Langly Sierra Backpack Review

Typically, when you think about a camera backpack, you think sleek, technical, and heavy. However, in the case of the Langly Sierra Backpack, that all doesn’t have to be true. This more cutesy pack seems to prioritize style over substance in some of its features, though its lightweight design and roomy interior may serve certain photographers over others. We’re amped to show you how our camera gear loads into it. Let’s dive in!

External Components

The primary material we’re working with is cotton twill, which, admittedly, doesn’t feel that durable. We like the texture and how it looks, but it feels cheap when you grab it, and we’re not sure how well it’ll hold up long-term. On the other hand, it might not be an issue if you aren’t taking this into rugged environments.

At the time of writing, there are seven colorways to choose from. Some are vibrant, others are sleek, so you can get something that matches your vibe or the gear you’ll pack inside. For a wedding, go with black. For photographing flowers, go with something a bit brighter.

The zippers are from YKK and are AquaGuard models, which is a nice addition. The primary pack material isn’t waterproof, but it’s somewhat water resistant, and these zippers will help ensure water doesn’t sneak in.

The logo feels like a synthetic leather material. It blends in nicely and isn’t loud, which we like.

There are two side pockets on this pack. They aren’t large enough for bigger travel bottles, but a smaller one will work fine here. There’s a hook-and-loop fastener on the top, so you can stow smaller gear here, like filters or a lens cap while shooting. We’ve all misplaced a lens cap; this can help with that!

There are two handles on the pack’s top. They come together and secure with a button so you can carry the bag at your side, similar to the Fjallraven Kanken line of packs. The handles have enough padding that they’re comfortable enough to hang onto for an extended period. However, you need to open them to get into the main compartment, so it isn’t ideal for periods when you’ll constantly be in and out of the pack.

Fit Notes

There’s padding on the back panel; however, it lacks mesh or any breathability support. It’s comfortable but can get a bit hot, especially in warmer weather.

At times, because of the pack’s shape, it can feel like you’re wearing a brick, especially when you’re loaded up with heavy camera equipment. It isn’t uncomfortable; it’s just a lot. Considering this is a backpack designed to hold your photo kit, we’d like to have seen some additional padding here or extra comfort.

This goes for the shoulder straps, too, as they’re a bit odd. They don’t have dense padding; they’re just hard and lack flexibility to move with your torso, which impacts comfort. There’s some mesh, which is handy for keeping things cool. Because of the padding’s density, they aren’t that comfortable. It isn’t an issue for a short trip, but we wouldn’t recommend wearing this around town all day on foot.

Overall, the harness system is basic. It’s comfortable enough, but when you put a lot of weight inside the pack, it doesn’t do enough to be used as a travel bag. However, if you’re looking for a ton of comfort to offset the heavy gear you carry inside, it might not work for shorter trips, either.

Inside The Pack

The pack is lined with Taslan nylon, which is durable enough but feels very synthetic. We understand that most of the materials we work with regularly are artificial; however, this feels so plasticky that it’s hard not to mention.

The front pocket has a punch-through button closure. Essentially, there’s a pin and a hole, and the hole has a clamp inside that holds onto the end of the pin. It’s fun to play with but tricky to close, especially with one hand. It doesn’t lock, either, so the pocket is at risk of popping open even without much force—not great if it’s holding essentials like your wallet or a pouch with some extra SD cards.

There’s no organization here aside from a key clip. We dig the inclusion because it’s nice to have quick access to your keys when needed, and this offers that. Plus, it keeps your keys locked in place so you don’t have to worry about them falling out of the pocket if the lid pops open in transit.

The laptop compartment is humongous. Seriously, you can fit an 18-inch computer inside here. Unfortunately, that’s where the perks stop. It’s well-padded, but it’s not dense enough for our liking. It will work fine for most trips, but most backpacks take a brutal hit every now and then.

Additionally, the laptop compartment isn’t raised, so your computer is the first to hit the floor when you set it down. Furthermore, the foam lining isn’t continuous, with a gap between the side padding and the bottom lining, so your laptop naturally slides into the crack where there are only thin nylon and cotton materials between your computer and the concrete. Even for the most durable laptops, that’s a recipe for disaster. We recommend using a separate laptop sleeve to give your device some extra protection.

The main compartment has a clamshell-style opening. The lid has three pockets, each unique and handy for camera equipment. The top pocket has depth and is convenient for stowing items that aren’t perfectly flat. The middle compartment is crafted from mesh, so you can see what’s inside. This is a handy place for items you want to have eyes on, like an extra battery or a cable. On the bottom, there’s a more extensive, flat pocket to stow larger items, so long as they’re skinny. We dig this organization because it’s enough to keep a lot of gear but isn’t too limiting, so it’ll work for different kinds of photographers.

The main area is where the real party is, though we aren’t a fan of the padding here. It isn’t thick enough to handle the bumps and knocks of travel. A travel backpack or daypack should be durable enough to get tossed onto the airport security conveyor belt or into the overhead bin. We wouldn’t trust Pack Hacker’s camera gear inside here going through that process, and we’d feel the need to be extra protective with it when out in the field, too.

Despite that, we dig the included dividers. They have a more dense padding that feels more comprehensive than the exterior, which feels like a miss overall, but we’re happy with it here. You could also use your own camera cube in here for all-around protection if you’re concerned about the side padding like we are, though that sort of defeats the purpose of this bag’s built-in organization system.

We could fit a Fuji X-T3 and Nikon F100 with lenses attached and four additional lenses inside with a little room to spare. If you’ve got bulkier bodies or longer lenses, you might not be able to fit as much as we did; however, there’s a ton of space to work with here, and you can easily bring your entire photography kit with you.

It’s worth noting that there isn’t a dedicated space to stow a tripod, so you might have to store one inside the bag. This isn’t ideal, as it eats up interior camera space, but the available space can accommodate some travel tripods.

Overall, we like the design of this pack, but there are a few things that could be improved regarding travel, namely the padding that protects the gear. If you spend thousands of dollars on camera equipment, you should put it in a bag that will protect it. Depending on your needs, this may not be able to do that for you! However, it’ll all fit inside, which is sometimes the hardest thing to find.