Shimoda Action

Popular photography backpack company Shimoda has announced its latest generation of adventure bags in the Action

The first generation Action X70 backpack was crowned the best adventure backpack for photographers in PetaPixels Guide “Best Camera Bags in 2023” for its overall ruggedness, height-adjustable shoulder straps, internal metal frame that evenly distributes the weight of heavier loads, and the weight of the backpack when empty.

The new version 2 models of the Action X series retain all that PetaPixel loved, but have been upgraded with several new features based on customer requests.

New features and upgrades

For starters, the new Action These include a padded luggage grommet on the side of the backpack and a handle on the bottom that makes it easier to lift with two hands.

There are also plenty of original upgrades. There are now removable tripod pockets on each side of the backpack that can also store water bottles and similar sized items. Once removed from the sides of the pack, Shimoda gives the example of moving the pockets to the hip belt for easier access.

The detachable hip belt now has a new trick thanks to a design change. The two sides of the hip belt, which come with the new packages, are separated by an adjustable loop that can be shortened or lengthened as needed. So if a wearer has a smaller waist, the padded portion can be further slimmed down, or vice versa for a larger waist.

Another design change that Shimoda promises is the larger phone pocket on the left shoulder strap. The company says it will fit the iPhone 14 Pro Max – presumably that also applies to similarly sized phones. PetaPixelOur experience with this pocket in the previous design was that it felt a bit cramped with only an iPhone 12 mini on the first-generation Action X70 case, so this should be an improvement for everyone regardless of phone size.

There is also an extra laptop sleeve on the front of the bag. There is also a laptop sleeve on the inside of the main compartment, just like the first version. According to Shimoda, the front of the case can hold a 16-inch MacBook Pro on most Action X case sizes.

Another new finishing touch is a small AirTag pocket with a simple closure to store a hidden tracker. I’ve just been putting my AirTags in otherwise unused pockets deep in my backpacks, often forgetting exactly where they were. This little detail could save some frustration later.

Finally, the Action X V2 bags now come with a rain cover as standard, something users have been asking for. When the previous bags hit the market, Shimoda responded by saying that most people don’t use them, but would still have to pay the extra cost if they were included. This may be another example of customers being heard by the company.

Sizes and colors

The new bags feature a new warm yellow color option alongside the classics of black and army green, plus an exclusive teal for the ‘Women’s Collection’. In my opinion, the only difference in that collection is the color and the fact that it comes standard with “Women’s Technical Straps” and an “Women’s Adjustable Strap”.

There are two new backpack sizes of 25 liters (X25) and 40 liters (X40) that complete the rest of the X30, X50 and X70 version 2 range. The X25 V2 has become the company’s smallest Action X-series package and, according to Shimoda, fits well with the Mirrorless Core Units. The X40 V2 is now the smallest package the company offers that still fits a grippy DSLR, such as the Canon EOS R3 and Nikon Z9 with the right Core Unit.

The new version of the 70-litre model, now called the X70 HD (“Heavy Duty”), also features most of the new features from the V2 packages. According to the company, the handle has now been reinforced, as well as other “critical stress points” throughout the backpack. A new, stiffer strap is also included. These changes should give the pack more stability when loaded with the sheer amount of gear it can fit.

In addition to the new backpacks, Shimoda is also releasing the new Large DSLR Core Unit V3, which the company says has a longer length to accommodate longer telephoto lenses such as the Sony 200-600mm. There is now also an XXL DV Core Unit that fits only the large Action

Visit Shimoda’s website for full specifications, details and pricing on the new Action X Series backpacks and accessories.

Image credits: Shimoda