It doesn’t make any sounds, it can’t help you write a song and it won’t book a gig for you, but the D’Addario Backline Gear Transport Pack will make the performing songwriter’s life on the road a lot easier. At under $200, this is an investment, but you get what you pay for. I’ve never really ventured into the world of backpacks but hiking friends tell me it can get very pricey to get a decent product. I can’t imagine anyone filling this bag to maximum capacity, but even if that were to happen, the instrument you’re using likely has storage space of its own for some of the smaller items, giving you even more options. There are a lot of creative options here for organizing your gigging life. The bag was on the ground for a good portion of our show and withstood the moisture, keeping everything inside dry and drying up on the outside over time without the material showing any wear and tear. D’Addario claims the Transport Pack is water resistant and indeed it is. Our first gig was an outdoor duo gig with overcast skies that turned into a misty rain while we were performing. Filled up with what I, and several other musicians, would use on a standard gig, the Transport Pack wasn’t too heavy and felt comfortable and manageable on the back. There are straps for supporting it on your back and a sturdy, secure handle if you just want to carry the bag.
This Transport Pack is pretty lightweight and stands straight up without tipping over, which was an initial concern. That might start to feel cumbersome and unwieldy for some, though. You could also store two mic stands, one on each side, or a mic on one and a guitar stand on the other. I wouldn’t recommend trying to secure a solid base straight stand here, though you could take the weighted base off and secure the pole only. There are two adjustable straps on each side which can be tightened and, lo and behold, the microphone stand stays secure! Hallelujah! I’m using a three-legged standard style boom stand which folds down to a manageable size. The accompanying photos will also give you some real-life scenarios.Īs mentioned, the microphone stand is always a nuisance and D’Addario understands.
The full breakdown of the specs and features is listed at the end of this review so we’ll focus on a few of the important parts that will see the most use by the typical performer. It sounds like a ‘but wait, there’s more’ sales pitch happening, but each musician friend who saw the bag was inquisitive and surprised when they realized the possibilities. The D’Addario Gear Transport Pack really has a wow factor of ‘Oh… OH… OOOHHH!’ as you unzip each section of the bag. Show of hands- who’s unorganized and has a big ball of tangled cables in a beat-up, hole-filled cheap cloth bag? Setting up for a gig turns into a chore, doesn’t it? And keep in mind, there are many possibilities- one doesn’t have to store microphones in the recommended microphone area, etc. There’s a lot to dive into, for something as simple as this product, so let’s start. And songwriters who collaborate with other writers in the studio will find the Transport Pack invaluable, as you can easily store a laptop, tablet, audio interface and more. So there you have it.Now, even though my goal was one trip, having this Transport Pack as part of your gigging life will simplify and relieve at least a little bit of stress at setup and load-out time, whether you’re solo, duo or part of a band making more than one trip from car to stage. I'd recommend it but the price tag is steep but not as bad as mono. I worked out of a duffle bag with atleast one gig a week for the past 4 or 5 years and this definitely keeps everything organized and in its place. So more than I probably need and it makes its all very organized and tidy. With more than eight specialized storage and transport compartments built right in, the Gear Transport Pack makes getting everything to the gig and keeping it safe along the way painless and intuitive. The construction is nice but still feels like it could be more rigid, time will tell if it can hold up. Designed from the ground up, the DAddario Backline Gear Transport Pack is the ultimate solution for players on the move. Guitar in one hand, fractal in the other in a rolling case and backpack on my back. It straps easily on my back making the one trip dream the real deal. Holds all my stuff in its own compartment, no more stuff piling together at the bottom of the bag or pulling out multiple cables to find the one I need.