Our Long-Term Review of the Shimoda Action X50 Backpack

After thorough consideration, I made the decision to purchase the Shimoda Action X50 backpack a few years ago as my primary backpack for photography travels. Now, after several years of use, I want to reflect on its performance. Is it worth the investment? Let's find out.

In a previous article, I explained my reasons for choosing the Think Tank Retrospective 15 backpack, which suited my needs for day trips and holidays. However, I needed something larger for photography travels that could accommodate more than just photography gear.

Initially, I bought the F-stop Ajna 40 backpack, which provided a lot of space and huge side pockets. However, I soon realized it lacked comfort, and I grew dissatisfied with its design and carrying capabilities.

After conducting some research, I bought the Shimoda Action X50 backpack. Its design seemed more thoughtful, and the shoulder straps promised better comfort. Additionally, the expandable top offered the flexibility to carry extra items when needed. I chose the green variant of the Action X50, together with the medium DSLR core unit.

A Backpack and Core Units

An insert is essential for this type of backpacks. Shimoda named these "core units," and I initially purchased the medium DSLR core unit, which turned out to be too small for my needs. Consequently, I invested in a second one, the large DSLR core unit.

Having multiple core unit sizes proved quite convenient. I could use the large DSLR core unit when I needed to carry a lot of gear, and for lighter trips, I could switch to the medium DSLR core unit. This versatility made the Shimoda Action X50 backpack far more flexible than I had initially anticipated.

The Design of the Shimoda Action X50 Backpack

It's important to note the considerable size of this backpack, especially for air travel. It measures 30 x 56 x 21 centimeters and weighs 1.9 kilograms. Its weight is due to its aluminum frame that provides structural strength. The total volume is 50 liters, hence the name "Action X50," and the expandable roll-top adds an extra 7 liters of volume.

The harness of the Action X50 is highly adjustable, allowing for 10 centimeters of height adjustment to fit both short and tall torsos. The harness can be fully removed and replaced if necessary, and Shimoda also offers specially designed harnesses for women.

The shoulder straps feature a unique vest-like shape, providing a lot of comfort even with heavy loads. These straps also come with additional pockets that can accommodate a large smartphone or other accessories. The expandable pocket can even hold a small water bottle of up to 0.7 liters.

The backpack is equipped with numerous straps on the sides and front, along with strategically placed loops for attaching additional straps or a carabiner. This feature allows you to secure various equipment, such as ski gear, ropes, ice picks, or camping gear on the exterior of the bag. A specialized helmet holder is also included.

On both sides of the bag are pockets that house large mesh pouches. When pulled out, these pouches can hold the legs of a large tripod, which can then be secured with the straps on the side. It's also possible to use it for a large water bottle, of course.

The Action X50 is designed to accommodate one large core unit or two smaller ones stacked on top of each other. These core units are inserted from the back access panel, which opens sideways. There's also a side access panel, allowing you to grab a lens or camera without removing the bag completely from your back.

A large front compartment extends all the way down, providing enough space for a compact avalanche shovel. There are also two smaller pockets located inside this front compartment, and a water bladder can be stored in a separate sleeve. Additionally, the expandable roll-top features two large mesh pockets.

What I Carry Inside

In most situations, I use the large DSLR core unit to carry my gear. Inside, I store a Canon mirrorless camera, a large telephoto zoom lens, and two smaller zoom lenses. Additionally, I carry a DJI Mavic Pro 2 drone with two spare batteries and a smart controller. There's also room for an additional lens or a second camera if necessary. The Action X50 includes a laptop sleeve in the back access panel, suitable for a 15-inch laptop.

You need to be careful when using the laptop sleeve. Since there is nothing to secure the laptop, it will slide out when opening the back panel completely. Some Velcro would solve this problem.

If I don't need to take a drone, the available space can be used to store a pouch with a complete 100mm filter set. Alternatively, I can remove the large DSLR core unit and replace it with the medium DSLR core unit, which offers less gear space but provides more room for additional travel gear.

