Just made my own video on the Atlas Adventure bag! And I love love ❤❤❤ it!!!! 🎉🎉

Thanks for sharing this great review. It really helped me decide on which size to choose.

@CalebKerr

5 жыл бұрын

Awesome, I'm glad it was helpful!

Great review. Very easy to understand and also very helpful.

@CalebKerr

5 жыл бұрын

Glad to hear that, thank you!

This is the best review of these packs that I've seen. I actually gave up on this backpack until I saw this video. I'm still torn between a osprey and the adventure

it seems ideal backpack for adventure and photography. thanks for your excellent explanation

Thanks for doing this review, Caleb! I have a Shimoda 40L which I very much like but there are a few things that I wish were different. And it seems that Atlas is addressing these. The first is that I tend to be a water bottle rather than bladder person. The water bottle options on my Shimoda are not great. Atlas seems to have done much better with these. The Shimoda also dedicates one side to providing side access which I thought I would use (to access gear while keeping a strap on my shoulder) but I find it too cumbersome to pack the gear that way. And, like you apparently, I am a big Peak Design fan and prefer to use Capture points. I see you have them on your Adventure bag in the demo. Do you also use them on the Athlete? Do they stay in place fairly well? Is there a way to use Capture on the waist belt? (The straps on my Shimoda bags are a bit too wide for the newest PD v3 Capture.) I am intrigued with the "origami" space. A more convenient solution than on my Shimoda. Now for the most important question - fit. One of my primary drivers for getting the Shimoda was the adjustable-height harness system. I am 5' 8" but I have a long torso and short legs (28.5" inseam). So I tend to need a taller pack in order for the weight to settle on my hips. (Most camera bags are far too short for me.) I don't need the capacity of the Adventure. Do you think the Athlete models are on the "tall" side? Also, shifting slowly from Canon (5DM4) gear to Sony alpha which reduces the volume I need. It seems from the video that the Athlete is a better size for mirrorless whereas the Shimoda is a better fit for my Canon gear. Is the camera storage on the Athlete shallower than on the Adventure? It appears so in the video. I know, lots of questions. I'll contact Atlas. I understand that Allan is very good at answering questions.

Hey Caleb. Atlas sent me to your page to watch this video. Great review man! And your photos are amazing! 👍🏼👍🏼

@CalebKerr

6 жыл бұрын

Very much appreciate it, glad it was helpful!

Very beneficial and informative Video, it really helped. Thank you Caleb

Nice review I've been looking at other camera bags for adventures I've got planned and most just design more so for camera storage and not much else, with that adventure pack I would fit my sleeping bag, cooking stuff, camera gear, solar panels and tent on one side and on the other have my tripod. I think this is the bag for me and your video made it more clear for me on what to get so thank you for that!

@CalebKerr

6 жыл бұрын

Awesome! Glad it was helpful. Cheers.

@SimonPhillipsPhoto

6 жыл бұрын

Really nice and it was the first video that I clicked on and its all I needed for my decision :)

@CalebKerr

6 жыл бұрын

SDP Photographics so glad it was helpful!

Very helpful review. Thank you very much!

Best review on Atlas backpacks.

@CalebKerr

5 жыл бұрын

William Barco 🙏

Great review. Love the bigger bag, its like a camera version of my osprey. Do you still recommend these bags of have you found a better solution. ? Maybe with shimoda or f-stop? I was about to purchase the lowepro whistler (£150 cheaper but i may change my mind now!! just need to justify the extra money..) Thanks

Great vid. Q: Which one would u recommend for 1-2 night camping? Which one got more space for nonphoto gear related items (like camping gear, clothes etc)? photo gear: mirrorless plus 2 medium-size lenses and one 100-400 telephoto.

Thanks! Been trying to decide between fstop and atlas I think Atlas will be better for biking around ergonomically.

@CalebKerr

6 жыл бұрын

If you bike a lot, I think you'll dig the waist belt on the Atlas.

