[1.515 lb] I bought this to cover the ongoing protests in Hong Kong and am so glad I did. The build quality and water resistance is excellent - not only did the chestvest keep all my gear dry from heavy monsoon rains in September (which knocked out one of my Sony A7III bodies), it also protected everything inside when I was hit and sprayed twice by police water cannons (which fire 127kg of force at a 10 meter distance.) Impressively, all the electronics, gear and documents inside the vest survived no worse for wear (although I can't say the same for that Sony ... at least it started working after some quality time with a hairdryer.)


I really can't think of a better torture test for this product than getting hit with a police water cannon, and it passed with flying colors. The Foul Weather version is definitely worth the extra cash outlay.

Bonus: the colored dye and capsaicin additive laced into the water both washed out! Manufacturer tag recommends handwashing, but I machine washed it on gentle and hung to air dry.

I wish the shoulder straps were easier to configure, a bit more comfortable, and held their position better, but the overall design is excellent and well-executed. It held up very well while I was chasing protestors and police around Hong Kong in full gear. Front pockets make it easy to access phone/powerbank, lenses, flash, snacks, etc - the plastic clips and straps are useful for hanging carabiners & other attachments (helmet, respirator/gas mask, etc), although this will obviously affect your weight distribution.

This product is too bulky and high-profile for casual shooting or everyday use, but when you're covering heavy action and need to be mobile while carrying a lot of gear, this is one of the best options on the market.

[1.515 lb] It is the best of everything

[1.515 lb] I don't carry a bag as such I carry a Newswear Chest Vest,,,this looks like Military Hardware with four Pouches on the Front to carry Rifle Magazines,,,I usually carry it on my side and then on the front when I am shooting,,,,I can carry my Fuji XT2 with Grip in one pocket with a blower and soft cloth in the Flap Pocket,,, and the 10-24 F4 wide angle zoom in another pocket with the Godox TT350F flash,,, and in another pocket the 50-140 F2.8 Telephoto Zoom with the 2x Extender in the Flap Pocket,,, and in the last Pocket my 100-400 Zoom Lens with the 1.4 Extender in the Flap Pocket,,,,all right at my finger Tips and easy to change lenses,,,,This system is Waterproof and costs about $150 just google up Newswear Chest Vest,,,,it is not a system you would probably want to wear with a Tux or a Suit at a Formal Affair but probably could be done,,,,also all my Gear is enclosed in the pack on my side when I go into a Coffee Shop or Restaurant

[1.515 lb] I use this vest everyday I go to work, I can't walk out the door without it. Super convenient for carrying most of my lenses, spare batts and more. I also have a 2nd Newswear vest for my prime lens set.

[1.515 lb] I have gone from a small camera bag (shoulder) to a large camera bag to a collossal camera bag, then to a large backpack then a medium sizde backpack. Now I'm using the chestvest and a small backpack when necessary. I shoot corporate and documentry video, as well as stills, this is a very interesting change for me and is very easy to work out of. It's not a replacement for a well padded camera bag for transporting gear, but it's a great way to carry gear you want to use quickly. I thought about the belt systems, but they are too restricting for getting in and out of cars, this enables you to sit in any seat with your primary gear while holding your camera. It is padded, but not overly so, the foul weather model has a dry bag like closure to secure the pockets from the elements, works well, though not Submersible like a dry bag. The choice of materials is top quality and the stitching is excellent, this is a high quality product. When wearing it in front there is a bit of a paramilitary look to it, but it can easly be worn on the side or on your back like a butt pack. While using this shooting video I can have quick access to extra lenses, filters, batteries, microphones, cables, headphones, etc, works great for me and is much easier to use following people around not having to deal with a large camera bag. You are not going to put your camera in this rig, it's for all the other gear you need while shooting. Use a zoom holster or backpack for transporting cameras. I am 6' tall, and smaller people may want the smaller versions of this bag, but the large size works for me quite well, though I do need the room to carry all the accessories I use for filming and taking sound.

