ve found this to be a bit problematic over time, because if you are actually using your Pelican case at all, it is likely that the case is actually coming into contact with other objects, which tends to scratch and scuff that appealing gloss finish.  I think the matte finish of the Go G40 Case is a serious improvement.

One of the more obvious external features that I appreciated immediately was the generously-sized loop that can be used to attach the Go G40 Case to things, such as a backpack.  Loop-type features are present on most hard cases of this type, but I’ve found most of them to be quite small and I’ve always been concerned that they might break off and I’d lose my hard case.  Not so here.  As mentioned, the loop on the Go G40 Case is very generously sized, thick, and integrally molded directly into the exterior of the case.  This thing is solid—good luck breaking this off without basically destroying the case.

The Pelican Go G40 Case, like many of its predecessors, has a single latch mechanism that locks down the lid and seals the case tight.  Like the loop described above, this latch is big, beefy, and provides a very positive tactile and auditory feedback when locked down.

The latch includes a valve that is similar to other existing Pelican case models.  This valve is intended to help equalize the pressure inside the case with the ambient pressure outside the case, such as at higher altitudes.

Moving to the other side of the Go G40 Case, the lid is attached to the main body of the case with two very solid hinges that have durable metal core pins as shown above.  This is yet another reason why Pelican is considered a gold standard for personal protection cases.  In addition, the gray strip running around the outside perimeter of the Go G40 is actually a rubber bumper that helps protect the case (and its contents) from shocks and drops.

The Pelican Go G40 Case is a decently compact size, while still being able to hold a fair amount of EDC-type items, as you will see below.  Above, I’m holding the Go G40 Case just to give an idea of scale.

Next let’s look inside the Go G40 Case, where there are some additional new features, such as the lining and tray.  More on these features below.

First, let’s take a look at the interior of the case itself, and focus on the bottom of the main compartment.  The inside of the Go G40 Case is lined with a soft EVA material that helps both cushion items placed inside as well as reduce the risk of scratching them against the inside of the case.  There are also two cross-shaped features that are very slightly raised from the bottom.  These are to prevent items from getting “stuck” to the bottom of the case.

Similar to the bottom of the case, the inside of the lid also has the same soft EVA material to help protect items placed inside it.  In the photo above, you can also see the black rubber O-ring that sits down in its own groove and runs the circumference of the case’s lid.  This rubber O-ring is key to the Pelican Go G40’s IP67 waterproof rating, which allows it to remain submerged in water to a depth of 1 meter for up to 30 minutes.

Next, let’s check out the Go G40’s Case’s internal tray.  This tray is specially sized to lay into the lower portion of the case, but stay elevated above the bottom; it rests in a ledge that is built into the circumference of the lower portion of the case’s interior.

This tray is molded to specifically fit into the lower portion of the Go G40, but the tray’s exterior is a fabric-type cloth, the texture of which is shown in the close-up photo above.  There is also an oval slot on either end of this tray, with I think is simply to help remove the tray from the Go G40 and to prevent the tray from getting “stuck” in the Go G40.

The tray serves two purposes.  First, it provides a space for your mobile phone to sit that is separated from any other contents in the lower portion of the Go G40 (see photo below).  Additionally, the underside of the tray has two card slots as well as a strip of elastic that can be used for cable management.  In the photo above, I’ve placed a debit card and my Driver’s License, along with a pair of iPhone earbuds.

Above, you can see that my iPhone 6 Plus fits perfectly in the tray; however, I did have to remove the Magpul case I that I typically have on my iPhone.  Smaller phones will fit fine in the tray, but if you have a larger phone, you may have to remove it from its case, or use a very thin case, in order for it to fit in the tray.  (Please ignore the goofball reflected in the iPhone’s screen. 😉 )

Above, I’ve placed a handful of my essential EDC items into the Go G40 Case, including my naked iPhone 6 Plus (which will actually sit down in the cavity in the tray as seen in the photo above and below), my Leatherman Squirt PS4 multitool with a 550 paracord fob, a Sandisk USB flash drive, a Sharpie pen, a Parker Jotter ballpoint pen, a Lumintop Tool AAA flashlight and a pack of Listerine Breath Strips.    Also included are the two cards and iPhone earbuds in the underside of the lid.

Above is the Go G40 Case with all of the items shown above placed inside it.  Everything fit well and the latch closed fine.  In fact, even with the items above placed in the lower portion of the Go G40 Case, there was still room for a few more small items if I arranged them all to fit.

