Anyone use Billingham Hadley Pro without insert?

[Archiver]

I was overjoyed when I first started to use my Hadley Pro. It protected everything nicely and looked gorgeous. But even with the shoulder pad, after some weeks I realized that it cut into my shoulder more readily than others, even when loaded with the same gear. So, I stopped using it after a day of walking when my shoulder became annoyingly sore and fatigued. I can't really explain why, but the Hadley Pro was just harder on my shoulder than others like the Thinktank Urban Disguise.

Last year I removed the insert and used it in a Samsonite backpack to carry my work gear, and that combination is practically perfect for my needs. But the Hadley Pro sat there, hollow and deflated. So this week, I picked it up and figured I'd give it another shot, this time without the insert. And it is so much better!

If I put a pocket camera like the Ricoh GR in the rear zippered pocket, the rest of the bag is instantly useful for anything and everything else I might want to carry. My wallet also goes in the zippered section, so I have easy and safe access to the essentials without having to open the main compartment.

Does anyone else use the Hadley Pro without the insert?

 

[JayC]

I have one and tried it in front of the mirror a few times. Anything of weight in the bag really deforms to bottom of the bag and is asking to get whacked on tables and such. That's what I think, anyway.🙂

 

[Badris]

I've been using a Hadley Pro without the insert for a good 6-7 years now. I usually carry an M2 in the main compartment though more recently a Rollei 2.8F or a Fuji X100s (rarely two cameras at a time though), a small water bottle, and in the front pockets an extra lens perhaps, light meter, couple rolls of film. I do use a small neoprene case for the camera when it's in the bag for extra protection though.

Bag is light enough and out of the way that it doesn't bother me so much, and has extra room to spare if I do a small grocery run. It's also my daily office bag.

 

[kuvvy]

I have the Hadley Original, essentially like the Pro without the handle or zippered rear pocket. I was never keen on the Billingham shoulder pad so swapped it for the Domke postmans pad or whatever the name is. It's shaped to suit ones shoulder and doesn't slip too easily. Is slightly heavier & chunky though.
I sometimes use the Hadley with another insert by Puleme. Available on eBay for about £11, it slips into the bag and is smaller than the original one, leaving room around it for other stuff.

Paul