Usually, wildlife and nature pictures occurs a good distance from the closest car parking zone. Which inevitably raises the query: What’s the easiest way to haul all that cumbersome, heavy gear round with out breaking your self within the course of? Is there a digicam backpack on the market that may carry every part you want?
These had been the questions spinning round in my head as I packed for my current journey to Ecuador and the Galápagos Islands. My foremost backpack for this journey was the Fjord 60-C, a 60-liter backpack from the corporate NYA-EVO. At the moment, I can be reviewing that backpack.
Now, to be clear, once I say “foremost,” I don’t imply “solely.” When heading abroad to each {photograph} and information a gaggle, I inevitably want extra gear than will ever match right into a single carry-on bag. Nonetheless, I’ve been toying with the thought of tackling a shorter journey with only one backpack. And truthfully, a backpack with 60 liters of inside house may simply make that attainable. However let’s begin from the start.
Measurement and Weight
In its most compact type, the NYA-EVO Fjord 60-C backpack measures 34 cm large (13 inches), 56 cm tall (22 inches), and 25 cm deep (10 inches). That is sufficiently small to suit with most present airline carry-on restrictions. On this unexpanded state, the producer lists its capability at 44 liters.
However these numbers are removed from ultimate. Due to the roll-top pocket and an expandable entrance part, the pack can develop to a most dimension of 34 x 70 x 32 cm (13 x 28 x 13 inches). That’s the place the beforehand talked about 60 liters of inside quantity comes from.
After all, it’s not simply dimension that airport workers care about — weight issues too. To be trustworthy, I’ve by no means fairly managed to remain throughout the official carry-on weight limits, and up to now, it’s by no means been a problem (knocking on wooden). However if you happen to’re hoping to remain on the protected aspect, take into account that the empty pack weighs 2,400 grams (5.3 kilos). Make sure you issue this into the whole weight of your gear and different equipment.
Supplies
This backpack is constructed for individuals who spend a variety of time open air. NYA-EVO assumes — and I imagine rightly so — that such folks care about the way forward for the setting they love. That’s mirrored within the selection of supplies. The first material masking a lot of the backpack is a sort of nylon often called Econyl. Earlier than it turned pack material, it was both washed up on a seaside or floating someplace within the ocean as waste threatening marine life. Based on the producer, as soon as regenerated, the nylon is simply as robust as brand-new materials. The material weight is 200-denier with a ripstop weave.
The pack includes a water-repellent end on the outside and Aquaguard zippers, however that doesn’t imply it’s absolutely waterproof. After a protracted tropical downpour and repeated contact with moist vegetation, moisture finally made its approach into the entrance pocket by the tip of the day. The excellent news: the principle compartment stayed dry. That mentioned, throughout heavy rain, I’d suggest utilizing the included rain cowl. Not solely will it preserve your gear dry, however it’ll additionally save the backpack from getting filthy.
The underside panel, the a part of the backpack that’s most closely abused, is product of Hypalon — a thick, rubber-like materials that could be very sturdy and waterproof.
Design and Development
The NYA-EVO Fjord 60-C is out there in 4 colours: black, pink, navy, and inexperienced. As with high-end digicam backpacks from corporations like Shimoda and F-Cease Gear, NYA-EVO has designed the Fjord 60-C round inside digicam items that maintain your tools.
There are 4 of those items out there — which NYA-EVO calls “detachable digicam inserts” (RCIs) — taking over 20% (S), 40% (M), 60% (L), or a full 100% (XL) of the pack’s foremost compartment. In case you go for one of many smaller inserts (or determine to make use of the pack with out one), the inside house could be break up by a detachable divider, which helps preserve your gear organized and in place.
In my case, touring with a Nikon Z9 paired with a 500mm f/4 F-mount lens made the choice simple. I went for the most important attainable insert, the XL (30 x 53.5 x 18.5 cm; 1,100 g). On this setup, you gained’t have any free house left in the principle compartment, though a small mesh pocket on the cease can nonetheless match some smaller valuables.
All the things you carry within the Fjord 60-C is accessible by way of a big rear entry level:
And if you happen to use the XL insert, it’s attainable to entry your gear from the highest as effectively:
On its internal aspect, you’ll discover two flat pockets. I’d suggest utilizing these for delicate, flat objects. Bulkier objects may press in opposition to the gear in your foremost compartment and, worse, into your again.
For storing your laptop computer, together with varied small equipment, a spacious and expandable entrance pocket is your finest wager. I received into the behavior of stashing small necessities like reminiscence playing cards, a spare battery, or my DJI Osmo Pocket digicam right here.
For softer objects like a jacket or snacks, the roll-top closure compartment up prime works completely. Like a lot of the different compartments, it’s sealed with waterproof Aquaguard zippers.
The aspect pockets are endlessly versatile. I often carried a tripod, a water bottle, a small foam pad for sitting, and a machete in them. The contents keep safe thanks not solely to elastic but additionally a sturdy strap. I’ve much more religion on this system’s sturdiness than in plain elastic alone.
