Last updated at 14/06/2026 14:39:58
Shimoda Designs Explore v2 35 Backpack Photo Starter Kit
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Shimoda Explore V2 30 Backpack - Black - 520-154
Delivery $40.79
Shimoda Designs Explore v2 30 Photo Backpack (Black)
Delivery between 19–23 June $8.95
Shimoda Designs Explore v2 30 Backpack Photo Starter Kit (Black)
Delivery between 19–23 June $8.95
Shimoda Explore V2 30 Backpack - Black
Delivery $9.90
Shimoda Explore V2 30 Starter Kit - Black
Delivery $9.90
Shimoda Explore V2 30 Backpack - Black
Delivery between 17–25 June $15
Shimoda Explore V2 30 Starter Kit - Black
Delivery between 17–25 June $15
Shimoda Explorer V2 30 Backpack - Black
Free delivery between 16–22 June
Shimoda Explore V2 30 Backpack - Black
Delivery $9.95
originally posted on bhphotovideo.com
Like so many other reviewers, I love this backpack. Equipment is easy to access and it is very well made. I bought the 30L version as a compromise between the smaller 25L bag, that would be much too small for my needs, and the 35L bag that holds more but is less portable as a carry-on on flights. I live in SE Asia where the carry-on restrictions are too limiting even for the 30L bag. When I am back to traveling my wife and I will carry-on my camera and lenses, split between us. I will pack the Shimoda in a Briggs & Riley four-wheel suitcase with less sensitive gear such as a tripod, clothing and the like. Once I make it to Europe or the Americas I should be able to carry-on the Shimoda.I use the large mirrorless core unit as I have a lot of lenses. I do not have a ... MoreLike so many other reviewers, I love this backpack. Equipment is easy to access and it is very well made. I bought the 30L version as a compromise between the smaller 25L bag, that would be much too small for my needs, and the 35L bag that holds more but is less portable as a carry-on on flights. I live in SE Asia where the carry-on restrictions are too limiting even for the 30L bag. When I am back to traveling my wife and I will carry-on my camera and lenses, split between us. I will pack the Shimoda in a Briggs & Riley four-wheel suitcase with less sensitive gear such as a tripod, clothing and the like. Once I make it to Europe or the Americas I should be able to carry-on the Shimoda.I use the large mirrorless core unit as I have a lot of lenses. I do not have a camera with an integrated battery pack, which really needs the 35L bag as the core units are deeper. The larger core unit wipes out most of the other storage capacity. Still there is room for a sweater, peripheral equipment and the like. For longer hikes I would use the medium mirrorless core unit and bring less equipment so that I can store more clothing, food and so on. Each side has hidden woven pockets that can be pulled from zippered pockets to carry water bottles and tripods, etc. There are loops near the bottom of the free-hanging side pockets so that pack side straps can hold the pockets in place.This system is the best ever for a water bottle. The pockets are low enough that I can easily remove and replace a water bottle with one hand while wearing the pack. The pockets have a closing cord to stabilize and secure a water bottle and it can be opened and closed with one hand.Used for a tripod, the pockets work well for shorter pods. My favorite pod, an RRS Versa pod, is pretty long for this bag. It will work if I am motivated to bring it. A smaller pod would be easier.There are optional detachable straps for carrying things on the outside (top, bottom, front). I could strap my RRS pod on the outside with those. The attachments for the straps are designed for this pack and run-of-the-mill standard straps will not work.The harness system is very comfortable and I can wear the pack all day without any irritation or fatigue.
