Shimoda camera bag review 2025

For seven years, I relied on my trusty camera bag to accompany me to all the remote places around the world where I reported travel and adventure stories. Last year, it finally broke and I discovered that it had been discontinued. That sent me on an unexpectedly trying mission to find an alternative. There are plenty of camera bags, but as an adventure travel journalist and photographer, I couldn’t get just any bag. 

I needed a weather-resistant camera bag that could double as a travel backpack, with room for toiletries, a change of clothes, and my laptop and reporter’s notebooks. It had to be big enough for two cameras, a long lens, and several smaller prime lenses. Yet, it had to be small enough to fit under ever-shrinking airline seats, especially since I travel with just a carry-on and need the overhead space for a duffel or roller bag. 

After weeks of research and lots of trial and error, I finally found the perfect adventure camera bag: the Shimoda Explore v2 30. I love that this one comes in a women’s edition that conforms to my body. Since I got it in 2024, I’ve taken it to Baja California Sur, Mexico, and the Yukon territory in Canada. It held up well in both extreme conditions, with plenty of room for all my equipment, plus winter essentials for stops in the Yukon’s Whitehorse and Dawson City. 

What I like 

• Large enough for cameras and travel gear, but small enough to fit under a plane seat 

• Shoulder straps and removable waist bands for easily carrying over long distances, especially hikes 

• Pockets abound on this pack—great for staying organized and keeping essentials accessible, which is especially important when you’re adventuring 

What I don’t like 

• Airlines increasingly shrink their under-seat storage, so the pack didn’t fit under every seat (many storage areas can now only fit a small purse) 

• My 14-inch MacBook Pro only fits in the laptop compartment without a protective case—fortunately the laptop sleeve is padded 

• The pack itself is heavy at five-and-a-half pounds, which can make meeting airline weight limits tricky when you’re already loaded down with cameras and lenses 

The bottom line 

The Shimoda Explore v2 30 isn’t perfect—no pack is. But it’s the closest I’ve found to fit my needs as an adventure travel photographer. It’s ideal for outdoor-loving photographers who carry one or two cameras and a handful of lenses. Any more than that and you’ll need a larger bag or a camera pack designed solely for photographers. It’s also great for capturing video. The straps have attachments for microphones and there’s a quick-access phone pocket, giving you multiple ways to nail the shot and the audio to accompany it. 

Key specifications 

• Size: 11.6W x 20.3H x 6.6D inches (exterior dimensions) 

• Weight: 5.5 pounds 

• Capacity: 30 liters 

• Waterproof: Water-resistant with included rain cover 

• Laptop sleeve: Room for 16-inch laptops and smaller 

• Warranty: Five years  

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Who is the Shimoda Explore v2 30 camera bag best for? 

I recommend this bag for adventure travel photographers, writers, and filmmakers because of its durability and design. This bag has shoulder straps and a sturdy waistband to lighten the load on long treks, as well as a small footprint that appeases even hyper-restrictive airlines—an unavoidable aspect of traveling to remote places. The low-key design that looks like any standard backpack makes it ideal for city strolls too. Women photographers who struggle to find a bag that fits their frame may also appreciate this version, which comes in a nice teal. 

Shimoda Explore v2 30 camera bag features we love 

I’ve found much to love about the Shimoda Explore v2 30, especially for adventure photographers. This includes: 

Interior pockets galore 

There are more pockets on this backpack than I’ve ever seen on any bag. That forces me to stay organized. I keep like items together—for example, I put my valuables in one compartment, my photography odds-and-ends (lens cleaner, spare batteries) in another. Of course, my camera and lenses secure in the main modular compartment, which is roomy enough for both of my Sony mirrorless cameras, as well as three prime lenses and filters. Unfortunately, my 100-400mm zoom lens is too big for that area, so I pack it in the main top compartment alongside my toiletries.  

Smartphone pocket 

This is one of my favorite pockets. It’s located on the shoulder strap, which makes it easy to access my hefty iPhone 15 Pro Max for quick photos, videos, and audio recordings. 

Compact size 

I picked the Shimoda Explore v2 30 because I needed a small, portable bag that would fit under airplane seats. Whether or not it fits depends on the plane, but I’ve only run into issues twice and only because the under-seat space was too small to fit anything but a purse. 

The women’s version is sized to my female frame, with multiple adjustment points to ensure the perfect fit—great for long hikes. 

