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Shimoda Explore v2 30 Starter KitExplore V2 30 Starter Kit6.6 x 11.6 x 20.3 inches5 PoundsCheck on Amazon
The best Shimoda camera bag for most photographers in 2026 is an Explore V2 30L with a Medium Mirrorless Core Unit inside it: it swallows a full-frame body plus three or four lenses, opens from the side for fast street and event work, opens from the back for clean gear swaps on wet ground, and still slides into an overhead bin. If most of your shooting happens in rain, snow, dust or on multi-hour hikes, the Action X line is the better answer — same Core Unit ecosystem, tougher shell, more supportive harness, higher empty weight. Size the pack from the longest lens you actually carry, not from the one you plan to buy.
The six things that actually decide which Shimoda you buy
Shimoda’s range looks complicated because the packs and the inserts are sold separately. Once you understand that the pack is a shell and the Core Unit is the camera compartment, the decision collapses into six questions: how much volume you need, which access points you want, which Core Units fit, whether the harness adjusts to your torso, how much weather protection you need, and how the load feels on your hips after two hours.
Shimoda Explore v2 30 Starter Kit, Mid-Size Outdoor Photography Travel Backpack incl. Medium Mirrorless Core Unit, Carry-On Ready Adventure Pack, Anti-Theft Camera Access, 16-inch Laptop Sleeve, Black
Chosen because it specifies Carry-On Ready Adventure Pack and Anti-Theft Camera Access.
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Shimoda Action X30 v2 Starter Kit, Outdoor Photography Adventure Pack for mirrorless and DSLR cameras, incl. Medium Mirrorless Core Unit, Expandable Rolltop, 16" Laptop Sleeve, Army Green
Chosen because it specifies incl. Medium Mirrorless Core Unit and Expandable Rolltop.
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Shimoda Top Loader - Medium - Black (520-402)
Chosen because it specifies Medium and Black (520-402).
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Shimoda Top Loader - Large - Black (520-406)
Chosen because it specifies Large and Black (520-406).
View on Amazon1. Capacity: liters are not camera space
A 30-liter pack does not hold 30 liters of camera gear. Roughly 30–45% of the volume goes to the harness, the lid, the laptop sleeve and the structural padding. A Medium Core Unit takes up something like 10–12 liters of internal space once loaded, which means a 30L pack with a Medium unit leaves you a lid pocket, a laptop sleeve and a side pocket for a tripod or water bottle — and not much else. A 50L with the same unit leaves genuine room for a jacket, food, a filter pouch and a second body in a soft wrap. The practical rule: pick the pack by the longest lens and the number of bodies, then let the leftover liters tell you how much non-camera gear you can carry.
2. Access points: rear, side and top do different jobs
Shimoda’s core design is a rear-opening panel, which means you set the pack face-down on the ground and the harness side stays clean and dry against your back. That is the right way to work in mud, sand or snow. The Explore V2 and Action X lines add side access on one or both sides, so you can swing the pack around on one shoulder and pull the camera out without taking it off. Top access through the lid gets you to a snack, a filter or a rain cover in seconds. Rear-only packs are lighter and cheaper; dual-side-access packs cost more and add a little weight but change how fast you can shoot. If you shoot events or street, side access is worth paying for. If you shoot landscapes from a tripod and swap lenses rarely, rear access alone is fine.
3. Core Unit compatibility: the insert decides what fits
Core Units are the padded, removable camera compartments that give Shimoda packs their shape. They come in mirrorless and DSLR families, in roughly small, medium and large tiers, and the pack’s internal dimensions determine which ones will actually sit inside. Buying a pack and an oversized Core Unit is the single most common mistake — the unit will fit through the rear opening but will not let the pack close comfortably, and it pushes the load away from your back. Check the pack’s stated Core Unit compatibility before you buy either piece.
4. Harness adjustability: torso length matters more than height
Two people the same height can need different pack sizes because torso length varies by up to four inches. Shimoda’s harnesses are built around an adjustable torso range, typically covering something like 16–20 inches, with a hip belt that can be repositioned on the frame. The Action X harness is the more heavily padded of the two families and transfers more weight to the hips; the Explore V2 harness is lighter and more breathable, aimed at travel rather than heavy loads. If your torso sits at the short end of the range, check that the hip belt actually lands on your iliac crest — a belt riding above the hips carries nothing.
