Personally, though, I wish that Shimoda stuck with the F-Stop Gear style of a drawbridge opening for a couple reasons: I would prefer the drawbridge style, personally. 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. May 27 Update: We decided to spend the day in Boston on Saturday and I packed up the Shimoda 30 with my 16-35/4, 24-105/4, 24/1.4, 85/1.8, and Canon 200/2.8. The taller Explorer 60 is 24 inches tall and less than one inch greater in depth (11 inches vs. 10.2). Shimoda Designs is an adventure camera bag company designed as a reaction to real world adventures rather than those imagined from a comfortable office environment. Estimated delivery Sep 2021. These straps on both the side and back are not typical stra[s but are made from a rubber-like material and are no-slip. New Reader Deal: Save 10% On Shimoda Bags. You don't carry ice axes within your pack. 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. A lot of thought went into how to carry both a tripod and sports equipment more efficiently. Shimoda Accessory Cases come in three sizes. Fortunately my bag is a 45L (Gregory Targhee) hiking bag that opens from the rear like most standard photo bags do, and is super comfy. The Adventure 60 manages all that quite well. Explore V1 came in a 30/40/60L, whereas the second version comes in a 25/30/35L selection. I have the Shimoda . With their new series of bags, Shimoda Design is trying to show that they have worked with outdoor photographers on what is needed and listened to their customer's feedback. But am unsure if F-stop still has issues with fulfilling orders? I dont know if thats how most people would feel, and you might favor the other, but it does strike me as a bit of an odd design choice. Both backpacks are 11.4 inches wide. One, when opening the back panel the straps flap around or need to be held in place. I did not see this as a standalone solo purchase option in their campaign but would like to understand the functional details of this bag as well. Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. We normally refrain from reviewing products that cannot be ordered immediately, but Shimoda has made their bones, and is . NYA-EVO Fjord 36. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. For the last 3 years Hannah has worked at Wex Photo Video as a Senior Sales Assistant using her experience and knowledge of cameras to help people buy the equipment that is right for them. There are three different sizes for the backpack design at 30L, 50L, and 70L. At 2.6KG before it's even got anything it is heavy and for someone of my size, it's pretty big. Look out for an email asking you to confirm your subscription to Carryology. Based on my usage I think it would be a tough decision for me between the X30 and X50 bags. I also cannot see any sign of a Large internal unit, which precludes Shimoda for carrying a big telephoto unless one use a f-stop inner, Spencer. 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. every two weeks. Based in Boston, MA he combines his passion for outdoor sports like climbing and surfing into his work. From time to time we have the opportunity to bring you some exclusive deals from top brands in the industry. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Same goes for the rear panel opening. Finally, and in many ways most important, the construction quality is absolutely top rung. x 10.5 in., you could choose either the Medium DSLR Core Unit with internal dimensions of 10.6W x 11H x 6.3D, or the Large DSLR Core Unit 10.6W x 14.2H x 6.3D. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. Shimoda has become known for producing stellar backpacks with fantastic harnesses that are comfortable to carry fully loaded for long periods. Shimoda has become known for producing stellar backpacks with fantastic harnesses that are comfortable to carry fully loaded for long periods. Shimoda Camera Bags; Shimoda Camera Bags. The Core Units feature a removable skin that can be used as an overwrap for dustproof protection or as a separate sling that converts the Core Unit into a lightweight shoulder bag. Interesting ideas though. I went to see the Shimoda Explore 30 in person recently because I am on the hunt for a female-friendly backpack with adjustable shoulder harness height. NYA-EVO has hit the adventure camera pack market with force. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Another thoughtful feature is the addition of the lockable YKK zippers on the bag. No hiking bags are invincible in extreme conditions, but this one does do, on balance, a very good job in bad weather. I'm not the sort of photographer that spends hours on the top of mountains or glaciers, I'm not a landscaper like the list of photographers you see on Shimoda's ambassador list, in part because I don't like getting up at 4am to catch a sunrise. Zippers are all YKK, the best brand you can buy, and the nylon shell is coated with carbonate ether resin on the outside and on the inside. Although it isnt flawless, I like it enough to switch out my main hiking backpack for this one, which is not something I expected to do. 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. The Shimoda Designs Core Units are made of a padded ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA). Find out more about how we test. I was a little confused about your comment on the mesh bottle/tripod holders. There's a single, slim accessory pocket on the front of the bag that is suitable for a couple of spare batteries and an SD card holder. The Adventure 60 doesnt disappoint here, either. There are a bunch of other packages and new accessories so take a look. And as always, we physically have Shimodas finished products in our hands for full inspection and assessment. Similarly, the X70 with core unit and rain cover will be available for $365. Core Units and Accessory Cases can be arranged in various combinations to suit your needs. UK MAINLAND ONLY 325.00 Colour: Required Black Army Green Female customers have the option of choosing a set of Women's Straps below to be included with their order at no charge None Shimoda Shoulder Strap - Women's Simple Petite - Blue Nights Innovative, quality bags, cases, core units & backpacks for the outdoor photographer. . She specializes in Portrait, Fashion and lifestyle photography but has more recently branched out in the world of stylized product photography. I'm often hiking in the mountains (multiple days) and haven't found a comfortable(!! So if photography takes you on great adventures and you want to keep your equipmentand yourselfin top condition, you need this bag. The Action X series of bags and accessories are the result of this welcomed approach to product design. If I am doing a rock climbing shoot I need climbing gear, if I am hiking I might need overnight gear or emergency gear. I also wish the mesh pockets could be removable. It's not a cheap camera bag but I do think it's worth the money. Shimoda Explorer 60 and Explorer 40. 