Clever Supply’s New Sidekick Pro Is a Compact Bag for Photographers On-the-Go

Oct 21, 2024

Jeremy Gray

A black, vintage-style camera with a strap is placed on a white surface. Next to it is a black rectangular camera bag. Sunlight and shadows create a contrasting background.

Clever Supply, makers of bags and straps built for photographers, launched the Sidekick Pro on Kickstarter, promising photographers a portable sling for their camera gear or a safe way to store gear in a large backpack or bag.

“Born from a desire for effortless on-the-go photography, the Sidekick Pro is the perfect bag to keep your camera by your side at all times,” Clever Supply explains.

The Sidekick Pro is a two-liter camera bag built to carry a photographer’s everyday kit. The bag, made of rugged materials, includes a removable padded insert to keep one’s gear safe. It also features numerous pockets — two exterior and three interior — for organizing and storing smaller accessories like memory cards and batteries. The Sidekick Pro’s exterior is made of a weather-resistant waxed canvas.

The two-liter interior is designed for cameras with one lens attached, per Clever Supply. The removable Clever Camera Cube offers added protection for smaller camera bodies but is also removable to create space for bigger camera bodies with larger lenses.

A neatly arranged flat lay of travel essentials on a wooden surface, featuring a tan camera bag, silver digital camera, smartphone, memory cards, flashlight, and clothing items.

Thanks to its adjustable webbing strap, the Sidekick Pro is designed primarily to be worn as a crossbody sling bag. The wearer can rotate it to the front of their body to easily access the Sidekick Pro’s gear compartment and pockets and then swing it back around to have it on their back like a small backpack. The bag could also be worn around the hip, and the strap has a quick-release buckle.

A person places a camera into an open beige canvas bag. The scene includes a set of keys resting nearby on a dark fabric surface. The camera strap is partly visible, indicating casual, on-the-go gear.

Clever Supply argues there are plenty of large carrying solutions on the market that work well when someone needs to take a lot of gear. Still, these larger bags can be bulky and discourage photographers from bringing their cameras on spontaneous outings or when they will be out for a while. After all, a big backpack, while great for storing lots of gear, is sometimes overkill and can be inconvenient in many situations. That said, if someone wants to bring a larger bag, the Sidekick Pro or its removable camera carry insert can be tossed into a day bag, too.

A person wearing a blue cap and white shirt is taking a photo with an analog camera. They have a black crossbody bag and are standing outdoors, with horses and people in the background. The scene has a casual, relaxed atmosphere.

A person in a white long-sleeve shirt and jeans sits on a bench, holding a fanny pack. They have a camera attached to the pack and wear a red bracelet. A racetrack and cloudy sky are in the background.

Further, the company knows that many photographers don’t lug bulky professional DSLR cameras around these days. A lot of people use compact mirrorless cameras, which can sometimes be hard to retrieve from spacious camera-carrying solutions.

A person wearing a blue cap and jeans stands in a field taking photos with a camera against a clear blue sky. They have a black crossbody bag and the background shows a vast expanse of grass and distant trees.

Pricing and Availability

The Clever Supply Sidekick Pro is available on Kickstarter in two colors, tan and black, and starts at $69 for “Super Early Bird” backers. The first bags are expected to ship in December, and the eventual retail price for the Sidekick Pro will be $99. Complete backing details are available on Kickstarter.

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Image credits: Clever Supply