5. Weather protection: coatings, zippers and covers
Shimoda shells are built from high-tenacity ripstop nylon — commonly in the 210D to 420D range — with a water-resistant coating and a durable water repellent finish on the face fabric. That handles drizzle and snow. Sustained rain needs a rain cover, which Shimoda offers as a fitted accessory for its pack lines. The zippers are the weak point in any weather-resistant pack: a coated, water-resistant zipper slows water down but is not waterproof, and the top of a side-access opening is where water finds its way in if you leave it unzipped. Assume a cover for anything more than 20 minutes of steady rain.
6. Carry comfort under load
Comfort is a function of load transfer, not padding thickness. A 30L pack at 15 lb can ride on your shoulders all day. A 50L at 30 lb must sit on your hips, with the shoulder straps doing little more than holding the pack against your back. That means the hip belt has to be the right length, the torso has to be the right length, and the load-lifter straps on top of the shoulders have to be tensioned properly. The most common comfort complaint with any large camera pack — Shimoda included — is that the wearer tightened the shoulder straps first and never adjusted the belt.
The Shimoda lineup at a glance
| Pack | Volume | Access | Best for | Typical price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Explore V2 25 | 25 L | Rear panel, one side | One body, two to three lenses, day trips, city shooting | usually $250–$300 |
| Explore V2 30 | 30 L | Rear panel, dual side | Two bodies or one body plus a 70-200mm, travel with laptop | usually $280–$340 |
| Explore V2 35 | 35 L | Rear panel, dual side | Long telephoto, travel kit with layers and tripod | usually $300–$370 |
| Action X30 | 30 L | Rear panel, dual side | Weatherproof day pack for hiking and backcountry | usually $300–$370 |
| Action X50 | 50 L | Rear panel, dual side, top | Overnight and full-day hikes, big glass, two bodies | usually $350–$430 |
| Action X70 | 70 L | Rear panel, dual side, top | Multi-day expeditions, camping kit plus camera kit | usually $400–$500 |
| Core Units (mirrorless/DSLR, small–large) | varies | Insert | Defines camera capacity in every pack above | usually $50–$120 |
Prices move with sales and regional import costs, so treat those bands as ballpark figures rather than fixed. The gap between an Explore V2 and an Action X of the same volume is typically $30–$60, and it buys a heavier shell, a beefier harness and a different pocket layout.
Shimoda Explore V2 25: the day kit
The 25L is the pack to buy if your camera kit is one body and two or three lenses and you are not carrying a tripod, a laptop and a jacket at the same time. It takes a Small or Medium Core Unit, which covers a full-frame mirrorless body with a 24-70mm attached plus a 16-35mm and a 70-200mm f/4 if you pack them standing up. A 70-200mm f/2.8 is where it starts to hurt — the barrel is long enough that the unit either sits tight against the top of the bag or forces you into the Medium unit and kills your remaining space.
Access is rear panel plus one side. In practice that side opening is the one you use constantly on a city day: sling the pack off one shoulder, rotate it, pull the body out, shoot, put it back. The rear panel stays clean because it never touches the ground.
Carry comfort at 12–16 lb is genuinely good, and the low profile means it does not clip doorframes on a train. The limits show up fast, though. There is room for a light jacket and a filter pouch, not a fleece and lunch. If you routinely carry a laptop, a tripod and a rain layer, go up one size. The 25 is the pack that teaches you how much you actually carry.
Who the 25 suits
- Street and documentary shooters with one body and two primes
- Travel photographers who leave the big glass at home
- Anyone who wants a camera pack that does not read as a camera pack
- Day hikes where the camera kit is the only real load
Shimoda Explore V2 30: the all-rounder
The 30L is the pack most people should start with. It takes a Medium Mirrorless Core Unit comfortably and will accept a Large unit if you are disciplined about what goes in the lid. With a Medium unit you get a gripped or non-gripped full-frame body, a 24-70mm f/2.8, a 70-200mm f/2.8 and a wide or macro lens, plus a laptop in the sleeve and a tripod strapped to the side.
The dual side access is the real upgrade over the 25. Both sides open, so you can set the pack down and reach the camera compartment from whichever side you are standing on, or configure one side for the camera and the other for a water bottle and a snack. The rear panel still opens flat for full gear swaps.
