What I liked;
LARGE bag, fits two DSLRs and several lenses easily, cocooned safely. Vanguard also includes foam separators to carry a drone and a couple of spare separators to customize the bag to your equipment. Lots of thoughtful touches as well, little covers to cover the wheels when you use it as a backpack, lots of loops to hang things from etc.. The interior is very well designed, bright orange allows for working in dim light, and the entire internals can be removed to use it as a regular carry on luggage as well.
The support pads are great and allow adequate ventilation when carrying this as a backpack. The wheels are super smooth and noise-free. The retractable handle works extremely well, and tucks completely out of sight. ALL zippers are high quality and work with a silky smooth feel, very nice.
What I did not like
- no sternum belt - the bag is heavy on its own, add two DSLRs and lenses, and the bag can get really heavy, using this as a backpack if you are taking the road less travelled - can injure your back - think about that before you buy. The waist-level belt is adequate but somewhat fiddly to tighten snugly.
- external storage is not particularly well designed, it lets down the internal design, IMO. For e.g. the tripod holder will only hold a tiny tripod - given that the average user of this bag will be carrying at least one pro DSLR, Vanguard should have provided a better harness for a bigger tripod.
- shoulder straps do not tuck in entirely out of the way, and some straps dangle loosely when used as a roller, likely to get dirty or damaged
- the rain cover is in a separate pouch and you will need to set the bag down to put it on. It should have been stitched into the bag for easy and ready access without having to remove it from a zippered pouch.
- storage for SD Cards is strange - just one or two cards max. in the colour coded net pouches inside - funny!
Overall, great bag, worth the price - way better priced than its competitors. Some little niggles, that will take getting used to.
