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Billingham Hadley Pro 2020: two-minute review
Billingham began making bags in 1973. The world’s changed a lot since then, but its satchels have stood the test of time. Known for their premium materials and classic style, Billingham bags are the kind you can use for years, then gift to the next generation.
So it is with the Hadley Pro 2020. A gently updated version of the established Hadley Pro, it’s a camera bag built in the British tradition of leather and canvas craftsmanship. It’s also one that’s perfectly sized for most photographers on the go. Combining field-ready functionality with rugged good looks, it’s easy to see why the Hadley Pro is a best-seller.
Granted, it demands a pretty significant up-front investment. In our list of the best camera bags, you’ll find options that cost half the price of the Hadley Pro which can carry the same amount of gear (or more). But what you’re paying for here is enduring quality. Read around online and you’ll find praise from users who’ve carried a Hadley for decades.
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Unboxing the bag, it’s immediately clear why. From the straps to the reinforced handle, every inch of the Hadley Pro 2020 gives a sense of durability. You can spec the bag with a cotton canvas or synthetic FibreNyte shell. Either way, you get three-layer waterproofing. That’s complemented by solid brass fittings and full-grain leather edging. It’s all got a hard-wearing, workhorse quality.
So much so, that I initially found the leather quick-release straps not so quick to release. I’m assured that these will ease up with use over time. In fact, the whole bag feels like one that will wear well. It’s certainly one that’s designed to adapt to your gear. Those buckles on the front allow you adjust how tightly the lid straps shut. You also have the option of looping extra accessory pockets onto each end.
Most users won’t need to do that. What appears at first glance to be a modest messenger bag actually turns out to be something of a Tardis. With the padded insert slotted into place, the capacity of the Hadley Pro 2020 is surprisingly cavernous. Thanks to its flexible sides, the satchel can swallow a lot of kit. You also get two vertical and two horizontal dividers which can be arranged using velcro tabs to help you manage the space.
It can comfortably accommodate an APS-C system with a trio of mid-sized lenses. Equally, I had no trouble fitting an enthusiast DSLR body with a nifty fifty attached, plus wide-angle and telephoto zooms. Those velcro dividers give you the flexibility not just to separate lenses, but also to create shelves which suspend smaller accessories closer to the top of the bag. The insert also has a padded lid piece as well, which can be folded back out of the way for easier access.
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Longer lenses are where you’ll find the limits of the Hadley Pro. The bag isn’t exactly shallow, but bigger body and glass combinations will need to be laid sideways to fit in. If you want all of your kit stacked vertically, you’ll need to divide camera and barrel in the name of neatness. This is really the only compromise to speak of: the Billingham is bigger than you think.
The padded insert is complemented by front pockets that are similarly roomy. These are ideally placed for quick access to accessories. The 2020 version of the Hadley Pro also benefits from a weatherproof zip pocket for storing documents on the rear. What you don’t get is a dedicated laptop slot, although you can unofficially fit a 13-inch MacBook Air between the padded insert and the back wall of the bag.
In short, the storage capacity of the Hadley Pro is limited more by the weight you can bear than by space in the satchel itself. The advantage of a messenger bag is that you can keep your gear within arm’s reach, but the single-strap setup means the burden falls on one shoulder. You can also haul the Hadley Pro using its reinforced carry strap or sling it over a suitcase handle using the built-in retainer. But most users are going to rely on its removable shoulder sling.
And if you do, you’ll want to shell out for the optional SP40 shoulder pad. This clip-on leather strip is as beautifully made as the rest of the bag and ships in four colorways to match. For the price of the pack, it should really be included as standard. Without it, the cotton webbing can cut into your shoulder when the bag is heavily laden.
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Still, in for a dime, in for a dollar. Adding the shoulder pad makes an already expensive camera bag that bit more costly. But it’s hard to feel hard done by. If you’re serious about photography, either as a hobby or a profession, this is a camera bag that will see you through. Count up the cost per use over the many years you’ll be toting it and the equation soon becomes a more reasonable one.
The Hadley Pro is certainly at home on the job. Its traditional aesthetic might not be to every taste, but the classic approach is both professional and versatile. It can go from wilderness to wedding and not look out of place. Plus it’s robust enough to survive both, a hundred times over.