Empty weight sits in the 3.5–4.5 lb range depending on configuration, which matters when you are also carrying a tripod and a 3 lb lens. Loaded to 20–25 lb it still carries well, but this is the point where the Action X harness starts to feel worth the extra weight. The Explore V2’s breathable back panel is nicer in hot, humid conditions; the Action X is nicer when the load gets heavy.
What fits, concretely
- Body + 16-35mm f/2.8 + 24-70mm f/2.8 + 70-200mm f/2.8 in a Medium unit, tight but workable
- Two bodies, one with a 35mm and one with an 85mm, plus a 16-35mm in the lid
- Mirrorless body plus a 100-400mm and a 1.4x teleconverter, with the body detached
- Laptop up to roughly 16 inches in the rear sleeve
- Tripod up to about 20 inches folded on the side strap
Shimoda Explore V2 35: travel and long glass
The 35L exists for two buyers: the travel photographer who wants a camera kit plus real clothing, and the wildlife or sports shooter whose longest lens will not fit in a 30L with anything else. It takes the Large Core Units, which is where the difference shows — a Large unit will hold a 100-400mm or 200-600mm class zoom standing up alongside a body and two shorter lenses.
The extra five liters over the 30L are not glamorous, but they are the difference between a trip where you carry a camera bag and a trip where you carry a camera bag plus a daypack. It swallows a shell, a mid-layer, a small tripod and a laptop, and it still meets the carry-on dimensions used by most major airlines when it is not overstuffed.
The trade-off is weight and bulk. Empty, the 35L is around 4–5 lb. Fully loaded with a telephoto kit it can pass 25 lb, at which point the harness becomes the limiting factor rather than the volume. If you expect to be at that weight for hours, the Action X50 is the more comfortable pack even though it is bigger than you may have planned for.
Shimoda Action X30: the weatherproof day pack
The Action X30 is the same nominal volume as the Explore V2 30 but built for worse conditions and heavier loads. The shell is a heavier ripstop, the zippers are more protected, the harness is more heavily padded and the pack is designed to sit on your hips rather than hang from your shoulders.
For day hikes with a moderate kit — one body, two or three lenses, a tripod and a rain layer — it is the better pack. It handles sustained rain better than the Explore line, sheds dust and grit more effectively, and the side access still works with gloves on because the pulls are chunkier.
What you give up is weight and refinement. The Action X30 is roughly half a pound to a pound heavier empty than its Explore counterpart, and the back panel does not ventilate as aggressively. If you shoot in a city in summer, the Explore is more comfortable. If you shoot on a coast in February, the Action X is the one you want.
Shimoda Action X50: the workhorse
The 50L is the pack for full days out with a serious kit. It accepts the largest Core Units, has top access in addition to the rear and side panels, and carries 30–35 lb without the shoulder straps digging in — provided the hip belt is fitted properly.
A realistic load: two full-frame bodies, a 70-200mm f/2.8, a 16-35mm f/2.8, a 100-400mm in the Large Core Unit, a tripod on the side, a filter pouch, two liters of water and a shell. That is a working wildlife or sports setup and it is what the pack was designed around.
The top access is the feature people underestimate. On a long hike you do not want to lay the pack down and open the rear panel every time you want a camera; the top lid gets you to a body with a mid-range zoom in a few seconds. The rear panel is for the start and end of the day, and for bad weather when you want the gear compartment facing away from the sky.
The cost is size. A 50L pack is not a walk-around bag. It is the bag you take when the camera is the reason for the trip.
Shimoda Action X70: expedition volume
The 70L is for overnight and multi-day trips where the camera kit and the camping kit travel together. It takes the largest Core Units and still leaves 25–30 liters for a sleeping bag, food and layers. Loaded, it will pass 40 lb, which is beyond what most people want to carry on rough ground — the honest use case is a short approach to a base camp or a vehicle-supported shoot, not a 15-mile day.
What it does well is keep a big camera kit protected inside a pack that behaves like a proper trekking pack. The harness transfers load to the hips effectively, the frame is stiff enough that the pack does not collapse when you tighten the compression straps, and the Core Unit system means you can leave the camera compartment in the tent and use the shell as a normal pack.
If you are buying a 70L, buy it for the harness and the load transfer, not the volume. There are cheaper 70-liter packs that hold more; very few of them protect a 600mm lens and a pair of bodies as well.
