Really appreciate how practical and honest you are when reviewing. Not afraid to call out design choices you don't like, and you cover unique but important considerations that others don't. Very refreshing!

@BrentHall

6 ай бұрын

Hey thanks man, that really means a lot! I'm glad it helped. :)

Best review of this bag to date - thank you! I have the old Explore 30 and pledged for the 20L. Had concerns with how much would fit but think I'll be good with my Sony gear after seeing your camera in there.

Great job! Unique approach comparing so many side by side. Thanks!

@BrentHall

6 ай бұрын

Thanks, glad you liked it!

Best review I’ve seen so far, thank you.

@BrentHall

6 ай бұрын

Thank you so much!

Thanks for the low key and insightful/practical commentary on this new Shimoda bag. I, too, am a long time Shimoda user and though my go-to is the Action X series, I have ordered this bag (25L) as a great lighter-duty carry. So I appreciate all of the tips you offered! The fact that you can rotate your camera body to “grip up” looks great. I have a Sony A7R5 and it should work like your Canon R5. That orientation makes it much easier to use. Great tip on the PD belt if you need one! Also glad to see you point out that the rain cover can be very handy even when it isn’t raining. I’m in the PNW and spend lots of time in muddy areas around streams and waterfalls as well as on the beach. I always put my rain cover on. The Shimoda bag exterior fabric holds up fine but why not use the rain cover if you have it and it is so much easier to wash. And the PD Capture Clip strap layer thingy! AWESOME! I, too, have Capture Clips permanently attached to all my Shimoda bags and this will be so much better. (Really hoping that Ian will come out with a set of straps that can be purchased separately and have some of the nice features of the current straps but will add this Capture Clip feature.) Also, this review led me to your channel and it looks like you hang out a lot in some areas I love to visit. So I’ll be following along!

@BrentHall

6 ай бұрын

Hey thanks for the kind words Dan, I really appreciate it, and I'm glad the video helped!

Very helpful review, Brent. Thank you for pointing out the waist strap option. 🎉

@BrentHall

6 ай бұрын

You're welcome, I'm glad it helped!

Thank you for the review. I just picked up an action X50 (version 1), your video of that pack was very helpful. On a side note, I was just camping at City of Rocks this last weekend! I love that place, it’s so cool. Keep up the great work!

@BrentHall

6 ай бұрын

Oh nice, glad I could help! And yeah, City of Rocks is awesome! I never get tired of coming here.

Great review. I have a big Action X bag for when I lug everything across the country. Lately, I’ve been using an old, smaller LowePro bag for local work that carries my z7ii with 24-70 lens and my 100-400. This new Shimoda would fit that need with all the other desirable Shimoda qualities.

Me too got the peakdesign clip- However I bought the Cotton carrier, and the camera is always with me- Than I talk about the olympus Om1 and 300 f4, and the Olympus EM1 mk 3 with 12-100 f4- This is what I bring backpaking- 👌👌😊😊👍👍❤❤

Thank you for the video. Really appreciate you showing the inside of the bag with real gear. So few demonstrations of the bag(s) do this and knowing the inserts are different from the ones previously available make choosing a bag a little problematic. I did opt for the 25L and I hope it’s not too big. Already own a 30L and 35L Explorer V2 and a 35L Explorer V1 so hope this one works out. Take care.

@BrentHall

6 ай бұрын

You're welcome, I'm glad it helped! What I've felt after having worn the bag for a while now, is that it just feels more streamlined and less bulky on my back, even compared to my Action X 25 and Explore V2 25. That's just me though. I hope the bag works out for you!

Solid review. And I've seen them all. Thank you.

@BrentHall

6 ай бұрын

Thanks, I appreciate it!

Thank you so much for creating this amazing video! I really enjoyed watching it and learned a lot from your content. By the way, I noticed there are 4 colors of the waist strap of Peak Deisgn. Could you please tell me what color the strap is? Thanks again for your awesome work!😀

Chanced upon your video cause I backed the 20L version in Anthracite. Thanks for showing that you can place a 70-200mm vertically inside the Core Unit in the 20L! And the cons you faced from your own experience with the bag. Have been contemplating between the 20L and 25L for more gear space but then again I'm only 5"4'. Got a sub from me!

