VANGUARD ALTA SKY 42 BACKPACK FOR UP TO 600MM LENS AND
VANGUARD ALTA SKY 42 BACKPACK FOR UP TO 600MM LENS AND ADDITIONAL LENSES- 17 LITRES
Traditional Setup
The Alta Sky 49 and Alta Sky 53 are designed as traditional PRO camera backpacks for maximum camera kit (or drones). The kit can be accessed through the top of the backpack or through the rear. The only difference is size, and therefore the kit that can be carried.
Model Shown: Alta Sky 53.
Dual Compartments
The Alta Sky 45D and Alta Sky 51D are designed for maximum versatility with two compartments that allow a 70/30 split of gear (lower compartment shown). How you set it up is entirely down to you.
Large camera kit – simply use both compartments for your gear.
Heading away for a weekend and want to take a change of clothes – simply remove the inserts from the top/bottom compartment and you can carry your personal effects.
You can also access your camera through quick side access, quick top access or through the back allowing you to customise it to your preference.
Model Shown: Alta Sky 51D.
Long Lenses (up to 800mm)
The Alta Sky 66 is specifically designed to carry a super telephoto lens up to 600mm (f/4.0) and some 800mm (f/5.6) attached to a Pro DSLR. If you want to carry your long lens and additional lenses so you don’t miss an opportunity in the field there are three options.
- The Alta Sky 42 will carry a full frame body attached to a 200-600mm lens.
- The Alta Sky 62 will carry a pro body with up to a 600mm lens attached.
- The Alta Sky 68 will carry a pro body with up to an 800mm lens attached.
These are great solutions to carry your large lens safely and in comfort, with easy access when needed.
Model Shown: Alta Sky 66.
 |  |  |  | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Customer Reviews | 4.4 out of 5 stars 27 | 4.3 out of 5 stars 311 | 4.3 out of 5 stars 311 | 4.3 out of 5 stars 311 |
| Price | — | £189.00 | £178.59 | £169.00 |
| External Dimensions (LxWxD) | 340 x 260 x 540mm | 370 x 260 x 565mm | 310 × 230 × 495mm | 370 x 260 x 565mm |
| Internal Dimensions (LxWxD) | 290 x 200 x 480mm | 320 x 200 x 530mm | 260 × 190 × 450mm | 320 x 200 x 510mm |
| Suitable For (Example) | 1-2 pro DSLRs with attached lens (up to 300mm f/4), 4-6 lenses (or a drone) with accessories | 1-2 pro DSLRs with attached lens (up to 300mm f/2.8), 6-8 lenses (or a drone) with accessories | Pro DSLR with attached lens (up to 70-200mm f/2.8), 2-3 lenses in top, plus CSC with additional lenses below | 1-2 pro DSLRs with attached lens (up to 70- 200mm f/2.8), 2-3 lenses in top, plus CSC with additional lenses below |
| Laptop | 14″ laptop | 17″ laptop | 13″ laptop | 15″ laptop |
| Tripod Holder | 2 (side and back) | 2 (side and back) | 2 (side and back) | 2 (side and back) |
| Weight | 2.5kg | 2.8kg | 2.2kg | 2.9kg |
| Litres | – | 22 Litres | 32 Litres | 34 Litres |
| Access | Rear and top access | Rear and top access | Rear and side access (can be set up for top access) | Rear and side access (can be set up for top access) |
| 70/30 Divider Compartment | – | – | ✓ | ✓ |
| Rain Cover | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
 |  |  |  | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Customer Reviews | 4.3 out of 5 stars 311 | 4.3 out of 5 stars 311 | 4.3 out of 5 stars 311 | 4.3 out of 5 stars 311 |
| Price | £179.00 | £249.00 | £177.65 | £198.90 |
| External Dimensions (LxWxD) | 270 × 240 × 505mm | 350 x 270 x 545mm | 290 × 290 × 620mm | 380 × 260 × 595mm |
| Internal Dimensions (LxWxD) | 235 x 150 x 470mm | 290 x 165 x 515mm | 260 × 240 × 560mm | 340 x 175 x 560mm |
| Suitable For (Example) | Full frame camera with a 200-600mm lens attached and up to 4 additional lenses (or a spotting scope in the removable sleeve) | Pro DSLR with lens up to 200-600mm f5.6-6.3 and up to 7 additional lenses | Pro DSLR with lens up to 600 f4 (some 800mm f5.6) attached | Pro DSLR with lens up to 600 f4 (some 800mm f5.6) attached and up to 7 additional lenses |
| Laptop | 12.9″ tablet | 16″ laptop | 11″ tablet | 16″ laptop |
| Tripod Holder | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Weight | 1.9kg | 2.2kg | 2.5kg | 2.8kg |
| Litres | 17 Litres | 24 Litres | 30 Litres | 36 Litres |
| Access | Fast top access to long lens, with rear access to other lenses | Fast top access to long lens, with rear access to other lenses | Fast top access to long lens | Fast top access to long lens, with rear access to other lenses |
| 70/30 Divider Compartment | – | – | – | – |
| Rain Cover | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Weight: | 1.9 Kilograms |
| Size: | 6x 45ml |
| Dimensions: | 50.5 x 27 x 24 centimetres |
| Brand: | VANGUARD |
| Model: | VGBALTSKY42 |
| Part: | VGBALTSKY42 |
| Colour: | Grey |
| Dimensions: | 50.5 x 27 x 24 centimetres |
| Size: | 6x 45ml |
Just arrived..
