It’s no secret –I love backpacks! My roommate actually makes consistent comments on how I have way too many of them lying around our house. It’s not my fault though, I just like to be able to carry everything I need for the day in one clean, minimalist pack.

I spend a lot of time running around town trying to keep up with that daily grind called life. Things that have to be within arms of me are: my computer/tablet, my other tablet, wallet, cell phone, external battery pack, headphones, and camera [Essentials to Work from a Coffee Shop.] It’s relatively easy to find a backpack that can carry everything you need, but the tricky part is finding more that looks and feels good. Ideally in my daily pack I want to be able to run around the city shooting photos, then jump into a coffee shop, and possibly hop to a meeting or event.
I’ve been a huge fan of Incase beginning with their nylon Compact series in 2010. So when Incase gave me the opportunity to review one of their new products I jumped for the Reform Action Camera Backpack.
Aesthetically it’s a sharp-looking backpack. Minimal, but still manages to organize its contents. It looked like the perfect backpack run around town with a camera with. And for my fellow Californians suffering from the drought this backpack is made from an eco-friendly material that uses 89% less water than conventional dyeing methods during production. Yay saving water!
Specs
Dimensions | 18.25″” x 10.75″” x 6.25″” |
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Compatibility | Up to 13″ MacBook Pro, iPad |
Material | Durable 300D heathered weave Ecoya® eco-dyed poly |
Storage | Main compartment with side access zippers. Dedicated iPad pocket. Collapsible top storage for DSLR camera, mono kits, accessory organizers or other items. Padded, faux-fur lined laptop compartment with side zipper access. |
The main compartment is pretty flexible. There’s an additional side panel zippered mesh pocket and a desecrate pocket that’s big enough to fit an iPad, notebook, or small tablet.
For the remainder of the space you could throw anything into it. Pictured above are my hoodie, sunglasses and 100ml water bottle. The space is even large enough to toss a 70-200mm/2.8 lens in.
If you want to be a little more organized and want a little more padding for your lens, the space is big enough to fit my Crumpler Haven Bag. This along with the main compartment’s large side pocket make changing lens on the fly a breeze.
The side pocket feels like it was designed for more personal items. There’s two small pockets for things like a cell phone or business cards, a desecrate zipper side panel pocket, and a dedicated selfie stick strap to satisfy your narcissism.
The dedicated space to stow away your camera feels like a bucket. You simply pull the velcro strap to release the collapsible “bucket” and your camera will chill right there and be accessible from the top zipper. It’s a nice option to make the camera bucket collapsible because it gives you the option of using this backpack like a regular backpack when you’re not running around with a camera.
The bucket pocket also feels more suited for smaller cameras such as a Gopro, 35mm film camera, or a compact mirrorless. However if you really want to you can fit a DSLR with a lens attached in there. I was surprised to discover that my D800+50mm/1.4 would fit and could be zipped up securely.
The laptop pocket is pretty straightforward. It’s lined with faux-fur to keep everything from getting scratched or getting banged up for regular use. I should mention that more and more backpacks are being designed with slim laptops in mind. Particularly with the Reform Action Backpack its laptop compartment will fit my friend’s Macbook Air and my iPad Mini with some wiggle room to spare. My older 13” Macbook Pro however manages to snuggly fit. It still will fit, but you can tell that it’s a tight fit (eventually I’ll update my computer.)
Conclusion
Overall I dig this backpack and for only $99.95 it’s quite ideal for someone who wants to run and gun with a camera, but doesn’t their backpack to scream I AM A CAMERA BACKPACK COME AND STEAL ME. Last week I took the Reform Action Camera Backpack at San Diego International Comic Con to carry my D800, 24-70/2.8, 70-200/2.8, SB-900, water bottle, and other personal items over the entire week. It worked out great primarily because of its low profile design. Smaller, more compact backpacks make it much easier to navigate through over crowded hallways and streets.
And when I couldn’t navigate around them I commanded them to stop using my killer alpha-Owen-Grady-raptor-hands. 😛
Dear Melly,
this is a very useful review, thank you! I just found this backpack a few days ago, found your review and ordered it in the new color (heather black). But unfortunately it feels sooo stiff, it doesn’t change its shape at all whether it’s full or not. It never gets any “wrinkles” like in your first picture for example. I’m now trying to find out if it’s getting better with time or if the old version (the light grey) is softer than the new one.
Any answer would be so helpful 🙂
Best Regards,
Jennifer
Hi Jennifer, Glad the review helped! Incase probably reinforced the pack or changed materials. You might want to ask their customer service since I can only speak for the first model of Reform Action Pack. Regardless I love the Reform for its cute, casual look paired with functionality.
Hi Melly,
Thank you for the review, it is very helpful!! I have only two questions about it, sorry but I’m living in Italy so I don’t have the possibility to check it in person before buying it. First, I didn’t understand if the top pocket and the main side poket are connected, and without opening the camera “bucket” poket, you can have the access to the main side poket. I’m asking you this because I usually need to carry with me some A4 block notes or A4 photocopies, and I’m wandering if they will fit. Second, how big is the “bucket” poket? Could you please write me the measures? I have to check if it fill my dslr camera. Thank you! Best. Luca