Home Accessories Billingham launches new Hadley Pro 2020 system bag

Billingham launches new Hadley Pro 2020 system bag

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The ever-popular Billingham Hadley Pro camera bag has been updated with a slew of new features aimed at the enthusiastic amateur and professional photographer. The Hadley Pro 2020 offers the same protection, comfort and flexibility as its predecessor but incorporates a new, stronger glass fibre-reinforced leather handle, a removable shoulder strap (previously it was fixed to the bag), a waterproof rear zipped pocket and a luggage-trolley retainer strap.

The Hadley Pro is Billingham’s best-selling bag and is designed especially to accommodate mirrorless cameras systems. In many design cues it faithfully follows the successful updates seen in the second-generation Hadley Small. And just in case you are worrying that friends and colleagues will not notice you have a new bag, the 2020 model comes with an embroidered label to leave no one in doubt.

For the bold look choose burgundy and chocolate. Here you can see the waterproof zipped rear pocket and the substantial retaining strap for use with wheeled luggage (and see image below)

Choice of fabric

As usual with Billilngham’s gear bags, the Hadley Pro 2020 will be available in either traditional canvas or FibreNyte material. Both fabrics feature three-layer construction with a waterproof membrane.

I can never quite decide if I prefer canvas or FibreNyte; I have examples of both and am equally pleased. FibreNyte is slightly lighter, has more of a sheen and is said to hold its colour better. But both are very serviceable and long-lasting.

A Billingham is often a bag for life, providing you don’t get easily seduced by more convenience features over the years.

The fabric is complemented by strong, full-grain leather trim and straps, plus solid brass fasteners and buckles for maximum life. The inside of the bag uses Billingham’s quick-release system with a padded “bucket” to safeguard gear. This can be easily detached and I often use the inner inside other bags to keep the gear safe alongside clothes and other travel accessories.

The versatile proactive inner shell is designed for mirrorless camera kits

Colour choice

In common with other bags in the range, the Hadley Pro 2020 is available in a range of colours. The FibreNyte version comes in black with black leather trim, khaki with chocolate leather or sage and chocolate. If you go for the canvas material, choose from black/tan, burgundy/chocolate or khaki/tan.

The Hadley Pro 2020 is available from today at a suggested retail price of £240, including VAT.

The inner protective “bucket” can be removed to allow the bad to be used as an overnighter when required. The insert can also be used in other, larger bags when travelling

PRESS RELEASE

Billingham introduces the Hadley Pro 2020

New addition to the acclaimed Hadley camera bag range includes advanced features for ultimate comfort, protection and portability

Just in case anyone doesn’t know, your new Hadley Pro will have a distinctive 2020 logo

Cradley Heath, UK – 7 August 2019: Billingham has unveiled the Hadley Pro 2020: a new model in its iconic Hadley camera bag range, offering outstanding protection, comfort and flexibility. The new bag builds upon the popularity of the Hadley Pro – Billingham’s biggest-selling model – with the addition of several new features requested by Billingham owners and photographers worldwide. The enhancements have been designed to increase the bag’s versatility and portability, while retaining the popular dimensions, capacity, ergonomics and classic format of the original Hadley Pro.

The Hadley Pro 2020 will be available from 7 August 2019 at a suggested retail price of £240 including VAT.

With full-frame mirrorless cameras becoming more prevalent in the market, there is once again a growing demand for bags that can accommodate slightly larger bodies and lenses. Manufactured in England from robust, three-layer, waterproof Billingham Canvas or FibreNyte material, the Hadley Pro 2020 ensures high quality, long-lasting protection for a variety of equipment – easily accommodating most DSLRs or almost any mirrorless camera with three small to mediumsized lenses and accessories.

New features include:

  • A high-strength handle with leather underside for extra comfort and grip, reinforced with fibreglass to minimise stress, particularly when carrying heavy equipment
  • A completely removable, adjustable shoulder sling made from rugged shuttle woven spun polyester, delivering further flexibility and convenience
  • A durable luggage trolley retainer strap, making life easier for frequent travellers
  • A useful weather-proof zipped pocket on the back to stow and protect important documents

The bag is also furnished with a special Billingham ‘HP 2020’ embroidered label to easily distinguish the new model from the Hadley Pro, Hadley Small Pro and other bags with similar features.

As with all Billingham products, the Canvas or FibreNyte fabric is complemented by sturdy, full- grain leather trims, as well as solid brass fasteners and buckles for maximum longevity.

