Whenever you hear the title of the Italian model Gitzo, you most likely consider high-end tripods. What’s much less identified is that Gitzo additionally has three backpacks in its portfolio. One is extra urban-oriented, the Gitzo Légende. The opposite two are nearly equivalent fashions aside from dimension (30L and 45L) and are designed for rougher situations. The title of those baggage hints at their supposed use: Adventury. On this assessment, I’ll share my three-month expertise with the bigger of the siblings, the Adventury 45 L.
To clarify why I settled on the Gitzo Adventury 45 L, I might want to again up just a little bit. A while in the past, I bought the Nikon 500mm f/4 lens, and the query arose of find out how to carry it. None of my backpacks have been massive sufficient to accommodate the lens hooked up to the Nikon Z9 physique by way of the FTZ adapter. My earlier Peak Design Journey Backpack was sadly too brief. Even my older Lowepro Professional Trekker 400 AW was as tight a match as Mick Jagger’s denims. So, I needed to search for one thing greater.
The necessities for a brand new digital camera backpack have been fairly simple. I wanted the inside area to be a minimum of 48 cm tall, and the backpack needed to be thought of carry-on baggage for worldwide flights. In fact, the dimensions restrictions for carry-on baggage range between airways, however I based mostly my search on the boundaries of these I fly with most often. This gave me the size of 55 x 40 x 23 cm (22 x 16 x 9 inches). So, I wanted to suit inside these parameters.
The problem was balancing a big inside area with restricted exterior dimensions. It turned out that the number of digital camera backpacks that meet these necessities is pretty slim. Enable me to take a considerably unconventional method with this assessment and have a look at that choice proper from the beginning. This may shortly clarify why travelling wildlife photographers round me with equally massive gear typically gravitate in the direction of the Adventury 45 L.
Out there Backpack Choices
Shimoda Designs
Shimoda builds their backpacks round supporting their “core items” which maintain your digital camera gear. The so-called Core Unit Further Giant DV v2 would have been the proper alternative to suit my lens, but it surely’s solely suitable with their Motion X70 backpack, which exceeds my supposed carry-on dimensions by 4 cm in top (about 1.5 inches). That is most likely shut sufficient to have the ability to compress it right down to the correct dimensions, however finally, the airport workers has the ultimate phrase, and I don’t need to depend on their good temper whereas touring. The Motion X50 backpack would nearly meet the dimensions necessities, however sadly, the biggest suitable insert is the Core Unit Giant DSLR v3, with an inside top of solely 40 cm – not sufficient for my large setup.
F-Cease
From F-Cease Gear, the biggest backpack that complies with airline carry-on rules is the Tilopa 50L. This backpack helps F-Cease’s Professional XL ICU to carry your digital camera gear. Sadly, this digital camera unit is only a few centimeters too brief to comfortably maintain my Z9 + FTZ adapter + 500mm f/4.
Lowepro Professional
Right here, the story repeats itself as with Shimoda. The interior dimensions of the Professional Trekker BP 650 AW II present loads of area for something. Nevertheless, making an attempt to squeeze a backpack measuring 62 x 34 x 31 cm into the airline’s carry-on bag checker would possible finish in failure. And as soon as once more, the marginally smaller Professional Trekker BP 550 AW II falls in need of becoming my equipment by only a few centimeters. Maybe I may squeeze it, however that will most likely price me the rubber eyecup on my digital camera (a little bit of a problem with the Z9).
MindShift
The exterior dimensions of the MindShift Gear Firstlight 46L+ are 55.1 x 35.1 x 22.9 cm. Hmm, it’s clear that this backpack was designed with present airline dimension limits in thoughts. And inside? 50.8 x 34 x 18.5 cm! Large enough for my digital camera and nonetheless transportable as carry-on baggage. However one draw back for me is find out how to entry digital camera gear. With a view to open the principle compartment, you’d put the backpack straps-down on the bottom. I work in very muddy environments and don’t like the thought of cleansing mud from the backpack’s mesh padding (and my again).
Vanguard
A latest launch from Vanguard is the Alta Sky 62. For a comparatively low worth of $260, it gives 51.6 x 29 x 16.5 cm of inside area, and most significantly, its exterior dimensions completely adjust to airline carry-on limits. Moreover the size and worth, different benefits embody rear and even prime entry to the digital camera compartment. This isn’t an ordinary characteristic and makes getting the digital camera out of the bag very fast. At 2.7kg, additionally it is on the lighter aspect of the spectrum (the identical because the MindShift Gear Firstlight 46L+). This backpack is unquestionably price contemplating.