originally posted on bhphotovideo.com
I carry a lot of equipment for my photo sessions (documentary; portraits), including 2 cameras (1 full frame and 1 medium format) and several large lenses + accessories. In all, in excess of 8 - 9 Kilos (18 pounds) for the equipment, before a tripod and the weight of the bag itself.For me, the top priorities for backpack that I was looking for:1) comfortably carry a heavy load2) keep the equipment safe/secureShimoda Explore was rather unique in that sense, as it is built like a hiking backpack, with all the comfort and all the adjustments, to get a perfect fit to comfortably carry 12 Kilos (26 pounds).As for safety, with the rigid Large Core Unit, the bag provides maximum protection for my gear. It becomes like a safe box.No other backpack that I looked ... MoreI carry a lot of equipment for my photo sessions (documentary; portraits), including 2 cameras (1 full frame and 1 medium format) and several large lenses + accessories. In all, in excess of 8 - 9 Kilos (18 pounds) for the equipment, before a tripod and the weight of the bag itself.For me, the top priorities for backpack that I was looking for:1) comfortably carry a heavy load2) keep the equipment safe/secureShimoda Explore was rather unique in that sense, as it is built like a hiking backpack, with all the comfort and all the adjustments, to get a perfect fit to comfortably carry 12 Kilos (26 pounds).As for safety, with the rigid Large Core Unit, the bag provides maximum protection for my gear. It becomes like a safe box.No other backpack that I looked for could provide the level of carrying comfort (for heavy equipment) and such high protection level that I was looking for.All the other bells and whistles are less important to me, but, the Shimoda Explore V2 has many of the nice features that most reviewers are looking for.So, if comfort and protecting your gear are your top priorities, look no further
originally posted on bhphotovideo.com
I love this backpack. I have both the medium mirrorless core unit and the large mirrorless core unit. So far I have been using it as my daily work bag (with camera and lenses) and also for flower/macro photography. My Nikon Z7 with attached 70-20mm f2.8 and 1.4 teleconverter, along with 105mm macro lens and accessories fit perfectly in the large mirrorless core unit. Above the large mirrorless core unit in the top compartment, I can fit the Shimoda accessory pouch, sunglasses case, reading glasses case, tissues etc. My diary and pens go into one of the front compartments, my 15 MacBook fits perfectly in the laptop compartment. And the tripod/waterbottle holders have no problem taking my large-ish tripod. When I'm doing landscape photography, I will swap out the ... MoreI love this backpack. I have both the medium mirrorless core unit and the large mirrorless core unit. So far I have been using it as my daily work bag (with camera and lenses) and also for flower/macro photography. My Nikon Z7 with attached 70-20mm f2.8 and 1.4 teleconverter, along with 105mm macro lens and accessories fit perfectly in the large mirrorless core unit. Above the large mirrorless core unit in the top compartment, I can fit the Shimoda accessory pouch, sunglasses case, reading glasses case, tissues etc. My diary and pens go into one of the front compartments, my 15 MacBook fits perfectly in the laptop compartment. And the tripod/waterbottle holders have no problem taking my large-ish tripod. When I'm doing landscape photography, I will swap out the large core unit for the medium one which will allow me to fit a jersey, first aid and survival kits, and lunch in the top compartment and my raincoat will fit in the front compartment. I was a little worried if the bag would look too big to be used as my daily bag and if all the leather zipper pulls would be too much, but honestly, the bag looks fantastic. The removable waist belt is great; I have removed it for daily use but will put it back in for landscape work. We often head to a holiday home on the weekend and once there, I will either go hiking and take wide angle lenses or I'll visit nearby gardens and take my macro and 70-200mm lenses. I got this bag to be able to handle the conditions of hiking in bad weather as well as looking nice and handling my longer lens and macro when doing flower photography. This bag along with the two different sized core units perfectly suits these scenarios for me. For winter hiking when I need to take crampons etc I have the Action X50. The quality of Shimoda's bags is very good.
| Type of Closure | Zipper |
| Water Resistance | Water Resistant (Material), Rain Cover |
| Bottle Pocket | Yes |
| Hydration Bladder Compatible | No |
| Monopod/Tripod Holder | Yes |
Shimoda Designs Explore v2 35 Backpack Photo Starter Kit
Free delivery
Affiliate Disclosure: We may receive a small commission for purchases made through this link at no extra cost to you. This helps support our site. Thank you!
