There’s a second in each photographer’s profession when a single digital camera bag is not sufficient. Possibly it begins with one C-stand, then a sandbag, a tough case of lenses, an influence station, and earlier than it, you’re making three journeys again to the automotive. That is the purpose the place it’s important to cease on the lookout for an even bigger bag and begin on the lookout for a wiser resolution. RockNRoller has lengthy been a staple for street crews, and its new R9 Mighty sequence is aimed squarely at creatives who need that very same stage of reliability offroad and on blended terrain.
The brand new R9 guarantees strong, all-terrain efficiency to get your gear from level A to B, irrespective of the obstacles. RockNRoller claims it makes loading 20% simpler as a result of the mattress body (the place the gear goes) is 20% decrease to the bottom. Amongst different enhancements, together with upgraded wheel bearings and a 20% smaller measurement when folded, this cart represents a perfect possibility for any photographer or videographer who wants to simply transfer round a bunch of substances.
Construct High quality and Design
From the second you unbox the R9, it’s clear that it’s constructed for work. The body is constructed from high-strength, powder-coated metal that feels prepared for heavy use. Particulars just like the spring-loaded wing bolts for adjusting the body give it a safe, skilled really feel. The floor on the body mattress supplies sufficient grip to maintain circumstances and baggage from shifting throughout transit with out ripping up the material on digital camera baggage.
If you find yourself achieved capturing, the cart folds down fairly compactly, collapsing to simply 9.5 inches excessive. This makes it surprisingly simple to retailer in a packed car or in a studio closet.
Essentially the most crucial parts for a gear cart are its wheels, and RockNRoller made no compromises. The R9 is outfitted with their broad 6-inch “Groundglider” entrance swivel casters and beefy mounted 8-inch “Groundglider” rear wheels. The tires are very sturdy and are “no-flat,” requiring no inflation—that’s very nice for an offroad-focused cart, the place an errant cactus spike or thorn may render pneumatic tires ineffective. The upgraded metal ball bearings assist the cart roll easily and quietly, even when absolutely loaded with gear. Whereas I feel these elements will all final a very long time, RockNRoller additionally has nice alternative half availability by way of their web site in case one thing breaks.
It’s value noting the R9 Mighty has an even bigger counterpart, the R9XLHD Mighty+. Whereas the R9 I examined telescopes from 34 to 52 inches and has a 500-pound capability, the R9XLHD pushes that to 38 to 60 inches and might carry as much as 600 kilos. It’s a fantastic possibility for small manufacturing crews or photographers with exceptionally massive lighting kits who want the additional area.
Efficiency
The R9 is flexible, with RockNRoller claiming an 8-in-1 configuration, which incorporates typical cart modes and a surprisingly helpful “dolly” function. In its shortest configuration, it’s a surprisingly nimble dolly for navigating tight areas. Prolonged to its full 52-inch size, it simply accommodates lengthy objects like mild stands, tripods, or sliders which might be awkward to hold by another means.
The place the R9 earns its new Mighty nickname is when the pavement ends. Its body sits decrease to the bottom than older or competing fashions. That decrease middle of gravity makes a tangible distinction in stability and makes lifting heavy circumstances onto the mattress noticeably simpler. The bigger wheels roll over grass, gravel, and grime with minimal effort—a situation the place carts with smaller wheels would bathroom down. Solely literal sandy seashores or dunes could be a problem, in my thoughts.
The built-in stair rail additionally helps in leveraging the cart over curbs, a standard problem at venues and places, though utilizing it to navigate curbs whereas loaded would possibly go away your cart with some battle scars on the powder-coat end.
Customization and Equipment
The bottom cart is a unbelievable gear hauler, however it’s equally succesful as a manufacturing device, due to RockNRoller’s accent ecosystem. The non-obligatory shelf is my favourite attachment, immediately changing the cart right into a cellular workstation. On location, this lets you arrange a laptop computer and card readers for a correct tethering station, holding your electronics off the bottom and at a snug working top.
Different equipment are designed to unravel particular issues. The strong deck supplies a clear, flat floor excellent for lens adjustments or organizing small equipment within the discipline. For these carrying a number of C-stands or tripods, the deal with baggage can include them neatly, stopping them from clanking round or sliding off. This skill to customise the cart to your particular workflow is what elevates it from a easy dolly to an indispensable piece of manufacturing gear.
Whereas this cart area of interest has gotten extra crowded lately with the rise of manufacturing and DIT carts, RockNRoller (even with equipment) is a much more inexpensive entry level into this section and might extra simply fall again to a easy gear-lugging resolution for smaller shoots.
The RockNRoller R9 Mighty cart is a thoughtfully designed and ruggedly constructed piece of kit that solves an actual downside for working creators. It’s a useful device within the studio or on location, and it’s now much more succesful within the discipline or offroad. For photographers and videographers seeking to streamline their shoot day, the R9 is a unbelievable funding that can pay for itself in saved time and power.
What I Favored
Glorious all-terrain efficiency with no-flat wheels.
Robust, sturdy metal development with a excessive load capability.
Versatile telescoping design with helpful accent choices.
Folds right down to a really compact measurement for straightforward transport.
What Might Be Improved
Cable launch for the handles takes just a little work to actuate, making folding up the cart just a little harder than switching between different modes.