My D5 & Nikkor 400mm f2.8 plus 2 x monopods and Think Tank rain cover fits without issue
Cut the top handle off together with the little straps..
Looking forward to putting this through the Welsh incliment conditions as I cover rugby, surfing & sailing.. Will update when the rugby season is ove
Overall excellent... a few quibbles.
Excellent bad for my Canon 200-400 mm F4 along with a second lens (70-200 F2.8) and a 2X extender…with a monopod. I’m shooting a Canon R5. The other long lens bag (ALTA Sky 66) was too small…couldn’t carry anything else except the lens and camera attached…not even space for an extender.
Bag is comfortable to carry fully loaded for extended periods 2-3 hours at a time….but you know you have had a workout.
The only issue I have is that the Chest strap keeps failing and detaching from the carry straps.
What it could do with are the strap bags that you find on the Veo Active 53 which is my daily bag….these are very useful for sunglasses, phones, etc.,…thing you need to have accessible. It would be noce to have a carry bag attachment on the waist strap too….
So overall, does the job well, just wish it had a couple of teh extra design features found on the Veo Active 53.
Excellent, capacious, well made bag
A large bag suited to carrying a lot of kit. Versatile interior layout and lots of smaller compartments for various components. It can be heavy if it is filled with camera bodies, tripod and lenses but this is not a fault of the bag. Top quality construction.
It's big but not too big. Fits all I need.
This is my first bag. I have one main DSLR and a Drone (Mavic Air). Very happy. I was worried it wouldn’t fit all my stuff but it handles it well.
I fit a DSLR and all charging cables / batteries / and spare lens + VR headset in the main part of the bag.
13″ laptop no problem it would easily take a 15″
My drone and all accesssories fit in the bottom compartment.
Headphones / mics and other charging bits can fit in the top.
Love the subtle efforts, the compartments that are accessable from both sides of the Camera side opening.
Very comfy, but it is a big bag so if you fill it then it will become heavy over time. Didn’t think I would use the flap at the front for tripod but actually it is really useful, for a gimbal too.
If you have quite a lot of stuff I would suggest care when lifting the bag as the straps don’t like to be lifted singularly on an angle…
Quality, versatile camera bag
Build quality seems very good. It will take my 15.5″ laptop. Needed a bag which could manage 2 tripods, lenses, flash equipment. Can even cram a Godox 32″ softbox and bowens mount in the bottom section or a Helinox style chair, light painting torches in the side pocket. Very well designed. It’s incredibly comfortable to wear, balance fine. Only criticism is I’d prefer the belt was removable.
Massive !!
This camera rucksack seems massive when it first arrives (huge box as well) however once I managed to get the inserts how I wanted them, the bag is an absolute dream to use. Huge amount of storage for camera and lenses and all the bits that I carry around with me.
Tired of hauling around my daily camera bag with all my lenses when I knew I was only going to be taking shots of wildlife I decided a dedicated bag was the way to go. I looked at Lowepro, Manfrotto as well as others but didn’t see any that grabbed me.
I came across the Vanguard Alta 66 and I liked the looks and I knew from fellow photographers the brand is good. So I took a chance.
Price – The first thing that grabbed me was for what the bag offers comparatively to the competition at the lower price point it is relatively good value for money, especially when combined with the Amazon offer to spread the payment over 5 months with Prime next day delivery.
Packaging – the packaging is very simple, a clear bag protecting from scuffs in transit, an attached information tag, all inside a suitably sized bog that while bigger than the item is not overly so as can be the case with certain products.
Design – The bag stands about a metre tall, is sleek in appearance, maintaining a minimalist look and not shouting photography gear.
The outer materials are what feel like an easy wipe woven fabric that feels very robust and will wear well. The base has a further Cordura type fabric that again is easy wipe, adds extra protection to scuffs, water repellent properties and is reinforced is a stitched fabric strap to support the weight of a lens.
There is a small pocket on top of the bag. By the main carry handle that is a good size for a lens cloth. A side pocket again good for maybe a few cloths or some small accessories or a phone as there is a pass through hole for a cable.
On the opposite side a mesh pocket that stretches well and would be good for tripod, monopod or water bottle.
On the front there are some small loop straps for additional pouches, a fold out bag to hold the feel to of a tripod. There are two further pockets, one being big enough to store memory cards, batteries and a battery pouch as pictured.