In the photo above, I’ve used a carabiner to attach the Go G40 Case to the grab handle of my GORUCK GR1 rucksack as an example of how you might carry this case securely on the outside of a bag.

What I like

  • IP67 water resistance rating
  • Matte finish doesn’t show scratches, scrapes or smudges
  • Thick, tough carabiner loop
  • Exterior rubber bumper for added shock protection
  • Interior lined with soft EVA material
  • Interior tray separates phone from other items and also includes card slots and elastic strap

What needs to be improved

  • I had to remove my iPhone 6 Plus from the case I typically use in order for it to fit into the tray

Final thoughts

I really like the Pelican Go G40 Case.  It provides an excellent level of water- and shock-protection for small valuables and its interior tray that holds your cell phone is a great new feature.  If you work or frequently spend time in a harsh environment, or plan to visit such an area, I would encourage you to take a look at the Pelican Go G40 Case as a way to secure your important personal items.  In fact, I plan to use the Go G40 case to protect my wallet, phone, watch and a few other items on my next GORUCK Challenge, which is a really good testbed for protective hard case like this, because it is very likely that will be banged around around a lot, and also to be submerged in water.  Interestingly, the Pelican Go G40 Case is currently only available at REI, so if you are interested, check their site for more info or to order (see links below).

Price: $39.95
Where to buy: REI.com
Source: The product sample for this review was provided by Pelican.

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Pelican Go G40 Case review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on January 8, 2019 at 11:00 am.

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Azulle Byte3 fanless mini desktop PC review

REVIEW – Desktop PCs don’t seem to get the love that laptops get these days. Most people want a small laptop that they can carry around with them where ever they go. But what about people who don’t need a portable computer setup and want a Windows PC that has a small footprint and one that’s ultra quiet? Let’s take a look at the Byte3 fanless mini desktop PC from Azulle.

What is it?

The Azulle Byte3 is a Windows 10 PC that’s small enough for almost any desk and quiet enough for any home theater.

Hardware specs

Processor: Quad-core Intel® Apollo Lake N3450
Operative System: Windows 10 Pro or Ubuntu Linux
Bios: Wake ON LAN / PXE / BIO Reset
RAM: 4 GB / 8 GB
Storage: eMMC 32 GB / 2.5” SSD Supported or M.2 Supported
GPU: Intel HD Graphic 500
WIFI: Dual Band 2.4 Ghz / 5.0 Ghz
Ethernet: 1 Gigabit
Bluetooth: Bluetooth 4.0
VGA Output: VGA Port x1
HDMI Output: x1 Port, 4K @60fps
USB: x3 3.0 Ports/ x1 2.0 Port / x1 Type-C
SD Card Slot: Up to 256 GB
M.2 Slot: AHCI (SATA)
SATA: Yes
3G Support: Via dongle
IR: Yes
Audio Output: 3.5 mm Jack
HDMI Output: 4K @60fps
Power Supply: 12V
Dimensions: 5.6 in x 4 in x 1.5 in

What’s in the box?

  • Azulle Byte3 PC
  • AC power adapter
  • Remote control
  • Quick guide

Design and features

The Azulle Byte 3 has a black plastic housing and a compact form factor that’s about 6 x 4.25 x 1.25 inches. It’s a sleek alternative to a traditional tower PC.

The front of the computer has a small power button with the Azulle logo that doubles as a status LED that glows red when the unit is connected to power but not actually powered on and blue when powered on. In the bottom left corner is an IR receiver that is used to receive commands from the included remote control.

The basic remote that is included with the Byte3 has dedicated buttons to toggle power, adjust volume, mute volume, launch Windows settings, go back, and switch tabs. There’s also a 5-way nav button in the center that you can use to navigate fields but it does not let you move the mouse pointer around on the screen.



Azulle sells a more advanced remote called the Lynk controller which has extra features including a small keyboard on the back of the remote and an air mouse feature that lets you wave the remote in the air to move the onscreen cursor/mouse. The remote even has backlight feature but it’s only for the buttons on the top of the remote and not for the keyboard on the back.

On one side of the Byte3, you’ll find an SD card slot and 2 USB ports.

The opposite side has a speaker grill / air vent.

