All hype or just right? Shimoda Explore v2 review
Over the past few months, I have reviewed a few carry-on compatible camera backpacks, and each time people would either comment on a YouTube review video or contact me directly to recommend Shimoda backpacks. Although I have known about Shimoda bags for some time, I had never used one in the field. Therefore, I decided to try one myself to see why some photographers love them so much. I bought the 35-liter Explore v2, filled it with camera gear, and took it to the Joshua Tree/Mojave Desert region in southeastern California.
I wore the bag for hours each day, hiked numerous miles, and did a good job of scraping it (not intentionally, of course) against rocks, thorn bushes and all sorts of desert brush. I put the bag through a lot of abuse, and by the end got a good sense for its durability, comfort and general user experience.
Is the Shimoda Explore v2 as good as some people claim?