I have to shamelessly admit that I, as are many other photographers, am a camera bag junkie. Maybe the reason behind it is that I was never able to find the perfect fit for my needs. Granted, different situations or travel circumstances may require different type of bags. It’s not the same to go out for a walk in your neighborhood as it is to go on an overseas trip. As I mentioned in one of my prior posts, I am a big believer in going light. During the years I have purchased, used, tested, abused and torn apart all kinds of bags. But only up until now, as I believe I have found my perfect travel companion, the bag that will perfectly suit almost any kind of adventure: the Tilopa BC by F-Stop. I have used F-Stop products before, specifically the Kenti Backpack, and their quality was excellent. As I was about to travel for three weeks in Southeast Asia, including heavy trekking portions in northern Vietnam, I needed something bigger than the Kenti, a bag capable of transporting my gear, including computer, chargers, and essential clothing for two to threee days at a time.

I needed something versatile. I went back to F-Stop because I was satisfied with my other bag. They have a different approach when it comes to building their products, which are rigorously tested by their team of pro photographers. It’s a concept that allows the company to permanently have field feedback straight from working hardcore users. shmack backpackOne of the key elements for me is the flexibility available to build a system. backpack uitkiezenThe backpacks consist of two components: the backpack itself, and the Internal Camera Unit, called the ICU. easies laptop backpackIn a nutshell, once you pick the backpack that suits you best, then you can configure the interior in several different ways depending on your needs. endura backpack 25l

This is a big plus, as one bag can be used for different situations. I chose this bag because at 48 liters, it was big enough to carry all my gear and yet be very carry-on friendly. The dimensions are generous and can be configured in several ways. I have also picked up the Small Pro and Medium Slope ICU with the idea that if I needed a full bag of gear I could throw both in, and if I only needed a regular or small kit I could use just one of the ICUs.dan otero backpack The backpack is constructed with durable, water-resistant materials and features, double Ripstop Nylon with Polyurethane coating, YKK® heavy-gauge zippers, Duraflex® buckles, and Eva-padded shoulder straps and hip belts. dan otero backpackThere is also an internal aluminum frame support that helps to better distribute heavy loads. Besides the internal ICU, there are several pockets and options to organize either accessories or essentials for a day out.

The top lid features a separate pocket where you can store smart phones, extra batteries, headsets, travel documents, etc. There is also a mesh compartment in the interior side of the lid. A big front panel pocket can be used for extra layers or even a light jacket. The internal padded computer sleeve can fit a laptop up to 18”; there are also two smaller pockets (not padded) on the side that I’ve used to throw in hard drives. If you carry a tripod, it can be mounted either on the front or the side of the bag using the multiple quick-release straps. These straps are very handy as the ones at the sides also allow for side compression, making it possible to adjust depth when the backpack is not full. Last, the pack also features the ability to attach multiple accessories as it is compatible with the MOLLE, an international standard used by other third-party add-ons companies and, of course, F-Stop itself. It also packs several bungee cords and two D-rings as additional mounting points for small accessories.

I put the backpack through its paces during the three-week trip and it didn’t disappoint me. Despite being loaded, it was very easy to carry and the weight was well distributed. Over 10-mile treks in the mountains? Carry on in international or regional jets? One of things that I particularly like about the bag is that the camera gear is accessed via the back panel, so the equipment is secure, but you can also access the main compartment via the top opening as well, making it very practical. As I was taking my Fuji X kit, I outfitted the pack with just the Medium Slope ICU, and as you can see there was plenty of room left in the main compartment to carry other personal stuff. I put my cleaning stuff, extra caps, regular batteries and cables on the interior mesh pocket of the lid. My laptop (not shown here) and paper model releases were in the computer sleeve. The gear goes into the ICU; depending on your liking, you can either carry the internal ICU with the lid closed or open.

My choice was to have it closed as it felt more secure having an extra layer of protection. The zippers are easy to access anyway, and it takes no time to open it and close it once you are in the field. The Medium Slope ICU is roomy and can fit my kit very well. I have two camera bodies, six lenses, a flash, wireless triggers, grids, batteries, SD cards and a GPS tracker. This is a bag I’ll continue to use on my travels as it is versatile, can be configured in several ways, and it really looks great. I have picked mine in Foliage Green, but you also have two more color options: Black and Malibu Blue. The price starts at $339 for the bag itself, a bit pricey, but when you consider the quality of the materials, construction, versatility, and the manufacturer’s 20-year warranty, the Tilopa BC becomes an excellent option for the hardcore photographer.When asked if I would be interested in writing an F-Stop Tilopa Review on this rugged, hardcore mountain series camera backpack, I initially thought of turning the opportunity down.