Gitzo
Lastly, we get to the examined Adventury 45 L. I received’t hold you in suspense – the exterior dimensions are 55 x 35 x 22 cm. Which means that the backpack matches completely within the carry-on dimension checker on the airport. The interior dimensions are 52 x 30 x 18 cm, which simply lets you match a digital camera with a 500mm f/4 lens hooked up. In fact, the burden of the fully-loaded backpack is one other query! “Un poco pesado, pero está bien.” (“A bit heavy, but it surely’s all proper.”) That’s the pleasant warning I obtained once I needed to put the backpack on the size at an airport in Ecuador. To date, I’ve been fortunate.
Design and Discipline Expertise
The Gitzo Adventury 45 L backpack is available in one shade scheme (khaki inexperienced and black), which blends into the atmosphere it’s designed for: nature. Grime corresponding to dried mud and different pure stains on the backpack disappear nicely, so that you received’t trigger an excessive amount of disgust if you return to civilization.
The fabric is a sturdy, waterproof cloth with ripstop reinforcement. Probably the most uncovered areas, corresponding to the underside and entrance of the bag, are created from a good stronger, rubberized materials. This implies there’s no drawback in case you place the backpack in mud, moist grass, or leaves. Even rain shouldn’t discover its manner inside. Nevertheless, the seams aren’t taped, so extended heavy downpours or submerging the bag in water would trigger points. Fortunately, the backpack features a rain cowl saved in a pocket on the underside.
The place the backpack rests in opposition to your again, it’s padded with perforated foam throughout the whole floor, with vertical and horizontal channels for airflow. The froth is roofed with sturdy, breathable mesh. Due to the beneficiant padding, the backpack is snug to put on, however to assert that your again will keep dry even on a summer season day can be deceptive. To be truthful, I’ve by no means encountered a digital camera backpack that might pull that off. Go together with a devoted mountaineering backpack in case you want most airflow.
The shoulder straps on the Gitzo Adventury are barely curved right into a C-shape, which improves ergonomics and prevents them from digging into your armpits. Nevertheless, I’m not a fan of the strap design the place they join across the neck space with an archway. At the least on my again, this connecting arch typically makes its presence felt. It doesn’t chafe or damage, but it surely isn’t precisely snug.
Alternatively, I discover the straps themselves well-designed. There’s not an excessive amount of padding, however even underneath heavy masses, they don’t dig into my shoulders. The chest strap is well adjustable in top utilizing the standard information rails. On my good friend’s copy of this backpack, I noticed that his plastic buckle got here out of those rails, nonetheless, I’ve not observed this drawback but on my copy. I’ve additionally come throughout occasional complaints on-line in regards to the longevity of the stitching on the straps. Once more, this isn’t one thing I’ve skilled to date. It’s doable that I’ve simply been fortunate, or maybe Gitzo has ironed out these minor points within the six years they’ve been producing this backpack.
All of the buckles on the backpack are made from plastic. Time, chilly climate, or a careless foot in a sturdy boot will finally trigger you to want replacements. The excellent news is that each one the possibly weak buckles are detachable and could be changed simply. This can be a welcome departure from my getting older Lowepro Professional Trekker, the place changing a buckle means unpicking the seams of the backpack.
The hip belt contributes considerably to the consolation of carrying the Gitzo Adventury 45 L, particularly over lengthy distances or in difficult terrain. I take advantage of it repeatedly, though in case you don’t desire a hip belt, it may be simply eliminated by way of a Velcro attachment level.
As you may hope from a tripod firm, there are plentiful methods to connect your gear to the skin of the backpack. One strap is positioned on the backside, which I can see getting used to hold a sleeping mat when photographing close to water. Two different straps wrap round many of the backpack and are primarily used for securing a tripod. Personally, I favor to hold my light-weight tripod on the aspect. For bigger and heavier tripods, it’s possible you’ll need to connect them in step with the backpack’s heart axis to distribute the burden higher.
There are two pretty massive pockets on the edges of the backpack. One in every of them has a full-length zipper, permitting it to open utterly in order that the tripod can cross by means of it like a sleeve. This may be helpful when shifting by means of dense vegetation, as a tripod sticking up above your head may get in the best way. Different instances, you should use it to carry meals or a water bottle.
Sadly, the backpack doesn’t have a hydration bladder pocket. The place the tripod straps are sewn in, there are 4 small holes that appear to be tube openings, however they’re not meant for a water bladder. As an alternative, they mean you can stow the tripod straps when not in use.
Close to the highest of the backpack, there’s a small pocket measuring roughly 18 x 23 cm. You possibly can retailer gadgets like sun shades, a reminiscence card case, filters, a pockets, and so on. – mainly something you don’t need to hold in the principle compartment. There’s additionally a small pocket is positioned on the hip belt, simply large enough for a microfiber material or an L-bracket. It’s additionally the one pocket not coated by waterproof zippers.