Shimoda Explore V2 30 Backpack - Black - 520-154
Delivery $40.79
Shimoda Designs Explore v2 30 Photo Backpack (Black)
Delivery between 19–23 June $8.95
Shimoda Designs Explore v2 30 Backpack Photo Starter Kit (Black)
Delivery between 19–23 June $8.95
Shimoda Explore V2 30 Backpack - Black
Delivery $9.90
Like so many other reviewers, I love this backpack. Equipment is easy to access and it is very well made. I bought the 30L version as a compromise between the smaller 25L bag, that would be much too small for my needs, and the 35L bag that holds more but is less portable as a carry-on on flights. I live in SE Asia where the carry-on restrictions are too limiting even for the 30L bag. When I am back to traveling my wife and I will carry-on my camera and lenses, split between us. I will pack the Shimoda in a Briggs & Riley four-wheel suitcase with less sensitive gear such as a tripod, clothing and the like. Once I make it to Europe or the Americas I should be able to carry-on the Shimoda.I use the large mirrorless core unit as I have a lot of lenses. I do not have a ... MoreLike so many other reviewers, I love this backpack. Equipment is easy to access and it is very well made. I bought the 30L version as a compromise between the smaller 25L bag, that would be much too small for my needs, and the 35L bag that holds more but is less portable as a carry-on on flights. I live in SE Asia where the carry-on restrictions are too limiting even for the 30L bag. When I am back to traveling my wife and I will carry-on my camera and lenses, split between us. I will pack the Shimoda in a Briggs & Riley four-wheel suitcase with less sensitive gear such as a tripod, clothing and the like. Once I make it to Europe or the Americas I should be able to carry-on the Shimoda.I use the large mirrorless core unit as I have a lot of lenses. I do not have a camera with an integrated battery pack, which really needs the 35L bag as the core units are deeper. The larger core unit wipes out most of the other storage capacity. Still there is room for a sweater, peripheral equipment and the like. For longer hikes I would use the medium mirrorless core unit and bring less equipment so that I can store more clothing, food and so on. Each side has hidden woven pockets that can be pulled from zippered pockets to carry water bottles and tripods, etc. There are loops near the bottom of the free-hanging side pockets so that pack side straps can hold the pockets in place.This system is the best ever for a water bottle. The pockets are low enough that I can easily remove and replace a water bottle with one hand while wearing the pack. The pockets have a closing cord to stabilize and secure a water bottle and it can be opened and closed with one hand.Used for a tripod, the pockets work well for shorter pods. My favorite pod, an RRS Versa pod, is pretty long for this bag. It will work if I am motivated to bring it. A smaller pod would be easier.There are optional detachable straps for carrying things on the outside (top, bottom, front). I could strap my RRS pod on the outside with those. The attachments for the straps are designed for this pack and run-of-the-mill standard straps will not work.The harness system is very comfortable and I can wear the pack all day without any irritation or fatigue.
I carry a lot of equipment for my photo sessions (documentary; portraits), including 2 cameras (1 full frame and 1 medium format) and several large lenses + accessories. In all, in excess of 8 - 9 Kilos (18 pounds) for the equipment, before a tripod and the weight of the bag itself.For me, the top priorities for backpack that I was looking for:1) comfortably carry a heavy load2) keep the equipment safe/secureShimoda Explore was rather unique in that sense, as it is built like a hiking backpack, with all the comfort and all the adjustments, to get a perfect fit to comfortably carry 12 Kilos (26 pounds).As for safety, with the rigid Large Core Unit, the bag provides maximum protection for my gear. It becomes like a safe box.No other backpack that I looked ... MoreI carry a lot of equipment for my photo sessions (documentary; portraits), including 2 cameras (1 full frame and 1 medium format) and several large lenses + accessories. In all, in excess of 8 - 9 Kilos (18 pounds) for the equipment, before a tripod and the weight of the bag itself.For me, the top priorities for backpack that I was looking for:1) comfortably carry a heavy load2) keep the equipment safe/secureShimoda Explore was rather unique in that sense, as it is built like a hiking backpack, with all the comfort and all the adjustments, to get a perfect fit to comfortably carry 12 Kilos (26 pounds).As for safety, with the rigid Large Core Unit, the bag provides maximum protection for my gear. It becomes like a safe box.No other backpack that I looked for could provide the level of carrying comfort (for heavy equipment) and such high protection level that I was looking for.All the other bells and whistles are less important to me, but, the Shimoda Explore V2 has many of the nice features that most reviewers are looking for.So, if comfort and protecting your gear are your top priorities, look no further
