Tenba's Skyline collection of bags offers a selection of lightweight, simply designed options for travel and casual photographers. Available in two modern colourways - flecked grey or black, and featuring teal blue zips and interiors, they are stylish and inconspicuous looking bags.

There are rucksack, shoulder bag, messenger bag, toploader and pouch models available in the range - in a variety of different sizes. The range caters for everything from a compact camera through to carrying a DSLR and a few lenses and accessories for the day. There are 5 different sizes available in the shoulder bag.

We got our hands on 4 bags from the range to put to the test - in order of size, they are:

• Tenba Skyline 9 Top Load Bag
• Tenba Skyline 13 Shoulder Bag
• Tenba Skyline 13 Messenger
• Tenba Skyline 13 Backpack

Tenba says that the Skyline range aims to bring top-notch quality and protection to the enthusiast photographer whilst maintaining an affordable price point. 

One image can change us.

A picture, a moment can change the way we feel. Change how we see ourselves. Change our understanding and change the rules. Provoke and change history.

MPB puts photo and video kit into more hands, more sustainably. Every month, visual storytellers sell more than 20,000 cameras and lenses to MPB. Choose used and get affordable access to kit that doesn’t cost the earth. Sell the kit you’re not using to MPB. Trade in for the kit you need to create. Buy used, spend less and get more. Buy. Sell. Trade. Create.

We'll be looking at each of these 4 models in detail, putting them through their paces and also informing you of different sizes available in the same style. 

Tenba Skyline 9 Top Load 

Features

The Tenba Skyline 9 Top Load has space for a DSLR camera with a lens of up to 6 inches mounted on it. There's also space for smaller accessories like batteries and memory cards, thanks to a velcro divider which can be adjusted as necessary. 

There's a single compartment, which features a zipped lid. To the rear, there are loops allowing you to attach the bag to a belt or luggage strap. On each side is an elasticated mesh pocket for further small accessories or personal items. Above each of these is a metal loop to which you attach the shoulder strap. The strap features two spring-loaded clips.

To the front, there's a metal Tenba buckle held in place by a tasteful vertical strip. On top, there's a robust and padded carry handle. On the inside of the main compartment flap, there's also a further mesh compartment. 

Key features: 

• Space for a DSLR with 6-inch lens and small accessories
• Detachable shoulder strap
• Water repellant fabric 
• High-quality YKK zippers

Handling & Performance

The bag is very light, at only 300g empty. Despite the lightness, it does feel very amply padded. Build quality is very good, And the teal inner looks very smart. The shoulder strap provided isn't padded, which is a shame, but this may be because this particular model can also be carried easily by the handle on top or connected to another piece of luggage instead. 

The flap to the camera compartment opens away from your body for added security and ease of access, which is good. The bag is very well padded on the bottom, inspiring confidence for when you need to place it down. 

The Skyline 9 Top Load is available for £42 on Amazon. There is a smaller model available, the Skyline 8 Top Load which is better suited to mirrorless, bridge or smaller DSLR cameras with a lent up to 3.5 inches long. It is available for £35. This is good value for the quality of the build and fabrics as well as the stylish design. It is a simple design and so lacks a little in the features department however this can be forgiven by the functionality and style that you do get.

Tenba Skyline 13 Shoulder Bag

Features 

The Tenba Skyline 13 Shoulder Bag can hold 1-2 mirrorless or small DSLR cameras with 4-5 lenses (up to 70-200mm f/2.8) plus small accessories. 

On the front, there's a slim zipped compartment which has two pockets inside, for notebooks or other personal effects.  On each side of the bag, there are elasticated mesh pockets, ideal for chargers, water bottles or anything that you want within easy reach. 

On top of the bag, there's a padded carry handle, along with a zipped pocket ideal for a memory card wallet. The main compartment unzips and opens away from the body, for maximum security and ease of access. On the inside of the opening is another elasticated mesh pocket.

In the main compartment, you'll find five padded velcro dividers, two of which feature a folding top enabling you to store a small lens on top of another one, for example. The shoulder strap is adjustable and features a padded, rubberised shoulder strap. 

Key Features:

• Holds 1-2 mirrorless / DSLR bodies and 4-5 extra lenses along with small accessories
• Adjustable shoulder strap with shoulder pad
• Water repellant fabrics
• High-quality YKK zips
• Front and top pockets for personal effects

Handling & Performance

The bag weighs 1kg empty, which is good for its size. The bag feels very well padded and is of good construction. The inner teal colour really makes it pop. The main compartment is completely customisable, with all 5 dividers being completely removable, allowing you to fit them around your gear. 

The bag is comfortable to wear and can be worn across the body or over one shoulder. The shoulder pad is grippy and flexible, making it easy to adjust to your body shape. The double-zipper top lid makes it easy to access kit no matter which way round you wear the bag. 

