Urban Explore 25: Shimoda’s Go Anywhere Pack
“Urban Explore” might be a misnomer but it lends an element of city chic and hipness that reflects the sleek simplicity of this newest addition to Shimoda’s stable of thoroughbreds.
In many ways it combines much of the goodness of Shimoda’s Explore and Action ranges and throws in a stripped back simplicity that would work well in an urban environment. But, and it’s a big but, it works equally well in non urban environments.
Here in Glen Brittle on the Isle of Skye, urban environments are scarce, Portree and Broadford, the principal towns probably being significantly smaller than many villages off island and down south.
The original Explorer range seems aimed at landscape photographers, the Action range is geared towards mountains and adventurous activities. The Urban Explore retains much of the Shimoda DNA already imbued in their existing ranges but delivers a pack that has a wide ranging appeal.
Whilst trips into the Cuillin, mountain adventures with photography in mind, would have me reaching for my Action X50 or X70HD, for more general activities and trips, the Urban Explore has become a no brainer go to pack. It’s the pack I store my camera kit in so it’s always good to go. For an early morning mountain mission, gear will be decanted to an Action pack but for anything else, the Urban Explore makes perfect sense.
Over the almost six months that I’ve had the Urban Explore it has proved its worth on low level walks, trips down to our local beach, loch side rambles but it has proved far more useful than this suggests. As my go to grab bag, I pretty much never leave the house without it. Trips to the shops, visits to clients, pub nights out, trips to the gym or climbing wall are all covered and means that I have my camera gear should that chance in a million opportunity arise.
As mentioned earlier, “Urban” is a misnomer, perhaps even a bit misleading since this is such a versatile pack suitable for many genres of photography. Our glen might lack anything urban but we do have the Glen Brittle Campsite with its chic coffee shop. My wife, Bridgette, and I often drop into this oasis of coolness for our caffeine fix and the Urban Explore is the one pack that always attracts attention from both staff and customers. Something about its understated design and subtle looks make people ask about it, ask to try it on.
Whilst the Urban Explore might have been perfected for a day in the city, it works equally well in the rural environment. In fact, it works well for anyone wanting a super rugged camera pack that is equally at home in rural or urban areas. Being a mountain guide and photographer, I can only guess that it would work well for those trips to the office where you want to be ready for whatever urban photo opportunities arise. It is versatile enough that your intrepid urban explorer could use it for weekend breaks and holidays away from the metropolis.
There is so much to like about the Urban Explore from its design and looks, its feel and tactileness right through to how well it does its job; after all, let’s not forget it is a camera pack.
First impressions are great. My Urban Explore is in the Boa colourway which is basically a tan colour. It’s a nice change from the (seemingly omnipresent) black or grey camera bags and packs. Should you wish, then the Urban Explore is also available in “Anthracite” which sounds far superior to bog standard “black.”
Boa is quite a light colour yet not too bright, not a screaming, in your face, red or orange. Like everything about the pack, it is subtle.
The exterior is made from recycled Cordura to provide a fabric that looks and feel great but also repels water and dirt. I haven’t really got it too dirty but a damp cloth has easily removed any marks so far.
Everything about the pack screams top notch materials to match the design. The pack is nicely rigid thanks to an internal frame and not only does this serve to protect your expensive are black coated aluminium that exude a military gear like strength and utility of purpose. The Boa colourway has a nice added touch of full grain leather tabs attached to all the zips. These feel great and really do facilitate accessing the pack.
Like other Shimoda packs, the Urban range has base and top handles above and below the big zipped main entry. These make good grab handles when moving the pack but really come into their own when the pack is open; using the two handles it is possible to move from one photo location to another without the need to pack things away and zip everything up.
The pack swallows a ton of gear and I can easily get in my Sony A7RIV with L bracket and 20mm mounted along with 70-200mm F2.8 and 1.4 teleconverter and 40mm lens along with Shimoda Filter wrap, filter holder, filters etc. I suspect you could fit the standard trio of F2.8 lens if you so chose.
The pack comes with a padded and removable Core Unit with Velcro adjustable dividers so you can easily set up a configuration to suit your camera gear. The Core Unit is removable thus adding the ability to use the Explore as a more conventional (ie non photo gear) pack.
Access to camera gear is quick and easy, the pack is supremely comfortable and it’s a joy to use. I particularly like the magnetic “buckle” on the stenum strap, one of the subtle features that make the Urban Explore the perfect mix of practicalities and aesthetics. Unlike the Action and Explorer ranges, it has been shorn of superfluous features. The exterior has very clean lines being pretty much devoid of straps and attachment points. Clean lines for city living.
Remove the Core Unit and you have a very useable day pack or overnight bag. A 16 inch laptop will fit inside so it makes a great bag for commuters and office goers. It served me well on a trip to my publishers, Cicerone Press, to discuss a forthcoming book. Removing the Core Unit meant I had plenty of space for overnight gear. Equally importantly it made for a smart pack to take into the meeting and easy access to my laptop for a presentation.
Product photography really isn’t my thing. I’d much rather be out in the fresh air taking landscape shots. Having the Urban Explore really facilitates this. Being lucky enough to live on the Isle of Skye means there’s potential for a photo around every bend in the road so it’s a rare day that I don’t leave home without the Urban Explore and a tripod. Thus equipped, I can just stop and grab a shot. Urban Explorer on my back, tripod in hand, I’m in my element.
In many ways, the Urban Explore distils the essence of all the good things in Shimoda’s exiting camera packs into a minimalist design. As is often the case, less is very much more and the Urban Explore is fine example of combining form and function. It is equal parts beauty and functionality, a winning combination.
At a guess, I think Shimoda will sell a lot more of these packs than their more specific Action and Explorer ranges and deservedly so. Check out Shimoda’s website for all the specs and info.
https://uk.shimodadesigns.com/shimoda-urban-explore-25-backpack-boa/