I love this backpack. I have both the medium mirrorless core unit and the large mirrorless core unit. So far I have been using it as my daily work bag (with camera and lenses) and also for flower/macro photography. My Nikon Z7 with attached 70-20mm f2.8 and 1.4 teleconverter, along with 105mm macro lens and accessories fit perfectly in the large mirrorless core unit. Above the large mirrorless core unit in the top compartment, I can fit the Shimoda accessory pouch, sunglasses case, reading glasses case, tissues etc. My diary and pens go into one of the front compartments, my 15 MacBook fits perfectly in the laptop compartment. And the tripod/waterbottle holders have no problem taking my large-ish tripod. When I'm doing landscape photography, I will swap out the ... MoreI love this backpack. I have both the medium mirrorless core unit and the large mirrorless core unit. So far I have been using it as my daily work bag (with camera and lenses) and also for flower/macro photography. My Nikon Z7 with attached 70-20mm f2.8 and 1.4 teleconverter, along with 105mm macro lens and accessories fit perfectly in the large mirrorless core unit. Above the large mirrorless core unit in the top compartment, I can fit the Shimoda accessory pouch, sunglasses case, reading glasses case, tissues etc. My diary and pens go into one of the front compartments, my 15 MacBook fits perfectly in the laptop compartment. And the tripod/waterbottle holders have no problem taking my large-ish tripod. When I'm doing landscape photography, I will swap out the large core unit for the medium one which will allow me to fit a jersey, first aid and survival kits, and lunch in the top compartment and my raincoat will fit in the front compartment. I was a little worried if the bag would look too big to be used as my daily bag and if all the leather zipper pulls would be too much, but honestly, the bag looks fantastic. The removable waist belt is great; I have removed it for daily use but will put it back in for landscape work. We often head to a holiday home on the weekend and once there, I will either go hiking and take wide angle lenses or I'll visit nearby gardens and take my macro and 70-200mm lenses. I got this bag to be able to handle the conditions of hiking in bad weather as well as looking nice and handling my longer lens and macro when doing flower photography. This bag along with the two different sized core units perfectly suits these scenarios for me. For winter hiking when I need to take crampons etc I have the Action X50. The quality of Shimoda's bags is very good.
First off, I recommend reading this review on a mobile device as B&H doesn't add line breaks on the website for some reason.Summary:For those who do not own a Shimoda bag this is a great first bag to purchase from the brand. It can take a Shimoda Large DSLR Core unit and allows you to pack a lot of gear. It can also be a great secondary bag if you own the Action X series and can afford it. Shimoda is known for it's many great features such as bag straps on the side for tripods, comfortable harness straps with phone pocket, modular core unit, durable bag material and extreme comfort. Shimoda is one of my favorite bag companies and I would never purchase a bag from any other brand after owning one. The Explore V2 35L is more refined in terms of the look and ... MoreFirst off, I recommend reading this review on a mobile device as B&H doesn't add line breaks on the website for some reason.Summary:For those who do not own a Shimoda bag this is a great first bag to purchase from the brand. It can take a Shimoda Large DSLR Core unit and allows you to pack a lot of gear. It can also be a great secondary bag if you own the Action X series and can afford it. Shimoda is known for it's many great features such as bag straps on the side for tripods, comfortable harness straps with phone pocket, modular core unit, durable bag material and extreme comfort. Shimoda is one of my favorite bag companies and I would never purchase a bag from any other brand after owning one. The Explore V2 35L is more refined in terms of the look and profile compared to the Action X50. It is designed to allow you to bring the bag as a carry on during domestic travel but I have never run into an issue with the Action X50 as a carry on. In the end, I ended up returning the Explore V2 35L because I could not find enough differences between the two to warrant keeping a $300+ bag. I am the type of person that buys only what they need. I will go into the reasons below.Profile:I picked up this bag in hopes that it would be more discreet and not attract unwanted attention while wandering through cities on international travel. Between the smaller volume, low contrast logo and eliminating straps on the front of the bag, it does help make the bag less noticeable. While it does have a lower overall profile than the Action X50, the bag is still quite large (See the images of the two side by side in this review). What is considered a discreet bag is going to be subjective because it depends on the person but I still feel that it can attract unwanted attention due to the size. If you carry a tripod on the side of the bag then forget about it because you are advertising that you have a camera bag. If you really want a bag that doesn't draw attention, try the Explore V2 30L or 25L. Before purchasing this bag I tried the Explore V2 30L which was great in terms of size but very restricting in terms of how much gear you could carry in the top compartment when using a Large Mirrorless Core unit because you are maxing the internal volume of the bag. The Explore V2 30L