Billingham really waterproof?

[joachim]

Hi,

here seem a number of folks which have exerience with these. I just got a Billingham L2 (Alice), because it seems one of the few bags still out there which make sense for a rangefinder cam (many small lenses, instead of these mega-sized zoom lenses).

I am still wondering how waterproof they are? If it really rains cats&dogs and you are in the middle of nowhere, should one give it extra shelter (e.g. into rucksack) or will I be fine?

Thanks for sharing experiences
joachim


PS: Didn't like to buy another Lowe. The nylon of their dividers scratched the finder glas of my cam (Contax)

 

[swoop]

I've been caught in drenching rain and hail with my canvas Domke for 30+ minutes and the bag was soaking wet, but the inside was dry. I imagine the Billingham would be built to the same if not better quality.

 

[kalokeri]

If it really rains cats&dogs and you are in the middle of nowhere, ...

Was out once, when heavy rain caught me for about 15-20 minutes. I was wet to the bone, the water came through my leather shoes. I feared the worst as my bag was as wet as myself, but inside it was dry, no atom of water went through.

I don´t give a waranty, but hope every Billingham will perform like that. 😀

Thomas

 

[robbert]

I get caught in the rain alot and my hadley original has never let me down, my camera's are safe

 

[ClaremontPhoto]

I climbed up Thornton Force (a bloody impressive waterfall in northern Britain) and went through the water and the camera survived.

Sorry I can't tell you if it was the khaki or the sage, or whatever, but it worked.

 

[Roger Hicks]

Yes, they are. They're made from a high-tech version of traditional Mackintosh fabric. The original Mackintosh used a waterproof rubber layet between two layers of canvas. The main difference is that Billingham use a thinner, tougher synthetic rubber. They will not cease to be waterproof until they are worn clear through (which you can do quite easily in 25 years of heavy use) or unless they don't have a top flap, i.e. there's an unprotected zip on top.

One friend of mine actually rescued his Billingham from the sea. A wave broke higher than he expected; caught the Billingham; sucked it back with the undertow; and it floated. All gear OK!

There is a good reason why Billinghams are quite expensive...

Cheers,

R.

 

[Philip Whiteman]

Yep: stood watching an hour-long touring car race in the rain at Silverstone, turned to find my Billingham bag had a half-inch deep puddle of water sitting in shallow fold in the top flap – and all inside was bone dry.

 

[topoxforddoc]

My Packington sat on the floor during 6 hours of torrential rain at a recent music festival (I was a paying punter and stood at the front). Although I was wet through with my goretex on, my R9/DMR and 180 cron was bone dry inside my Billingham.

Charlie

 

[Chuck Albertson]

They're really, really waterproof. Survive a Seattle fall/winter/spring better than any other bag I use.