Several years back, Shimoda Designs showed up and brought a new adventure camera bag to the market. Interesting review, its hard to keep up with all these new bags. I have the Shimoda . These I would argue are the two most important factors when designing a bag like this. Weve all had experiences where seams ripped or straps broke, but I cant imagine anything like that happening to Shimoda photo backpacks. For us photographers who necessitate using these bags not only for tools but as a means to ensure our health and wellbeing in difficult working environments. This is where having proper outdoor clothing and layering comes in. Also why all these designers design bags with tiny side access not suitable for gripped cameras. I have minor nitpicks here and there, but theres really nothing else that struck me as profoundly negative. There are also new additional handles on the Explore series. Shimoda Design bags (and comparisons to f-stop gear competition) When I checked the internal dimensions of the Atlas camera compartment, I knew that it was too shallow for FF bodies. Shimoda initially launched through Kickstarter reaching their funding goals in just 30 hours. Thanks Spencer, do you recommend using any raincovers or even with that the back will not block? I am. The Shimoda Explore V2 35L is truly a bag for the adventurist photographer. (Image: Hannah Rooke / Digital Camera World), We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices. There's a good selection of core units available. If you mean internally? Unless I have my full water bladder system set up, I just put the bottle in the top internal section of the bag. For me, the biggest issue is that it doesnt have a good water carrying system, which is almost baffling given the close attention to detail elsewhere on the bag. And as always, we physically have Shimodas finished products in our hands for full inspection and assessment. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. The X50 is designed to be used with larger camera bodies including a gripped body. Trying to find a case that it fits in is hard. Ill get into all that below. Its true that the straps sit a bit loose in their loops, since its a removable design, but they dont inherently feel flimsier as a result. As a whole, this bag is built very well. For more information, please see our It does, however, fit a lot in it and you can get it in a 25-liter version if you don't need to carry as much stuff. It adds an additional 7 liters of storage space making even the smaller X30 bag much more versatile for action sports. Sure thing! Personally, I like this for carrying a tripod (which Ill never carry in a side pocket due to the uneven weight). The zippers are large enough not to jam easily, with tabs made out of leather. Shimoda decided, instead, to use a book cover style, where the panel opens from right to left. Also, both backpacks have built-in sleeves that accommodate laptops up to 13 inches. I really like this bag. Or, if your water bottle is small enough, maybe you could fit it within the zippered opening itself, although it wouldnt fit especially well. Promising entry into the adventure photography arena. Explore v2 35L SHELL ONLY - GREEN. 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 Adventure 60 is built very well. Even on my cheapest/worst backpack, it took a year of hard use before the shoulder straps began to tear. The pocket doesn't connect to the inside of the bag and is covered well even though it is open. The shoulder straps are wonderfully wide, distributing weight very well. Yes, that is fair, I did pick the most exaggerated figure I found for that sentence it flowed better! ), usable bag that can store my normal and camera gear safely while also distributing the weight nicely yet. The answer goes back to something I mentioned earlier the water bladder holder. What else could Shimoda have put here instead? Great review Michael, this pack does seem extremely well thought out. I found this useful for carrying my rain jacket but it does mean you can't use the side straps for a tripod at the same time. 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. For me the centre loop is a ripped fabric panel waiting to happen and the lack of zipped covers for the camera/lens inserts means that I cant store any equipment without it getting dusty/damaged. The pockets have more than enough room for even a full-size tripod, are 8 inches deep and can be synched down tight on both the top and the bottom. It has better access to camera equipment than any hiking bag Ive ever used, and a high level of comfort and overall quality, too. Flag. You can look back and see my review of the original Explore 30 here. So Millar and his team redesigned the side pockets to have two stowable mesh pockets that can double as either water bottle holders or additional support for tripod legs. 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. No hiking bags are invincible in extreme conditions, but this one does do, on balance, a very good job in bad weather. The Shimoda backpacks are equipped with a removable pouch in the side panel pocket. Do you need helpchoosing the best camera bag (opens in new tab)? In the photo below, you can see that a smartwater brand bottle barely fits, and (in terms of diameter) thats not an especially large bottle: So, how does Shimoda expect hikers to bring along their one liter per hour? I'll try to make that happen soon. Shimoda Action X30 Backpack Black . It feels incredibly well made, it has a lot of stylish but functional features, it's extremely comfortable, fully adjustable and your kit feels really safe in it. Billed as the perfect bag for travel, adventure, and landscape. You can carry multiple items at once or use it to lock down much larger items like video tripods. They are the first bags Ive ever encountered with the stated purpose of improving the health and fitness of the user. Thanks for the review! The other option is to get a hiking backpack, which works for longer hikes, but wont let you access your gear as easily (or potentially protect it as well). The harness system as a whole isn't much different from the Explore series which was already very popular among reviewers. I figured I might as well share since it was hard for me to get a satisfying feel for 30L bag in the . But some of the bags weaknesses also involve access and storage. 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. 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. The Shimoda Explore V2 35L is truly a bag for the adventurist photographer. This side handle also doubles as a luggage pass-through. Thanks for subscribing. Heavy items that often get dirty and are long get stored on the outside of your pack. 21,501 views Apr 13, 2020 469 Dislike Share Sarah Lyndsay 3.76K subscribers In this video, I take you through the new SHIMODA DESIGNS Action X30 bag and compare it to the older Explore 30. I did a quick test and could store a sleeping bag, one person tent, camp pad, stove, and food for 3 nights along with my standard hiking camera gear. I'm Spencer Cox, a macro and landscape photographer based in Denver. That decision perplexed me, so I reached out to Ian Millar, founder of Shimoda, to hear his comments. 