excels at using a Medium or Small Mirrorless Core Unit but can feel a bit restrictive when using a Large Mirrorless Core Unit. If my shooting style changes where I no longer need to carry a tripod or tons of gear, I will pick up the 30L again or 25L without hesitation.Volume:Because the Explore v2 is 35 liters compared to Action X 50, if you wanted to pack a lot of gear in the top compartment you are some what limited. Depth is similar between the two bags and height is the major difference. The 35L bag gives off the feeling of take exactly what you need and not much more. 40L would have been the sweet spot if they offered it but is only available in the first Explore series. One of the attractive features of the Action X series is the ability to expand the top compartment via. roll top to carry more gear in the rare situations where you just need a little boost in volume. Even when the roll top is not expanded, the Action X50 has very deep pockets compared to the Explore V2 35L. I can't tell you how many times I needed an extra boost in volume and was appreciative of the feature in the Action X series. Sometimes you just need to take a lot of gear and get it to the hotel but don't plan on bringing it into the field. Think if the expandable roll top as just a place where you can dump a lot of gear. Then you can unroll it and see everything inside and organize it as needed. I might even recommend giving the the Action X30 a try over the Explore V2 35L then make your decision.Straps:One of the annoying features of the Action X50 is a single magnetic clip on the side of the bag that frequently picks up any rocks or minerals. It's extremely difficult to clean this stuff off and running the magnetic clip under a sink doesn't get rid of everything. You need to use a paperclip and scrape off the rocks. It's nice to see that they removed this in the Explore V2 bags. It's also nice to see that they removed the extra straps on the front of the bag but gave you accessories to put it back in situations where you need it.Side Pockets:One of the new features of the bag is two zippered pockets on the side of the bag to carry 100x100mm filters or other accessories. Shimoda advertises that you can use these pockets for unprotected 100x100mm ND square filters but I would never do this because the side of the bag is not padded. Well, it's padded in a sense that if you don't use the tripod/bottle pouches, that is the padding. There is a good chance that you will end up scratching your ND filters at some point if you decide to insert them unprotected. The zippers are also designed with a very tight tolerance that it would be difficult to get objects out of these pockets with gloves on. Great idea but needs a bit more design to get it right.Laptop:Shimoda advertises the new bag's internal compartment can take a 16" MacBook Pro compared to 15" MBP on the Action X50. I found that you can insert a 16" MBP with a padded tomtoc laptop case (arguably one of the most durable cases) in the front compartment of the Action X50 with no issues.Weight:This is where I am going to knock one star off the review. Still perplexed how a bag that has less volume than the Action X50 but weights more. If I had to guess it is probably the new leather zipper pulls.Overall this is a great bag for the right person or first time buyers. If I didn't own the Action X series and this was available at the time I decided to buy a bag, I would have owned it without hesitation. Since I have owned the Action X50 for over a year now and it has done exactly what I needed, I can't justify the price tag. If it isn't broken don't fix it but you can always try something new in hopes of better.
I love this bag in almost every aspect except 1 major complaint 1 minor complaint. The major complaint of this bag is that the medium DSLR core unit won't fit a Nikon DSLR(or mirrorless) with Nikon's 70-200mm f2.8 lens attached to it nicely. If you don't attach any filter onto the lens, it will barely fit - like very tight fit that I am not comfortable to put my D750 with a 70-200 attached in this bag. If you attach any filter onto the 70-200, no matter how thin it is, it won't fit into the core unit. It's a major disappointment for Nikon shooters as 70-200 f2.8 is one of the most popular Nikon lenses. If the medium dslr core unit is an inch longer or wider, it would've been perfect. The other minor complaint is the side tripod pocket goes slightly below the bottom ... MoreI love this bag in almost every aspect except 1 major complaint 1 minor complaint. The major complaint of this bag is that the medium DSLR core unit won't fit a Nikon DSLR(or mirrorless) with Nikon's 70-200mm f2.8 lens attached to it nicely. If you don't attach any filter onto the lens, it will barely fit - like very tight fit that I am not comfortable to put my D750 with a 70-200 attached in this bag. If you attach any filter onto the 70-200, no matter how thin it is, it won't fit into the core unit. It's a major disappointment for Nikon shooters as 70-200 f2.8 is one of the most popular Nikon lenses. If the medium dslr core unit is an inch longer or wider, it would've been perfect. The other minor complaint is the side tripod pocket goes slightly below the bottom base of the bag if you put your tripod in it. This makes it inconvenient when you put your bag down. But other than that, I like this bag and would highly recommend it.