If you really need room for more gear, the Hadley One is an even larger version with a proper laptop sleeve. But for my money, the Billingham Hadley Pro 2020 gets it just right. It’s a fantastic daily satchel for photographers. Practical to the core and well-crafted in every respect, it’s hard to find fault. If you like the look, this is a camera bag that’s very much worth the investment.
Billingham Hadley Pro 2020 review: price
Billingham released the Hadley Pro 2020 camera bag in August 2019. It’s a slightly updated version of the company’s best-selling Hadley Pro. New features for the 2020 edition include a reinforced carry handle, built-in suitcase retaining strap, removable shoulder strap and weatherproof document pocket.
The Hadley Pro 2020 is officially priced at $383 / £308 (around AU$625). It can be found for less from some online camera equipment stores. There’s no escaping that this is a premium camera bag, but you get what you pay for. Use it for decades and the real cost per use becomes very reasonable.
Every Hadley Pro 2020 has leather detailing and can be ordered with a canvas or FibreNyte exterior. The bag comes in eight standard color and material combinations:
- Navy canvas / chocolate leather (chocolate lining)
- Black canvas / tan leather (olive lining)
- Black FibreNyte / black leather (olive lining)
- Khaki canvas / tan leather (olive lining)
- Khaki FibreNyte / chocolate leather (olive lining)
- Burgundy canvas / chocolate leather (chocolate lining)
- Sage FibreNyte / chocolate leather (olive lining)
- Sage FibreNyte / black leather (olive lining)
Billingham Hadley Pro 2020 review: specs
|
External dimensions |
41 x 16 x 28cm |
|
Internal dimensions |
34 x 80 x 21cm |
|
Weight |
1230g |
|
Total volume |
8.5L |
|
Carry-on friendly |
Yes |
|
Laptop sleeve |
No |
|
Waterproofing |
3-layer waterproof fabric |
Should I buy the Billingham Hadley Pro 2020?
Buy it if…
Don’t buy it if…
Billingham Hadley Pro 2020 review: Also consider
| Header Cell – Column 0 |
Billingham Hadley Pro 2020 |
Peak Design Everyday Messenger 13 V2 |
Gomatic McKinnon Camera Pack 35L |
|---|---|---|---|
|
External dimensions |
41 x 16 x 28cm |
39.5 x 36 x 19cm |
56 x 34 x 23cm |
|
Internal dimensions |
34 x 80 x 21cm |
35.3 x 31 x 9.5cm |
53 x 32 x 13cm |
|
Weight |
1230g |
1210g |
2600g |
|
Total volume |
8.5L |
16L |
35L |
|
Carry-on friendly |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Laptop sleeve |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Waterproofing |
3-layer waterproof fabric |
Water-repellent coating, waterproof bottom liner |
Optional rain cover |
How I tested the Billingham Hadley Pro 2020
- Carried around every day for two weeks
- Packed with a DSLR plus three lenses
- Used in different settings and conditions
If you’re buying a camera bag that promises to last for years, you’ll want it to perform in all kinds of shooting scenarios. So that’s exactly how I tested the Billingham Hadley Pro 2020. My aim was to get a first-hand impression of its durability and utility, working in a range of environments.
To test its carrying capacity, I loaded it up with all the gear I’d want to carry on a standard shoot. That included a DSLR body, a 50mm prime, a 70-300mm telephoto and a 10-24mm wide-angle zoom. I also packed out its pockets with accessories, including battery chargers, lens hoods and a compact flashgun.
I then took the Hadley Pro out and about, walking extensively through streets and fields alike. I tried carrying the bag both with and without the optional shoulder pad fitted, to see how much of a difference it made in terms of comfort. I also switched lenses from bag to body, to get an idea of how easy the Billingham would be to work with on the fly.
While the relatively brief duration of my test means I can’t give long-term feedback, a fortnight was enough time to form a detailed impression of the build quality and usability of the Billingham Hadley Pro 2020. It helps that I’ve been working with cameras – and carrying them around – for more than a decade, so I know what to look for in a good camera bag.
First reviewed June 2025
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christian.rowlands@me.com (Chris Rowlands)