The back of the computer has a 3.5 mm headphone jack, a Kensington lock slot, 2 more USB ports, an Ethernet port, HDMI port, VGA port, power port, a USB Type-C port, and a wireless antenna. I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised by the abundance of expansion ports on the Byte3.

The bottom of the Azulle Byte3 is vented and there are 4 holes that will allow you to mount the computer on a wall or under a desk if you so desire.

If you remove the bottom plate, you’ll find an M.2 SATA port and a SATA cable for adding a 2.5-inch drive which is something you’ll probably want to do at some point since this PC only comes with 32GB of built-in storage which Windows 10 takes a big chunk of.

Setting up the Azulle Byte3

I was sent the 4GB Ram Quad-Core Apollo Lake J3455 configuration of the Byte3 which comes preinstalled with Windows 10 Pro. My idea for testing the Byte3 was to connect it to my Denon AV receiver to use for streaming Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Video, and other content on my 65-inch Vizio TV in my basement living room.

I was able to easily connect the Azulle to my AV receiver using an HDMI cable (not included). It shouldn’t come as a surprise that also not included with the Byte3 is a mouse and a keyboard. Since my plan was to review the Byte3 as a media player/streaming device, I decided to order a small wireless keyboard. I settled on a Logitech K400 wireless keyboard mainly because it was really cheap and had a built-in touchpad which I hoped would make it easier to navigate Windows from the couch.

The first time I powered the Byte3 on, I was impressed by how quickly it booted up and has booted up since then. Granted, it is Windows 10 we’re talking about, but the experience using this operating system hasn’t been painful on this little PC at all. Note that if you don’t want to run Windows, you can get a Byte3 with Linux or with no OS installed at all. I wish it macOS was an option 😉

I was also happy that the Byte3 doesn’t have a fan, so it is completely silent, just the way I like my computers to be. I’m such an anti-fan girl (see what I did there?), that I returned a brand new 2018 MacBook Air that I purchased several weeks ago just because I didn’t realize that it had a fan in it. Yes, I’m weird about noise.

I tested the Byte3 while surfing websites using Chrome and other browsers, as well as watching Netflix, Youtube, Hulu, Philo, and other streaming services. All in all, I was really impressed. This little computer handled media streaming via WiFi very well to my 65-inch Vizio TV.

The Azulle even handled streaming 4K video content which was a nice surprise for such a small PC like this one.

I didn’t run any speed tests on the Byte3, so if you want that kind of technical information you can find other reviews that include all sorts of charts and data that usually make my eyes glaze over. I also didn’t test this PC with any high-end games because it’s not designed for them and I’m not a gamer.

What I like

  • Fanless
  • Small footprint
  • Decent array of ports
  • Works well as a streaming computer hooked to a large display

What needs to be improved

  • Nothing

Final thoughts

The Azulle Byte3 PC is a capable and affordable Windows 10 Pro desktop computer that you can hide almost anywhere given its small form factor. I found that it works great as a media player/streaming device hooked up to a large display and as such, it’s earned a permanent spot next to my AV receiver and may just be the device that will finally make me cut the cord for good.

Price: $239.99 as configured
Where to buy: Amazon
Source: The sample for this review was provided by Azulle.

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Azulle Byte3 fanless mini desktop PC review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on January 8, 2019 at 9:00 am.

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The MECO Wet Dry Hand Vacuum Cleaner review


REVIEW – With two young kids who are always eating in my truck, I spend quite a bit of money each month vacuuming the back seat area and the inside of their car seats. I really like the convenience of having a portable vacuum of my own to keep in my truck, but I have tried many and they just never seem to be up to the task. My two main complaints are usually the build quality and lack of adequate suction power. This review is for the MECO Wet Dry Hand Vacuum Cleaner. Let’s see if it will finally be the one that can handle the job.

What is it?

The MECO Wet Dry Hand Vacuum Cleaner is a cordless vacuum dust cleaner that is lightweight and portable and can be wall mounted for easy storage. Since it has a built-in rechargeable battery, it can also be used in your car or wherever you need.