The backpack is very well constructed and really does have many accessory pockets as advertised. So clearly a plus. It will clearly take a bit more time to learn what to put where. The bag fits me a small guy well and the adjustable shoulder straps are clearly a plus. The one disappointment was the starter medium core unit that was included-- because of what will easily fit. I use a Sony A7RV and Sony 70-200mm f2.8 II attached as a common travel lens and it does not fit well and rearranging the inserts so it will fit, limits other lenses that can be carried. The Shimoda large core unit is much better if one wants to carry a lens like I mentioned above. I have not yet tried to fit the 200-600mm lens attached to a camera. Overall I like the weight distribution and the ... MoreThe backpack is very well constructed and really does have many accessory pockets as advertised. So clearly a plus. It will clearly take a bit more time to learn what to put where. The bag fits me a small guy well and the adjustable shoulder straps are clearly a plus. The one disappointment was the starter medium core unit that was included-- because of what will easily fit. I use a Sony A7RV and Sony 70-200mm f2.8 II attached as a common travel lens and it does not fit well and rearranging the inserts so it will fit, limits other lenses that can be carried. The Shimoda large core unit is much better if one wants to carry a lens like I mentioned above. I have not yet tried to fit the 200-600mm lens attached to a camera. Overall I like the weight distribution and the shoulder strap adjustment is really great and with the numerous accessory pockets is why I gave the bag a 4 rating.
I ordered this Shimoda 30 in an attempt to find something a little larger than my Mindshift Backlight 26L which was still carry on compatible in Europe. The Shimoda range is of course very highly pushed by influencers. It arrived very quickly from Digital, but it was very quickly apparent that it actually has less effective space for camera gear (even with largest insert) than the smaller Backlight 26L, and the carrying system is at best equal but probably slightly inferior to the Backlight (also available from Digitec :-) ). So I returned it. In my opinion, Shimoda is paying more attention to add things for YouTube sponsored influencers to talk about than actually practical design. But it certainly looks nice.
Keeping in mind that everyone has different needs for their gear, this bag is the best one I have found for my needs. The material is high quality, the different setup options for inserts and the amount of organization space is top shelf. It comes with an included rain cover which is a nice touch as well. I like that I can set it up to have a smaller camera setup with me and more personal items or bring all of my camera gear with me in one bag and every combination in between. The shoulder straps are adjustable to different heights and you can even order different shoulder straps if needed. The removable waist strap is very sturdy as well. You can use it for more storage options or take it completely off. I have nothing bad to say about the bag. For what I need it ... MoreKeeping in mind that everyone has different needs for their gear, this bag is the best one I have found for my needs. The material is high quality, the different setup options for inserts and the amount of organization space is top shelf. It comes with an included rain cover which is a nice touch as well. I like that I can set it up to have a smaller camera setup with me and more personal items or bring all of my camera gear with me in one bag and every combination in between. The shoulder straps are adjustable to different heights and you can even order different shoulder straps if needed. The removable waist strap is very sturdy as well. You can use it for more storage options or take it completely off. I have nothing bad to say about the bag. For what I need it for, it works perfect.
This is a nice large bag and looks well designed. I haven't been able to use it in the field yet, but just setting it up and trying it on, it may be comfortable wearing. Many pockets and areas to put all my gear. The only drawback, which I'm not saying is Shimoda's issue, is that I have the Canon 70-200, Canon 100-400, and the Tamron 18-400 with my Canon 90D. I'm unable to fit the equipment in so I can use the side access to pull the camera out with a lens attached. I also have 2 smaller lenses, a canon 50mm and the canon 60mm macro lens which I can't fit into the bag. I have the medium DSLR core unit and also bought the small core unit. I'm still unable to place my equipment in. Again I don't blame Shimoda on that, I think it's just me and I haven't worked with it ... MoreThis is a nice large bag and looks well designed. I haven't been able to use it in the field yet, but just setting it up and trying it on, it may be comfortable wearing. Many pockets and areas to put all my gear. The only drawback, which I'm not saying is Shimoda's issue, is that I have the Canon 70-200, Canon 100-400, and the Tamron 18-400 with my Canon 90D. I'm unable to fit the equipment in so I can use the side access to pull the camera out with a lens attached. I also have 2 smaller lenses, a canon 50mm and the canon 60mm macro lens which I can't fit into the bag. I have the medium DSLR core unit and also bought the small core unit. I'm still unable to place my equipment in. Again I don't blame Shimoda on that, I think it's just me and I haven't worked with it enough. Can't wait to take it out in rte field and start using.
