Broadcast News

Bookmark and Share
07/11/2012

Dakar Rally Puts Petrol Bags To The Test

News Image
The famous Dakar Rally is considered the hardest desert rally in the world. Participants are not the only ones who are put to the test; the reporters' equipment also has to overcome challenges.
For this reason, when it comes to transporting and protecting its equipment, the Dutch DakarPress Team trusted in Petrol Bags, part of Vitec Videocom, a Vitec Group company. "During this demanding 19-day shoot in Argentina, Chile, and Peru, we had to be prepared for all possible weather conditions," says DakarPress Team member Dirk van der Veen when summing up the requirements for the equipment. „So we expected not only perfect protection and easy portability of our equipment from our bags and backpacks but also maximum flexibility in order to cope with the various shooting conditions. And that’s what we found in Petrol Bags.”
Cool and calm before the shooThe Dakar Rally route not only runs through rough terrain; it also exposes the drivers and the news teams to a variety of weather conditions – wetness, cold, extreme dryness, and heat are characteristic.
"In the Atacama Desert in Chile, temperatures of up to 55°C (131°F) are quite common. In addition, we also had to deal with the highest UV Index in the world there. The Digibag DSLR Camera Bag (PD221) and the DSLR Sling Bag (PD333) protect our DSLR equipment perfectly, even when the bags were left in the sun the whole day and the air was full of dust. In other regions it was often raining heavily and persistently so we used the Transparent DSLR Plus Rain Cover (PD510) to protect our cameras. The rain cover is completely waterproof, easy to use, and enables both good viewing, and fast access to the camera. This is an extremely useful accessory," explains Dirk van der Veen.
Robust and sophisticated
The drives over rough terrain are a further challenge for the DakarPress Team when reporting. Anyone who is familiar with the Dakar Rally immediately visualizes adventurous routes and technicians, who are busy with repairs. To keep the press team from joining the latter, it is important that the equipment be safely transported during long stretches in the jeep. According to Dirk van der Veen, "the strength of materials used is the best thing about Petrol Bags. When we drive through rocky terrain by car, the backpacks constantly vibrate. They are then strained by dust, sand, and extreme heat. After such torture, it is also astonishing that even the zippers still function correctly and easily glide as usual."
Space-saving and lightweight
For the long trip, the DakarPress team also had to, of course, think about packing, as the team only had a limited amount of space available for the almost three weeks in the cramped jeep. In comparison to their size, the enormous amount of storage space of Petrol Bags backpacks and bags was a very welcome feature for Dirk van der Veen: "A further Petrol Bags bonus is the versatile interior. We were very surprised at how spacious the small DSLR Sling Bag is. The backpacks by Petrol Bags are lightweight, robust, and enable safe transport of the equipment. Deciding to use Petrol Bags was definitely the right decision."
Due to their innovative design, Petrol bags are really easy to transport. As a Safe Back pack carrying system, combined with a Snaplock Trolley System or with built-in wheels or trolleys the lightweight bags guarantee comfortable portability.
www.petrolbags.com

Solidmate Ltd Memory Card Hire London

Top Related Stories
Click here for the latest broadcast news stories.

11/02/2013
Petrol Bags Presents New Audio Bag At BVE
Petrol Bags introduces the brand-new Deca Large Lightweight Audio Bag (PS617) for Sound Devices 664 at BVE in London, booth F02. The producer of profe
02/12/2022
Gravity Media Expands Equipment Rental Team
Gravity Media has expanded its Equipment Rental team by welcoming Ian Morrison as a Client Account Manager and Leila Ghazzawi as a Rental Coordinator
13/06/2013
On The Road With Petrol Bags
DP Sebastian Wiegärtner is often on the go. As a renowned German DSLR filmmaker, he not only films but also inspires other cinematographers at his wor
29/06/2023
Smode Tech Grows Team With Two New Hires
Smode Tech has announced the appointment of two new employees to further strengthen Smode Tech's commitment to delivering the highest quality service
21/02/2024
Advanced Systems Group Strengthens Audio Team
Advanced Systems Group, LLC (ASG), a technology and services provider for media creatives and content owners, announces the appointment of audio indus
05/02/2024
Hiltron Communications Strengthens Management Team
Hiltron Communications has strengthened its management team. Joachim Kärcher steps up to the position of Chairman, succeeded as Managing Director by J
18/10/2023
TAG Appoints Experience Professionals To Its US Sales Team
TAG has announced the addition of two highly experienced professionals to its U.S. sales team. Ryhaan Williams and Trevor Skogsbergh have both joined
20/09/2023
tvONE Appoints Mitch Rosenberg To Its Americas Sales Team
tvONE has announced the latest addition to its Americas Sales Team. Mitch Rosenberg has been appointed as the Business Development and Special Account
29/08/2023
Atlona Expands EMEA Team
Atlona has expanded its EMEA team with the addition of Mathias Müglich as Training Engineer, effective immediately. Based at Atlona’s new EMEA Trainin
31/03/2023
Riedel Expands Americas Sales Team
Riedel Communications has expanded its Americas sales team with the appointment of Todd Gardner as channel manager, North America, and James Skupien a
29/03/2023
Riedel Strengthens Its Production Management Team
Riedel Communications has strengthened its Product Division management team with the promotion of Jan Eveleens to chief operating officer (COO) and th
20/03/2024
ARRI To Unveil Technology Portfolio Of Camera Equipment At SportsInnovation
From March 20-21, 2024, the biggest and brightest names in international sports and media technology will gather for SportsInnovation at the Merkur Sp
10/07/2013
Sébastien Devaud Discusses Petrol Bags
Cameraman Sébastien Devaud has been extolling the virtues of Petrol Bags' carriers and equipment cases. Mr Devaud selects Petrol Bags to transport eve
25/07/2012
Petrol Bags Rolling DigiSuite DSLR Camera Case
Petrol Bags, part of Vitec Videocom, a Vitec Group company, presents the new Rolling DigiSuite DSLR Camera Case. This carry-on size rollaway camera ba
04/04/2012
Petrol Bags Protect DSLR Package For Conservation Documentaries
When Bristlecone Media partners Jonah Matthewson and Ryan Christensen gear up for a documentary shoot focusing on wild land conservation, they need th