Narrow and nimble best describes the smallest pack in our Mountain Series. Packing 32 Liters of storage in a slim profile, the Lotus is complete with a full-size suspension system and the same key features of its larger Mountain Series counterparts. The agile welterweight of the Mountain Series range, the Ajna is a daypack for active users needing optimal balance and mobility. With 40 liters of low-profile storage and carry-on compliant size, the Ajna is the perfect travel companion for any destination shooter. Our marquee all-rounder and the most rugged of the Mountain Series, the Tilopa works well for multi-day trips and short day hikes off the beaten path. With H-frame ski straps and attachment points for backcountry equipment, the Tilopa is suitable for even the most hardcore of outdoor professionals. With 70 liters of internal storage and a plethora of outside expansion capabilities, the Sukha is the ultimate multi-day photo backpack. Designed with the long lens shooter in mind, the Sukha can safely carry most super-telephoto lenses when combined with the Master Tele ICU.

Specifically designed to haul large camera setups, the 80L Shinn is the largest camera bag we’ve ever created. Co-developed with a specialized dual access ICU, the Shinn’s full size suspension system and all-weather shell combines for a package fully capable of long adventures deep into the backcountry. Brand New 2015 Mountain Series The Loka UL was designed for active and agile shooters. With 37 liters of accessible storage, the Loka UL is perfect balance of customization and adaptability for your daily adventures. For the active female shooter desiring simple and light, f-stop has engineered an ultra-lightweight carry solution. The pound-pinching Kashmir UL retains a ripstop nylon 30L shell, full-size suspension, and an aluminum internal frame but features a different torso height and harness system designed specifically for female frames. The Kashmir UL daypack is the camera industry’s first product to acknowledge the huge contribution women make to professional adventure photography.

The Guru UL is designed for the active shooter who desires a light and simple carry solution. Like all UL Series packs, the 25L Guru UL utilizes a lightweight, highly durable and abrasion resistant ROBIC™ nylon ripstop shell, a no-compromise suspension system with an aluminum internal frame in a streamlined package tipping the scale at a mere 1.2kg. stm bags ranger small laptop backpackThe Guru UL is a versatile, form-fitting pack ideal for adventurers who want great performance and the ability to travel fast and light while experiencing first class comfort.booq boa squeeze laptop backpackCamera backpacks come in many flavors for many purposes, pretty much every manufacturer has some sort of backpack as it is a popular choice for many photographers. thule crossover backpack cheap

I’ve often steered away from most as they have lacked in three specific areas for me: comfort, storage and durability. F-Stop Gear has their Mountain Series of camera backpacks, and I’ve spent the last year and a half with one. magma rolltop backpackHave my needs finally been met?vip i03 03 laptop backpack black/grey F-Stop Gear creates three separate lines of camera bags (Mountain, Black Box & Millar), the Loka falls into the Mountain Series. oroton backpack ebayHere’s how F-Stop describes the bag: The Loka is the ultimate camera bag for the hard-working day shooter. Compatible with all ICUs up to a Large Pro Series, its 37-liter capacity handles a pro-level kit with room for food, water, and other daily essentials.

It also meets international carry-on standards, making it the go-to bag for many traveling pros. I specifically became interested in F-Stop while searching for a backpack that I could take with me on my outdoor excursions, as the bags I have previously owned have all been either; uncomfortable on my back & shoulders, or not able to carry the gear I want / need to bring with me. I initially began looking at the Tilopa BC, but I quickly realized that the Loka was more than sufficient for my needs. That being said, if you are into serious backpacking or mountaineering, the Satori EXP or Tilopa BC would be excellent bags to look at. The other big feature of F-Stop’s bags is their ICU (Internal Camera Unit) system. You have several choices depending entirely upon how much equipment you need to carry. The great thing about this is that you can simply pull the ICU out of the bag and store your gear safe and sound when you don’t need to use the bag. Initially I chose the Large Pro-Series ICU, but in the last few months I have moved down to the Medium Pro-Series, the reason for this is that I’ve been trying to downsize how much gear I carry on these treks, and balance the additional space with other supplies needed.

When I first received the bag last year (after being on a wait-list for a couple months), I couldn’t help but immediately appreciate the quality of the bag. Everything was extremely well constructed, leaving little doubt that this would be a durable bag. The layout of the ICU took a couple tries to get everything to fit properly, but that was only because I get rather picky with how my dividers are setup for space-efficiency. The first time I put the bag on my back I was impressed with how comfortable it was, even fully loaded. This bag is clearly designed to support heavy loads as well as keep it all safe in an exceptionally durable shell. Now, that being said, it is in fact possible to make this bag TOO heavy (if you are like me, and seem to be incapable of leaving things at home). This is precisely why I have chosen to downsize to the Medium ICU.With the medium sized insert I can still carry my Full-Frame DSLR  with 3-4 prime lenses (I no longer use zooms personally). Other accessories like cables, batteries, memory cards etc. etc. can easily fit into the other pockets.

There is also an internal pouch for carrying a hydration pouch (that I have yet to use admittedly) but it could also easily carry something like an iPad or a small notebook computer if you’re so inclined. Given the very clear intentions of this bag, it admittedly is probably not something you’d use for trekking around a city, but don’t let my opinion stop you if you want to! In the year and a half that I have owned the Loka, I have dragged it through miserably hot deserts, cold, wet mountains and most everything in between. It’s been rained on, covered in dirt and sand, and even set on fire (actually no, that’s not true). Basically my point is, this bag has easily lasted through everything I’ve thrown at it without so much as a scuff or a tear and I am positive it will last me several more years. Now, when it comes to ordering from F-Stop, they do occasionally have supply shortages as they are a small company. When I originally ordered my bag it took a couple months to actually receive it.

As far as I understand, their supply has improved considerably so it should not be too much of an issue to order one today. They do have an excellent customer support system and they fully stand by their products as well. The Loka costs $279 on its own without an ICU (if you happen to already have one from another F-Stop bag) or $339 with 1 ICU. You can order as many ICUs as you want, though I recommend you decide first how much gear you really want to carry and go with that size. The price is clearly not inexpensive for a camera bag, but I can attest to the quality they put into  them. In the end, I have found a backpack that absolutely meets my needs, one that is comfortable to wear, easy to load & unload with my chosen equipment, and one that will withstand rigorous use. The F-Stop Gear Loka is a truly excellent travel and adventure backpack, and one that I whole-heartedly recommend if you happen to need something of this caliber.  for any more information you require about their products or to purchase directly from them.