Haha the struggle of these type of backpacks waistbands on planes! Relatable! 😂

@CalebKerr

5 жыл бұрын

It's so real.

Great review! I have the Mindshift Backlight 26L and love the opening on the back, and also that I can open it while it sits on my hip using the waist strap to not take the bag off and put it down in the mud or sand. Did you get a change to try this with the Athlete and find that it was easy to access the content? Cheers!

@CalebKerr

6 жыл бұрын

You can *sort of* do that, but the Athlete is fairly tall, which translates to not having a ton of structural support when laid out in that way, hinged off the belt. Just from a personal preference angle, I've had bags that boast that capability before and it just never felt that useful. The solution I've landed on that works well for me is I use Peak Design Capture Clips which keeps the camera tightly secured to the backpack strap. If I'm in a situation where I will be taking the camera in and out (like the Mindshift allows), I'd rather just keep it all the way out for truly easy access. Or if I'm in get-to-the-location mode, I'll just keep it in the pack. I find having access to the pack while it's connected to my body just doesn't click for me. This is also true of any / all sling style bags.

Love the Athlete. Perfect day hike ( even prolonged one)

Excellent! Thank you

@3:30 hip straps floating out issue? I have not had that problem with my Lowepro Whistler (built-in sturdy hip straps)... so 2 alternatives vs removing the hip strap: 1) fold the straps behind your back (then walk the airplane aisle, etc), 2) clip the hip strap together in reverse along the back side of the backpack. For heavy loads - the hip straps are essential in a backpack, though it is nice to be able to remove for such a light backpack as the Atlas.

@CalebKerr

5 жыл бұрын

Totally true, I've done both of those options. But it is also nice to have the third option of removing it entirely if you're not in a situation where you need it.

Hey Caleb, great review. But I don't know. It may be unlikely (but it has happened)...Seems like a zipper failure from the main compartment zipper when your pack is loaded, and then it's just lenses and cameras pouring out of the pack and tumbling down the mountain or on the concrete. Seems like a better design would be to have the main compartment zipper inside the straps and not on the outside. Gear can get heavy and that puts a lot of strain on the main compartment zipper. I do wish my Tilopa main compartment zipper was a larger diameter, BUT I would trust my Tilpa over the Atlas zipper design any day. Just my .02 and something to think about in the longevity of a pack.

@CalebKerr

6 жыл бұрын

I hear you, and I think on paper, your concern makes sense, but in reality, it's just not an issue. Some zippers are beefy and meant to handle a lot of force, and these ones aren't going anywhere. If you attached the front and the back of the pack to cars driving in opposite directions, I'm pretty confident the straps would rip off before the zipper failed.

@daviddaniel9982

6 жыл бұрын

Good to know, I hope that is the case. Still always makes me a little leery of that type of design.

@jimowens8105

6 жыл бұрын

I have the same concern, and it is not just the sudden zipper failure but the idea that the entire design depends on that zipper closure. I have had zipers that lost a few teeth and would run of the track and never stay shut again. If that happened 10 or more miles from home it would be very difficult to cobble a fix. Also, the concept is to keep the back-pad, belt and harness off the ground, but with this design those items are attached to the "Door" and when the pack is on the ground and the "Door" is opened it is flipped upside down and ends up in the mud, water etc...

@timothylinn

5 жыл бұрын

This occurred to me as well. F-Stop's design also allows one to drop the shoulder straps, rotate the pack 180 degrees, and loosen the belt until the pack drops 90 degrees and becomes a working surface. You can zip open the gear compartment and do what needs to be done w/o ever setting any part of the pack on the ground. This looks like it is also possible with Atlas's smaller Athlete pack though you're stressing the zippers with the Athlete pack in a way that doesn't happen with the F-stop design. Don't get me wrong-these look like a great packs. Just pointing out a difference.

Hey Caleb, great video! Will the adventure pack be able to hold a Pro Body DSLR up right? or do we have to lay it down flat like in the Athlete Pack?