The Shimoda Action X50 is not limited to photography use alone; it's designed for various purposes, with photography being a significant part of its focus. However, due to its large capacity, the backpack can become very heavy. Keep that in mind.

My Experiences With the Shimoda Action X50

During my travels, I've primarily used the Action X50 to carry photography equipment, as mentioned earlier. It has been accepted as carry-on luggage on international and domestic flights within Europe.

I use the additional storage space for food, snacks, and clothing, resulting in a total weight of almost 15 kilograms, including my large tripod and a water bottle. To ensure comfort, it's essential to pack the bag thoughtfully, distributing the weight and keeping it close to your back as much as possible.

To make my camera quickly accessible, I often carry it outside the bag in front of me, using the carrying system I previously wrote about. Although this doesn't reduce the weight, it improves balance and ensures my camera is always ready for use.

The material and back access panel make it safe to place the bag on various surfaces, such as dirt, sand, wet beaches, snow, or ice. Furthermore, the included rain cover offers another layer of protection for the backpack. When carefully closed, the roll-top keeps water and sand at bay.

Accessing the bag's interior is straightforward, although you need to remove the magnetic adjustment strap at the waistband before unzipping. I usually keep the magnetic connector unlocked, safely tucked away in the small elastic pouch within the waistband. Be cautious, as this magnetic connector can attract and accumulate grains of sand. During a long hike, it's wise to lock the magnetic strap, since it provides extra stability.

The bag features not that many small pockets, and they are not particularly large. Small items in the deep front compartment can get misplaced easily. The same applies to the large mesh pockets on the top of the bag.

My Final Thoughts

The Shimoda Action X50 may not be perfect, but it comes close. With its expansive storage, roll-top flexibility, and easily accessible back access panel, it offers a lot of practical use. The aluminum frame adds stability and keeps the core unit in place. The absence of zippers or pouches on the front allows for safe placement on the ground without worries of damage. The durable and easy-to-clean material withstands various terrains.

I do have a few suggestions for improvement. Adding a rain cover to the package would be great, along with thicker padding on the shoulder straps and waistband, considering the bag's potential weight when fully loaded. The addition of more small pockets in the top or main front compartment would enhance organizational options.

What I Like

• Quality of the materials, it’s tough and durable
• Can hold a lot of equipment inside
• Aluminum frame adds stability for the bag
• A lot of accessories and equipment can be connected to the outside
• A lot of different core units are available
• The expanding top offers a lot of extra space when needed
• The design of the shoulder straps improve the stability and weight distribution
• Pockets in the shoulder straps are very useful
• Can be adjusted to the torso height
• A lot of stabilization straps to optimize the fit
• Magnetic clip for the waist strap works great and snappy and can be stashed in an elastic pouch when not in use
• Removable waist band
• A large and deep front pocket
• Separate sleeve in the front cover for a water bladder with small holes on the bottom in case of leaking
• Absence of pockets on the front makes it no problem placing the bag face down on the ground
• Tripod mesh pockets on both sides and can be stacked away when not in use
• Has a detachable key ring in the mesh pouch in the top
• Helmet holder included
• Side handle
• Loop handles on the waist belt can be used for holding a small tripod
• Change the type of shoulder strap without any additional costs when ordering

What Could Be Improved

• A rain cover should be included
• Thicker padding on the shoulder straps
• Thicker padding on the waist band
• More small pockets
• Laptop compartment needs some Velcro to keep it closed
• The roll-top connectors on top stick out a lot, perhaps a connection on the side would be better
• If the mesh pouch for the tripod or water bottle is pulled out, the zipper can’t be closed anymore.

  

A Second Version of the Shimoda Action X50

After using the Shimoda Action X50 for several years, I have grown fond of it. There is now a second version available with some improvements, including a dual laptop sleeve, a concealed tracking device pouch, and removable mesh side pockets. A rain cover is now included.

Though the changes in the second version are relatively minor, I'm curious to see how it compares to the first edition I've been using. Although the Shimoda Action X50 is not the cheapest backpack, its quality justifies the investment. If you are in search of a versatile outdoor backpack for photography, this one is worth considering.