Tenba Roadie Air Case Roller 21 review: caught between a roller bag or a hard case

US brand Tenba is straight out of New York, and like the city itself, its products like the Roadie Roller Air Case 21 are built for a fast-paced urban environment, as well as, naturally, international travel. Despite the ‘Roadie’ name here, there doesn’t appear to be an obvious connection to double denim wearing longhairs lifting Marshall amps or changing guitar strings.

Actually this one’s a bit of hard case – literally – yet thanks to an exterior cloaking in hard wearing fabric, it still resembles a regular rolling bag. There is something to be said for a means of storing and transporting expensive kit that doesn’t obviously look like a camera bag. In addition, this is the option I’d want when I’m at the boarding gate and a tannoy request states that today’s flight is full and would those with larger items of hand luggage please check them in. Normally, if my bag was carrying expensive photo gear I’d break a sweat at this point. In such scenarios, the Tenba Roller Roadie Air Case 21 might just save me the panic, its rock-solid feel going some way to reassure that careless baggage handling won’t crush what’s inside.

Such peace of mind sounds worth paying for in theory. But is it in practice? Read on to find out.

Tenba Roadie Air Case Roller 21: Specifications

Tenba Roadie Air Case Roller 21: Price

First available June 2017, this all-encompassing hard-case-come-roller-bag features what its maker terms Air Case layered protection, with such strong yet minimally weighty features making it a premium option. At $439 / £388, it looks expensive compared to a regular roller bag, but not when compared to other strengthened camera bags in its class. For size, weight, and features, I’d say the asking price is justified; especially if you’re a pro or semi-pro photographer who can set such a practical purchase against tax or a paid commission. Further peace of mind comes via Tenba guaranteeing its bags for five years against any manufacturing or material defects.

Tenba Roadie Air Case Roller 21: Design & Handling

Like the competing Think Tank Airport Internal V3.0 roller, this alternative example will give users a bit of a muscle workout by hefting it in and out of any chosen method of transportation, especially when the case is full. That’s because Tenba’s Roadie Roller Air Case 21 weighs a chunky 4.7 kg before we’ve even placed a single camera body or lens inside. Still, that is the compromise we have to make for the reassurance provided by a product described by the brand as ‘virtually uncrushable’. The claim is that it can withstand a load of up to 180 kg stacked on top.

Capacity-wise, at first glance it appears smaller on the inside than its exterior initially suggests, because of its thickened interior walls. Yet there’s still space here to stash either two pro-level DSLRs with grips, or three mirrorless cameras, plus eight lenses of up to a maximum of 400mm f/2.8 in size.

While there are two shock-absorbing wheels and a pair of plastic ‘feet’ provided at the base to keep it solidly upright when static, I’d have liked the ability here to be able to spin the bag on a set of wheels or castors through the full 360 degrees; such pivoting on the spot can come in handy when moving quickly through crowded airports or train stations. Also, as the bag is heavy to transport via its handles, even when empty, such features would make life a little easier when harried or stressed.

Tenba Roadie Air Case Roller 21: Performance

A single chunky good quality zip provides access to the main internal compartment of the Tenba Roadie Roller Air Case 21, fitted, as with competing models, with a latticework of soft yet firm internal dividers. All are quickly adjustable to accommodate various shapes and sizes of photo or video kit via rip-and-stick Velcro-like fastenings. Above these, located within the ‘hood’ of the bag, are clear plastic zippered pockets for memory cards, charging cables, or documentation, as desired. Internal straps tethered to either side prop the bag open as you’re fetching or re-arranging your gear. This mechanism prevents the front of the bag from simply flopping onto the ground when open; helpful if said ground is wet. And yes, we do get a removable rain cover provided out of the bag.

While we can potentially make space by jettisoning some of the internal dividers, what we don’t get here however, which is alternatively found on the Think Tank Airport International V3.0, is a dedicated sleeve or provision for a laptop and/or tablet. That seems like a missed opportunity to me. We do get carry handles on three sides however, including at the base, plus a zippered side pocket that can accommodate a travel-sized tripod or compact lighting stand.

Tenba Roadie Air Case Roller 21: Verdict

While the Tenba Roadie Roller Air Case 21 oozes quality and its rock-solid construction reassures that any gear within is going to be well protected in transit, even if it has to go in the hold of an aircraft, it does miss a trick by not including dedicated laptop/tablet space. Arguably such devices are what any jobbing photographer would want to have available alongside their image creation kit in the 21^st Century. Fitting an extra top pocket at the front or perhaps widening or strengthening one of the wallet-like pockets internally, would have done the job. Still, the flexible and otherwise jack-of-all-trades nature of this roller / hard case means this is still well worth checking out for size.

Alternatives

We’ve mentioned the slightly heavier, pricier, but for our money roomier Think Tank Airport International V3.0 as a direct alternative to this one and recommend trying them both out for size. This Tenba does have the advantage of crushproof solidity, but on the Think Tank, we get a laptop plus tablet sleeve that’s missing her. Alternatively, a lighter and less costly option can be found in the 3.9 kg Vanguard Alta Fly 55T, notable for its 22-litre capacity. Boasting less internal space but lighter still at 3.3 kg is the Manfrotto Manhattan Runner 50. The latter can also be converted into a backpack, to go hands-free. Further choices can be found in our online buyers’ guide elsewhere on this site.