For my needs, landscape photography, this bag is about perfect. I wanted to wait until I could put it through some testing before posting a review. I took this on a 2-week roadtrip across the U.S. west in Oct. This bag really stood up to some tough weather, pouring rain and wind on the Oregon coast, and me stupidly setting it down on the wet salt while shooting on Bonneville salt flats in UT, wet beaches, and much more. It stood up to everything. The shocker to me was how I thought for sure I ruined it when I saw the salt drying from setting the bag down on the wet salt. I gave it a good wet wipe-down to get the salt off once back at my hotel. It easily came off the main compartments but took a little more soaking to clean off the straps and clips which were frozen ... MoreFor my needs, landscape photography, this bag is about perfect. I wanted to wait until I could put it through some testing before posting a review. I took this on a 2-week roadtrip across the U.S. west in Oct. This bag really stood up to some tough weather, pouring rain and wind on the Oregon coast, and me stupidly setting it down on the wet salt while shooting on Bonneville salt flats in UT, wet beaches, and much more. It stood up to everything. The shocker to me was how I thought for sure I ruined it when I saw the salt drying from setting the bag down on the wet salt. I gave it a good wet wipe-down to get the salt off once back at my hotel. It easily came off the main compartments but took a little more soaking to clean off the straps and clips which were frozen solid with salt.... I thought they were a goner, but amazingly a wipe down is all it took. it looks new and still functions great.I shoot with a Canon R5 set up with 28-70, 70-200, 100-500 and a 17-40, filters, and other odds and ends. That is a lot to fit in this bag but it all fits. The top compartment is tight with all this in but it works. For most shoots I would swap out the 70-200 and 100-500 so won't be carrying both all the time, but for travel, it's nice to know it fits.My only complaint is the cost of the different-sized insert boxes. Mine came with the medium and I didn't want to take up semi-permanent space (and cost) with the larger insert. For my 100-500 I was able to slide in an old Ape case. It is snug but works to hold my 100-500...yellow insert in my photo.I really like how the zip-open side pockets work. Very versatile for either tripod and carrying extra water, which was key for me on long hikes. As others noted, the downside is this is somewhat heavy pack when loaded up. I wouldn't use the Shimoda on really long hikes, more than a few miles....I use an Osprey Stratos 34 with a camera insert when I need a lightweight setup.All in all this bag worked well and handled all the abuse I could chuck at it. It won't be my only bag, but likely my primary for a while. Love it.
| Type of Closure | Zipper |
| Water Resistance | Water Resistant (Material), Rain Cover |
| Bottle Pocket | Yes |
| Hydration Bladder Compatible | No |
| Monopod/Tripod Holder | Yes |
Shimoda Designs Explore V2 30 Backpack Photo Starter Kit (Black)
With Core Unit Medium Mirrorless V2 Internal dimensions 28.5 x 50.5 x 16 cm Outer dimensions 29.5 x 51.5 x 17 cm Weight 2.5 kg Every backpack in the Women's Series is equipped with womenspecific tech straps and the Women's Adjustable Belt. The straps curve away from the chest area, while the double sternum straps prevent uncomfortable pressure points. The belt can be adjusted by 6 cm to give women with a narrower waist a better fit around the hips. International hand luggage and travelfriendly design The perfect travel companion, the Women's Explore 30 waterproof camera backpack complies with the strictest global hand luggage regulations and even fits under an aeroplane seat. It also features a passthrough handle, lockable zips, a hidden passport pocket and a quickaccess document/book sleeve. Multiple access options The backpack offers access options from the back and from the side. The side opening is ideal for quick access under the arm without having to remove the backpack completely, and the theftproof rear opening allows wide, unobstructed access to the majority of equipment in less timecritical shooting situations. Two laptop/tablet sleeves The padded sleeves on the back and front are suitable for laptops up to 16 inches in size. With two sleeves, you can pack both a tablet and a laptop, giving you options for different packing scenarios. The Medium MIrrorless v2 Core Unit provides shockproof protection for mirrorless, SLR and DSLR cameras and lenses, ensuring that the user never carries more padding and weight than necessary. A user can increase their layout options with two or more Core Units by stacking and moving how they are placed in the backpack.
