Bellroy Transit Travel Pack Pro Review
Recently, Bellroy released the new Transit Travel Pack Pro, and as someone who only travels with backpacks, I was intrigued. I’m currently travelling with this bag across Asia, and having put it through its paces, I can give you a good overview of the features, pros, cons, and whether it’s right for you. For full transparency, Bellroy sent me this bag to use, as I have an ongoing relationship with the brand. They haven’t requested this blog, they don’t know I’m writing it, and all views are entirely my own regardless of that commercial relationship.
Materials & Quality
As always with Bellroy products, the quality is top-notch. The materials used inside and out are very high quality. The weather-resistant zips are smooth, the buckles are metal, and the whole package feels very well put together. The price is premium, but unlike many designer brands where you’re mostly paying for the name, here I can see where the money has gone. I can’t comment yet on long-term wear and tear or weather resistance, this will be saved for a future long-term review.
Padding & Straps
By far the biggest difference between this and other Bellroy bags is the significant increase in the size and thickness of the padding on the shoulder straps and back panel. It’s noticeable both visually and when you wear it. You can feel the difference straight away compared to a standard Bellroy bag. This means you can carry a bit more weight while staying comfortable. I’m sensitive to this due to a neck injury, and I felt the added comfort instantly.
Exterior Features
There are two unique exterior features worth mentioning. First, the bag expands from its default 30L to 38L. This turns it from being suitable just for long weekends to something you could travel with for an unlimited amount of time. Second, there’s a deep front pocket that could fit a laptop, though I wouldn’t use it for that since there’s already a dedicated laptop compartment at the back of the bag. Instead, I use this pocket for a jacket, jumper, or anything you might need quickly. There’s a well-padded laptop compartment with an RFID pouch for your cards, and a small side pocket that’s perfect for a bottle or umbrella.
Interior Features
The bag opens clamshell-style, which makes it really easy to pack and organise on a bed. On one side, there are two generous mesh pockets, ideal for toiletries and accessories. The main compartment is a big open space, with a small zipped pocket. It’s mostly designed as a bucket where you can load packing cubes or other organisers.
One Major Flaw
The bag has only one flaw, but it’s big enough that it could make this bag unsuitable for some trips. The Transit Travel Pack Pro doesn’t come with a hip belt. This isn’t an issue on smaller bags under 30L, but for a bag that expands to 38L, it’s a problem because it’s easy to go over 10kg. My current travel setup is about 12kg. This includes summer clothes, a laptop, camera, three lenses, and the usual accessories like toiletries. If you’re going straight from bus to plane to taxi to hotel, that’s fine. But if you need to wear it for long periods, it becomes a problem. After about an hour, I had to take it off because of the tension in my shoulders. As great as the back panel and shoulder straps are, they’re no substitute for a proper hip belt. Not all might be lost, because I have found what looks like two mounting points for a hip belt tucked away. However there is no word from Bellroy anywhere on this.
Summary
To summarise, this is a fantastic bag, arguably the best travel bag Bellroy has made. My biggest gripe is the lack of a hip belt, which I think is essential on a bag of this size. While I love this bag and intend to use it as much as possible, for trips where I’ll be carrying over 12kg, I’ll probably need to consider something with a hip belt. If a future hip belt update is released, then I will update this blog.
Instead of telling you how these will change your life, I would rather be practical and answer the most common questions that people tend to have when buying presets.
What are presets?
They are editing settings that are saved in a file and can be applied to any image.
Why do people buy presets?
Sometimes because they like the work of the photographer and want that style for their own photos. Mostly because they would like to see how other people edit and learn by reverse engineering the presets. Other times it’s just to support their favourite photographers, thank you!
What’s the overall style of these presets?
- Filmic
- Minimal
- Soft
- Bright
What are these presets suitable for?
Street & Travel Photography
Some Nature (with further editing)
Some Portraits (with extensive editing)
What do these presets look like?
These presets 100% reflect my current editing style. Please see examples of work below.
Do these presets get updated?
Yes, as my style changes, these presets will also be updated. Any time a new update is available, you will get a free update via email. Of course you also keep all the old presets in case you prefer the older looks. Only presets purchased from 2025 onwards will receive the updates.
What file types are these presets for?
- All RAW files
- JPEGs & TIFFs (not recommended)
What camera brands are these presets for?
These were designed around Fujifilm, Sony, and Leica sensors. With that said, they will work with all camera brands. While there might be subtle colour changes due to individual camera colour science, the overall feel of the preset will carry over.
Will these work with JPEG files?
Yes, but you will need to reduce the intensity and make further edits. I strongly recommend editing RAW files.
Are these one click edits?
95% No. You would need to do some basic adjustments as each image is different. These adjustments can include exposure, colour balance etc. In 5% of cases you can just apply and leave it alone.
Do I need to know how to edit?
You need to have a basic understanding of adjusting exposure, highlights, shadows, etc. A more comprehensive editing skillset will let you get the most out of them.
How many presets are included?
15 in the main pack and 20 in the extras pack
Why two packs?
The main pack is what I use for 99% of my edits. The extras pack is random test presets, one-off looks, and looks I don’t use often.
What software do I need?
These presets will work with any of the following:
- Photoshop (adobe camera raw)
- Lightroom Classic
- Lightroom Desktop
- Lightroom Mobile
Will these presets work with free versions of the above software?
You need to research and double check before buying. These presets were designed for the full paid versions.
Will these presets work with very old versions of the above software?
You need to research and double check before buying. These presets were designed on and for the latest software.
What file type do I get?
XMP
What else do I get?
- Comprehensive PDF guide
- Short video of me editing using these presets
Can I modify these and turn them into my own?
Yes! In fact I encourage you to modify them and play around. Use these to help you get your own style.
I have more questions…. What do I do?
Make a cup of tea and drop me an email on hello@snapsbyfox.com
Please note that due to the nature of digital products, refunds are generally not accepted. However, if you experience any issues, feel free to contact me and I’ll review your situation individually. You are welcome to use this product for personal or commercial projects, but you may not copy, distribute, or resell the files in their original or modified form.
Finally I want to say a massive thank you for supporting me. Buying these presets is the most direct way you can support my work thus allowing me to make more videos / photos / tutorials for you.
Thank you for your support!