Consolation
The phrase “comfy backpack” is, in my view, an oxymoron. The one actually comfy backpack is the one another person is sporting, particularly as soon as it crosses a sure weight threshold. That mentioned, the diploma of struggling varies extensively from pack to pack. So how does the NYA-EVO Fjord 60-C maintain up on this regard? I’d say fairly respectably.
First, I used to be inspired that the hip belt on the Fjord 60-C is far bigger and sturdier than on most digicam backpacks. Typically, solely mountain climbing backpacks may have such an excellent hip belt. That is important as a result of, with heavy masses, you need a variety of the bag’s weight in your hips fairly than your shoulders and again.
As for the shoulder straps, they’re adjustable in two alternative ways. First, as with most baggage, you’ll be able to modify their size. However extra importantly, you’ll be able to modify the purpose the place they connect to the pack, based mostly on the size of your torso. This characteristic has lengthy been commonplace in mountain climbing packs however is, surprisingly, nonetheless a uncommon discover amongst digicam backpacks. It contributes considerably to the bag’s consolation.
The sternum strap is height-adjustable too, utilizing a intelligent system of twin loops and an aluminum anchor. Naturally, there’s a pass-through for a hydration bladder hose as effectively.
The buckles could also be plastic, however they encourage confidence. Each I and folks round me have stepped on the waist belt buckle a couple of instances in darkish hides, and up to now, it’s held up simply positive.
I do have barely blended emotions in regards to the again panel. Bigger gear can poke into your again if you happen to don’t organize it rigorously. The rationale for that is that the digicam insert is barely 16 cm deep — comparatively shallow. It’s undoubtedly a compromise the producer needed to make to satisfy airline carry-on restrictions whereas nonetheless preserving first rate quantity in the principle compartment and entrance pocket. I had the identical gripe some time again with the Peak Design Journey Backpack 45L.
That mentioned, if you happen to keep away from stuffing the again panel pockets with thick, laborious objects and take a second to search out the optimum place in your digicam and telephoto lens (like angling the tripod foot and lens hood screw away out of your again), the pack sits in your again comfortably. I had no actual situation tackling a 10-kilometer hike in mountain terrain or hacking my approach by means of dense riparian vegetation alongside a mountain river for 3 hours.
Competitors
This house within the backpack market is rapidly gaining popularity. F-Cease Gear was one of many first, however now we have now many different manufacturers attempting one thing comparable. And so I’ll present an inventory of some comparable backpacks within the 45+ liter vary.
A few of these packs supply extra room for digicam gear however may trigger complications at airport check-ins (Shimoda). Others, like Mr Jan Gear and Gitzo, ship loads of house for digicam tools, keep inside airline limits, however depart little room for anything. F-Cease and Peak Design’s baggage strike an excellent steadiness between house and dimension, though they’ll’t fairly accommodate the longest lenses. The Assume Tank BackLight Elite 45L is probably the closest match when it comes to its specs, other than the marginally smaller 45L dimension, though I haven’t examined it but.
Conclusion
Is the NYA-EVO Fjord 60-C the type of backpack a wildlife photographer may use to haul not simply digicam gear, however every part wanted for touring in nature comfortably?
I believe the reply is sure. The consolation of this backpack is sort of on the stage of an excellent mountain climbing backpack, whereas higher defending your gear and permitting quick access to it. In case you use the Massive insert fairly than the XL insert, there can be room left for garments, a hammock, sleeping bag, and a few freeze-dried meals. A few days off the grid can be completely doable, and possibly fairly pleasant. The Medium insert would make it even simpler. It’s one thing I’ll positively have to check within the area someday quickly.
What I preferred:
- Carries even giant lenses mounted on a digicam physique whereas nonetheless assembly airline carry-on limits
- A wise variety of pockets to maintain your gear organized and accessible
- The highest roll closure provides additional capability when wanted, however stays out of the best way when not
- Adjustable harness peak for a correct customized match
- Loads of mounting factors for additional equipment
- Environmentally accountable supplies
- An out of doors-ready design that doesn’t scream “costly digicam gear inside”
- Excessive-quality zippers which might be sturdy and simple to seize (and you’ll order spares if wanted)
What I preferred much less:
- The detachable digicam insert’s depth is a bit tight for telephotos and cameras with a vertical grip
- The Velcro straps securing the RCI are robust however typically get in the best way when pulling out lenses with reversed hoods
- The worth, as with most of those journey picture backpacks, is sort of steep
The place to Purchase
If, after studying this evaluation, you have got concluded that the NYA-EVO Fjord 60-C is the appropriate backpack in your pictures adventures, think about buying it by means of the B&H Photograph hyperlink under. Shopping for any product by means of our affiliate hyperlinks helps unbiased, real-life critiques like this one and retains Images Life ad-free for everybody.
When you have any questions, be happy to ask within the feedback part under. Wishing you robust shoulders to hold your gear far past the horizon — and, in fact, good mild.