What’s in the box


1 x Meco Wet and Dry Vacuum Cleaner
1 X Multi-Function Brush
1 x Suction Nozzle
1 x Crevice Nozzle
1 x Storage Bag
1 x Wall Mount
1 x Set of Wall Mounting Screws
1 x Cleaning Brush
1 x AC Adapter
2 x HEPA Filter
1 x Dust Filter
1 x Instruction Guide

Design and features

Features:

Input: 100-240V, 50/60Hz
Output: 9.4V, 500mA
Size: 16.26 x 4.72 x 4.45 in
Weight: 1.6KG
Battery: 2000mAh
Vacuum: 3-5K PA (2 Speed)
Charge Time: 4-5 hours

According to the manufacturer:

【Dry & Wet Amphibious】Perfect for cleaning dust, debris, crumbs, pet hair, dog hair, cat hair, as well as liquids.
【Clean the pet Hairs】MECO handheld vacuum can be an ideal helper for vacuuming small debris quickly and conveniently, such as food debris, paper scraps, dirt dust, melon seed, pet fur, cigarette ashes, as well as liquids

The Meco Wet dry portable vacuum cleaner is a sleek looking handheld vacuum that measures approximately 16.26″ x 4.72″ x 4.45″.

On the top of the vacuum there is the button to connect/disconnect the dust canister, and behind it, there are 4 blue LED lights that represent the battery charge level in increments of 25%. Behind the LED lights there is the power button that when depressed offers 2 levels of power.

The picture below shows the vacuum with the multi-function brush attached and below it is a picture with the reverse view.

Approximately midway on the bottom of the vacuum is the slot to attach the wall mount with the ac adapter port.
The wall mount connects to the slot on the rear of the vacuum and there are conduits to attach the AC adapter cord and plug to the wall mount.

The picture below shows the internal design and connecting points between the canister and the body of the vacuum.

Performance

The illustration below shows the parts of the vacuum cleaner and how they connect. The vacuum arrives fully assembled and partially charged. Once I charged it fully, it was ready for testing.

The first video below shows me trying the vacuum without any nozzle or brush just to see if its suction is strong enough to pick up any loose debris. It was not able to pick up much.

This next video shows me using the crevice nozzle to get between the ribs of the car mat to suction up debris. While the vacuum did do a better job with the nozzle, it still does not have enough suction to pick up all of the debris unless it is quite tiny. And, I did try it using the highest suction setting.

The last video shows me using the multi-function brush in one of the child car seats after my son had just enjoyed his fill of french fries. This time the vacuum with the brush did a better job but still did not suction up quite a bit of the debris.

I also tried the vacuum with sucking up water and again, in my opinion, it did just an ok job.

What I like

  • It is lightweight
  • It comes with a storage bag
  • It has a wall mount for that mounting option
  • Several useful accessories are included including an extra filter

What can be improved

  • Build quality
  • Suction

Final thoughts

The MECO Wet Dry Hand Vacuum Cleaner is a lot like several other hand vacuum cleaners that I have tried. I use this type of vacuum more for cleaning my truck than for in my home. I really like that this vacuum comes with a nice storage bag and several useful attachments, in addition to being capable as both a wet and dry vacuum. However, I do not find the suction to be any greater than others in the same class, and as seen in the videos in this review, its suction is in no way exceptional or strong enough to pick up much of the debris on the floor mats in my truck. In addition, I am concerned about how it will stand up to normal weekly use since parts of it do not feel sturdy enough to provide much assurance. For the price, it is a decent vacuum for light and loose dust, but not for heavy duty vacuuming needs.

Price: $45.99 – (Meco is offering 30% off with code: MSS29A95 – End date 01/15/2019)
Where to buy: Amazon
Source: The sample for this review was provided by Meco.

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The MECO Wet Dry Hand Vacuum Cleaner review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on January 7, 2019 at 11:00 am.

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Hex Brand Ranger Clamshell DSLR Backpack review

REVIEW – Smartphone cameras may have overtaken point-and-shoot cameras as the most ubiquitous photography equipment today, but the powerful and feature-rich DSLR systems will be around for a long time to come.  With that in mind, many companies are continuing to product well-designed and durably-built bags and packs to carry a DSLR plus its accessories and other items.  Our latest example of this is the Hex Ranger Clamshell DSLR Backpack.  This pack is not only loaded with features, but includes a high level of customization, all with a low-profile appearance.  Let’s check it out.  Gadget on!

What is it?

The Hex Brand Ranger Clamshell DSLR Backpack is a rugged backpack that is loaded with features and customization for organizing and protecting your DSLR camera and accessories.

Hardware specs

  • Available colors: Black (reviewed here) and Camo
  • YKK Zippers with metal pulls
  • Padded laptop sleeve fits up to a 15″ MacBook
  • Genuine 500D Cordura® nylon exterior
  • Dimensions: 18″L x 12″W x 6″H
  • Weight: 3.5lbs
  • Capacity: 21L
  • Patent Pending

What’s in the package?