@CalebKerr

5 жыл бұрын

Uberspan Films The Adventure pack fits a pro / gripped body upright with a lens on!

Can you do another video on these and show what all you can fit in each as far as both camera and non camera gear for a long dayhike or overnight trip?

@CalebKerr

6 жыл бұрын

Yes, I actually already have... stay tuned!

I purchased the Athelete pack about a year but unfortunately find it so uncomfortable. The shoulder straps are really thick, too hard, not very flexible and I find they dig into my shoulders. This is a problem now even for a moderate hike. I have quite a large frame and broad shoulders and I think the angle at which the straps come down over my shoulders and the separation between them doesn't allow them to sit flat. It's a great bag design wise, although the camera compartment is just a little too shallow for full frame DSLR, even though they say in their specs it will fit. It's a bit of a squeeze with my Canon 5D. It's definately more suited to mirror-less cameras. I love the extra space for outdoor clothes, which is what I really missed in other bags, but the side pockets could do with a non-stretchy base to better support a tripod. They are certaily not going support a large tripod, but are fine for travel to mid sized tripods. I also find taking the waist belt off and putting it back on is a real pain; why they didn't put a cinch connector rather than a buckle that you have to thread and unread was an oversight. My advice would be to try this bag for comfort before buying. If you are a large guy like me this may not be the most comfortable. Unfortunately being in the UK I couldn't try before buying.

Hahahahahahahah your beer rubs the mic the hole length of the video Good vid !

Great video 👍 thank you for the info. What is the best all around adventure backpack that you have found so far?

@CalebKerr

6 жыл бұрын

Wez So_N_So At this point I’m exclusively using the Athlete model from Atlas Packs.

@TheWEEZAR269

6 жыл бұрын

Caleb Kerr. I am down in San Antonio for a few months. Maybe we should get together and do a collaboration video ?

I have both of the packs. I never used the Adventure one since it is over-designed and ends up heavy. It has so many pockets. The Athlete gets more use for me. The Adventure pack has never been outside my closet and is virtually brand new. It may become a wildlife photography pack once I got big telephoto lenses. I wish I got the black version of the Athlete since the bright color will be problematic for wildlife photography.

Wish you would have loaded them up a bit. Hard to tell what you can fit inside. Can you use the larger pack for a tent, bag, food, etc?

@CalebKerr

5 жыл бұрын

Roger Huston I actually did one of those too for Atlas Packs after doing this one: kzread.info/dash/bejne/qZp8pNOshsrLaco.html

Hey Caleb, if you open the backpacks, I think the straps and waist belt fall into the mud or sand. I can see no advantage in terms of dirt in this kind of opening, because you can not turn the straps to the side.

Also Altas Pack Is made In the Philippines Design in USA

Thanks for sharing! Simple and great review. It seems Athlete is better for mirrorless and few gear while Adventure seems more DSLR. Is that right? Kind regards

@CalebKerr

5 жыл бұрын

Sort of right, but not entirely. If you shoot with a mirrorless system, I'd say it's 90% likely that the Athlete is the best option. If you shoot with a non-gripped DSLR, you can definitely use the Athlete as well. But if you're shooting with a lot of lenses, several camera bodies, especially if they're gripped bodies (like Canon 1Dx or Nikon D4), Adventure likely is a better option.

@alemattosbr

5 жыл бұрын

@@CalebKerr thanks for the tips!!

Have you used the Athlete with a hydration bladder? Any concern with it being imbalanced since its on the side?

@CalebKerr

5 жыл бұрын

I have, and it doesn't bother me. I think the design to have it separated from the gear compartment is a better setup. I also will carry tripods on the side-which are way heavier than a bladder-with no issue. If you are worried about the imbalance though, you can just arrange your gear in way to counter it (put heavy lenses on the opposite side to the bladder, etc).

Which of the Atlas packs is better for hiking, carrying camping gear like a sleeping bag etc?