A camera and adventure pack 

There are many camera backpacks out there, but surprisingly not all are suitable for photography and adventure travel. That’s what drew me to Shimoda. It can support you on many adventures, whether it’s a multiday trek between sheep farms in Greenland or a journey to meet some of Panama’s most remote communities. With shoulder and waist straps, an internal frame for support, a weather-resistant exterior, and a rain cover among its many features, this pack is designed to be just as much a camera bag as it is an adventure bag—and that’s truly hard to find. 

Weather resistant 

I put this backpack through the wringer on a recent trip to the Yukon, where it spent almost as much time in the snow as it did on my back, while I chased northern lights for six hours. It stayed dry, even after I set it on the snow next to me while I photographed. Of course, the rain cover makes it even more weather-resistant, so it’s good to keep that handy while you’re adventuring too. 

Shimoda Explore v2 30 price 

The Shimoda Explore v2 30 retails for around $385—pretty similar to other adventure-photography backpacks. That may sound hefty, but I’ve learned you truly get what you pay for. I’m willing to splurge on something I will use on about a dozen or more trips each year. Plus, this bag’s designed to last and comes with a five-year warranty. 

How we tested the Shimoda Explore v2 30 

I tested the Shimoda Explore v2 30 camera bag on two adventure photography and reporting trips. The first was a five-day trek in the desert and dunes outside Loreto, in Baja California Sur, Mexico, where I photographed the night sky. The second was also a five-day journey in wind and snow in the Yukon, in northern Canada, where I hiked, snowshoed, and chased northern lights. In addition to the elements, I took it on multiple airplanes, so I got to see firsthand how it fit in the overhead bins and beneath the seats. 

Final thoughts 

When it comes to utility, this Shimoda is like the Swiss Army knife of camera bags. It has pockets for everything you need, plus more you didn’t realize you needed. Numerous clips, hooks, and straps keep gear handy without sacrificing comfort over long distances. However, for all its great features, this pack isn’t for everyone. Travelers who need to carry more than two cameras, or multiple long lenses, will need a larger camera bag. If you have a camera or two, and a handful of small lenses (and even a big one), you’ll be set for your next adventure—rain, shine, or snow. 

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Other camera bags I love 

No bag is perfect. If the Shimoda Explore v2 30 isn’t for you, I have a few more favorites to consider. I’ve tested a few of these; others are recommended by fellow adventure photographers. 

Shimoda Action X40 v2

This was the first Shimoda pack I tried, and it’s a great option for longer treks or the most rugged adventures. With a 40-liter capacity, it’s trickier to fit under the seat of a midsized airplane—something I learned firsthand. Thankfully, however, it fit well into the overhead bins. This pack is especially versatile, with a roll-top upper pocket that expands or compresses based on how much gear you need. I use this one on trips that require more camera gear and equipment than usual, such as long-distance or overnight hikes. 

Lowepro Pro Trekker BP 450 AWII 

Chilean photographer Miguel Angel Fuentealba spends his days in the field tracking and photographing pumas, while capturing the beauty of Patagonia. He knows a thing or two about adventure backpacks. He recommends the LowePro Trekker BP 450 AWII because of its compact size and usefulness.

“It’s perfect for traveling,” he told me, noting the important perk for travelers: it fits airline carry-on requirements. The pack is designed to fit two pro mirrorless or DSLR cameras, as well as up to six lenses (depending on size). It has space for a laptop up to 15 inches. Like the Shimoda packs, this one has a removable waist belt that makes it ideal for hiking for the shot. 

AtlasPacks Athlete Camera Backpack 

Adventure photographer Jay Clue, who travels North America by van to capture the continent’s most eye-popping landscapes, swears by the AtlasPacks Athlete Camera Backpack. “It’s honestly the best camera bag for travel and hiking,” he told me. “I never leave home without it.”

Clue goes deep into deserts, forests, and mountains for his photography, and the Atlas pack can keep up. It comes in 20 liters and 40 liters, with a slim profile that fits under airplane seats. The ergonomic shoulder straps and hip belt reduce the stress of carrying gear long distances, while a weather-resistant build keeps gear safe in all sorts of outdoor activities. 

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Peak Design Outdoor Backpack 

Peak Design has made a major name for itself in the world of travel photography—particularly with its ultra-light travel tripod, which I love for astrophotography. The Peak Design Outdoor Backpack works seamlessly with accessories like the Peak Design Capture Camera Clip, which attaches cameras to the shoulder strap or waist belt for quick access. 

These packs fit a mix of photography gear, toiletries, and clothing—something adventure photographers, like me, crave in a bag. A weatherproof Terra Shell keeps gear safe in the field. Perhaps the best feature? The large camera cube. It’s sold separately, but I love that you can carry it around on short city walks and then pack it when you’re ready to go.