The Hadley Pro 2020 will be available from launch in the following six colour combinations:

  • Black Canvas / Tan Leather
  • Black FibreNyte / Black Leather
  • Burgundy Canvas / Chocolate Leather
  • Khaki Canvas / Tan Leather
  • Khaki FibreNyte / Chocolate Leather
  • Sage FibreNyte / Chocolate Leather

Safeguarding valuable equipment from the elements, the main top flap of the Hadley Pro 2020 is sculpted around the opening to prevent rain, snow or unwanted fingers getting into the bag, making it the perfect accessory for street photography.

Further protection is afforded by Billingham’s purpose-built Canvas or FibreNyte fabric, which includes a core of butyl rubber that is impermeable to water. FibreNyte offers all the benefits and weather-resistance of Billingham Canvas, with the extra advantage of colour fastness and even greater durability. Extremely tough, yet light in weight, neither material ever requires reproofing, both maintaining their waterproof properties throughout the life of the bag.

For ease of access, the Hadley Pro 2020 incorporates Billingham’s proprietary Quick Release System, allowing the bag to be opened and closed quickly and securely when required. In addition to this system, Billingham has fitted high quality, solid brass buckles, enabling the user to adjust and expand the two front pockets to suit their individual needs.

Completely adaptable to each photographer’s needs, the Hadley Pro 2020 comes with a removable padded insert with a lid made from fabric-covered foam that protects the contents within from all sides. By removing this insert, the Hadley Pro 2020 can be transformed into a casual messenger bag or stylish travel holdall.

Inside the padded insert, Billingham has supplied four removable, repositionable foam dividers to keep equipment and accessories fully organised – these comprise two vertical dividers and two small hinged dividers, perfect for stacking lenses.

Expandable when required, the capacity of the Hadley Pro 2020 can be increased and customised with the addition of optional Billingham AVEA 7 or 8 pockets, which fasten securely to the leather side panels to protect crucial accessories.

Furthermore, on the back of the bag users will find a discreet, weather-proof zipped compartment, handy for storing and accessing airline tickets, passports or other vital documents when travelling – and keeping all contents dry in severe weather conditions.

Integrating one of the most popular features of recently-launched Billingham bags, the company has included a robust luggage trolley strap, enabling the user to retain the bag over the handle of a trolley suitcase, while still permitting easy access to the rear zipped pocket when mounted on a case.

Harry Billingham, director, commented, “The Hadley Pro is a tried and trusted formula appreciated by photographers around the world for the last 20 years. With its clean, elegant lines and premium finish, it’s easy to see why this has become our most popular photographic bag. As always, we listened intently to our customers’ feedback and suggestions, and have built the Hadley Pro 2020 to meet those expectations. While adding extra versatility and resilience to the bag, we have been careful to preserve the classic functionality and essential protection and design features that our Hadley Pro owners have come to value and trust, for a lifetime of reliable performance.”

Made with precision at Billingham’s factory in the West Midlands, all materials and textiles meet strict criteria, ensuring every bag is crafted from verified, durable components. Each Hadley Pro 2020 is subject to extensive quality tests, and once passed, the bag is furnished with a laser- engraved label and individual serial number enabling the product to be registered and tracked through its lifecycle.

A comprehensive range of matching accessories is available for all Billingham bags, including top- grain leather shoulder pads for added comfort when travelling and leather luggage tallies in various colour options.

The Hadley Pro 2020 is made in England and backed by the Billingham 5 year guarantee.

SPECIFICATION

About Billingham

Since 1973, Billingham has been passionate about producing high quality, durable and stylish bags designed to protect valuable cameras, photographic and optics equipment, while providing owners with exceptional comfort and peace of mind. Built to meticulous standards at the company’s manufacturing facility in the West Midlands, England, Billingham’s versatile, purpose-built bags have an unrivalled reputation for excellence, and are highly revered and trusted by photographers around the world. Each model is precision-engineered from rugged, weather-proof materials and premium padding, to ensure the contents are kept safe and secure in transit. Billingham’s outstanding products are unlike any other bags, and the special way they are developed and engineered is intrinsic to their distinctive character. Quality and detail are paramount to the production of a Billingham bag, with each typically comprising more than 100 individual components – the majority of which are custom-made by Billingham itself. Each bag comes with a five year guarantee, and is awarded its own unique serial number as a seal of perfection and authenticity, allowing the product to be tracked throughout its entire lifecycle.

The growing Billingham range includes photographic and messenger bags, travel and leisure holdalls/carry-on luggage, padded rucksacks, binoculars cases, laptop and tablet cases, luggage tallies, leather shoulder pads and other accessories.

Billingham is a family business located at City Estate, Corngreaves Road, Cradley Heath, West Midlands B64 7EP, United Kingdom. Its products can be found at selected approved retailers around the world.

For more information, please visit: www.billingham.co.uk

Billingham is a registered trademark.

More Billingham reviews on Macfilos

See Patrick Leong’s first review of the new Billingham Hadley Pro 2020

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