@CalebKerr

5 жыл бұрын

Elena Gallegos Athlete! It has a larger expandable area on the front for other gear, great for camping. After this video, Atlas asked me to make a video for them, and in it, I specifically talk camping gear: kzread.info/dash/bejne/qZp8pNOshsrLaco.html

Is the larger of the two ok as a carry on? Not too big?

@CalebKerr

5 жыл бұрын

The larger one (the Adventure) will fit just fine in the overhead compartment on a plane. I've carried it on and put it under the seat as a normal backpack a few times, but it is WAY bigger than the airline's guidelines, so it's a risk. A flight attendant could definitely not allow it if they wanted to.

@andrewsprott2243

5 жыл бұрын

@@CalebKerr thanks for the reply, keep up the great work!

What's the black atlas bag model name

@CalebKerr

Жыл бұрын

Adventure

can you fly with the adventure pack as a hand luggage?

@CalebKerr

6 жыл бұрын

It's way too big (according to the airline) to fit under a seat, (I've done it and gotten away with it but it's a risk). It will fit in the overhead compartment as carry-on.

@m13tattoo

6 жыл бұрын

ok thanks

@Petro00D

6 жыл бұрын

How about the athlete. With that fit under a seat?

@CalebKerr

6 жыл бұрын

David Petroski Yup, I fly with it under the seat all the time.

In the adventure version, almost the whole weight of the backpack is carried through the back panel zipper. I don't think I like that.

I was about to say : I've found my next bag with that Athlete bag which looks great...but ouch, 333€ + the import taxes...it will be around 400€ (450USD) in Europ. I will end with a F-stop bag instead.

@CalebKerr

3 жыл бұрын

Fair, but an Fstop bag with the ICU divider will cost you $400. $50 isn’t nothing, but $400 vs $450... both weeks super expensive and similarly priced.

@GBO76

3 жыл бұрын

@@CalebKerr You're probably right. That's the psychological aspect of adding taxes.

Beards and lavs don’t mix well bro

@CalebKerr

5 жыл бұрын

Zack Allen that’s the truth

What's with all these bags that have access right to the bottom from the top? Why not have a zipped flap so that you can choose. Drives me nuts! I can't stand all my belongings getting lost at the bottom of the bag underneath the camera insert.

@CalebKerr

6 жыл бұрын

I don't think I follow. A zippered flap where? Things get lost under the camera insert?

@CalebKerr

6 жыл бұрын

Are you talking about in the main (non-camera) compartment? I think I know what you're talking about, it seems to be a feature on larger hiking packs. For this particular bag, the zippered pockets in the top flap are pretty big, so I find myself putting small and medium sized items in there (laptop charger, mouse, headphones, hard drives, etc), and bigger items in the big storage area.

@saintclaxon

5 жыл бұрын

@caleb, think TDP means the back-flap folder half way. Look at the Whistler bags of Lowepro.

Like the Athlete but so wish it was side opening too. That would be the bomb.

@CalebKerr

5 жыл бұрын

It's all personal preference, but of all the camera bags I've ever owned (many... very many...), I've had several that had a size opening, and I literally never used it.

@tamilhoward9708

5 жыл бұрын

@@CalebKerr oh sorry, I mean I wished it had a side zipper for the main compartment just like the Adventure. when you open the main compartment of the Adventure the door opens to the side not straight back like the Athlete. Horses for courses as the British say.

I have the Athlete which is a great design but boy are the shoulder straps so uncomfortable. I have quite broad shoulders and they dont sit flat over the shoulders and dig in, to the point I can no longer wear this pack for anything but a short hike. The straps are just too stiff and inflexible le for me.

Too bad they cost an arm and a leg

@CalebKerr

5 жыл бұрын

Wireline .Cables Yeah, true, not cheap. If you look at any of the top level / quality camera packs you’ll find they’re pretty much all around this price (for reference, f-stop Gear cost more. You can pick something up for cheap but none of those will be high quality packs.