  • Hex Brand Ranger Clamshell DSLR backpack

Design and features

Initial impression: The Hex Ranger Clamshell DLSR Backpack has a really nice look and feel.  It has a low-key, subtle style, but its side webbing (which you will see in the pics below) give it a bit of a tactical look.  The Hex Ranger Clamshell DSLR Backpack has essentially two compartments: the large, main section and the smaller front pocket (there is also a laptop compartment on the back).  More detail on these below as well.

The Hex Ranger Clamshell DLSR Backpack also looks and feels like it has been very solidly constructed.  More on this below.

The lower right corner of the Hex Ranger Clamshell DLSR Backpack’s front pocket has a matte black rubber placard that shows the Hex Brand name and logo with some other information.  Like the overall design of the pack, this placard is subdued so as not to stand out and “scream” the brand’s logo.

The Ranger has large-gauge YKK zippers with customer zipper pulls that have hex-shaped holes and the Hex name on them.

The Hex Ranger Clamshell DLSR Backpack is made from genuine Cordura Nylon fabric, specifically 500D material, which is a top of the line fabric in the backpack and bag industry.  It is lightweight and abrasion- and water-resistant.  Already, this is good indicator that Hex Brand has chosen quality materials for the construction of this backpack.

First, let’s take a look at the Hex Ranger Clamshell DLSR Backpack’s outside pocket.  This pocket takes up just shy of half of the front of the pack, and has a zipper that wraps around half of its perimeter, giving good access inside.  Inside this pocket are a few features to note.  First, it has a wide pocket that spans the entire width.  Below this is a detachable keyring (see image below). Below this are three mesh pockets that can be used to secure and organize smaller items.  Overall, this pocket has a bit of depth to it, but is probably best used to organize and store smaller/flatter items.  Large items can very comfortably be placed into the main compartment, as you will see below.  Finally, you can see that the interior of this pocket’s main flap is lined with a material with “hex” shapes—Hex Brand calls this “Grey Heritage Hex Lining”.  This material is intended to aid in protecting the contents of this pocket from moisture, should you get caught in a rain shower, but this will not completely keep your items dry if exposed to water for an extended period—the Ranger has another feature for this (more on this below).

The detachable key ring has a single pushbutton quick-release that is easy to operate one-handed, both attaching and detaching.  You could also attach USB sticks, a knife, a flashlight or other small items to this that you want to access quickly.

Let’s take a look at the right side of the pack.  At the top is a compression strap with quick-release buckle as well as a strip of MOLLE loop-type webbing that runs to the middle of the side of the pack, and finally a zippered pocket along the bottom third of the sie of the pack.  More on each of these features below.

The above photo shows the top portion of the right side of the pack.  Starting at the top, there is a compression strap that has a quick-release buckle.  These are super handy for when you may not have your pack completely full and you just want to cinch it down a bit so it doesn’t flop around, or you just want to be able to access one side or the other.  The quick-release buckles are also very handy because they allow you to easily unbuckle them to gain access to the full clamshell main compartment.  The compression straps also have a small retaining strap that allows you to coil up any extra webbing and keep it from flailing around.  A nice feature.  Also in the photo above, you can see the strip of MOLLE loop-type webbing material which runs along either side of the pack.  This webbing material is stitched and bar-tacked at intervals that form short loops in the webbing, so you can attach items to the outside of the pack with carabiners and so forth.  Super handy for something you may want to grab quickly.

Next, let’s move down to the lower half of the right side of the pack, as seen in the above photo.  There is a compartment here with a zipper that opens on two sides which gives a good amount of access to the interior.  Inside, the pocket is lined with a soft, faux fur, fleece-type material which makes this compartment great for holding items that you don’t want to scratch but that you may want to have quick access to from the outside of the pack, items such as a portable battery, headphones, and so forth.

Next, let’s take a look at the left side of the pack, as see in the photo above.

Like the left side of the pack, the right side also has a quick-release compression buckle strap near the top, as well as a segmented strip of MOLLE loop-type webbing running down the side.  Also, note the zipper for the laptop compartment (more on this below).

