Vanguard VEO City B37 review: Is this the ultimate photo backpack for city slickers?

Vanguard’s VEO City Backpack comes in three different sizes, the B37, B42 and B46 which have capacities of 12L, 16L and 21L respectively. All three are also available in navy blue or grey colorways and have a smart, nondescript design to help you keep a low profile when photographing the streets of busy city centres.

They're not cheap though. The smallest B37 has an RRP of $199.99/£179.99, while the medium B42 costs $219.99/£199.99 and the largest B46 will set you back a hefty $249.99/£219.99.

While all three VEO City backpacks share many of the same features and build materials, it was the smallest VEO City B37 that we got hold of to review and to give it a thorough test we loaded it up and took it for a daytrip for some sightseeing in London. Here’s how it performed on the day and our verdict on whether you should part with your cash for one...

Specifications

External dimensions (WxDxH): 260x225x400mm
Internal dimensions (WxHxD): 220x140x380mm
Size options in range: B37 (12L) and B42 (16L) and B46 (21L)
Backpack type: Backpack
Camera access: Top and rear
Laptop compartment: 10.9” tablet
Tripod fastener: Yes
Chest strap: Yes
Waist strap: Only on B42 and B46
Rain-proof cover: Yes, separate
Weight: 2kg

Build & Handling

The VEO City B37 is pleasantly small and lightweight, though we were impressed with just how many nice-to-have features Vanguard managed to squeeze in to such a portable package. I'm a bit of a gear hoarder so packing light was a challenge with the B37: Vanguard states it can carry a mirrorless or small DSLR with up to four lenses, however this all depends on the lenses, it’d be great for a camera, kit lens and a few smaller pancake or prime lenses.

I loaded it up with my Canon EOS R5 full-frame mirrorless, a 200mm f/2.8 prime and a wide angle 16-35mm zoom and a 50mm prime which packed out the interior space, I did feel myself pining for extra space as I was then left with no room for any extras such as sandwiches, or a rain jacket, but then again I personally would have probably been better off with the next size up in the range, the B42. Due to its small size and slim profile I can see the B37 lending itself well to people with a smaller frame, however I'm quite tall so it did sit a little high up on my back, but no aches or pains here.

The rain cover is a great addition, but it's separate so you’ll have to give up some valuable real estate inside your bag if you want to bring it on your shoots and we'd have preferred it to have been built-in to the base. That said, the exterior is made from water resistant materials and features waterproof zippers so it would have to be raining very heavily to actually warrant using it.

The VEO City range of backpacks are billed as 3-in-1 and come with a removable accessory pouch that can be attached to the backpack in a couple of different ways, or worn via the included shoulder strap. Additional storage and cable management is welcome and can free up between 1-1.5L of space from the interior of the bag depending on your model of backpack.

While small, opening the B37 felt akin to opening the wardrobe doors to Narnia, as Vanguard has cleverly maximised the space available. Starting with the top there’s a flap held in place with a magnet which lifts up to reveal a space for a business card and contact details, as well as a zipper pouch with RFID protection for your smartphone, contactless bank cards or car key to protect them from being cloned. You’ll find straps on each of the two sides for a travel tripod as well as a pocket that can be unzipped to secure the tripod feet. As you’ll only be using one of these for a tripod, the pocket on the other side makes for a handy water bottle holder. Also on one of the sides is a zippered pocket to store a power bank to keep your devices topped up on the go.

One of the shoulder straps has an expandable pocket for a small item like a multitool or breakfast bar. There’s also a hidden pocket amongst the padding on the back which could fit cash, a passport or jewellery - it's quite difficult to find as it's tucked behind the suitcase trolley handle strap, so it's the perfect place to stash  valuables.

Turning to the inside, the top lid zips open for top access and the lid itself has a pocket which could fit a memory card holder and spare batteries, with one pocket marked red for a flat battery and the other green to show you which cells are charged up and ready to go.

The internal dividers are a new thinner design which helps you squeeze in more kit. They're stiff and do a good job at protecting your gear, though they're malleable enough to work into the right position for your kit. There’s a large central divider on the B37 that can be adjusted to fit a camera with a 70-200mm lens attached for top access, then there's four smaller interconnecting dividers. The smaller VEO City B37 will ultimately work its best when paired with a smaller mirrorless system like the Fujifilm X-Pro3, Olympus PEN E-P7 or Panasonic LUMIX S9, and slender pancake lenses and primes will help you to maximize the limited space too.

