Think Tank Photo Glass Taxi Review

As I just finished the Think Tank Glass Limo review, I decided now was the time to get the overdue Think Tank Photo Glass Taxi review completed. While these two backpacks are in the same family, I've been using the older Glass Taxi for a much longer period of time - primarily to carry 200 f/2 and 300 f/2.8 lenses mounted to a pro body for sports and other events when a lot of additional accessories are not needed.

The Glass Limo is years newer than the Taxi and has received some updates/upgrades (some from the Think Tank Photo StreetWalker Pro), but the two packs share many features as you will recognize when reading this review. First, here is what a Canon EF 300m f/2.8 L IS USM Lens mounted to a DSLR looks like in this backpack. While a non-pro body is shown, there is plenty of room left for even extenders to be mounted. However, this is the largest review-time-current lens that will fit in this backpack when mounted to a camera.

The Glass Taxi will also hold up to a Canon EF 500mm f/4 IS II USM Lens without a camera.

Or, remove the big-lens yoke-collar and support ring (protects objective end of large lens) and use the customizable padded dividers in the case and use it to hold various assortments of cameras and lenses up to a 70-200 f/2.8 with its hood in place and mounted to a DSLR as shown below.

If it appear that the Glass Taxi will hold your gear, keep reading.

It's a Think Tank Photo case, so ... you already have high expectations for quality construction and materials. And the Glass Taxi does not disappoint in this regard.

Let's review the Think Tank Photo Glass Taxi features.

Starting at the top, you will find a strong padded, comfortable top handle. This pack easily sits upright on a relatively flat surface, making the handle an easy grab - and this top handle is always the first grasped part when picking up the pack - even when ultimately wearing the backpack using the straps.

The adjustable-for-length contoured backpack straps are also strong and comfortable. The padded, more-stiff section of the straps are attached to wide webbing - not sewn directly to the pack. The good is that these straps become more compact when not in use - and are able to be stowed out of the way in a back pocket of the pack. The bad is that the straps more easily roll when putting them on.

Provided on the straps are attachment rings for a camera strap. The sternum strap is height adjustable over an approximately 4" range to best fit your body.

An included shoulder strap provides an alternative carry method.

A Think Tank Photo Camera Belt can be attached to the Glass Taxi for added support.

The back of the Glass Taxi is very well-padded with a large airflow channel in the middle.

The sides of the Think Tank Photo Glass Taxi are modestly padded - and are identical to each other. A large non-elastic pouch at the bottom can hold your tripod, monopod, water bottle, etc. Straps are provided to support the tripod or monopod. These straps and many other attachments can be added to the several attachment points on each side of the pack.

The back of the pack gets a Modular rail. Attachable to the Modular rail is your choice of Think Tank Photo Modular Components. A wide array of Modular cases are available to greatly extend the versatility of this backpack.

The Think Tank Photo Glass Taxi's main zippers are very smooth and rugged - and they lock in place. If I open the zipper far enough to get a finger inside, I can then pull really hard in any direction on the zipper and zipper pulls without the zipper opening. Same if the zippers are more significantly opened. A tug on the nice zipper pulls easily opens the zipper while the risk of a zipper accidentally opening remains very low.

The inside of the lid has a simple large mesh storage pouch with a hook-and-loop closure.

Think Tank Photo lists the Glass Taxi's Backpack's materials as:

Exterior - All fabric exterior treated with DWR while fabric underside is coated with PU for superior water resistance, 1680D Ballistic Nylon, 420D Diamond Rip-Stop Nylon, YKK® RC Fuse (abrasion resistant) Zippers, Antique Nickel Plated Metal Hardware, 3D Airmesh, Spandura Pockets, Nylon webbing, 3-Ply Bonded Nylon Thread

Interior - Removable closed cell foam velex dividers with closed cell foam, PU backed velex liner, 210D silver-toned nylon, 2x PU coated nylon 210T seam-sealed taffeta rain cover, 3-ply bonded nylon thread

I frequently use this case primarily because of its size, though I could probably be even better-served by a slightly shorter length as extra space is seen in the DSLR with 300mm lens mounted image at the beginning of this review.

Here are the specs:

Exterior Dimensions: 8.3” W x 16.3” H x 8” D (21.1 x 41.4 x 20.3 cm)
Interior Dimensions: 8.5” W x 17” H x 9.5” D (21.6 x 43.2 x 24.1 cm)
Weight: 2–3.7 lbs (0.9–1.7 kg)

Think Tank Photo sent me the Glass Taxi for evaluation quite a while before I got around to sharing this review, so I have had a lot of in-the-field experience with it. My Glass Taxi has been to many sporting events and through forests. It still looks like new and remains my current choice for carrying the Canon EF 300mm f/2.8 L IS II USM Lens with a DSLR mounted.