@BrentHall

6 ай бұрын

Hey thanks for the kind words and the sub, I really appreciate that, and I'm glad the video helped!

Excellent review Brent! Though I have and love a Nomatic Luma 18L, was interested in this Shimoda 18L, to compare the quality of these companies! Thanks again sir!

@BrentHall

Ай бұрын

Thanks for watching, I appreciate it!

Was deciding between this and the new Nomantic Luma collection, Shimoda all the way. Better pocket layout and organization

One other thing, thanks for showing the bag's durability in rugged high desert terrain. I love the durability of the Explore/Action line of shimoda bags in high desert terrain, but based on your words. It sounds like the Urban Explore bag is just as durable in comparison, considering it's made of a different material.

@MagnitudeReviews

6 ай бұрын

Bonus points for the mentioning of sand dunes, as I am someone who works around a shit ton of sand all the time.

I just bought mindshift backlight 36L and it fits my 600mm II with camera attached and also my 100-400mm II camera attached. It is really good.

@BrentHall

6 ай бұрын

Oh nice. I've heard really good things about that bag!

We may pick up the Urban Explore 25L, I think it would suit our needs for day trips and around town stuff. We already have 4 other Shimoda backpacks in varying sizes depending on our equipment needs and destination.. We also have 2 of their roller bags mostly for air travel. Needless to say we are Shimoda fans. Thanks for your review. Cheers!

@ECDPhotography

6 ай бұрын

I keep going back and forth on size! I am the same size as camera lady and all of the 25l are just so big!

@BrentHall

6 ай бұрын

If you don't need the extra laptop space, and are the same size as camera lady, then I'd say go for the 20L. She really loves the fit for her. She's cool with her 25L Explore V2 also, but mostly only for international travel. For all the day hikes and local stuff she loves the 20L.

Anyone else keep scanning for rattlesnakes? Another great video.

Would be so cool if shimoda makes updated shoulder straps for my older Explore V2 🤞🥰🤗

@BrentHall

6 ай бұрын

If they made updated shoulder straps and added that capture clip strip part for their Action and Explore series, I would buy them IMMEDIATELY!!!!! lol. As is it, I think I'll try to modify my straps to make something like that, cause now I'm spoiled and don't want to live without it.

@bladerealm124

6 ай бұрын

@@BrentHallif you find a good clean way to add the capture clip piece to your existing bags I'd love to hear more info about how you do it or a video

For me..for stuff like this and "gear"..im in that mindset of that saying.."its better to have and not need..then need and not have"..so as that goes I would always personally get the larger size which is the 30L for this Shimoda Urban Explorer..I would rather have that "extra room" for stuff...plus its a little way to "future" proof your self..depending on your gear later..

9:15 I've always called those straps load lifters.

@BrentHall

6 ай бұрын

That's a good term :P

Thanks for the review! My normal setup is a small FF (sony a7c) attached to a 24-105 F4 + 70-200 F4. No doubt that will fit nicely but how much space do you have on the top pocket? Could you fit a sweater + a tech pouch for example?

@BrentHall

6 ай бұрын

I don't think you could fit a sweater and a tech ouch in the top of the 20L , but you could put the sweater in the front where I put my rain shell, and then the pouch in the top part, or above the core unit, under the top part.

I'm thinking of backing either the 25 or the 30 and I'm wondering how exact are the dimensions of the core unit? My d7200 and 80-400g measures at just under 11", larger than the 10.6 in internal height of the 25L core unit. Would it fit with some coaxing? I would really like to use the smallest bag I can get away with that'll hold the camera with that lens attached and 1-2 others.

Thanks for the demo. Which bag will accommodate your R5 with the 500mm f4 attached for hiking around, plus perhaps a couple landscape lenses and hiking gear included (snacks, water, tripod, gps, batteries, puffy coat and or shell, etc..)?

@BrentHall

6 ай бұрын

I use my Action X50L for that, but with a little hack. I'll make a video about it soon. If you want something that was made to fit all that properly, their Action X70HD and XXL core unit will fit a 600mm with body attached, but it's a BIG bag.