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. So why do Shimoda photo backpacks burst the confines of the matrix I normally use to evaluate camera carry solutions? Below is my review, along with the pros and cons of this intriguing new backpack. You're currently reading page 1; Page 2; Page 3; Page 4; Page 5; Page Next; Sort By. 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. Made with a thermoplastic polyurethane coated nylon fabric and YKK AquaGuard zippers with a reinforced Hypalon base . Shimoda has become known for producing stellar backpacks with fantastic harnesses that are comfortable to carry fully loaded for long periods. The fabric looks and feels just like any other high quality, ripstop weave but delivers unsurpassed water repellency and durability. all good and great! If you have a soft water bottle, putting it in the front pocket isnt a bad idea at all. The other significant change on the V2 is the amount of organization that you have with the pack. You can open the back of this bag all the way so that you can easily pack it and both the divider sections and top compartment can be removed should you want to use it as a normal rucksack. It was lightweight, durable, well thought out, and insanely comfortable to carry. So while Shimoda ICUs fit f-stop bags, unfortunately f-stop ICUs likely will not fit Shimoda bags. If its really important that you can access your gear from the side, feel free to set up your camera units like that. The designers at Shimoda changed the face fabric of the harness system from coated nylon to mesh, giving the user a far more breathable carry system when in hot/humid climates or on long treks. There wont ever be a perfect bag, because everyone has different needs and requirements. It still has two heavy-duty haul handles one on top and on the side. 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. This website uses cookies to improve your experience. The Shimoda product line consists of two photo backpacks, one carry-on roller and two types of removable, adjustable modules. This competition has vastly improved how and what we can carry into the field. 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. 6870 Heritage Run Rd was last sold on Jan 9, 2023 for $427,518 (0% higher than the asking price of $427,518). It doesn't have to be attached to the camera. If you like our content, you can subscribe to our newsletter to receive weekly email updates using the link below: Top, rear, and side access to the interior of the bag, Rear access via the compartment that touches your back; opens book-style, from right to left (explained in detail below), Separate top zippered pocket on the top of the bag for accessories, which also has a zippered mesh divider within, A couple accessory pouches on the shoulder straps, as well as a water bottle holder, Large, flat zippered pocket from the top to bottom of the bag on the outside; meant for carrying a snow shovel, water bladder, jacket, laptop, or similar, Two internal sections separated by a (removable) thin fabric divider; youre meant to put your camera equipment in the bottom section by adding a separate core unit, Removable external pouch that can fit a full-frame DSLR with a 70-200mm f/2.8 lens for quicker access (including front access), Dimensions: 11 inches/28 cm deep, 11.4 inches/29 cm wide, 24 inches/61 cm tall, Weight: 3.3 lbs/1.5 kilos, without any of the camera units inside, 45 liter capacity that can expand to 60 liters, 13-inch laptop sleeve (which really is just 13 inches, and definitely couldnt fit my 15-inch laptop; however, my laptop did fit in the top-to-bottom flat zippered pocket without issue), Price: It depends upon which kit you select (since, Odd system for carrying water no side pouch built into the bag for this purpose, The book-style rear opening has some usability drawbacks, at least for me, Breathability isnt perfect, although that is to be expected for a bag that opens via a rear panel. Hi Spencer, Any chance you will at some point review their carry on roller style bag. You can throw an extra lens in the top compartment and know that it wont slip down and bump against other equipment. From time to time we have the opportunity to bring you some exclusive deals from top brands in the industry. 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. So, out of these options, how do I carry water with this bag? That was my biggest issue with the V1, the lack of organization. Second, its very obvious that all materials were selected for durability as well as performance. 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. 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. 2. Shimoda Designs is an adventure camera bag company that provides backpacks, rollers and accessories designed through real-world experience in the mountains and other extreme terrain. Shimoda founder Ian Millar is a lifelong explorer, snowboarder and product designer known for developing some of the most innovative camera bags in the world. The rest of the bag also has a solid build. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. One of the most visible is the loop that lets you attach a wide array of equipment to the front of the bag: a tripod, snow shovel, pickaxe, and anything you can think of. There is a 15 inch laptop sleeve on the panel itself. 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. Based upon the lens dimensions of 4.2 in. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. Just curious: Do the water bottle holders on the side have a hole in the bottom for rain water to drain out? 10th World Congress on Structural and Multidisciplinary Optimization May 19 -24, 2013, Orlando, Florida, USA 1 A Numerical Form Finding Method for Minimal Surface of Membrane Structure Koichi Yamane1, Masatoshi Shimoda2 1 Toyota Technological Institute, Tenpaku-ku, Nagoya, Japan, [email protected] 2 Toyota Technological Institute, Tenpaku -ku, Nagoya, Japan, shimoda@toyota ti.ac.jp It worked quite well. Its evident from the form and fit, and even from the seemingly minor features like dedicated pouches on the shoulder straps for food and phone. Another big benefit is that the internal camera units that Shimoda sells are perhaps the best combination of size and sturdiness that Ive seen in the photography world. It is made from the same material and at the same quality level so that makes me excited to get a better look at the design of it. The Action X series is what you should look at. Manfrotto Photography Backpack Bag, & Camera Holster, Photo Equipment Bags . The Adventure 60 is an excellent backpack. The Shimoda Designs Explore 60 is going make for some healthy competition in higher-end packs for outdoor . It's not meant to be used for weeklong treks into the wilderness with your camera gear. Even landscape and wildlife photographers often need to carry extra layers and food for a long day.
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