Brevite Runner Review
Recently, I made a video discussing the pros and cons of the Brevite Runner and Jumper photo backpacks. I’ve been using the Runner for over a year now, so I figured it was high time I put a formal review together.
I know that many photographers have seen Brevite advertised on social media, and whenever I mention the Runner online, I get questions about whether or not it lives up to the hype. So, at long last, I’m here to give you a rundown of the features, pros, and cons of Brevite’s camera backpack line.
A Couple of Housekeeping Items…
This article does not contain sponsored links or sponsored content of any kind. I paid for this bag with my own money well over a year ago, and have not been asked to say anything about the product or any of the brands discussed in my review.
For the folks who prefer a video, I’ve included that here:
Runner? Jumper? Brevite?
If you’re a photographer who has somehow managed to avoid seeing the ads on your feed, Brevite is a carry brand based in NYC that specializes in student/commuter and photography-focused backpacks. Where we’re concerned (their photography line) there are two offerings- the Runner and the Jumper.
Both bags are built to shapeshift between everyday bag and camera bag, and are designed to organize your photography gear while allowing you to comfortably carry your daily essentials too. It’s important to note that the only difference between the bags is the top closure- the Runner has a magnetic top flap, and the Jumper features a more traditional zipper closure.
If you’re interested in either the Jumper or the Runner, know that everything covered in this review applies to both of these bags simultaneously.
Just What You Needed?
Right off the bat, let’s note that this bag is what many photographers have been dreaming of for as long as they’ve been shooting- a simple backpack that holds camera equipment, allows you to pack other essentials along with your gear, and doesn’t scream “I have thousands of dollars worth of gear in this bag!!”
So in theory, it checks a lot of boxes. But more importantly, let’s get into whether the Brevite Runner (or Jumper) lives up to the hype and delivers on what it promises to do.
Brevite Runner Review
Durability
The first thing I’ll mention is that I’ve been using the Brevite Runner for well over a year now. I have at least established that the backpack will hold up over time, and withstand the day-to-day abuse just fine. It cleans up easily, and aside from the odd loose thread or minor scuff, the bag seems to be sturdy enough.
I will mention a couple of caveats here, however.
Camera Compartment Dividers
For one thing, the dividers that come with the bag just don’t cut it. The velcro is not strong enough to keep even small or mid-size lenses in place while you’re walking around unless you pack your camera compartment very strategically.
Opening up my backpack to find that the dividers have sort of wilted and all of my gear is sitting on the bottom of the bag is less than ideal.
Weatherproofing
As far as weatherproofing goes, let’s just say don’t trust this bag without a rain cover. I would be confident walking around in light rain for a few minutes, and I have done so more than once, but is this bag coming with me on a longer trip where I really need to count on my gear staying dry? Nope. Absolutely not.
The Brevite Runner likely will not become your workhorse camera bag if you frequently find yourself on adventures where precipitation is a factor, but to be fair, they don’t market it that way (at least anymore), and it costs far less than the bags I’d recommend for those applications- see WANDRD or Shimoda for some truly bomb-proof options.
Outer Features
On the outside of the bag, there is a small rubber emblem attached to the front pocket. Outside of this, and the brand name printed on the luggage pass-through handle around back, there’s not much for branding which is very welcome. At least in my book.
Also worth mentioning is the super comfortable carry handle on the top. I found myself using it quite a bit, as this is a bag you pick up and set down often. Or as often as you change lenses that is!
The straps are extremely basic. I find them to be a bit sweaty on hot days. There is no mesh or foam to provide airflow, but there is enough padding in them that unless you plan to pack the bag to its absolute limit, you won’t mind having it on you all day.
On the wearer’s right-hand side, there is a water bottle pocket which is gusseted so that it sits flat against the bag when not in use. This is a nice feature to streamline the look of the bag if you don’t have a bottle with you, but I do wish there was a mesh in the bottom to allow sand and dirt to fall out.
I still have sand in my water bottle pouch after the beaches this summer.
Also on the right-hand side above the water bottle pocket, there is a strap to cinch down a tripod if you wanted to carry a small one with you where the water bottle is meant to go. My tripod barely fits, but then again if I was taking a tripod with me, I wouldn’t be taking this particular bag in the first place.
Another thing about the little tripod cinch strap- it can be annoying when you’re not using it for anything. It comes unhooked frequently and hangs around the side of the bag. They should have added a way to secure this when not in use.
Along the bottom is another way to carry a tripod if you so choose. There are two adjustable nylon webbing straps that can be let out and cinched back down again, giving you more wiggle room with larger tripods. If I was going to carry one with me, this would be how I’d go about doing so.
Pockets
There are really four main zones in this bag- the laptop compartment, upper section, camera compartment, and front admin pocket. We’ll go through these, but first- an honorable mention for the top flap pocket on the Brevite Runner.
The flap pocket up top is why I purchased the Runner over its sister bag, the Brevite Jumper. This is the only feature that sets the bags apart, but I really like having a bit of extra storage up top.
I find that this is an excellent spot for my phone, keys, wallet, headphones, etc., and use it to stow anything I want easy access to. Even on the floor at a coffee shop, for example, it’s really convenient to be able to reach down and access my essentials without digging through pockets at the bottom of the bag.