@jefferyrobbins3468

6 ай бұрын

Thanks for your input! @@BrentHall

@jefferyrobbins3468

6 ай бұрын

I should also add that one of the challenges I think is to have room for the big lens (with camera attached when desired), but then also space for the camera to sit in the bag with a landscape lens attached (e.g. 24-70) when doing landscapes, with the big lens of course still packed in the bag ready to go for wildlife/birds at a moments notice. Many times that big white takes all the vertical space in the bag, not leaving room to carry the camera attached to a landscape lens (or macro lens, etc..). Especially when the camera has a L bracket attached. @@BrentHall

Thanks for letting me know how there is an ability to add a 3rd party waist strap. That was my biggest concern with the bag's announcement. Also thanks for showing how a liter sized water bottle can also fit. Another concern of mine. My last main question is if there is a small strap somewhere that looks like a good place to attach a wireless mic, like a DJI Mic for example. I know there was two really nice pieces of webbing on the Explore V2 bag, but I can't see a good one on this bag unfortunately, other than clunkily attaching it to the chest strap.

@BrentHall

6 ай бұрын

You can attach a mic to the left shoulder strap where the new capture clip sleeve part is. Seems like that's the only place on the straps that might work.

I have the 30L from the kickstarter right now, having trouble deciding between it and the 25L. Plan to take it on a trip to Scotland this coming April and feel like the Urban bag is a good compromise for traveling like that. Would be curious to know if you had a choice of a Urban Explore which one you would have taken on your Scotland trip earlier this year.

@ldmndz4652

6 ай бұрын

Should go with the 30L..in my opinion..rather have more space and maybe not use it..then you regretting I need more space once you start putting "gear" in the bag..lol

@BrentHall

6 ай бұрын

I definitely would have gone with the 30L if I had it back then. I almost went for the 30L now, but decided on the 20L so camera lady could use it too.

Hi Brent…..just loved your review. I ordered the 20l as well. Question for you: it looks like this bag rides very low on the back compared to the Explore V2 and the Action X….can this be adjusted with the straps to have it ride higher up closer to the shoulders? Thanks in advance for your response!❤

@BrentHall

6 ай бұрын

Yeah, it's definitely adjustable. I'm just really tall and it feels weird when a tiny bag sits high on me like that.

@sstokoe2301

6 ай бұрын

@@BrentHall ….thanks so much Brent. How does Camera Lady wear it? Does she raise it high?

@BrentHall

6 ай бұрын

@@sstokoe2301 She wears it higher, but not super high, but also, she's stupid tiny. She's only 5'1" so any bag is is just a lot bigger on her.

It stands up better if you remove the rain cover at the bottom!

Great video. Someday camera lady is just going to shut the camera off on you. 🤠 Will that bag accommodate a Canon R with a grip attached?

@BrentHall

6 ай бұрын

Well, it you have it on its side like I had mine, then possibly. Or if you had the bigger versions then also probably.

Stay safe my dear 👋❤️👻

Looking at outside dimension spec the Explore 25v2 is 21.34L but looks bit larger than the new Urban Explore 20 at 25.38L Realllllly like that PD capture clip mount on straps. But also realllly bummed shoulder straps are not removable like all other previous Shimoda series. Was the biggest selling point for me as no one else did torso adjustment. I get this new line is streaming line to be simple, but still a bummer.

@rittersports0

4 ай бұрын

Urban explore 20 is actually 23.22L

Can you fit a Nikon Z9 body in the Shimoda URBAN EXPLORE 30L version, when you have a laptop in the bag, too?

@BrentHall

6 ай бұрын

I have no idea. I have neither of those. I've heard the Z9 is pretty large though?

@TheDeltaMoo

5 ай бұрын

If an R6 fits handle up comfortably, z9 should go in about the same. Laptop in the outer pocket doesn't change anything in the camera section. Putting a laptop in the camera section sleeve might not work with a Z9

I’m very interested in how this fits on camera lady in comparison to the 25L, because I’m only 4’11, I’m really debating 20l or 25l, does she feel more comfortable with 20l for say a whole day walking / sightseeing on holiday?