Core Units: the insert that decides everything
Core Units are sold separately because Shimoda expects you to own more than one. The mirrorless units are shallower, which suits bodies without a vertical grip; the DSLR units are deeper to accommodate the mirror box and a grip. Within each family there are roughly small, medium and large tiers, and the tier determines how many lenses you can stand up side by side.
| Core Unit tier | Typical contents | Fits these packs comfortably | Typical price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small mirrorless | One body, two small primes or one zoom | Explore V2 25, Action X30 | usually $50–$75 |
| Medium mirrorless | One body, three to four lenses up to 70-200mm f/2.8 | Explore V2 30, Explore V2 35, Action X30, Action X50 | usually $65–$95 |
| Large mirrorless | One or two bodies, 100-400mm or 200-600mm class lens | Explore V2 35, Action X50, Action X70 | usually $80–$110 |
| Small DSLR | One gripped DSLR, two lenses | Explore V2 30, Action X30 | usually $60–$85 |
| Medium DSLR | One gripped DSLR, three lenses, 70-200mm f/2.8 | Explore V2 35, Action X50 | usually $75–$105 |
| Large DSLR | Two bodies or one body plus a 400mm-class lens | Action X50, Action X70 | usually $90–$120 |
One practical note: a Core Unit that fits inside a pack is not automatically a good match. If the unit is taller than the pack’s internal depth, it pushes the load away from your spine, which is exactly what you do not want on a heavy pack. Always check that the rear panel closes without forcing it.
Which pack for which kit: a decision matrix
| Your situation | Pack | Core Unit | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| One mirrorless body, two primes, city days | Explore V2 25 | Small mirrorless | Low profile, light, side access for fast shooting |
| One body, 24-70mm and 70-200mm, travel with laptop | Explore V2 30 | Medium mirrorless | Dual side access, laptop sleeve, carry-on friendly |
| Wildlife with a 100-400mm or 200-600mm | Explore V2 35 or Action X50 | Large mirrorless | Standing room for long glass; 50L if you hike far |
| Two bodies, wedding or event work | Action X50 | Medium or Large mirrorless | Load transfer for 25–30 lb and top access for quick swaps |
| Day hikes, rain and dust likely | Action X30 | Small or Medium mirrorless | Heavier shell, beefier harness, protected zippers |
| Overnight backcountry trips | Action X50 or X70 | Medium or Large | Room for a sleeping bag and food alongside the kit |
| Drone plus mirrorless body | Explore V2 30 | Medium mirrorless plus soft wrap | Drone in the lid, camera in the Core Unit, no crushing |
| Short torso or smaller frame, heavy kit | Action X30 or X50, belt repositioned low | Size down one tier | Shorter torso needs the belt on the hips, not the waist |
Access points in practice
Rear access is the cleanest way to work. You lay the pack harness-side up, unzip the back panel, and the camera compartment faces you like a drawer. Nothing touches the straps, so you do not end up with mud on your shoulders, and you can do a full lens swap without kneeling in anything unpleasant.
Side access is the fastest way to work. Sling one strap off, rotate the pack to your front, unzip the side panel and the camera is in your hand. On the Explore V2 30 and 35 and the Action X packs, both sides open, so a left-handed or right-handed shooter can configure it either way. The limitation is that side access only reaches what is near the opening — a body with a mid-range zoom, typically. The long lens in the middle of the Core Unit still needs the rear panel.
Top access through the lid is the underrated one. It is how you get to a body quickly on a hike without stopping and setting the pack down. On the 50L and 70L it is genuinely useful; on the smaller packs it is more of a pocket than an access point.
Harness, torso fit and load transfer
The single most useful measurement you can take before buying is your torso length — the distance from the C7 vertebra at the base of your neck to the top of your hip bones. It is not your height. A 5’8″ person can have a 19-inch torso and a 6’1″ person can have an 18-inch torso.
| Torso length | What to look for | Practical effect |
|---|---|---|
| Under 16 in | Harness set to its shortest setting; consider a smaller volume | Shoulder straps may sit high; check the belt still reaches the hips |
| 16–18 in | Most Shimoda harnesses in the middle of their range | Good weight transfer, belt sits on the iliac crest |
| 18–20 in | Harness extended; larger packs become comfortable | Best load transfer for 25–35 lb loads |
| Over 20 in | Check the harness reaches its maximum; test with weight | May need a larger pack to get the frame long enough |
Load transfer works like this: the hip belt should carry 70–80% of the weight on a pack over 20 lb, and the shoulder straps should carry the rest. If your shoulders ache after an hour, the belt is too loose, too high, or too large. If your hips ache, the belt is too tight or the pack is riding too low. Load-lifter straps on top of the shoulders should angle back at roughly 45 degrees and be tensioned just enough to pull the pack against your back — not cranked down, which lifts the belt off your hips.