The Front Pocket
There is a double zipper setup, which you can see below right up front. The inner zipper leads into the camera compartment, which occupies the bottom dimension of the main bag when the separator is folded down, but we’ll get there in a minute.
The outer zipper, however, leads to your standard organizational pocket. Here you’ll find four simple stretchy mesh pockets. They are all the same size and there are no specialty pen slots or anything like that to be found here.
I find that having four larger pockets actually helps me stay more organized, however. When each pocket is the same size, you can fit really whatever you’d need to in any of them, giving you options to rearrange.
Top Section
With the center divider folded down, and the top compartment separated from the camera compartment, this dimension is really small. You can get a jacket in here if you roll it up, but I really wish that this section would have been made much larger- even at the expense of camera compartment space.
I would expect, for instance, a book and jacket to be able to live up here without issue, but even a typical backpack load like that makes the top of the pack bulge out awkwardly. For a bag that’s meant to carry everyday items alongside your camera gear, the Brevite Runner really ends up leaning more camera oriented with the everyday storage seeming like a bit of an afterthought.
I don’t want to be too harsh. The truth is, that I’ve made this space work for me over the last year or so. It’s also worth noting that there really is nothing similar in both look and function to the Brevite Runner. Because it’s not competing super directly with another product that does this particular trick better, I do have to give it a little bit of a pass on this front.
The Laptop Compartment
The laptop compartment features a weather-sealed top zipper to help keep any rain out since it is directly at the top of the bag. It’s advertised to fit a 16” MacBook Pro, but I think that would be a really tight fit. My 13” Pro of course fits with room to spare, but the 16” would really put this bag to the test.
For those of you who get really into backpack reviews- this compartment is also NOT suspended from the bottom, meaning that you should be careful not to set the bag down too hard when your computer is inside.
The Camera Compartment
The main feature of the bag, the camera compartment, takes up the majority of the inner dimension. As far as what fits, you’ll know your gear better than I do, but I would say that storage space is a strong suit of the bag.
There is more than enough room for me to bring a larger zoom lens, my camera with a prime attached, accessories, and more with room to spare. You could easily fit long zooms like an average 70-200mm, or several extra prime lenses in this section along with your camera as well.
If you remember our mention of the double-layered zipper from earlier, the inner zipper behind the front pocket grants you access to the whole compartment. In addition, there is a side access pocket that allows you to reach into the camera compartment without setting the bag down.
This is great for street and travel photographers like me who might want to pull their camera out for a shot or two, then safely stow it away between locations. It’s nice to have your hands free when you know you won’t be using your camera for a while, and the side access ensures it’s never much of a hassle to get to your gear.
It’s also great to be able to retrieve your camera without showing the whole world all the other lenses and gear you have with you.
While we’re on the subject of security though… This bag is not the best example. There are two very conspicuous openings, accessible from the back of the bag that give direct access to your camera gear. While this is convenient to the user, it also means that there are two super easy ways for a potential thief to get into your camera compartment.
Brevite seems to rely on the fact that the Runner doesn’t look like a camera backpack to protect you and your gear, but if you’re walking around with a camera in your hand, it doesn’t take a detective to figure out what else you might have stashed in your bag.
I am a much bigger fan of WANDRD’s PRVKE backpack setup. This is the main bag I use for travel, and the camera cube is only accessible from the back panel of the bag, and only if you take the bag off and set it down.
That bag features side access as well, but at the very least, the entry point has two zippers which can be locked together with a carabiner or simply threaded through one another as a bit of extra threat-deterrent. This can be done on the Brevite Runner, but you’ll need to lock the single zipper pull to another pocket on the bag.
Conclusion
Now that we’ve gone through most of the features of the Brevite Runner, let’s talk about who the bag is for.
I think it’ll be a truly great option for day trips and commuters. This bag will be your best friend on a short hike, quick street photography sessions, or a pit stop at your local coffee house.
I love that this bag has replaced my normal day bags. Since you can fold away the camera compartment and use the entire main dimension of the bag, it makes for a great multi-purpose carry option. It’s allowed me to clear out my closet and keep my setup to just two carry options- a simple day bag (this one), and a bag for travel, the 21L PRVKE by WANDRD.
On the negative side, if I’m going on a trip where a plane is involved in any capacity, this bag just won’t be coming with me.
I might be a little more demanding than some folks, but the truth is that my needs should be similar to that of any photographer who takes the hobby even remotely seriously. I don’t carry 4 different cameras and 12 lenses with me, but weatherproofing, security, long-term comfort, durability, and functional storage are all important to me.
This bag simply isn’t cut out to do much more than carry a bit of camera gear and your laptop around town, but it does a damn good job of it.
If the lighter use cases I described are in line with what you’re looking for, this bag will be a great option for you! I will be keeping mine around for exactly those scenarios, and will continue to use it every week on errands and quick trips around town.
Thanks a ton for reading if you made it this far. Check out the video review to get a better look at all the features we discussed and more!
Have any questions or comments about my Brevite Runner review? Let me know!
You can email me at nick@gunairy.com, or get in touch via Instagram. Thanks again for reading, get out and try something new today!
- Nick