Long Weekend Gear — A Trending Film Photography Brand You Should Know

Long Weekend started in 2021 as a fresh new gear brand that was inspired by epic road trips, shooting film, and slowing down to take it all in. Created by photographer Willem Verbeeckand Allison Simon, Long Weekend makes everyday bags with bold but timeless designs. Bags that are simple in their functionality but versatile in their uses.

Now, THREE new products were released today — the Monterey Sling, the Camera Pouch, and the Beacon Tote. All three are excellent in their own right and share the same DNA with the existing Long Weekend product line. I reviewed the Santa Fe earlier this year, and as far as foundational materials are concerned, all of my praises and criticisms from that review still stand with these new products. Each product in this fresh ecosystem is made with the same fabrics and zippers.

The Montery Sling

As you saw in the intro, the Monterey Sling is essentially a mini version of the Long Weekend Santa Fe, one of my favorite bags ever that I reviewed earlier in 2022. A zippered bucket pocket and a mini velcro flap pocket make up the front of the bag, and a YKK zipper opens up into the main compartment. There’s one divider flap inside, and as for capacity, it can fit two boxes of 120 film.

Maybe my favorite inclusion on this is a quick-release buckle on the strap of the Monterey, which allows for an easy on-and-off system. I'd love to see this incorporated in a potential V2 of the Santa Fe because it was made using this bag so quickly.

To me, the Monterey is the perfect grab-and-go bag—keep your keys, wallet, phone, chapstick, and an emergency roll of film, and you're good to go. I've been using this exclusively as a film bag—always keeping a light meter and a few rolls of film in it so I can take it out for a shoot without second guessing what's inside. But I think the size of this bag will be perfect for many people as a daily essentials bag for various purposes, not just photography.

Key Features

• Can be worn cross body or around waist
• Adjustable strap fits all body types
• Interior slip pocket fits any plus sized phone
• Exterior cargo and zip pockets for quick access
• Recycled 500D nylon and 210D ripstop materials
• Fits 35mm point and shoot plus extras
• Front zipper pocket fits 4 rolls of 35mm film
• Weatherproof
• Fits all plus & max sized phones
• Fits small point and shoot (max dimensions: 11”(W) x 5”(H) x 2.2”(D))
• Front zipper pocket fits 4 rolls of 35mm film
• Available in Creme Multi, Cosmic Purple, & Black

Camera Pouch

Next, we’ve got the camera pouch, which looks so good in the black ripstop material that has become a core aesthetic in Long Weekend’s lineup. This pouch is crafted for a camera and easily fits any point and shoot I’ve put in it, including an Olympus MJU, Leica Mini-Lux, and Nikon L35AW. It has a little padding and a velcro flap at the top. You’ve got some webbing and attachment points on the back and sides of this pouch, so you could throw this on a belt (+10% dad vibes) or add Peak Design anchors on the side, a Peak Design leash strap, and now it’s suddenly a mini camera sling.

It also makes for a fantastic quick-access film pouch–I used it at a wedding the last weekend and kept it on my belt the entire time. So clutch. All-in-all, I think this is a terrific addition to the Long Weekend lineup that meets a need I didn’t realize I even had.

Key Features

• Fully padded for camera drop protection
• Secure velcro closure.
• Side attachment points for neck or wrist straps
• Rear attachment points for carabiners or other gear
• Fits most 35mm point and shoot cameras.
• Recycled 210D Nylon
• Weatherproof
• Available in Creme Multi, Cosmic Purple, & Black

Beacon Tote

Lastly, my favorite part of this drop is the Beacon Tote. This one caught me by surprise. I was not expecting a tote from Long Weekend, and dang, it’s so freaking fantastic. I’ll go through tons of stuff here quickly—firstly, the colors are perfect, and this fits in the lineup so well aesthetically. You’ve got adjustable handles at the top of the bags, an exterior zipper pocket with its dimension and organization, and a discreet slide-in pocket on the back of the pack underneath the fabulous Long Weekend printed logo. A zippered top gets you access inside the tote, which is mostly one ample space, with a water bottle pocket, laptop/tablet pocket, and key clip lining the perimeter of the bag. I appreciate the zipper on top, as it adds an extra level of weather resistance and prevents anything from falling out of the top in transit. And the laptop sleeve is well padded that manages to hold my 16” M1 Max MacBook Pro, though it did make the bag very rigid on that side.

I love how versatile this bag is. It’s genuinely a load for any person and any occasion—use it as a family bag or beach tote, load it up with a laptop, headphones, and a tech pouch for a day of work at a coffee shop, or add a camera insert and use it as a camera tote. The possibilities are endless.

Key Features

• Internal padded laptop pocket fits up to 16” laptop
• Exterior slip pocket for your cell phone, keys and other daily essentials
• Large exterior zipper pocket, with internal organization
• Zippered pockets keeps your gear secure
• Internal water bottle pocket fits up to a 1L Nalgene®
• Adjustable straps for over the shoulder or hand carry.
• Low profile padding for extra protection against drops
• Double layer 500D Kodra base for added abrasion resistance.
• Recycled 500D nylon and 210D ripstop material
• Weatherproof

There you have it — a first look at these three awesome new products from Long Weekend. Each one serves a distinct purpose and fits perfectly into their current product lineup.