If photography is your thing, sitting around your home shooting baby and puppy pictures isn’t going to cut it. For me, getting out and about is one of the best things about photography. It allows your mind and your camera lens to take you places that you’ve never been before. The tamrac HooDoo 18 is a compact camera backpack that makes it easy to get around whether you’re traveling internationally or exploring the great outdoors.

Camera Protection

tamrac HooDoo 18 Camera Pocket

The tamrac HooDoo 18 has been carefully thought out for the hobby photographer. This camera backpack has a lightly padded pocket that is big enough for common DSLR’s with a smaller lens such as an 18-55mm. This pocket sits at the top of the backpack which makes it easy to access instead of digging at the bottom of your pack. This pocket can accommodate more compact cameras, but I typically like to carry those in a side pocket of my pants or jacket.

Laptop and Hydration Sleeve

There is a padded 13″ top loading laptop sleeve that works great for a 13″ Macbook, but I’ll let you in on a little secret, it also fits a 15″ laptop. In my day job, I almost always have my camera and laptop with me and this is the perfect little pack the the camera/laptop combo.

This sleeve can also double as a place to stash your hydration reservoir when you’re out hiking. There is a small covered hole to feed your drinking tube through as well.

Main Storage Compartment

The outside compartment of the tamrac HooDoo 18 fits anything from extra camera lens and lights to extra gear for traveling. There are two zippers on this compartment which makes it easy to access your gear from nearly every angle. There’s also a small piece of fabric near the bottom of this compartment that helps keep your gear from falling out when unzipping your backpack.

Small Outer Pocket

There’s a small outer pocket that is great to use for storing batteries, SD cards, keys, etc. There is a small organizer within this pocket that holds pens, SD cards, etc. in separate compartments. I haven’t really used this as the internal organizer as you can only fit so much in this pocket to start with.

tamrac HooDoo 18 Camera Backpack Fit

The tamrac HooDoo 18 has a padded back that helps keep the back off the middle of your back. This helps the middle of your back from getting sweaty when you start to heat up. The panels also allow the backpack to fit comfortably on your back vs. digging into your shoulder blades.

Backpack Fabric

The moment I received the tamrac HooDoo 18 in the mail, I was very impressed by the fabric used. The fabric is a high-end water resistant waxed canvas that shouts class. Yes, I know it sounds odd calling a backpack classy, but the material sure takes it up a step.

Final Thoughts

The tamrac HooDoo 18 is a great option for a those who wanting a compact backpack to use for both photography and everyday use. While this pack doesn’t have a ton of bells and whistles, it has everything the hobby photographer needs. For more information, visit amazon.com/tamrac.