It certainly works for certain bottles, depending upon their size and shape. The weatherproofing is excellent, and the lightweight canvas material is very difficult to scratch or damage. A lot of photographers asked for a smaller bag for smaller camera systems so they made 3 bags in the series for 3 different sized camera systems. Fstoppers Reviews the Wotancraft Pilot Backpack, Review of the Uinta 30L From Gura Gear: My New Urban Backpack, The Most Comfortable Bag I've Ever Used: Fstoppers Reviews the 50L FERNWEH from WANDRD, The Canon EOS Rebel T100 and Five Other Terrible Things Photographers Should Abandon in 2023, Network Storage Is the Only Safe Way to Store Your Pictures, One Task Every Photographer Should Perform to Start the Year, Our First Look at the New Sony FE 20-70mm F/4 G, The Best Images from GuruShots "Mostly White" Challenge, Water bottle pouches on either side that double as tripod leg holders, An expandable roll top adding an additional 7 liters of space, New side entry door for quick camera access, TPU straps for holding gear more securely, Swapable harness straps, women's specific straps, and extra cushion plus straps, I wish the water bottle pouches were removable, Id love to see a travel duffel bag for storing and transporting in, The waist belt can get in the way when opening the back panel, Wider shoulder straps and back panel also mean less airflow in hotter climates, The X30 is smaller and slimmer but could have been more carry-on friendly, Expandable roll top and side panel access, Swapable, adjustable, and extremely comfortable shoulder straps. I have always used a hiking backpack, and giving up the convenience of accessibility. For years Ive evaluated camera bags, photo backpacks and other camera carry solutions using a multi-point matrix that considers characteristics like comfort, durability, accessibility and protection. That was my biggest issue with the V1, the lack of organization. The critical elements are a well designed and beautifully made rucksack and an internal padded camera compartment (Core Unit) available in a range of sizes. Interesting ideas though. What camping gear you use and how you go about such trips in general (packing, planing, execution etc.). The hip straps on this model do not look as though they will provide the support necessary to properly carry the weight of the pack. Lets dive in and see whats new. Its not an unforgivable issue after all, youll certainly find some way to carry a water bottle in the end but this is something I hope Shimoda fixes with the next iteration. However even though I was able to pull out a 5D with 24-70mm lens mounted, Id say it is a pretty tight fit and configuring the core unit for this does limit what else can be easily stored in it. The published dimensions for the "open" configuration is 14.25" x 9.25" x 4.5." It is so inefficient to lay lenses or bodies horizontally. It has better access to camera equipment than any hiking bag Ive ever used, and a high level of comfort and overall quality, too. Prometheus Design Werx WUULF Pack 24L Review, First Look: Osprey Arcane Rolltop Waterproof 25L Backpack, Prometheus Design Werx | All Terrain Bags Review, 5 Best, Expert-Tested Bike Commuter Backpacks to Buy in 2022. The only pouch on the bag meant to hold a water bottle is on the shoulder strap, which is an especially odd place to put it, in my opinion. The Shimoda Adventure 60 is an ambitious bag. Personally, I do have a rain cover that would fit this bag, but I havent used it yet, and Im not planning to bring it along on future trips. There are a lot of ways specifically designed to store sports related gear and I really appreciate the thought that went into that. Shimoda felt a better adventur camera bag was needed so they made one, designed as a reaction to real-world adventure, with bags that have the flexibiltiy to adjust to any situation serious . Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Shimoda Designs backpacks all feature a ladder of nylon webbing attachment points giving users three inches of adjustment for the shoulder straps, a feature not found on most camera packs. Im a big fan of bags with side pocket access, as being able to grab a camera quickly without taking off the bag is always useful. Thank you for reading 5 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access, Enjoy your first month for just 1 / $1 / 1, *Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription. You can configure the pack to carry both skis and snowboards. Personally? There is no denying the Shimoda Explore V2 is an incredibly well-made bag, catered towards landscape photographers who may need to hike a long way. There is a removable helmet harness, which I found could also be attached on top using the upper side straps. Or, if your water bottle is small enough, maybe you could fit it within the zippered opening itself, although it wouldnt fit especially well. The harness system as a whole isn't much different from the Explore series which was already very popular among reviewers. However, there are a lot of new but minor features or possible improvements that have been made that are clearly the influence of sports photographers. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. I like an adjustable torso, which is why I currently use a Mindshift Firstlight. Especially anyone needing to go from the streets one day, to hiking outdoors the next. The Adventure 60 is an excellent backpack. Like many of the best camera backpacks (opens in new tab), there are lots of pockets on the outside so you can carry a tripod or water bottle and smaller pockets are really useful for storing things like spare batteries, memory cards or even a compass if you're a serious hiker. The canvas material across most of the bag is highly water resistant, and the most vulnerable part is the foam padding that presses against your back. It is completely adjustable and designed with a wider section that covers the chest and curves back under the arms perfectly. That decision perplexed me, so I reached out to Ian Millar, founder of Shimoda, to hear his comments. Shimoda Explorer 60 and Explorer 40. Once in a while a bag comes along with features that blow apart my sophisticated chart. Additionally, there is a zippered entry into the top compartment similar to most traditional hiking packs with two mesh zippered pockets. Warranty covers Shimoda bags only; customer accepts responsibility for determining suitability and fitness for use, and therefore consequential damages are not warranted. Shimoda Designs. The new organization features are fantastic; from the filter pocket to the hidden passport pocket, the second front pocket, and the internal document pocket, there is room for nearly every accessory that you might need to carry. Sure, regular camera backpacks will protect your gear and allow quick access, but they might not be comfortable for long travels. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. I also believe because of the subtle branding, darker colors, removable waist belt, and compact sleek pocket design. All of the new core units are designed with a side opening door that interlocks with the side pocket of the bag. The bag is still self standing when fully loaded. Still, this isnt the type of thing I can tell you for certain after a brief one-month test. Shimoda founder Ian Millar. Can you comment on how sturdy the construction is on the adjustable strap attachment points. New . Share this project. The Fjord 36 is a fantastic backpack. Im still thinking of going back to that backpack (and swapping out the camera unit for the one by Shimoda) if the Adventure 60 has any unforeseen issues over the next few months. It also includes some nice aesthetic touches such as tan leather zip tags, a smooth leather look finish and unlike most bags, the inside lining is a bright blue color which, although I don't love, makes a nice change from grey. On this feature I see the Shimoda bag pulling ahead slightly by keeping the hose out of the way and from snagging on anything. (Shimoda also says that they increased the thickness of the padding in the past month, which is always welcome; mine is a pre-production model, so it would be the version with slightly thinner shoulder straps and waist belt.). Those removable camera compartments are a great innovation, too prior to this, I was using one of F-Stop Gears camera units in a traditional hiking bag. The Shimoda product line consists of two photo backpacks, one carry-on roller and two types of removable, adjustable modules. For some people, a book-style opening could indeed be a better fit than a drawbridge style. Attached to the waist belt of a Shimoda pack while the bag is being worn 4. When not traveling or outdoors he is often found geeking out over new tech gadgets. The material change gives the user a better abrasion resistance if you find yourself in situations where the bottom of the bag rubs or drags on rough surfaces. Shimoda Action X50 Backpack Starter Kit with Medium DSLR Core Unit, Army Green SKU: SH520107 MFR: 520-107 List Price: $519.94 Our Price $399.95 VIP PRO $67/mo suggested payments with 6month special financing. this is the only review that spell out dimensions. Aside from a couple dings, I believe that it lives up to its goals. Ive been testing out the Shimoda Adventure 60 bag over the past month, and it ticks a lot of boxes for what this sort of bag should be. But not this time. The pouch can secure a tripod on the side of the backpack or it can be mounted to your chest with the included straps and act as a drop-in holster. With the Fjord series introduction, they have been building high-level adventure packs that will last a lifetime. Where to Buy (and save 10%) The Shimoda Accessory Pouch is available from the Shimoda store for $22.95 . The canvas material across most of the bag is highly water resistant, and the most vulnerable part is the foam padding that presses against your back. The shoulder straps are wonderfully wide, distributing weight very well. Im not a huge fan of the book-style opening, since I think it makes it more difficult to access gear, as well as making the zipper more vulnerable over time, without much payoff. Without a doubt, there are options, but the setup Id prefer a mesh pouch on the side of the bag isnt available at the moment. While the X series is designed to be rugged and sport-focused, the Explore series here is billed as a "refined travel and landscape adventure camera bag system.". I have the Shimoda . This backpack i. 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