Interior – One of the most striking and welcome parts is the bright yellow interior, which really helps see equipment. The sides are made of felt until about half way down allowing for Velcro pads to be attached. The other is an easy wipe nylon type material which should help with any moisture and helps keep the bag light weight. There are two padded supports that come with the case, one of which has a soft cushioning fabric to it. Pictured I have a Sigma 150-600mm w/ hood reversed and a EOSR and battery grip attached. As you can see this only fills about half the bag, so plenty of space for a divider and carry more items if on a days trek.
Comfort – The bag feels very light despite the build quality and the adjustable harness is easy to adjust to allow for the best carrying height.
Pro – lightweight, good value compared to competition. Stealth outer appearance and easy to see inner appearance. Easy to adjust and open with good good quality zippers. Integrated rain cover which is a nice touch some other manufacturers make you pay extra for. Once setup is a well built and reliable bag.
Cons – The top handle is designed to be slack so as not to get in the way of the zippers opening the main compartment, but is slack enough it make it harder to pick up while padded enough it can still get in the way.
Zippers while good quality and open well do not appear to be fully splash proof which is disappointing
.
The side pocket is too small with the internal dividers being fiddly and some parts inaccessible, reducing the use for them.
Waist belt while big enough even for a large individual does not feel like it offer a lot of support and despite adjusting the height of the straps never sits right. But this is a personal thing, your experience will vary.
Having a monopod or tripod on the sides doesn’t work as it quickly unbalances the weight of the bag. Carrying on the back of the bag works fine for carrying actually adds a good layer of stability. However you won’t be able to remove your camera without first removing the tripod/monopod.
The internal padding is good but a bit soft to offer quite enough stability. I will be looking to get an extra section of foam to attach.
Overall verdict – while it may seem the cons far outweigh the pros it is not the whole story. The key is is to plan and setup the bag with what works for you. Like any bag. I would recommend this bag at the price point as so far once I have set it up right and have gotten used to the quirks it has, have been able to get out and about, getting the camera in and out quickly and have enough room to carry lots of gear.
Loads of storage
I think this is the best camera bag I have ever owned. Lots of space to comfortably hold two bodies and a range of lenses. Can be configured any number of ways, and has excellent capability to store food/drink for a full day out. If you’ve a drone, you can configure to have it internally stored, or the flap on the back has really good connection points too. I’m not sure there is a way where you can gain access – really good, and it’s going to do for for a fair few years.
top class product, without breaking the bank
Camera bag , top notch , lots of pockets , rain cover, comfortable to carry even when loaded, don’t think there’s any thing not good, maybe price, but you get what you pay for !, its a lotter bag for your bucks A1 plus.
Top class from vanguard
A large backpack, lots of space, the orange lining is a great idea, the only disappointing and annoying thing is when opening the large back flap, the straps get in the way
Almost perfec
A lot of thought has gone into designing this bag, and it’s almost perfect. I chose this bag largely because of the way a large tripod is attached, i.e. in the centre and not at the side. It is very comfortable with a full load. The configuration of the inside is very flexible once you get the hang of it. Some more detailed instruction would have saved me a good couple of hours. But once it up it’s a fantastic backpack. The waist band is a little high for my taste. Would i recommend it. For the price there is nothing to compete.
love this backpack! All my gear fits in it!!! About the quality I don’t even want to mention but is TOP. I have all this gear in tha bag Sony a7iii, 3 lenses, DJI robin sc, DJI Mavic 2. The best of the bes
I’ve thrown a lot of stuff in this bag and moved it half way around the world in jungles and now in a boat also. It has endless pockets and flexible dividers are great.
It’s a big bag and the only slight murmer of an issue, not even really an issue is the way the back panel access sometimes gets caught in the should straps. The main point being that I’ve carried a GH5, several lenses and some really expensive recording stuff in this, and not once did I feel like it wouldn’t protect my investment. Nice product.
Great for all your gear ... but big!
This is a great backpack with lots of space and compartments for your gear.
Seems very well made.
It is big though. So not something you’d want to be lugging around if you’re just out for a stroll.
I bought this to take on safari when I go to Kenya next month and the bag allows you to take out a camera from the top and also to store very securely other lenses. I haven’t used it yet but I have tried out various lenses in the bag and it holds my 150-600 lens perfectly and this is a big lens. I would recommend the bag and seller as it came very quickly.
A Quality product!
WOW! Amazing product (did not think it was going to be as big as it is) this will protect my camera equipment and then some. All of the extra storage compartments and the easy access side pocket for the camera are great.
A great bag
As well as using it as my normal landscape photography bag I purchased because of the space it offers when travelling abroad. I can fit all my camera gear, ipad, cables, tech stuff.
Also the tripod holder is great. I carry a substantial 2kg tripod (seascapes) and this handles it no problem. The bag I had before ended up wearing down and eventually tearing because it couldn’t handle the tripod
Very versatile and all in all in ticks all the boxes for me