Lastly, on the inside face of the back panel you have a storage space for a 10.6” tablet and the back panel also boasts two large netted pockets with zips that we were able to squeeze in our LEE100 filter holder system and some filters. The larger B42 and B46 backpacks have more internal space so can fit larger laptops and tablets.

Performance

The VEO City B37 performed very well and what really stood out was its premium build quality. It’s made from high end materials from the abrasion resistant air-textured yarn on the exterior to the 4D AIR fibre back padding which contours to your back while maximising ventilation. Vanguard claim that the VEO City bags are "as waterproof as we can make a bag", with the B37 featuring waterproof zips and a waterproof coating on the outside.

The shoulder straps are also made from a rubberized honeycomb TPE material which was very comfortable. One nice touch is the base of the bag is reinforced and able to cope with any sharp or gritty concrete and gravel you'll likely place it down on in an urban environment, it's also well-balanced and doesn't topple over when sat on its base.

The VEO City range has intentionally been designed to not look like camera bags, so the B37 is great for keeping a low profile in cities where pickpockets may be on the lookout for an easy target and valuable camera kit.

The B37 boasts an adjustable sternum strap to stop the bag swaying from side to side and keep the shoulder straps from sliding off, the two larger bags in the range (B42 and B46) also have the facility for an optional waist belt to be added too, but on our smaller B37 review sample this feature is omitted as it’s not needed due to its smaller capacity. After a long day of shooting in London, clocking up some 15 odd miles, my feet felt like they were about to drop off, but my back didn't ache whatsoever.

To access your camera you can either use the back opening, which is great for security purposes, or grab it from the top zippered access. The latter became a little tricky to use when a tripod was attached to the side as our tripod head sometimes got in the way of the top zippers. We also found it quite easy to over pack the RFID pocket in the top flap and the magnet wasn’t strong enough to keep it shut, so we’d have preferred a stronger magnet or a clasp to keep this in place instead, but these are very small issues with an otherwise impeccably built bag.

The zippers feel premium and are smooth to operate, they’re also weather sealed which is a nice touch and helps the bag scream out quality, though they do have a tendency to flap and clatter around making them quite noisy. This isn't noticeable in a busy city centre, but the B37 wouldn't be my first choice for a wildlife shoot for this  this reason, so it does make it a little less versatile than other camera backpacks.

It’s great news that the B37 features attachment points for a tripod on either side of the bag. We paired ours with the slightly old but still great Vanguard VEO 265CB travel tripod and was nicely held in place with the strap and tripod foot pocket.

One small gripe here is that both of these pockets are heavily elasticated to keep everything neat and retracted when not in use, but it makes it more difficult than we’d like to put a tripod leg into, and also means you have to be careful with any food items you put in it - sandwiches will get a bit squished! It is however handy to use the second pocket on the other side for a water bottle which is essential for a day's shooting in the city. But I'd be tempted to cut the elastic off if I was using it everyday as it seemed a bit overkill and got in the way more than it helped.

Verdict

Vanguard's small but mighty VEO City B37 didn't let us down on a demanding shoot in a very busy city centre. While pricey, the B37 oozes quality and is packed so full of features that you feel like you get a lot for your investment and that the bag will hold up over a long time.

The drawbacks of the B37 that came to light on test were pretty trivial, though if you want to use your bag for more than just city photography, such as for wildlife, you may want to rethink as its zips do have a tendency to clatter around when you're on the move. We also disliked the overly-elasticated side pockets for tripod feet and water bottles as they were tough to use and meant you were limited to not being able to store soft food items in them. Lastly, you might find the B37's size limiting unless you have a very small mirrorless system, in which case you should consider Vanguard's larger B42 and B46 which share much of the same build quality and features but with larger internal capacities.

These minor issues to one side, Vanguard's VEO City B37 impressed us no end. It's packed with all of the features you could wish for in an urban photography backpack, feels well made and boasts premium build materials, plus it's very comfortable to wear all day!

Should you buy the Vanguard VEO City B37?

✅ Buy this if...

• You're looking for a top quality bag with premium features for urban photography
• You want to keep a low profile in cities and a backpack that doesn't scream photographer

🚫 Don't buy this if...

• You like to pack heavy and take every lens and accessory in your arsenal with you on shoots
• You have a larger mirrorless or DSLR, or a camera with a built-in grip as the extra space in the B42 and B46 will be better suited for you

Alternatives

If you’re an avid camper and your main camera rucksack has a GearUp insert, the LowePro RunAbout is a no-brainer. It’s a well-designed folding daypack that’s easy to stow and should appeal to photographers and dedicated hikers alike.