This brings us to the principle digital camera compartment. The doorway is positioned on the aspect that touches your again, which I see as a particular plus. It permits me to put the backpack on muddy floor extra simply, and it additionally simply feels safer. Additionally – like baggage from F-Cease Gear and Shimoda – the digital camera compartment is supposed to carry an insert. So, the backpack is modular, or a minimum of pseudo-modular.
You solely have one insert possibility, which comes with the backpack if you buy it. However in case you’re like many photographers and already produce other inserts, you should use them with this bag. Like with different related methods, the insert could be sealed off with a separate cowl as soon as eliminated. The draw back is that this resolution will increase the backpack’s weight.
The inside of the digital camera part is supplied with basic dividers that may be configured nonetheless you want. The dividers are generously padded, and their floor is good and gentle. Your digital camera gear will really feel prefer it’s cushioned in a cloud.
To suit my gear comfortably, I needed to abandon my normal symmetrical association of digital camera gear and use just one lengthy divider. This now splits the backpack into two halves. In a single half, I retailer smaller gadgets like sure lenses, filters, and binoculars. The opposite half homes the Z9 with a 500mm f/4 lens. It matches completely, though take into account that the backpack’s opening is just a little smaller than the dimensions of the inside. Because of this, retrieving a lens or equipment from the highest of the compartment could be trickier (as proven within the picture beneath).
If you happen to’re used to touring with a laptop computer or pill, you’ll discover slots for each gadgets on the within of the again lid. The bigger of the 2 pockets simply matches a 16″ laptop computer, whereas the pill slot is proscribed to about 19 cm in width, which corresponds to tablets with screens as much as round 11 inches, just like the iPad Professional 11″.
As for equipment, the backpack comes with two moderately spacious mesh pouches included within the worth. These could be hooked up throughout the digital camera insert utilizing Velcro or positioned in every other pocket. They’re nice for conserving smaller gadgets separate, like filters, reminiscence playing cards, lens cleansing instruments, a headlamp, knife, and so on. – mainly something which may in any other case get misplaced within the backpack. This fashion, Gitzo compensates for the smaller variety of conventional pockets within the backpack. I take advantage of these to retailer filters. For the remainder of my gear, I’ve every part neatly organized in a Peak Design Tech Pouch.
A backpack designed for wilderness images should, after all, accommodate just a few necessities that you would be able to’t do with out within the wild – a jacket, raincoat, ghillie go well with, or maybe a hammock and a light-weight sleeping bag. These things could be saved within the prime compartment, which has a roll-top closure. This can be a sensible and easy resolution that lets you modify the dimensions of the highest compartment to match your wants. In fact, the bag now not matches carry-on necessities with this portion expanded, so it’s one thing to do solely when you get to your vacation spot.
To separate the principle (digital camera) compartment from the highest part, there’s a bag hooked up with Velcro within the prime compartment. This can be a helpful option to be sure that something saved within the prime of the bag doesn’t fall down into the digital camera space. Nevertheless, this may be eliminated if desired.
Abstract
Execs:
- A big inside area that enables for the transport of supertelephoto lenses with the physique hooked up
- Exterior dimensions that adjust to most airline carry-on baggage limits
- Sturdy materials that doesn’t let water by means of, even in pretty intense rain
- A discreet look that matches the situations for which the backpack is designed
- An included rain cowl (which can be used as a protecting mat when putting the backpack within the mud)
- Waterproof zippers which might be simple to open and shut
- A big sufficient pocket for a 15″ or 16″ laptop computer
- Adequately padded again and shoulder straps
- Plentiful loops for attaching equipment on the bag
- A well-designed tripod attachment system
- The backpack is just not low-cost, but it surely’s extra reasonably priced than many of the competitors
Cons:
- The archway between the 2 shoulder straps might not go well with everybody
- Some photographers might miss having extra small pockets for equipment
- There isn’t any pocket for a hydration bladder
- The backpack’s zippers don’t have any built-in anti-theft measures
- It’s fairly heavy at 3.1 kg / 6.8 lbs
- At $458, it is rather costly
I don’t assume there’s any such factor as an ideal digital camera backpack. So many photographers have too many baggage as a result of they hold chasing one thing that doesn’t exist. However for my wants – carrying my Z9 + 500mm f/4 hooked up, becoming on an airplane, and dealing in muddy environments – the Gitzo Adventury 45 L is the perfect I’ve seen. Nevertheless, that can also be mirrored within the very excessive worth of $458 (see on Amazon or on Gitzo’s web site). Even Shimoda and F-Cease Gear are cheaper than this.
Though I extremely suggest the Gitzo Adventury 45 L for its high quality and have set, you ought to be 100% positive that it’s the correct backpack for you earlier than spending this a lot on a single bag. Personally, it matches my state of affairs very nicely and I take into account it the correct buy. Now I simply must promote the remainder of my baggage to assist restore the dimensions of my pockets…