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. Of which the X30 was the only one I had hands-on time with. With its comfortable, adjustable straps and breathable mesh fabric, it's perfect for hiking and has two separate compartments one for personal items and snacks and one for your camera gear with solid dividers to keep it safe. Can you comment on how sturdy the construction is on the adjustable strap attachment points. I'm sorry Mark but I don't think you read the review completely or watched the video. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. Is one of the models similar in size to the Think Tank Airport Accelerator and fit in the overhead compartment of a 737? Is it really more water resistant then the Think Tank. Explore v2 35L SHELL ONLY - GREEN. I am very curious about your "camping setup specifically designed for light single person trips" i would love to read an article on that. He named three reasons for this choice: I can see the reasoning behind these points. Shimoda Designs is launching the new Action X line of products via Kickstarter starting today with some reasonably priced package deals. Both packs feature a fully adjustable harnessincluding torso height adjustmentand have well-designed shoulder straps that help balance the weight comfortably across the wearers chest. Michael DeStefano is a commercial/editorial photographer focusing on Outdoor Lifestyle and Adventure. Essentially, you can attach a strap from one side of the bag to the other, but also divide it in half if you want to separate the left and right sides. Primarily these bags are for those who find themselves having to hike to their locations, wildlife, landscape, astrophotography, and especially anyone in the wide variety of action sports category. ." Lets dive in and see whats new. To request warranty service, contact our Customer Service team at info.eu@shimodadesigns.com, or call +44 (0)1902 255500. In any backpack that allows the rear panel to open, there wont be as much padding or breathability, simply due to space concerns. For some people, a book-style opening could indeed be a better fit than a drawbridge style. Otherwise, at least for me, its not especially useful, and it takes up space on the side of the bag that could be used for something else. That decision perplexed me, so I reached out to Ian Millar, founder of Shimoda, to hear his comments. Thats what I did here: The specific feature thats noteworthy here, though, is a loop that lets you thread the straps through to the other side. The main backpack is precisely that, a pack. Shimoda, therefore, had to create a backpack. Page. Shimoda bags are made to perform and look great for years, but signs of normal wear are be expected with any fabric product, and are not covered by warranty. Weve all had experiences where seams ripped or straps broke, but I cant imagine anything like that happening to Shimoda photo backpacks. Carryology delivered. Clearly there is plenty of market demand. All of the buckles are heavy duty YKK quick releases easily used even with gloves on. But for all I can tell right now, the construction does seem sturdy, and the stitching between the loops and bag doesnt show any signs of breaking. There are multiple ways you can attach things such as a tripod or a drinks bottle depending on how you want to configure the bag and for those serious hikers, there's even space to attach a very small tent, roll mat or sleeping bag if you needed to. Warranty covers Shimoda bags only; customer accepts responsibility for determining suitability and fitness for use, and therefore consequential damages are not warranted. According to Millar, the fact that they carry and protect camera gear is key, But our bags are just as much about the protecting the user and making a better, stronger and more focused photographer. Here is a video break down from Shimoda Design. When not traveling or outdoors he is often found geeking out over new tech gadgets. Suppose you need to carry external equipment such as ice axes, rope, skis, snowboards, or other equipment. I think this feature opens up a lot more versatility to the bag. this is the only review that spell out dimensions. Free shipping . None of these are fatal weaknesses, at least for my uses, but some are more bothersome than others. It will fit a non-gripped DSLR body like a 5D or D850 no problem a well as several lenses. Considering how big the Shimoda Explore V2 35L camera bag is, you can actually fit less kit in it than I thought you might be able to, but on the flip side of that, I wouldn't want to carry that bag for an entire day if it was full of camera gear. Get Shimoda top loader for better storage of mirrorless, DSLR, drones and lenses and also have expandable bottom and vertical divider for organized storage. 