Adjust the belt first, then the shoulder straps, then the load lifters, then the sternum strap. Almost everyone does it in the opposite order and wonders why the pack feels heavy.
Weather protection: what the specifications mean
| Construction element | What it does | Where it fails |
|---|---|---|
| 210D–420D ripstop nylon shell | Abrasion resistance, base structure | Eventually abrades at the base and corners |
| DWR finish on face fabric | Makes light rain bead and roll off | Wears off after repeated use and washing |
| Water-resistant coated zippers | Slows water ingress at openings | Not waterproof; water pools in the zipper tape over time |
| Rear panel opening | Keeps the camera compartment away from the ground | Leaves the harness exposed if you set it down in rain |
| Rain cover (accessory) | Full protection in sustained rain | Traps humidity inside if you cover a wet pack |
| Foam in the harness and belt | Comfort and load transfer | Compresses permanently after a few years of heavy use |
The practical takeaway: a Shimoda pack will handle a shower without a cover and will keep your gear dry in sustained rain with one. If you shoot in monsoon conditions, plan on the cover and a couple of silica packets in the Core Unit.
Airline and travel realities
| Region | Typical carry-on limit | Shimoda fit notes |
|---|---|---|
| United States | 22 x 14 x 9 in | Explore V2 30 and 35 fit when not overstuffed; 50L usually does not |
| Europe (major carriers) | 55 x 40 x 23 cm | Explore V2 30 fits; 35L fits with compression straps tightened |
| Budget European carriers | 40 x 30 x 20 cm | Explore V2 25 only, and only lightly packed |
| Asia-Pacific (varies) | 56 x 36 x 23 cm typical | Explore V2 30 and 35 generally fine |
Two things catch people out. First, a pack that meets the linear dimensions can still fail a sizer if it is bulging — a 35L loaded to the top is bigger than a 35L compressed. Second, camera packs are heavier than clothing packs, and a 20 lb pack on your back all day in an airport is a different experience than a 12 lb one. If you travel with the 35L, use the compression straps before you board.
A realistic weight budget
| Item | Typical weight |
|---|---|
| Explore V2 30, empty | 3.5–4.5 lb |
| Full-frame mirrorless body with battery | 1.3–1.8 lb |
| 24-70mm f/2.8 | 1.5–2.0 lb |
| 70-200mm f/2.8 | 2.5–3.5 lb |
| 100-400mm class zoom | 3.0–3.5 lb |
| Carbon tripod with head | 2.5–4.0 lb |
| Laptop, 14–16 in | 2.5–4.5 lb |
| Water, 1 liter | 2.2 lb |
Add a body, two zooms, a tripod and a liter of water and you are at 15–18 lb before you pack a jacket. That is the point at which the Explore V2 30 is at its comfortable limit and the Action X30 starts to make sense. Add a second body and a long zoom and you are at 25–30 lb, which is Action X50 territory — and which is also the point at which the hip belt stops being a nice-to-have and becomes the reason you can still walk at the end of the day.
Durability: what wears out first
| Component | Typical lifespan | What to watch |
|---|---|---|
| Harness and belt foam | 3–5 years of heavy use | Flattening, loss of load transfer, permanent creasing |
| Zippers | 5–8 years | Stiffness at the side-access curve, tape fraying |
| DWR finish | 1–2 years | Water stops beading; fabric darkens when wet |
| Base panel | 5+ years | Abrasion from being set down on rock and concrete |
| Dividers and hook-and-loop | 2–4 years | Velcro loses grip; dividers stop staying put |
| Core Unit foam | 4–6 years | Compression at the corners where bodies rest |
The parts that fail are the parts that touch your body and the ground, not the shell. A well-kept Shimoda pack will outlast several camera bodies. Re-treating the DWR once a year with a spray-on product designed for technical fabrics is the single most effective maintenance step.
Common mistakes
- Buying the pack first and the Core Unit second, then discovering the unit does not fit the way you shoot.
