Patrik Orcutt 02.02.23
F-stop Gear is a digicam bag firm that has been round since 2005. Initially, the corporate’s aim was to mix digicam baggage and efficiency backpacks into one, making a bag to fill this void available in the market on the time. Fast-forward 15 years and within the images neighborhood they’re a model synonymous with high quality and cutting-edge designs. Back in November of 2019, I observed my digicam bag was beginning to come aside at one of many zippers. I then reached out to F-Stop Gear about testing considered one of their baggage to see if I preferred it sufficient for it to turn out to be my new main digicam service. Just a few weeks later an F-STOP Gear Tilopa confirmed up at my doorstep. Being a full-time army photographer on the time, I primarily used this bag to hold round my digicam gear. In the 4 months that I’ve had this pack, I’ve taken it into the forests of Germany, the streets of Madrid, and up into the European Alps.
- MSRP: Originally $320 (As Tested $399.99)
- Colors: Green, Black, Orange
- Height: 59.7 cm or 23.5 in
- Width: 35.6 cm or 14 in
- Depth: 30.5 cm or 12 in
- Volume: 50 Liters
- Weight: 1.9 kgs or 4.1 kilos
Camera baggage are inclined to get heavy quick as a result of weight of the tools. One of the issues I immediately fell in love with once I first received my F-Stop Tilopa, was simply how comfy the bag felt. It brings a complete new stage with properly over twice the padding and “cushiness” on each the hip and shoulder straps. Once the bag is loaded and fitted to your physique, it actually feels such as you’re carrying half the burden you really are. And while you’re carrying 25-35 kilos of drugs/garments/and so on, it makes an amazing distinction
The shoulder straps are in a position to be adjusted in each lengths (adjusting how excessive the bag sits) and likewise how cosy the bag matches in opposition to your again. Personally, I like to recommend you make it as cosy as doable to distribute the burden of the bag extra evenly over your shoulders and higher again. The good factor is there’s barely any weight ON your again and shoulders as virtually all the burden of the pack sits comfortably in your hips when the hip strap is mounted.
Most of the bag is roofed in WR-treated, 420D ripstop nylon, it isn’t the lightest materials however it is extremely powerful and climate resistant. After rubbing up in opposition to a number of granite rocks and being caught within the rain, the pack at the moment reveals little put on. All alongside the tempo are among the finest zippers I’ve ever used. I’m undecided what sort of voodoo magic they put into this stuff however they’re simple to open but safe. Overall all the bag oozes in high quality with extra bells and whistles than most individuals will ever want.
One of the issues that impressed me essentially the most about this pack was the guarantee that F-Stop places behind it. On all their Mountain collection baggage, they’ve a 20-year restricted buyer guarantee. Let me say it once more, 20 YEAR! Obviously, this doesn’t cowl neglect on inappropriate care but it surely’s nonetheless spectacular to see a model slap that form of guarantee on a pack.
Most F-Stops baggage are constructed round their ICU system with ICU being quick for the Internal Camera Unit. Like the title suggests it is a place for all of your precious digicam goodies to go. The ICU can be totally customizable with hook and loop dividers giving the consumer the power to tailor the unit to their particular wants. F-Stop is way from the primary firm to make use of a system like this however in my view, they’ve practically perfected it with just a few good concepts. Unlike many related techniques, the ICU could be Velcroed into the bag’s aluminum body. This permits the ICU to be locked in tight and primarily turn out to be part of the bag’s inner construction.
The motive I like this function a lot is that you simply don’t have a giant heavy dice shifting round in your pack when you’re strolling. Keeping that weight safe and largely static makes it a lot simpler in your again when you find yourself actually placing on the miles. Using Velcro to connect the ICU’s additionally means there’s nothing stopping the consumer from taking the entire unit out and swapping it for one thing else. The ICU that I used to be given by F-stop was their massive variant however they promote totally different sized ICUs to suit totally different wants. There can be nothing stopping you from eradicating the ICU system altogether with the aforementioned aluminum body serving to the bag hold its form.
