Suitable for: Recommended use: expedition, hillwalking, ski touring, travel Main material: 100% polyamide Fabric treatment: PU coated Fabric properties: highly water repellent, extremely abrasion-resistant Carry system: with carry handle, padded back, padded hip belt, padded shoulder straps, chest strap, aluminium frame Venting: via the carry system Additional features: 2 front compartments, laptop compartment (17"), ice axe/pole holder, lid compartment, tripod holder, ski/snowboard carry system, 2 side pockets Hydration system: compatible Volume: 50 l Weight: 1,900 g Extras: compression straps, incl. The straps are great, and you can mount them in any of the 22 different attachment points around the bag, but at least enough straps should come with the pack to carry a tripod. It is also considerably easier to clean, wiping it with a damp microfibre cloth being all that is usually necessary.

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 don’t baby my gear, and it’s safe to say that my F-Stop Tilopa has taken a beating over the past 2 years, but still performs perfectly! The gear goes into the ICU; depending on your liking, you can either carry the internal ICU with the lid closed or open.

The bag is made of the 330D double ripstop Nylon gives the material a different look but it is still quite pleasing to the eye. When f-stop first came onto the scene in 2006, it was very apparent they had a fresh take on what a camera bag should be. Looking at the dimensions given in these five locations, all you would know is that the bag is somewhere between 59. There is very little difference in the height of the two bags, but the Ajna is just enough shorter that it makes the bag difficult to close when used with the XL Pro ICU. Keeping that weight secure and mostly static makes it much easier on the wearer’s back when really putting on the miles.

Usually, when you strap something heavy to the side of a bag the straps come loose and the item begins to sag down. As always, I appreciate it when you use my links to show appreciation for my efforts in creating these reviews. When asked if I would be interested in writing this F-Stop Tilopa Review about a rugged, hardcore mountain series camera backpack, I initially thought of turning the opportunity down. Before writing this review of the F-Stop Tilopa, I wanted to make sure I tested the bag as best I could.Its big enough to carry 2 bodies, 5 lenses, a filter system, remote triggers, star tracker, pano head, batteries and all my camping gear including a change of clothes, food and water.

Then when I would go to put my bag back on I might have some water on the back padding or small rocks that have crept into the mesh. It features exceptional all-day support provided by an internal aluminium frame and adjustable support system, and a weather resistant design to protect against the elements.It also features a fully functional hip belt and this results in, without question, the most comfortable camera bag that I have ever used. At review time, only the Ajna, Tilopa and Shinn backpacks have been updated to DuraDiamond models with all the new features. There were pros and cons for each (i can tell more if someone is interested) but overall i liked Tilopa more after all. 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.