- Sizing by height instead of torso length, which puts the hip belt in the wrong place.
- Choosing a 50L for a kit that lives in a 30L, then carrying the extra volume as dead weight.
- Assuming a rain cover is included with every pack — check what ships with the specific model.
- Tightening the shoulder straps first and the hip belt last, which defeats the entire harness.
- Packing a long lens flat instead of standing it up, which wastes the tallest part of the Core Unit.
- Ignoring the airline sizer until the gate, when the pack is at its fullest.
Care and maintenance
Empty the pack, brush out grit from the zippers and the base, and wipe the shell with a damp cloth. Do not machine wash a structured camera pack — the agitation compresses the foam in the harness and belt. For the DWR, clean the face fabric first, then apply a spray-on treatment and let it cure. Store the pack loosely, not compressed, and store Core Units with the dividers in place so the foam does not take a set. If a zipper starts to drag, a silicone lubricant designed for zippers will add years to it.
FAQ
Does a Shimoda Explore V2 30 fit under an airline seat?
Usually not fully loaded. It fits in an overhead bin on most major carriers. Under-seat space is typically around 18 x 14 x 8 inches on narrow-body aircraft, which is smaller than a loaded 30L. If you need under-seat fit, the Explore V2 25 lightly packed is the realistic option.
Can I use a Shimoda pack without a Core Unit?
Yes. The pack works as a normal backpack without an insert, and many people use a smaller Core Unit plus a soft wrap for a second body rather than filling the pack with one large unit. The Core Unit is what gives the pack its structure when loaded, though, so a completely empty camera compartment leaves the shell floppy.
Which Core Unit fits a 600mm lens?
None of them hold a bare 600mm f/4 comfortably with a body attached. The realistic approach is a Large unit with the body detached and the lens standing vertically, or the largest Core Unit in the Action X50 or X70 with the lens laid diagonally. Measure the lens with the hood reversed before you commit.
Is the Action X worth the extra money over the Explore V2?
If you shoot in sustained rain, dust or snow, or routinely carry more than 20 lb, yes. If your shooting is urban and your kit is under 15 lb, the Explore V2 is lighter, breathes better and costs less. The Action X’s advantages only show up in bad conditions and heavy loads.
Do Shimoda packs fit a 16-inch laptop?
The Explore V2 30 and 35 rear sleeves take most 16-inch laptops. The 25L sleeve is tighter and suits 13–14 inch machines. Measure your laptop’s actual width rather than trusting the nominal screen size.
How do I swap a Core Unit between packs?
Open the rear panel fully, pull the unit out by its handle, and slide it into the other pack. Because the units are the same external footprint within a tier, a Medium unit moves between the Explore V2 30 and the Action X30 without adjustment. Larger units will only fit the larger shells.
What should I do if the hip belt does not sit on my hips?
Reposition the belt on the frame if the model allows it, then check your torso length. If the belt still rides above your hip bones, the pack’s frame is too long for you and you need a smaller size or a different harness setting. A belt that sits on your waist instead of your hips transfers almost no weight.
Can I carry a tripod on a Shimoda pack?
Yes — the side compression straps and the base straps will hold a tripod, typically up to around 20 inches folded on the smaller packs and longer on the 50L and 70L. A center-column tripod carried on the side will make the pack lean; carry it centered or on the opposite side from your water bottle if you can.
How much rain can a Shimoda pack handle without a cover?
Light rain and snow for 15–20 minutes is fine. Steady rain beyond that will eventually soak through the zipper tape and the seams. Carry the cover if the forecast is unsettled.
Should I buy the largest pack I might need?
No. A pack that is too big for your kit carries dead weight and encourages you to fill it. Buy for the kit you own today plus one lens. If your kit grows, the Core Units move into a bigger shell later — that is the point of the system.
The short version
Match the pack to your longest lens and your worst weather, not to your best-case kit. An Explore V2 30 with a Medium Mirrorless Core Unit covers most mirrorless photographers in most conditions. Move to the Explore V2 35 when you need standing room for long glass or real clothing capacity. Move to the Action X30 or X50 when rain, dust or a 25 lb load is part of the plan. And whichever you choose, spend the twenty minutes to set the hip belt, shoulder straps and load lifters in the right order — the harness does more for carry comfort than any feature on the spec sheet.
