Photography News Issue 67

Photography News | Issue 67 | photographynews.co.uk

First tests

ShimodaExplore40 From£300

Specs

The Shimoda Explore 40 is a large photo backpack designed by outdoor specialists to tackle harsh environments, and its camera compartment has an interesting modular approach. Within the main compartment, camera storage is adapted using different sizes of ‘core unit’. This isn’t a new idea in itself, but with most modern bags you can only remove the camera compartment, turning it into a regular bag, or reorder dividers depending on your kit selection – instead, Shimoda offers several different sizes of core unit. Aside from that, it has a body-side opening camera compartment, all- purpose upper section, and various other front and side pockets. There are currently four core units: small (£50), medium, medium mirrorless (both £80) and large (£95). The main difference between the mediums is depth, the mirrorless variant being 4cm shallower. We tested the Explore 40 with medium mirrorless and large core units, as well as an all-weather cover (£8). The bag’s main compartment fits either three small units, a medium and a small, or one large unit alone. Adding and removing them is done by unzipping a large opening across the top and side of the bag, rather than pressing them through the camera bay door. They’re not physically attached to the bag, but fit snugly and can’t fall out. In a break from tradition, the camera compartment door opens to the side, meaning that it doesn’t need to open as far, and there’s a 13in laptop sleeve in the door, which is very well protected. Using the small cores, you can turn one on its side and access gear through the side zip; but this does mean using two small cores. Alternatively, sit a small core on top of a medium facing up, and you can access from the bag’s top.

Prices Explore 40 bag £250; small core unit £50; medium and medium mirrorless core units £80; large core unit £95; rain cover £8 Colours available Blue Nights Sea Pine Materials Resin-coated nylon shell Tripod holder Yes Sternum strap Yes Laptop pocket 13in Waist belt Yes, with additional clips and pockets Zips YKK and weather sealed External dimensions 29x57x26cm Laptop compartment dimensions 25x36x1cm Front compartment Large core: 29x40x17cm Medium core: 29x30x17cm Medium Mirrorless core: 29x30x13cm Small core: 29x13x17cm Top compartment dimensions 29x15x12cm Weight 1.3kg (backpack empty) Large core: 1kg Medium core: 0.5kg Mediummirrorless core: 0.5kg Small core: 0.4kg Contact shimodadesigns.com dimensions 25x53x4cm Camera compartment dimensions

Gear is well protected by the cores’ semi-rigid foam sides and dividers, and the latter are genuinely innovative, with narrowing Velcro tabs towards the bottom, making them easier to fit. Some of them can also fold over to protect small lenses or teleconverters, which is great. In the large core, I tried a range of DSLR gear, fitting in a Nikon D850 with MB-D18 grip and 70-200mm f/2.8E attached. Around that was room to fit six or seven other lenses, so there’s plenty of space and gear was well held. With the mirrorless medium core, I fitted a Fujifilm X-T30 and seven small- to medium- sized lenses, though the lack of depth meant gear shifted more in transit. I fixed this by zipping up the ‘skin’ that surrounds the core. These ‘skins’ have included basic straps, meaning cores can be used as lightweight bags alone, though probably only for quick jaunts. They can also be used as dust- resistant storage – or even filled and used as packed cells within the bag. Fully loaded, the Shimoda Explore 40 was very comfortable and stable to carry. Its metal frame keeps it rigid, and its shoulder straps are well padded, broad and contoured, as is the air-vented belt. The padding on the camera compartment door sits

comfortably on the lower back and its deep grooves allow air flow. The shoulder straps have elasticated and zippered pockets, along with loops for other gear, and helpfully, can be adjusted in length, with S, M, L and XL options to match torso height – a nice touch. However, I and several others in the office found the sternum strap too low, running across the middle of the chest rather than just below the collarbone; it can be adjusted in height, but stops only halfway up the shoulder strap. The Explore 40 is well weather sealed and all the zips have storm closures. In our test, there was no ingress in light, persistent rain. If conditions are worse, you may need the optional rain cover; there’s no stitched-in version but it’s elasticated and easy to fit. Some bags have a thicker waterproof base and though the Explore 40 doesn’t, it handled wet ground with ease. Other good features include smooth running YKK zips with large leather tabs, ideal for working in gloves, several zippered internal accessory pockets, useful grab handles and a detachable sack at the side, which can be used to keep amud or sand-covered tripod away from other gear, or hold larger lenses or other gear. KS

Images Inside the Shimoda Explore’s main compartment, camera storage has an unusual modular design that you can adapt to the gear that you want to carry. The semi rigid foam sides do a good job of protecting kit and there’s also a detachable side pouch and a handy phone case that’s easy to access

Verdict

The Shimoda Explore 40 is a beautifully engineered bag and should meet or exceed every need of the outdoor photographer. The modular design means you can tailor it to your needs, but at £250 for the basic bag, plus extra for the core units, it’s a significant outlay. Even a bag and two small core units would be £350. That said, its modular design means it should grow and adapt with your photography, and if that means you don’t need to buy more bags down the line, it’s money well spent. There are larger and smaller Explore 60 and Explore 30 versions to try, too.

In a break from tradition, the camera compartment door opens to the side, meaning it doesn’t have to open as far

Pros Highly versatile design, very comfortable, great build and

weather sealing Cons High price