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. First off, I want to say sorry for always discounting camera specific bags . Also in reference to Marks comments, if you can't see that this pack can carry a pretty good sized tripod then maybe you need to get your eyes checked.. Yeah you can use the back panel straps to carry a snowboard no problem. u know: white or lighter shades of most colors reflect sunlight, thus heat, back better A Review of MindShift Gear's Newest Series of ROTATION 180 Adventure Backpacks, Review Of The New UL (Ultralight) Loka Backpack From F-Stop Gear, We Review the New Shimoda Explore V2: A Travel-Ready Backpack for Creators, Is This the Only Camera Bag You'll Ever Need? This website uses cookies to improve your experience. Made with a thermoplastic polyurethane coated nylon fabric and YKK AquaGuard zippers with a reinforced Hypalon base . But some of the bags weaknesses also involve access and storage. This backpack i. document.getElementById("ak_js_1").setAttribute("value",(new Date()).getTime()); document.getElementById("ak_js_2").setAttribute("value",(new Date()).getTime()); Thanks for interesting and honest review that I bookmarked last year and just re-read. (Number 6061 is the identifier of a structural aluminum alloy; the T6 version of 6061 is specially tempered for strength and other high performance characteristics.). The Shimoda packs are considerably more weatherproof than the TT pack, but this is due to the fact that they are targeted for a different market. Shimoda Designs is an adventure camera bag company that thrives on real-world adventures and lifelong exploration. Great review Michael, this pack does seem extremely well thought out. If you're looking for a bag to take around the city with you, this is probably overkill but for landscape photographers who end up hiking for hours at a time, it's absolutely perfect. The Adventure 60 also has a few other noteworthy features: a safety whistle on the sternum strap, a water bladder system, a laptop sleeve, and several loops in various areas to let you hook on other accessories. Given that you often have to purchase the ICU and rain cover separately from most companies this makes the price much lower than competitors. Shimoda Designs. Overall size is very similar. This allows a traveling photographer to keep their gear secure even if they need to check their bag or just for peace of mind. There's a hierarchy of factors that enable judgements to be made on photo backpacks. It certainly works for certain bottles, depending upon their size and shape. Let's dive in and see what's new. Sure thing! However, you still have options. I like an adjustable torso, which is why I currently use a Mindshift Firstlight. Combined with the separation between the top and bottom compartments, the Adventure 60 is great for sorting your gear efficiently. What else could Shimoda have put here instead? Share with your friends! The roll top is a great addition to the bag. Here is a video break down of all three core units from Shimoda Design. Equipment is divided and protected by your choice of two sizes of modular Core Units and three sizes of Accessory Cases. I rarely go in excess of 2L for an 8h to 10h hike in temperate conditions (think alps, rocky mountains), are you hiking in the desert? The two biggest factors for me when looking for an adventure type backpack like this are comfort while carrying a lot of gear and the ability to carry not just my camera kit but the essential gear for the environment or sport I'm shooting. The X30 and X50 are both pretty close to the dimensions of the TT pack. The weatherproofing is excellent, and the lightweight canvas material is very difficult to scratch or damage. Unlike some photo backpacks that slump over when removed and set down, both the Shimoda Explorer 40 and Explorer 60 have internal 6061 T6 aluminum frames to properly distribute the load of heavy equipment. I did not mean to take a million photos of the bag and its features, but it happened. . If you need a pack that you can travel easily with and are carrying a simple kit, the Explore Series is more up your alley. Having studied Journalism and Public Relations at the University of the West of England Hannah developed a love for photography through a module on photojournalism. 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. It would strongly surprise me if they start to rip or tear, at least in the foreseeable future. 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. Shimoda Designs led by lead designer Ian Millar set a standard for what an adventure pack could be both in functional features and overall build quality. I have owned several backpacks with just such straps that very successfully allow a tripod to fall out while wearing the thing. High quality Hikari Shimoda inspired bags by independent artists and designers from around the world. There wont ever be a perfect bag, because everyone has different needs and requirements. For me, this goes right to the biggest issue with the bag as a whole a water bottle pouch. 2. Shimoda founder Ian Millar. I was able to pack 2 DSLR bodies and 3 lenses including my 70-200mm without any issues. I often find that camera rucksacks are geared towards men in how they look and how they fit so it's refreshing to find one that looks stylish but is also comfortable and adapted for a woman too! Despite my initial apprehensions about this bag, it's actually really grown on me. It adds an additional 7 liters of storage space making even the smaller X30 bag much more versatile for action sports. The original Shimoda bags were built extremely tough to a high-quality standard because Millar as founder and lead designer wanted to create something that took advantage of all the advances in tech and materials available. This helps slim down the overall size of the pack and keeping the weight close to the body. The Explorer 40, a 40-liter backpack, is the smaller of the two, but only about two inches shorter than the Explorer 60 (60-liter) standing at 22.4 inches. Share this project. I talked to the designer and they said it wouldn't fit very well and wasn't designed for it. Attached to the waist belt of a Shimoda pack while the bag is being worn 4. I have reviewed 3 hiking backpacks recently including this one which all have specific features designed to carry a tripod. Additionally, there is a zippered entry into the top compartment similar to most traditional hiking packs with two mesh zippered pockets. The Plastic Bag Store is a custom-built public art installation and film experience designed to encourage visitors to think more about the enduring impact of single-use plastics. That is, I have yet to see f-stopers, or anyone else, review a backpack for photographers. *Women can choose their shoulder strap on the next page. Also why all these designers design bags with tiny side access not suitable for gripped cameras. In order to make the waist strap removable this time itis connected directly onto the back panel. So, out of these options, how do I carry water with this bag? It's not meant to be used for weeklong treks into the wilderness with your camera gear. 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.