As soon as our trip to Ladakh was confirmed, I started fretting about the camera equipment which would be needed for the trip. After spending a lot of time using Google as my guide, I decided to carry the following gear:
- Nikon D90
- Nikon D3000
- Nikkor 18-200mm
- Nikkor 70-300mm
- Nikkor 50mm
- Tokina 11-16mm
- Tripod
My trusty Vanguard Uprise II 48 swallowed all the equipment but my travel agent informed me that there would be a
number of day trips where carrying all this gear around would be impractical in low oxygen-high altitude locations. I started hunting for a smaller bag and since I trusted the Vanguard brand, I chose the Quovio 26.
The look and feel of my bags is very important to me and the Quovio delivered on this aspect. It is an attractive, slim, sleek and professional looking bag. It inherits the traditional black and orange colours of Vanguard bags and has a very snappy design. Other photographers on the trip immediately showed interest and appreciation for the bag.
The bag can hold a DSLR with attached lens, 1-2 extra lenses, a tablet like an iPad, memory cards, batteries and a charger. Like me, if you are a photographer who never puts the camera back in the bag, you can carry 3 extra lenses. I easily fitted my Nikkor 70-300mm in the bag along with 2 other lenses. Conveniently placed pads in the inner compartment offer protection to the LCD screen of your DSLR.
The upper flap houses a pocket which can be accessed from both inside and outside and can be used to store accessories like lens caps, cleaning brushes, memory cards etc.
The exterior of the bag has a front and side pocket. The front one can hold memory cards, batteries, chargers etc. The stretchable side pocket is quite handy and can hold anything from small accessories to a water bottle.
The bag can be carried in multiple ways. I usually like to carry it across the shoulder on one side 
which lets me push it behind my back whenever I shoot. There is a cushioned handle at the top for hand-holding the bag. The bag features a quick shoulder strap adjustment system which is quite handy when adjusting the length of the shoulder strap. An additional support strap can be attached to the waist or leg for additional stability. An option ICS harness lets you carry the bag as a backpack.
The bag comes with some Vanguard standard accessories like the name tag, rain cover and a water resistant material at the bottom. The bag also offers a mesh pouch which is very handy to store 
accessories and cables.
Other specifications:
- Inside Dimensions (LxWxH inches) : 9 1/4 × 4 3/4 × 10 1/4
- Outside Dimensions (LxWxH inches) : 12 × 8 1/4 × 11 5/8
- Exterior Fabric : 1000D*1000D Polyester + 70*200D Nylon + Jersey
- Interior Fabric : 150D Polyester + Velvet
- Weight (g) : 1120
Verdict: The Quovio 26 is the little sibling of the TIPA award winner Quovio 41. It is a clear winner for day trips where you need to carry only a couple of lenses. The size is perfect and does not get in the way of your photography. Since there are multiple ways of carrying it, one can adapt it to one’s own preference. The bag is versatile and a definite bonus for every photographer who likes to keep his gear to the minimum.