Minimalist on the Outside, Multifunctional on the Inside: The Nomatic McKinnon Camera Backpack 25L

by Nicco Valenzuela January 9, 2025 0 Comments

This camera backpack from Nomatic has been talked about by many photographers for its unique aesthetic. But is there more to this camera bag than that?

For many different reasons, this all-black minimalist backpack has had quite a lot of success over the past couple of years since it was released. It is undeniable that the bag's design is eye-catching to many photographers, specifically those who prefer the minimalist aesthetic, but there are, of course, more important factors to consider when deciding which camera bag to use. With the design aside, let's see if this bag has a lot more to offer and if it really is worth the considerable price tag.

The Nomatic McKinnon Camera Backpack 25L

The McKinnon camera backpack comes in two sizes, namely the 25 L version as seen in this review, and a larger 35 L version with more space and a few accessory pocket options. The 25 L version, in particular, comes in as a 19 x 13 x 7.5-inch (482.6 x 330.2 x 190.5 mm) shell made of a mix of polyester and reinforced nylon to make a water- and dust-resistant exterior.

The front panel of the black shell comprises two sets of seven accessory strap loops on each side, accompanied by a 2 x 1.4-inch (50.8 x 35.56 mm) patch with the Peter McKinnon x Nomatic logo in black. At the top of the front panel is a top access door with a zipper that spans the upper 40% of the front panel, allowing it to open up significantly to access whatever items are designated on the upper sub-compartment of the bag.

On each side are flexible side pockets that can hold significantly large water bottles or travel tripods. These pockets fold neatly onto the side of the bag when empty with the help of magnets that automatically collapse the pocket. Above each of the side pockets is a pair of accessory strap loops, ideally to hold the upper part of a tripod placed in the side pocket or any other elongated object that might need a reinforced hold. It’s important to note that the bag does not automatically come with any of these accessory straps, which means they would have to be purchased separately or used with other available alternatives that the user might already have.

Interior Compartment and Customization

The rear zipper, which lines both sides and the top of the backpack, opens up the entire 25L main compartment, which is entirely lined with brown polyester that is compatible with Velcro fasteners on the dividers and Nomatic’s unique ladder system.

The included ladder divider by default encloses the top 1/3 of the compartment that is accessible through the top access door. However, this part of the sub-compartment can also be accessed from the rear access by simply opening the magnetically latched flap from behind. What makes this ladder system handy is the fact that it is folded inwards to close off the top 1/3 of the compartment, but with a simple pull of the small loop handle, it can be expanded to span the top 2/3 of the compartment. This essentially divides the main compartment into customizable thirds depending on the ratio of camera gear to personal items and/or accessories. The ladder divider is secured through a strap on the upper part and a Velcro fastener on the other side but can also be removed entirely to make use of the entire compartment without any division.

In addition to the ladder, the Nomatic McKinnon Camera Backpack can be used with a divider kit that maximizes the compartment depending on the number of cameras and lenses to be held inside and how they will be arranged. Among all the options, this one holds the most gear compared to using the camera cubes.

As an alternative, the bag can be used with either one large camera cube or two small camera cubes depending on the user’s preference. The small camera cube can hold a full frame camera body on its side with a standard-sized lens attached, plus an additional lens placed vertically. The large camera cube basically carries double of the said combination, equivalent to what two small cubes can hold.

The upper third that is by default closed off by the ladder divider can hold another camera with an attached lens, plus an additional lens that can be arranged with the customizable dividers included. In total, the Nomatic McKinnon Camera Backpack 25L can hold 1-2 camera bodies along with 5-7 lenses, depending on size and arrangement. The length of the backpack can hold one mirrorless camera body (on its side if using the small camera cube) with an attached 70-200mm lens.

Rear Panel and Shoulder Straps

The inner surface of the rear panel that covers the main compartment is lined with two additional accessory mesh pockets closed off by zippers for the user’s convenience. Between the user’s back and the main compartment is a 15-inch laptop compartment that is accessible from the right-hand side. The rear surface of the rear panel is lined with significantly thick foam for the user’s comfort and noticeably thicker padding on the lower third section for lower back support. The middle third hides an easy-access luggage handle sleeve that can be used to put the backpack on top of rolling luggage or cases whenever convenient.

The shoulder pads are made of perforated mesh with generously thick padding for optimized carrying comfort, and the front surface is lined with four different levels of attachment loops for the supplied chest strap and other accessory straps or hooks that the user might want to attach. While there is another strap loop right by the bottom corner of the rear panel, there is no supplied waist strap with the bag either.

User Experience and Application

The Nomatic McKinnon Camera Backpack is definitely a unique-looking bag with its minimalist aesthetic and unique-looking accessory loops. However, this is, of course, dependent on the potential user’s preference and style. What is undeniable about the exterior is the benefit of the material’s water- and dust-resistant surface that can allow the user to withstand significant rain (or dust) without having to worry about damaging the stored camera gear.

While the bag has an abundance of accessory loops that potentially make it compatible with a range of other carrying accessories, the fact that the straps are not automatically included can be a bit of a hassle. It is important to note, though, that the loops can be used with most accessory straps that one might already have. Alongside that (literally), the pockets are conveniently large for even larger travel tripods but fold up neatly whenever not in use.

Perhaps the most unique feature of this bag would be the ladder divider that makes it very easy to customize the partition of the main compartment. This allows the bag to transform from a partial camera bag to a bag with a lot of equipment with one simple pull of a tab. Either way, for what is supposedly the smaller option, this 25L bag can carry a lot of camera gear when arranged accordingly, and the optional camera cubes offer even more padding when desired. However, personally, I think the best combination for someone who has no other use for the camera cubes (since they cannot be carried separately unlike the ones from Peak Design or Lowepro) would have to be using the dividers along with the ladder divider to maximize the compartment space and reduce bulk.

All of that considered, the Nomatic McKinnon Camera Backpack 25L is definitely such a comfortable backpack to carry and is definitely one of the better-built camera bags on the market. This backpack can be a great everyday companion whether or not the user is carrying camera gear, and the quick adjustment of the compartments makes it even more convenient. This bag can also be beneficial for traveling to urban destinations, and while it may not have been designed to be an outdoor camera backpack, it still provides undeniable protection from the elements.