This quantity of modularity permits this pack to be helpful in so many various conditions. If you had been occurring a giant picture shoot and wanted to deliver all of your gear in a single bag, use the XL ICU. Imagine you had been planning an in a single day tenting journey and wanted to deliver a sleeping bag or meals and digicam gear was a secondary concern to you. You may merely slide within the medium ICU so you have got extra space for different items. I’ve even taken out the ICU all collectively and simply used all the major compartment to deal with all my clothes for a flight.
The main entry level into the ICU is thru a zippered panel the place your again rests. I’ve seen many different digicam baggage make the most of this design in the previous couple of years and I at all times thought it was a bit gimmicky, to be trustworthy. Once I used the again panel to acmes my gear it began to make sense to me why so many digicam baggage had been utilizing this function. By placing your main opening on the again of the bag, permits you to lay the bag on its again the place it has a weather-resistant material. The different to this previously has been to put the bag on the bottom in order that the again padding is getting dust or moist (climate allowing). Then while you would go to place your bag again on you may need some water on the again padding or small rocks which have crept into the mesh.
The Tilopa additionally comes with many smaller mesh pockets within different compartments and openings on the bag. We, photographers, love these little pockets as a result of it offers us a spot to place additional cables batteries and media playing cards. On the edges of the pack, there are expandable facet zipper pockets for longer objects like a water bottle or an additional pair of pants. I’d have preferred to see their pockets be flow-through like on considered one of my Kelty packs, This would make extra-long objects like tripods and monitoring poles simpler to safe and never get snagged on so many tree branches.
On high of the facet, pockets are the bolstered carry straps and these straps are strong. When I sinch down one thing with these straps, I do know it’s not going anyplace. Right beneath the underside straps, there are hardened rubber loops. Usually, while you strap one thing heavy to the facet of a bag the straps come unfastened and the merchandise begins to sag down. The rubber loops act as a catch to carry your gear in place so it might probably’t slide down when you’re on the go. Couple this with the wonderful straps and you’ve got a good way to hold all the pieces from tripods to skis.
There are a number of hanging factors for an ice axe together with compression straps on the again of the bag for securing much more gear. The Tilopa comes with two units of what F-Stop calls “Gatekeepers”. Think of the gatekeeper as an extra compressor strap for any a part of the bag. In my expertise, these little guys are very helpful for attaching unusual objects on the again of the pack like snowboards or crampons. I believe the very best factor in regards to the gatekeepers is that they don’t seem to be preparatory to F-Stop packs. You can use them on virtually any bag with compression straps or Molle.
The bag additionally options a big padded laptop computer/ water bladder compartment. Due to the ICU system, the compartment is situated on the again of the primary compartment of the bag. It’s not a great spot as a result of it’s troublesome to realize entry to but it surely’s nonetheless good to have.
Likes
- The ICU system with a again entry panel
- The pack is extremely comfy even after many miles on the path
- Built Quality is second to none
- 20-year Limited Warranty
Dislikes
- The pack doesn’t include a simple approach to retailer a water bottle
- The coloration choice may be very restricted, solely 3 colours can be found on the time of evaluation
- Additional ICU inserts are fairly costly
F-stop baggage are constructed for diehard photographers who need a bag that’s sturdy sufficient to face up to fixed contact with the outside. I’m tough on my gear and I want a bag that’s going to face as much as fixed abuse. At the top of the day, the Tilopa might be essentially the most rugged bag available on the market and the ICU system actually makes it essentially the most customizable. Take the ICU out and you’ve got an amazing day pack or perhaps a small in a single day backpack. Unfortunately F-Stop no linger produces the Tilopa in something smaller than a 50-liter dimension however in the event you’re in search of a comparable bag they do have the AJNA in a 37-liter and that’s mainly an upgraded Tilipia in a barely smaller bundle. Stay tuned for a evaluation on that bag.