Like the right side of the Ranger pack, the bottom third of the left side also has an external pocket, but Hex Brand calls this a “flush pocket” and this one is different from the fleece-lined zipper pocket on the opposite side.  This one has an open top opening and tucked down inside it is a plastic hook on a short strip of elastic that could serve two purposes.  The obvious use of this hook is to secure keys, a knife, a flashlight or just about anything you like, and tuck it into the pocket.

The less obvious use of this hook, but one that the clever Hex Brand folks have thought about, is to secure the zipper pulls of the main compartment as a theft deterrent.  Of course, the hook is not an actual lock, nor is it made of metal, but unhooking both or even one of the zipper pulls from the hook takes a few seconds (0r several seconds in my case), which could very well be enough to discourage a would-be thief.  Additionally, the hex-shaped holes in the custom zipper pulls are certainly beefy enough to have an actual lock attached to them for an even higher level of security, if you wish.

In addition to the plastic hook inside, this pocket also expands via the use of a cleverly-concealed strip of elastic, as seen in the image above.  This allows the pocket to grow to hold larger items as seen below.

I placed my Contigo travel coffee mug in this expanded pocket and it fit perfectly, and the elastic helped secure it into the pocket, as seen in the photos above and below.  This pocket could be used to hold all types of liquid containers.

The above photo shows another view of my Contigo mug nestled into the Rangers’ side elastic pocket.

The back of the Ranger has a custom molded and padded EVA foam panel that has the Hex Brand logo molded into it, as seen in the image above.  This molded EVA foam is very comfortable against the wearer’s back, and the four channels and the logo allow airflow to help keep your back dry and cut down on sweat.  Additionally, the padded back provides some additional protection for the laptop compartment which is just under it (more on this below).

The photo above shows the luggage pass-through being used atop a rolling carry-on bag. The pass-through is basically an open slot that passes completely through from the left to the right side of the pack.  A suitcase’s handle can be slid through this slot as shown above.  This is a handy feature if you get tired of wearing your backpack and would rather your piece of rolling luggage hang onto it for you.

In the photo above, I’ve flipped the shoulder straps inside out to show their construction underneath.  A portion of the shoulder straps have a mesh-type “Airmesh” material that also aids in ventilation to help cut down on sweat build-up.

In the close-up photo above, I also wanted to highlight the stitch points where the shoulder straps are attached to the main body of the pack.  The stitching here appears to be very secure, and if you are going to have heavier stitching anywhere in your pack, this is one place where you definitely want it.

Above, a closeup of how the lower end of the shoulder strap webbing is attached to the main body of the Ranger.  There is a triangular-shaped piece of Cordura fabric that captures the webbing and it is all stitched together very solidly.    This is a good construction technique and helps with the overall integrity of the pack.

The shoulder straps have metal hardware which makes then even more durable and longer-lasting in than the plastic hardware on most backpacks. A definite plus.

The above photo shows the front of the left shoulder strap, which includes a matte black rubber logo placard like the one on the front pocket of the pack.  Also shown is one of the adjustable attachment points of the sternum strap.  More on this below.

Just behind this rubber logo placard on the left shoulder strap is a small hidden pocket.  HThe Hex Brand site indicates that this is to give storage and quick access for memory cards, which is certainly one item that can be placed here, but just about any small item would fit.  However, keep in mind that this pocket has an open top and no method to close it.

The photo above shows the Ranger’s sternum strap that can be secured across the wearer’s chest, that can help adjust the load distribution of the pack, especially if it is loaded heavily.  This strap can be adjusted for the comfort of the wearer’s preference by both sliding either side vertically along strips of webbing, and it can be tightened horizontally.  The sternum strap features a quick-release buckle similar to the cinch straps on the side of the pack.

The Ranger’s top grab handle is built around a strip of webbing with padding for added comfort.

Next, let’s take a look inside the main compartment.  In the above photo, I’ve fully unzipped the clamshell main compartment.  I’m a big fan of clamshell-style, fully-opening backpacks because they give you the most access to the contents of the pack for loading and unloading, but if you don’t want to open the entire compartment, the double-zipper allows you to only open a portion of it if desired.

Both the left and right inside walls of the main compartment each have a top and bottom mesh pocket with zipper closure, both of which are super handy for the organization of small items.  Above, the left side.

And above, the right side.  Both the left and right sides mirror each other.

The inside of the flap of the main compartment has two long, mesh, zipper pockets that can also be used to hold and organize items.  Also note that the inside of the flap is also lined with the same material as that found in the inside of the front pocket.

