« Review: Qanba Defender Arcade Stick Bag »

I originally carried some arcade sticks in a regular school backpack and would later find out  it's not safe after noticing some minor yet noticeable dents. If I were to continue using it, the sticks would worsen. Then I just carried them in my arms even if they were annoying to handle, at least I was confident in carrying them.

There are bags now that are made for providing a convenient way to carry a stick. Mad Catz and Hori have their own bags for a while but now Qanba are providing their own take called the Defender. It certainly looks different than what is sold nowadays but does it pay off?

One of the most first things I noticed in the Defender was its backpack style design instead of a messenger bag/travel bag which can be worn from one arm. The Defender is meant to be worn with both shoulders inserted. The outer pockets including the side stretch inserts made for storing water are akin to that style. Aside from the front and side pockets, the main insert can be opened by a buckled portion which features two additional zipper pockets. These special pockets can hold some small quick items when going to a tournament; especially during a weekend long major where you might need on-the-spot necessities. The visuals are striking as the fabric and design stand out from the more single colored bags in the market and also reinforce the backpack style.

The height is pretty large as you can put an arcade stick that can be as big as 19 inches in the main insert. This can easily contain most arcade sticks on the market including the Mad Catz FightStick V.S. and the Hori Fighting Edge, known sticks with long width.

The interior features a special tough liner that can protect sticks from the outside. The lining is also detachable through zipper but it's best kept attached as removing and attaching can be troublesome as I encountered it in my Defender. While the lining padding helps in protecting a majority of a stick well, one thing that is lacking from this is a ball/bat top pro guard or padding found on Mad Catz's bags. Even if minor, some will want to prevent their lever from harm before tournament days for optimal play and Qanba unfortunately missed the opportunity. Because there is only one major interior area which is meant to put your stick in, there isn't another large insert for bigger items. It's unfortunately limiting what can really be put inside the Defender. Regardless, the height overshadows some of the shortcomings since it can benefit people with bigger sticks.

I brought the bag to some sessions and local tournaments to examine how it feels when carrying it around. While I don't have experience in carrying more full-fledge backpacks, the Defender certainly provides careful containment than my school backpack. When walking around for a period of time, the Defender doesn't feel overwhelming with a stick as well as some additional supplies inside. It even stays mostly in place when put inside my car's trunk when driving around. It surely doesn't seem fragile. In addition to carrying sticks in the Defender, I also put some school books and binders when traveling for classes. If you can keep your school supplies to a necessary minimum, you can surely use the Defender as an alternative school bag.

Remember though, this is a backpack made for holding arcade sticks. It could have been something more though to stand out more from the crowd but the Defender works as intended nonetheless. It will provide the necessary room to get you through the tournament weekend. The height, the extra pockets, the pleasing aesthetics, and the tough construction saves the Defender from being just a regular arcade stick bag. There is definitely potential found in the Defender and if Qanba ever expands the design, it can be an absolutley desirable bag for all arcade stick users.