[1.515 lb] While I havent yet filled all the cavernous pockets with lenses, I did manage to get my 11-24 lens, bulbous cap & all, in one of the pockets with plenty of room to spare.  Clearly the other pockets will hold 3 more hefty lenses if needed, or a variety of peripherals, even my Graslon Prodigy flash diffuser.  I was able to don this vest without making any adjustments right out of the package.  Really distributes the weight evenly on both shoulders and around the waist.  Properly adjusted, does not interfere with my Spiderholster, allowing me to carry a ton of equipment and get to it fast.  As others have noted, carrying most equipment up across the chest allows sitting without removing the vest, which is really great for moving around in tight spaces and sitting down when needed, like courtside at pro tennis matches.   Highly recommended.

[1.515 lb] I have wanted to buy this chestvest for a long time. I saw it from a colleague who uses it all the time.
Before, I had a different camera, different optics, and the chestvest that I bought in Ukraine was enough for me.
Therefore, hands did not reach the purchase of this chestvest.
But when I changed the camera, and after it the whole line of lenses, the old chestvest could no longer accommodate all this.
From the very first time I really liked the workmanship - thick waterproof fabric, snake, fasteners. The volume and size of the pockets allow you to fit almost any set of reporter's photographic equipment - two SLR cameras, all the necessary lenses, a flash, and all accessories - batteries, flash cards, cords, a card reader, pens, a notebook, a smartphone and documents.
Although I have not been using this chestvest for long, I have already managed to appreciate its convenience in the harshest shooting conditions - at the front, during the battle.
The design of the belts allows you to evenly distribute the load, which is very important when you have to spend several days with the camera in your hands. Another important feature is the ability to periodically transfer the main load from the shoulders to the neck and vice versa.
I really liked the chestvest, with it I almost stopped using the case and backpack.

[1.515 lb] I was linked to a cool blog that had a list of working photojournalist's gear, among them was this chestvest I've never heard of before. I quickly looked it up on the net and was impressed with the company's goal. I reviewed everything they had to offer for information about the product. A week later, I had mine in hand. I was impressed with the craftsmanship so I quickly grabbed my gear and began to load it. After filling each pocket and there's a lot of them, I put it on and adjusted it for my 6' 5 size 50 frame. I immediately fell in love with it's comfort and ease of access to everything. The next day, I was assigned to cover an assignment in a crowded venue. The next benefit I noticed was being able to move around easily without bumping into people because all my gear was in the front, not hanging off the back! After that, I headed to my last assignment covering a high school football game. It was going to be a wet game and I was anxious to see how waterproof this was. It dumped a half-an-inch of rain during the game. When I finally got back inside my car, I checked inside each pocket for dampness. Each was bone dry. Very impressive to say the least. I am a photojournalist that works in the Pacific Northwest and am exposed to all kinds of weather. This is definitely the best gear hauling vest I've owned. I look forward to many years of use. If you couldn't tell, I highly recommend this vest for anyone that needs to carry a lot of gear in any weather conditions. Please do yourself a favor and get one. The price difference between the original and the waterproof is negligible. The amount of detail that is built into these is amazing. I really can't say enough about how impressed I am to the quality of this product. Enough said, I need to head back out to cover my next assignment!

[1.515 lb] Delighted to see B&H now selling Newswear. I have had mine for 10 years. It simply is the best thing for a working professional, photographer or multi media person in the field. I think its better to think of it as a garment rather than a bag, primarily because it is designed to hug your body and allow you full movement, including things like sitting while wearing it, which is a big deal if you are in and out of vehicles or motorbikes etc. Ive been in torrential tropical rainstorms and a job on a North Sea lighthouse with this with full exposure to drenching water, and the material stood up to it. Gear was fine and inside was dry. Well designed, comfortable, essential even if you have small cameras their lineup has something to cater for you. You can also sling it and have it like a shoulder bag if you so decide.