With Core Unit Medium Mirrorless V2 Internal dimensions 28.5 x 50.5 x 16 cm Outer dimensions 29.5 x 51.5 x 17 cm Weight 2.5 kg Every backpack in the Women's Series is equipped with womenspecific tech straps and the Women's Adjustable Belt. The straps curve away from the chest area, while the double sternum straps prevent uncomfortable pressure points. The belt can be adjusted by 6 cm to give women with a narrower waist a better fit around the hips. International hand luggage and travelfriendly design The perfect travel companion, the Women's Explore 30 waterproof camera backpack complies with the strictest global hand luggage regulations and even fits under an aeroplane seat. It also features a passthrough handle, lockable zips, a hidden passport pocket and a quickaccess document/book sleeve. Multiple access options The backpack offers access options from the back and from the side. The side opening is ideal for quick access under the arm without having to remove the backpack completely, and the theftproof rear opening allows wide, unobstructed access to the majority of equipment in less timecritical shooting situations. Two laptop/tablet sleeves The padded sleeves on the back and front are suitable for laptops up to 16 inches in size. With two sleeves, you can pack both a tablet and a laptop, giving you options for different packing scenarios. The Medium MIrrorless v2 Core Unit provides shockproof protection for mirrorless, SLR and DSLR cameras and lenses, ensuring that the user never carries more padding and weight than necessary. A user can increase their layout options with two or more Core Units by stacking and moving how they are placed in the backpack.
With Core Unit Medium Mirrorless V2 Internal dimensions 28.5 x 50.5 x 16 cm Outer dimensions 29.5 x 51.5 x 17 cm Weight 2.5 kg Every backpack in the Women's Series is equipped with womenspecific tech straps and the Women's Adjustable Belt. The straps curve away from the chest area, while the double sternum straps prevent uncomfortable pressure points. The belt can be adjusted by 6 cm to give women with a narrower waist a better fit around the hips. International hand luggage and travelfriendly design The perfect travel companion, the Women's Explore 30 waterproof camera backpack complies with the strictest global hand luggage regulations and even fits under an aeroplane seat. It also features a passthrough handle, lockable zips, a hidden passport pocket and a quickaccess document/book sleeve. Multiple access options The backpack offers access options from the back and from the side. The side opening is ideal for quick access under the arm without having to remove the backpack completely, and the theftproof rear opening allows wide, unobstructed access to the majority of equipment in less timecritical shooting situations. Two laptop/tablet sleeves The padded sleeves on the back and front are suitable for laptops up to 16 inches in size. With two sleeves, you can pack both a tablet and a laptop, giving you options for different packing scenarios. The Medium MIrrorless v2 Core Unit provides shockproof protection for mirrorless, SLR and DSLR cameras and lenses, ensuring that the user never carries more padding and weight than necessary. A user can increase their layout options with two or more Core Units by stacking and moving how they are placed in the backpack.
With Core Unit Medium Mirrorless V2 Internal dimensions 28.5 x 50.5 x 16 cm Outer dimensions 29.5 x 51.5 x 17 cm Weight 2.5 kg Every backpack in the Women's Series is equipped with womenspecific tech straps and the Women's Adjustable Belt. The straps curve away from the chest area, while the double sternum straps prevent uncomfortable pressure points. The belt can be adjusted by 6 cm to give women with a narrower waist a better fit around the hips. International hand luggage and travelfriendly design The perfect travel companion, the Women's Explore 30 waterproof camera backpack complies with the strictest global hand luggage regulations and even fits under an aeroplane seat. It also features a passthrough handle, lockable zips, a hidden passport pocket and a quickaccess document/book sleeve. Multiple access options The backpack offers access options from the back and from the side. The side opening is ideal for quick access under the arm without having to remove the backpack completely, and the theftproof rear opening allows wide, unobstructed access to the majority of equipment in less timecritical shooting situations. Two laptop/tablet sleeves The padded sleeves on the back and front are suitable for laptops up to 16 inches in size. With two sleeves, you can pack both a tablet and a laptop, giving you options for different packing scenarios. The Medium MIrrorless v2 Core Unit provides shockproof protection for mirrorless, SLR and DSLR cameras and lenses, ensuring that the user never carries more padding and weight than necessary. A user can increase their layout options with two or more Core Units by stacking and moving how they are placed in the backpack.
in 25 offers
The lowest price for Shimoda Designs Explore V2 30 Backpack Photo Starter Kit (Black) right now is $378.00 at Hard to Find Camera Store, compared across 21 retailers.
The all-time low was $377.00 on 10 June 2026. That's the lowest price we've ever tracked — a great time to buy.
Prices last updated 14 June 2026.