Now let’s have a look at the heart of the Ranger pack, the customizable compartmentalization in the main compartment.  This is accomplished via a combination of a felt-like fabric interior upon which a series of divider walls can be attached in a multitude of different configurations.

In the above photo, I’ve done just a minor amount of re-configuring of the dividers to better fit my DSLR and some accessories.

As the pic above shows,  starting from the top, I’ve placed my large telephoto zoom lens in the top compartment, A charging cable, my DSLR battery charger and a shoulder strap with lens cap holder in the next set of compartments, and my waterproof point-and-shoot camera and my DSLR camera body with a small lens in the compartments near the bottom of the pack.  As you can see, I actually still have even more ability to customize things if I wanted, and some of those smaller items could be moved to other locations in the Ranger, allowing the dividers to be further re-configured.

The above photo shows a close-up of one of the dividers walls.  Each has a soft, felt-like exterior, similar to the fabric that nearly the entire interior of the Ranger’s main compartment is lined with.  Additionally, the bottom and sides of each divider wall have a Velcro-like “sticky” portion that can attach either to the inside of the Ranger’s main compartment or to other divider walls.  This allows all of the dividers to “lock” together, helping to ensure the protection of items inside them.

The Ranger’s laptop compartment is accessed via the zipper along the left side of the pack.  (You can also see one side of the luggage pass-through which was described above.)

The laptop compartment is lined with the same soft, faux fur, fleece-type material as the smaller zip pocket on the side of the pack, which helps prevent your laptop from being scratched and provides a bit of additional bump protection. The laptop compartment will hold up to a 15″ MacBook Pro, and that is exactly what I have placed inside it in the above photo.

The bottom of the Ranger has two features to note.  First, the bottom panel is made from a different material than the rest of the exterior; more on this below.  In addition, there are two adjustable straps on the bottom that can be used to lash larger items to the bottom of the pack, as you will see below.

The above close-up of the Ranger packs’ bottom shows one of the two webbing straps as well as a better view of the texture of the bottom panel material.  Hex Brand calls this a “durable non-skid bottom.”  Its a sort of rubbery material with a rough texture that is intended to help keep the Ranger from falling over while also providing a more durable material on the part of the pack that will be more frequently subjected to abrasion.  The two webbing straps have metal hardware, another plus considering they are on the bottom of the pack.

Above, I’ve used the bottom webbing straps to lash my admittedly large and fairly clunky tripod to the bottom of the Ranger, but this pack and its bottom straps handle it quite well.  You could also use these straps to hold a sleeping bag, sleeping mat, blanket, jacket, or any number of other large, bulky items.

The final feature I’dliketo describe is the Ranger’s hidden waterproof rain cover.  The cover typically resides in a pocket between the molded EVA back panel and the main interior compartment.  The opening of this pocket is on the bottom of the pack and it is secured with a strip of Velcro.  In the photo above, I’ve pulled open the pocket and you can just see the rain cover peeking out.

Pulling the out the rain cover, you can see that it has the Hex Brand logo prominently screen-printed on it.

The waterproof rain cover can be placed around the entire Ranger pack and fully covers it.  It has elastic around its edge that helps keep it in place.

The Hex Brand Ranger Clamshell DSLR Backpack is very comfortable to wear.  The shoulder straps a nice and wide and fairly thickly padded, which are the essential features for shoulder strap pack comfort.  (Yes, I had not quite properly adjusted the sternum strap in the pic above.)

I personally like the look of the Ranger pack; low-key basic black so as not to attract undue attention to anyone who might who might be curious about its potentially expensive contents.

The perspective of the photo above makes the Ranger look huge on me, but it is not really that large (compare with the pics above).

What I like

  • Low-key but attractive style
  • Solid construction and quality materials
  • Loaded with features
  • Main compartment dividers are great for customizing the pack for your needs

What needs to be improved

  • Can’t really think of much; Hex Brand has done a great job with this pack

Final thoughts

The Hex Brand Ranger Clamshell DSLR Backpack is loaded with features and is very well-built.  If you have a DSLR camera and a laptop, plus lots of other accessories, this might be a great backpack for you and worth a look.

Price: $199.99
Where to buy: hexbrand.com or Amazon
Source: The product sample for this review was provided by Hex Brand.

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Hex Brand Ranger Clamshell DSLR Backpack review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on January 7, 2019 at 9:00 am.

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