The Skyline 13 Shoulder Bag is available for £59 on Amazon. There are 4 smaller models available - in 15cm, 18cm, 22cm and 27cm sizes compared to the 29cm width of the Skyline 13. This is good value for money, considering the build quality and the size of the bag. However, the lack of features such as an all-weather rain cover and more rugged material on the bottom may put some off. For an entry-level bag, though, it does offer very good quality for the money. 

Tenba Skyline 13 Messenger

Features

The Tenba Skyline 13 Messenger bag can hold a mirrorless or DSLR camera with 3-5 extra lenses up to 70-200mm f/2.8, or a compact drone kit. It can also hold up to a 13-inch laptop. 

It has a traditional messenger style opening, with a large velcro flap. When opened there are side protectors, to help stop water ingress. The flap also has a zip on the top to allow quick retrieval of items. 

When the flap is opened there is access to a double-zipped padded front pocket featuring stationery storage. In the main compartment, you'll find 4 velcro dividers, all fully adjustable, two of which have folding tops to let you store items on top of each other. Behind the camera, storage is the padded laptop compartment which is secured with a velcro tab. 

To the rear of the bag is a luggage strap allowing you to attach it to rolling luggage for ease. On either side of the bag is an elasticated mesh pocket, and on top, you'll find a robust padded carry handle. 

The velcro on the front flap features Tenba's 'WhisperHook' technology, allowing you to pull down slightly on the flap before pulling it open and minimise the noise it makes. 

Key features:

• Holds a DSLR or mirrorless body with 3-5 lenses, 13" laptop, and small personal effects
• Adjustable shoulder strap with shoulder pad
• WhisperHook technology for silent velcro opening 
• Top zip access to the main compartment 
• Water repellant material and strong YKK zippers

Handling & Performance

The bag only weighs 0.7kg when empty, making it very lightweight for its size. As a photography bag it looks really inconspicuous, so using it around town shouldn't be a worry. 

Padding is really good and we especially like the WhisperHook velcro on the front - making it really easy to open the bag quietly in situations where velcro might be distracting. The zip on top of the main compartment offers a quicker way to reach your essential kit on the go, although some might see this as more of a security risk. 

The bag is well designed and comfortable to wear thanks to the adjustable shoulder strap and grippy rubber shoulder pad. The luggage strap is also a nice added touch. 

The Skyline 13 Messenger is available on Amazon for £87.73. This seems like quite a hike in price from the Skyline 13 Shoulder Bag, but this messenger does have a few extra features compared to the Shoulder Bag, including the WhisperHook silent opening, luggage strap, side protection from water and the ability to safely house a 13-inch laptop. 

Build quality is to the usual meticulous standard, and the bag could easily be used for pursuits other than photography by removing the dividers, making it really versatile. 

Tenba Skyline 13 Backpack

Features

This lightweight rucksack weighs only 0.8kg and has lots of space for personal items as well as your photography kit. It can hold a mirrorless DSLR with 3-5 lenses of up to 70-200mm f/2.8. It can also hold a compact drone kit instead of the camera kit, and a 13-inch laptop. 

On the front, there's a zipped pocket containing stationery compartments. Behind this, there's another slim pocket with a padded compartment for the laptop. On each side, there are elasticated mesh pockets. Through the top zip, you can access a large compartment for your own accessories - a waterproof coat, for example, or a lunchbox for a day trip. 

The camera compartment is accessed through the rear of the rucksack, behind the padded back panel. A double-zipped compartment reveals soft padded dividers for your kit. As with the messenger bag, there is webbing on the sides of the flap to help keep dust and water out. Above the camera compartment access is a luggage strap, and then there are the two padded shoulder straps and a robust carry handle.

Key features:

• Holds a DSLR or mirrorless body and 3-5 extra lenses, a 13-inch laptop and plenty of personal kit
• Camera access to the rear for security 
• Adjustable padded shoulder straps
• Water repellant fabric, strong YKK zippers 

Handling & Performance

This backpack is very ergonomically designed, with easy access to your personal items through the top, and a secure yet simple to reach camera compartment which can be accessed by totally removing the bag from your body, or sliding it around to your front using one shoulder strap. 

There's plenty of space for your personal items whilst keeping everything organised - and the bag can easily be customised to be used for purposes other than photography too - the divider between the top compartment and camera compartment can be removed to give you one large main compartment.

The bag is comfortable, and the shoulder straps are easily adjusted to suit your body shape. The rear is well padded with breathable mesh. A more robust shoulder strap, perhaps with a phone holder or small zipped pocket installed might have been nice, however considering the bag's positioning in the market as a simple camera bag with no frills, the straps are ample. 

The Tenba Skyline 13 backpack is available for £116.40 on Amazon UK - this seems like a fairly high price compared to other rucksacks of a similar size. You're paying for the Tenba brand here a little - but the build quality of the bag really is very good. As a compact rucksack, it's an ideal candidate for those that want something versatile that will also keep their kit safe on the go.

Want to find the perfect bag?

Have a look at our bag roundups:

• Complete buyer's guide to camera bags
• Premium camera bag roundup