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Its hiking heritage sees the bag being constructed around an internal frame made from aluminium tubing and the rigidity provided by the frame perfectly complements the bag’s lush padding. One option is to go in through the top of the bag, removing the aforementioned rain jacket and lunch before extracting the whole ICU and finally gaining access to your camera.
No bags catered to action sports photographers and filmmakers, ones that could withstand the rugged demands of shooting outdoors and in extreme conditions. I have four f-Stop backpacks but the 50litre Tilopa, which sits in the middle of the range of Mountain Series backpacks has long been my favourite.Other details worth noting are the small accoutrements like the sternum strap that has an integrated rescue whistle, hook and loop secure straps and elastic webbing for things like hydration tubes are a nice touch.
One of things that I particularly like about the bag is that the camera gear is accessed via the back panel, so the equipment is secure, but you can also access the main compartment via the top opening as well, making it very practical. So I took a chance on the Tilopa BC, the second largest of six packs they make in the Mountain Series and it’s everything I hoped it would be. There were pros and cons for each (i can tell more if someone is interested) but overall i liked Tilopa more after all. The ICU that I was given by F-stop was their large variant but they sell different sized ICUs to fit different needs. It also has several adjustment points for added comfort, multiple access points for loading and unloading, and just the right amount of pockets for storage without being overwhelmed and having to forget where you put things.The internal frame of the Tilopa is one of the reasons it carries heavy weights so well, but the height of this frame is also why it won’t fit into most carry-on baggage cages at the airport. The good thing is there is barely any load placed on the back and shoulders, and almost all the weight of the pack sits comfortably on wearer’s hips when the belt is fastened. If you want the details and photos of non-recommended-for-Tilopa ICUs, please read my F-Stop ICU guide.
To better understand what I'm on about, the video below sheds light on the matter from the 01:05 mark onwards. Having owned several other camera bags over the years, I can confidently say that the convenience and practicality of the F-Stop Tilopa are second to none. They are completely adjustable with plenty of dividers which you could move around depending on what you are carrying.
One thing to note is that there is no bladder hanging loop inside the bag, making it harder to get the last drops of water out when the nearly-empty bladder crumples to the bottom of the compartment. It has all the features for making it perfect for the extreme traveling photographer, such as being made of out of water resistant oxford-weave ripstop nylon, all the straps and clips for carrying everything from heavy tripods to snow shoes, and a sturdy H-frame.
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