@BrentHall

6 ай бұрын

Okay, so first off, sorry we totally forgot to film the part where camera lady uses the bag. We just completely spaced it. So she's a pretty tiny creature, 5'1" and ~97 lbs. I'll try to make a post over on the community tab tomorrow, when she's out and about with it and include some pictures. For daily stuff, she definitely prefers the 20L. She has the 25L Explore V2 and loves that one for international travel, where she needs just a bit more storage room, and it's still good for her to day hike in because it's just so comfortable. The Urban 25L is a bit thinner than the Explore and Action bags of the same size, so it might fit you reasonably well too. I'd say of it's more for daily stuff, and you don't need the extra space and the bigger laptop slots, then you'd be most comfortable with the 20L, but you could probably make 25L work as well if you really need the extra space. The 30L would probably be too big. The 35L Explore looks like an entire house on camera lady's back, lol.

@rereireika

6 ай бұрын

@@BrentHall thank you so much for such a detailed response. :) that is exactly the problem I have with backpacks, they are often so large for me that it looks like I’m carrying a house! Thank you, I’ll keep a look out for the post since camera lady is so close to my height, I can really see how it fits on her :) it’s so helpful because almost everyone is much taller than me so it’s hard to imagine the size I am planning to use it for international travel, but I don’t carry a laptop, just a kindle and iPad Air, travel papers, phone, maybe some snacks, drink, keys, camera gear which I have a Sony a7c, I always have a 35mm prime, and maybe a 16-35 or a 20mm prime, and maybe a 85mm prime or 24-105. Maybe some small souvenirs I pick up along the way goes in the bag, but large souvenirs I’ll just use a bag from the shop. Clothing would most likely be gloves or scarf. I always try to travel light because I’m so short, anything I carry during travel end up being so cumbersome. Comfort is so important to walk morning to night on holiday, for many days in a row. Would you and camera lady recommend 20l or 25l for my use case, which is normally a whole day walking on holidays with those items in bag? The last thing I tried was a sling camera bag that looked like a backpack from behind, and that felt heavy and painful walking around Belgium from morning until night while on holiday.

@BrentHall

6 ай бұрын

@@rereireika Well, having the 2 laptop sleeves will be perfect for your kindle and iPad, and you could put your scarf and gloves, and maybe even a light sweater or rain shell in the front pouch like I did in the video for my shell. That would leave the top pouch open for snacks and souvenirs and such. Camera Lady has her kindle and a small 13” laptop she takes on every international trip. She also has her R6II, 24-70, 70-200, 24 1.8, and a small filter set that is her main kit in her bag, which all fits nicely in the 20L; however, we both think that is on the edge of what it can comfortably fit. Also, like I showed in the video, we have added the PD waist strap to the Urban 20L, and it helps a lot, at least for us. I think with your listed kit, the 20L would be alright (it will definitely fit you the best), especially if you have another roller bag or checked bag or something for the rest of your clothes and stuff, but if you’re wanting to hike around with that all day long and also possibly fit other stuff from shopping , food, jackets, etc, you might want to consider either Urban 25L or the Explore V2 25L. The Urban 25 will be a bit slimmer and lighter, and has better pocket and design features for straight up travelling and day hike stuff, like the PD capture clip strap part, the cable management side pocket, the dual laptop sleeves, etc. The Explore will be more comfortable with heavier loads and will have better straps and a built-in waist belt, but will be more bulky overall than the Urban. We’re going out later today, so I’ll grab some pictures and post them on the community page and maybe my Instagram too. @hall.of.the.wild , Brittany’s IG is @britt.ochoa if you want to see her page or message her directly about it.

@rereireika

6 ай бұрын

@@BrentHall hi Brent, thanks so much for your insight, time, thoughts and help! I really appreciate it, and I know others with similar height/stature will too. 🙂 Thanks for sharing Brittany’s insta also. I look forward to your post on community. Thank you both so much. You both are a star 🌟

You have mentioned camera lady is smaller size, as a smaller size lady too, wondering how this bag fits on her?

@BrentHall

6 ай бұрын

I'm sorry, we were going to film a whole bit with camera lady wearing it for size reference and we totally forgot 😭😭😭. She's 5'1" and this fits her really well. First bag she's had that's not too big. Well that and her explore v2 25L that was in the video, that one fits her really well too. Everything else has always been too big for her.

@ECDPhotography

6 ай бұрын

Also interested!

So called Urban Explore but all reviews shot at mountian, rocks or even seaside. I don‘t see any improvements this series that target usage for Urban scenario. Who want lay flat his/her backpack on ground at street of NYC, London or Tokyo? The name does not correspond to reality.