I live in New Jersey, a couple hours from the nearest mountain, and although I do like to get out in the woods for day hikes, I’m primarily a wedding photographer. I could tell from just the look of the bag that it was made more for the extreme sports photographer that has goals of climbing Everest or photographing the ice caves in Iceland. Whether it was the little kid in me that thought trying this bag would get me to be get out and do something more adventurous that would require a hardcore rugged backpack like the F-Stop Tilopa, or just that it looked like a cool ass bag to test out, I said yes. Now almost 6 months later, it has become my all time favorite travel bag I’ve ever owned. While writing bag reviews are the most difficult reviews to write, here is why I love this bag so much even though I have no desire to climb Everest. If I did, this bag would most likely be coming with me. (Spoiler: The Tilopa made it to this best camera backpack roundup!)[Click to open in a new tab: Learn how to book more clients using Internet Marketing]

The new Tilopa is part of the F-Stop Mountain series, described as the most rugged of the bunch. As per F-Stop, it’s suitable for even the most hardcore of outdoor professionals. This description alone made me question whether it would be a good bag for my travels and adventures, but it’s also the perfect bag for even the more leisurely trips that aren’t as hardcore. F-Stop Gear is known for their large line of outdoor packs and bags that are built for comfort and durability. The Tilopa lives up to both of those, being an extremely comfortable bag for both hiking, exploring, and getting into the thick of things while not having to worry about the gear or clothes in your bag. The Tilopa is not only a bag that is made with the hardcore outdoorsman in mind, it’s also made to be an all-around great travel bag. It has all the features for making it perfect for the extreme traveling photographer, such as being made of out of water resistant oxford-weave ripstop nylon, all the straps and clips for carrying everything from heavy tripods to snow shoes, and a sturdy H-frame.

It also has several adjustment points for added comfort, multiple access points for loading and unloading, and just the right amount of pockets for storage without being overwhelmed and having to forget where you put things. Before writing this review of the F-Stop Tilopa, I wanted to make sure I tested the bag as best I could. Sure, I wouldn’t be able to fully push it to extremes, but I wanted to at least be able to push it as best I could. I took the Tilopa on 3 trips with me, each of which consisted of flying and lugging it around multiple airports, as well as using it to carry all my camera gear and clothing for each trip. I used it to pack enough clothes for the trip as well as most of the camera gear I would need, anything that wouldn’t fit, I put in my 2nd carry on. I have two ICU’s (Internal Camera Units), the small one and the large one. I used the small one for 2 of the 3 trips, and the large one for a trip that I took to shoot a wedding in Tennessee.

I needed to pack a little more camera gear for the wedding, and the large ICU was perfect. All 3 trips, it did the job. I was able to pack enough clothes, camera gear, and a tripod, and store it in the overhead compartment. Now, for all of you that have traveled with your gear know, some flights snag you and make you check a bag if the flight is packed. This can be frightening for anyone that has their gear in a bag that the airline wants to toss down a bag shoot and into the mix of bags that may or may not be there when you land. I had this happen on two of my 3 trips, no lie. The first time, I had a connecting flight where I had to fly on a smaller plane where the Tilopa wouldn’t fit in the overhead compartment. The 2nd trip, it was over packed and they were making a lot of the passengers check their larger bags. The Tilopa allowed me to rest easy, as I was able to simply remove the ICU with my camera gear, and my tripod, and send my bag of clothes off with the other checked bags.

Both times my bag was there at the baggage claim with no issues. Had there been an issue, I would have been out some clothes, but my camera gear was safe with me the entire time. I love this bag for a lot of reasons, but mainly because of its versatility. I used it for traveling, hiking, and exploring. It got beat up pretty good over the course of those 3 trips. It got rained on and while the rest of my body got soaked, everything inside was kept nice and dry. It does an excellent job of carrying a good amount of camera gear, clothes, and any other accessories I may want to bring along like a tripod. The F-Stop Tilopa is comfortable enough to pack it full and hike around with it for an all day hike up and down the mountains of Oregon. It’s comfortable enough to want to use it for all my traveling that includes flying, as it was much easier wearing my suitcase on my back then dragging it around the airport. I absolutely love that I can access the ICU from the back and the top, making it so I don’t have to remove all my clothes to get to it when traveling.

The ICU’s are the housing units that F-Stop uses to hold your camera gear. They are the actual removable packs that protect your gear, and make your bag customizable so that you can pack it anyway you like. F-Stop designs their bags for the photographer, but you can use their bags in many different ways using the ICU’s. If I need to travel and pack a lot of clothes on a trip and only one camera body with a few lenses, I can use one of the smaller ICU’s. If I need to pack a good amount of camera gear, and not as much clothes, I can use the larger ICU. If I want to go on a day hike and or travel overseas to go trekking through the wilderness, the new F-Stop Tilopa is what I now will be bringing. For all that the F-Stop Tilopa offers, it’s a very affordable bag that I would buy over and over again. I own two ICU’s, the large Pro which costs an additional $99, and the Small Shallow which costs an additional $55. The bag itself, without the ICU’s, is $259.

Pretty reasonable price with both ICU’s compared to other bags of the same quality and size. If you’re a photographer that likes to go hiking with their gear, camping, or any form of traveling, you should really take a look at this F-Stop Tilopa backpack. Like I mentioned at the beginning, I honestly didn’t see a bag like this being something I would want to use, let alone need. Well, with 2016 being a year where I will be traveling more than I ever have, I need the F-Stop Tilopa. I honestly had planned on giving the Tilopa a fair review and then shipping it back since I didn’t think I would get much use out of it. Well, I was wrong, very wrong. After using it for a few months as my main travel bag, I am extremely thankful that F-Stop asked Shotkit to review the Tilopa and let me keep it. If I had to send it back, I would be buying one, no doubt about it. It’s a hardcore bag that can take a beating while keeping your gear safe, that also doubles as a very comfortable and convenient bag to use for traveling.