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The Shimoda Action X30 is my favorite camera bag. I’ve been using this bag on a daily basis for over a year and have few complaints about it.

When evaluating a camera bag, I assess four primary areas: the bag's ability to carry camera gear and additional gear, its ability to hold a 1L water bottle on the exterior, its overall weight, and its comfort.

Carrying Camera Gear & Additional Gear

The Shimoda Action X30 does an excellent job balancing the ability to carry camera gear and the additional gear needed for a landscape photography outing. Camera gear can be accessed from the bag's back panel or a small side opening. Shimoda packs have a modular camera-carrying system centered around their ‘core units.’ These units fit inside the pack and come in various sizes. You can pick the size appropriate to the amount of camera gear you plan to carry and switch out core units to tailor the pack to your needs on any given day. I have the medium mirrorless core unit in my pack, and it’s adequate to carry my Sony A7R IV with a lens attached, one additional lens, and some extra gear.

The pack also does well carrying additional gear. There is a large top-opening compartment to hold additional gear. The pack features a roll-top closure, which helps keep out the elements while also providing the flexibility to expand the internal volume of the pack as needed. With the medium mirrorless core unit installed, the top compartment has plenty of room to carry insulating layers, a rain jacket, and the ten essentials. The pack also had a large front pocket with small interior storage pockets, a laptop sleeve, and large pockets on the shoulder straps.

Carrying A 1L Water Bottle

The ability of a pack to carry a 1L water bottle on the exterior of the pack may seem like it isn’t something worth mentioning in a review, but it is critical to how I function in the backcountry. I prefer not to use bladder systems, especially in a camera bag where a failure would soak my gear. I also want my water accessible without going inside the pack. Several camera bags out there do not have a good solution for carrying a water bottle or cannot carry one as large as a 1L Hydro Flask.

The Shimoda Action X30 can carry two large water bottles on the pack's exterior. Each side of the pack has pull-out water bottle pockets that easily hold a large 1L bottle. These pockets can also hold the legs of a tripod. When not in use, the pockets stash away, giving the pack a sleek profile.

Overall Pack Weight

The Shimoda Action X30 weighs 3.7 lbs without a core unit installed. With the medium mirrorless core unit, the overall pack weight is 4.8 lbs. This is similar in weight to adventure-style camera bags, such as the Atlas Athlete, but a little heavy for a hiking pack. Overall, the pack weight is satisfactory, considering this includes the robust camera protection features of the pack.

Pack Comfort

I’ve found the Shimoda Action X30 comfortable when carrying the pack loaded with camera gear and other gear for short to medium-length outings. The pack is also comfortable on longer outings, but if it is loaded down, I wish it had better lumbar support and more padded hip belts. Overall I would rate the pack as comfortable for most day hikes and outings.