ShimodaExplore 60 Starter Kit (w/ 2 Small Core Units) - Sea Pine (520-014)

This may be the most favorable review I have ever submitted. When I make a purchase like this, I do a lot of research. A LOT. In fact, I purchased the Mindshift Gear bag as well, and wanted to try them both out. I stuck with the Shimoda and thankfully, I chose the right reason. Comfort! I just used it for my trip to the Canadian Rockies. I am 59 years old so, comfort is critical for me and my aching bones. The other, most critical feature was how well it travels. I fly out of a regional airport and United has the smallest overhead bins I know it. I fit up there, in a CRJ200. This is a 2x2 type jet. The upper bins are extremely small and my Shimoda fit! I couldn't have been happier. I don't show a photo of my gear because THAT was the least of my concerns. I also purchased the medium and small core units, so after all is said and done, it came to over $400. A hefty investment. But when I am climbing trails with a backpack full of gear, and a tripod, well, you need maximum comfort and weight distribution. This provided it. Held up very well, and I wasn't too concerned when the weather turned wet on us. There is no rain cover, but I felt pretty secure in the zipper design. If you are considering a camera backpack system, I cannot recommend this one highly enough. Oh, it also stood up on top of my business briefcase. All that top heavy weight, and I could leave it untended. Outstanding!

Very comfortable!Holds my kit without a problem plus my camping gear.Flexible (I also bought the medium ICU) I can carry a lot of camera gear by combining the midium and one small ICU, less by just bringing the midium or eben less by just using a small one.Very well thought out design.In short I am a happy customer!

Agree with other reviewers that the Explore 40 is a great bag, with excellent workmanship, materials, design, and especially the fit/comfort. This is replacing a Lowepro bag, which I also consider to be a good pack. I purchased the Explore 40, medium ICU, small ICU, and a rain cover. Total cost ~$420, so not cheap. (This does not include the small add-on items I purchased below).My reasons for 4 stars instead of 5:1. Unlike many of the competitors, the rain-cover is not built-in or included. Having a built in cover is not only more convenient, but saves space. I bought the cover, and while it is compact, it is one additional thing to pack (or forget to pack).2. No external mesh pockets for water bottles or to stuff small items such as gloves, etc. Yes, you can use the internal "tripod bag" for this purpose, but it is clearly not ideal.3. No external pockets on the hip belt. There are very small mesh "trash" pockets on the belt, but do not close, and are only good for storing trash, unless you don't mind losing the items when they fall out. I purchased a couple of small (3x5) add-on bags (3rd party) with Velcro belt loops.4. The mesh "water bottle" pocket and zip pocket on the shoulder straps are useful, but as others have noted, the water bottle must be small (I bought a slim 10oz bottle which fits fine) and the zip pocket is too small for larger smart phones (my Samsung Note does not fit, but the 10e does).5. No ability to extend the top of the bag (as with Atlas Athlete, Shimoda 60, etc) to stuff items such as clothing. The Shimoda 40 has a single "top" zip section with some small zip mesh pockets. To access these small pockets, you have to first empty any larger items (such as a first aid bag). Also, unlike most packs, there are no key-keeper hooks.I am happy with this bag, but probably should have looked more closely at the Atlas Athlete pack before buying this one.

Love the simplicity of this bag. Easy access to gear, lightweight and very comfortable to wear. Looking forward to many years of using this backpack. It is expensive, but well worth it.

This Shimoda 60 pack is one of Shimoda more useful for me . Lots of room

So far I have hiked roughly 15 miles with this bag weighted down with camera gear!! I cannot complain about the functionality at all! If I had one complaint it would be I wish there was a little more in the way of side pockets on the waist straps! I will eventually get the larger pack for more than one day hikes!

This is a great bag. Nice looking, good features, very well made. I really wanted to keep it. 2 major items made it go back.First issue, comfort:The adjustable shoulder straps for torso size are helpful. All straps very adjustable, I could just never get the bag to a comfort point I was willing to accept. I tried less photo gear, different storage layout, lower straps, higher straps, waist belt, no waist belt. No good. Never had a good hiking with no shoulder pain.Second issue, sweat soaked zippers:The cloth of the main access flap zippers would absorb sweat off my back. That would then migrate into the inner flap fabric causing a moisture problem for my camera equipment. I shouldn't have to dry the inside of my pack after every hike.Maybe I had the straps fit wrong for me or the weight was too high or to one side, in a month I could never get the fit right. I was almost ready to just live with it because this is a result nice pack system but the moisture problem was the deal breaker.