Shimoda Action X Backpack Family

I’ve made a list of what I feel about this bag!- Build Quality: The Shimoda Action X50 is known for its high-quality construction and materials. It's built to withstand tough environments and provide protection for your valuable camera gear.- Customizable Interior: The bag comes with customizable dividers, allowing you to arrange the compartments according to your specific camera and lens setup, providing excellent organization options.- Ergonomics: The X50 is designed for comfort, featuring a well-padded back panel, adjustable shoulder straps, and a supportive hip belt. This makes it suitable for long hours of carrying your equipment.- Expandable Design: The bag can be expanded with optional accessory kits, increasing its capacity and making it adaptable to different gear requirements.Weather Resistance: The X50 is equipped with weather-resistant materials and a rain cover, protecting your gear from rain and other harsh weather conditions.- Side Access: The bag features side access, allowing you to quickly and easily access your camera without having to remove the backpack completely.Laptop Compartment: The X50 includes a dedicated laptop compartment, enabling you to carry both your camera gear and a laptop for editing or other purposes.Bad Points:- Price: The Shimoda Action X50 is positioned as a premium camera backpack, so it may be on the higher end of the price spectrum compared to other camera bags with similar features.- Weight: With all the protective padding and high-quality materials, the X50 may be slightly heavier compared to lighter camera backpack options.Size: While the X50's size provides ample space for carrying camera gear, it might be too large for users who prefer a more compact and streamlined backpack.- Design Preference: The design of the X50 might not appeal to everyone, as personal taste varies. Some users might prefer a more understated or minimalist design.

Love almost everything about the X50. It is the perfect size for a medium DSLR ICU, with plenty of space for layers, food, water, accessories. Unlike other photo packs it has sidepockets that will take standard Nalgene water bottles.But... and it is a big one... the hipebelt is woefully undersized for the weight that this pack is capable of carrying. I loaded it with a Nikon Z6, 100-400, 14-28, 24-70, a RRS tripod, and some extra layers. On a brief 0.5 mile test hike through the neighborhood the hip belt dug into my hipbones to the point where I had to loosen it, which in turn resulted in the weight slouching on my shoulders.I had also ordered an X70 and swapped out the X50 hipbelt with the X70 hipbelt. OMG, what a difference! It's as if it was a totally different backpack. Hopefully Shimoda would be willing to sell me a X70 hipbelt, otherwise this one is going back. Yes, I find the X50 hip belt sufficiently uncomfortable to return the backpack and buy something else.

I compared the Shimoda X30 with the larger X50, and bags from several other brands. I finally chose the X30 with medium DSLR core unit V2. It meets (almost) all my needs to carry camera gears and travel worldwide.

Serious photographers often stress over finding/using the perfect bag. Are you in the city shooting street or out in the "wild" looking for the perfect landscape? While this Shimoda can easily be used for both, it is best suited for the landscape photographer that will need to carry much more than just their camera gear. Apple room for all the essentials, this bag is insanely adjustable with all the options one could ever need. I can't think of a better, more well-designed, and constructed bag! This one is an absolute keeper!