Photography Reviews

9 Reasons You’ll Want the f-stop Satori EXP Photography Equipment Pack on Your Back When You Trek Into the Wilderness

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  1. The company is f-stop and its people are very serious about designing and manufacturing highly versatile photography equipment packs for the wildlife, nature and landscape photographer who is hiking, boating, mountain biking or climbing far from civilization. If these are your favorite digital photography adventures, then you need f-stop’s Satori EXP Pack from its Mountain Series.

  1. Its versatility begins with its size. At 62 liters, or 2.2 cubic feet (.062 cubic meter), it has room not only for plenty of photography equipment, but also camping gear, making additional packs unnecessary. F-stop has been able to design all that space into a footprint that is smaller than the legal limits for major airlines, so you can carry it onboard and store it in most overhead compartments. This also provides plenty of peace of mind knowing its not being run through the typical baggage-handling system.

  1. As much as you can carry in f-stop’s Satori EXP backpack, it is also very comfortable, even after hours strapped to your back. Comfort begins with the lightweight Nylon 330 Double Rip-Stop Shell, which is also a deterrent to bad weather. For total protection, you can add f-stop’s optional seam-taped rain cover. Whatever your shape or size, the Satori EXP backpack will ride comfortably and remain well balanced with the belt and shoulder tension adjusters. The hip belt and shoulder straps are padded for added comfort, plus there is a sternum strap to make it easy to carry heavier loads.

“f-stop has raised the bar in camera bags for those who enjoy the outdoors. I’ve tested many great camera bags and just when I thought I had seen it all, the Satori EXP was a big and pleasant surprise. I do plenty of mountain-bike riding, and many backpacks on the market become uncomfortable after a few hours. I’ve worn this backpack for nearly 5 hours straight with some aggressive riding and it feels like an extension of my body and remains comfortable.” – Alex Schult

  1. A rugged exterior is definitely important in a photography equipment pack of this type, but what makes f-stop’s Satori EXP backpack such a winner is the clever way it has designed the internal storage system. The people at f-stop have created what they call the Internal Camera Unit, or ICU. There is a complete selection of ICUs in different sizes that fit inside the Satori EXP backpack and other f-stop’s bags, so you can customize the storage configuration for your camera and camping gear. Use the smallest ICU for a single camera and a few lenses. You’ll want the largest ICU if you are photographing wildlife with a 500mm or larger lens.

Any of the f-stop’s ICUs are easily and quickly inserted and attached at various Velcro points. The smallest ICU only uses approximately one-third of the internal space, so there is plenty of room for camping gear and personal items. Although the largest ICU fills the entire space, there is still space for a couple of camera bodies and a good selection of lenses.

  1. Another excellent reason you’ll want an f-stop Satori EXP photo equipment backpack is that it conforms to the universal MOLLE system, which allows you to attach more equipment to the sides of the pack and the waist belt. You won’t be wasting time digging through your bag looking for the accessories you use most. Not only is the MOLLE system compatible with f-stop’s Dakota Component System products, but also the products of other manufacturers, such as Think Tank and LowPro.

  1. Accessibility is also a prime attraction of the Satori EXP backpack. You can put your hands on any piece of photo equipment quickly by opening the back panel, which is secured with a heavy-duty YKK zipper. There’s no reason to leave your laptop or tablet behind, as the Satori has a padded sleeve that accepts 17” devices or smaller.

  1. The Satori EXP comes with a great number and variety of pockets, slots and mesh bags to hold filters, memory cards, card reader, cables, lighting accessories, light meter, GPS, batteries and all those small pieces of photo gear. Even after loading all that, there is still space for a first-aid kit, cell phone, keys and personal and business items.

  1. All of f-stop’s bags and packs, including the Satori EXP, are about expandability. The Satori and other bags are compatible with f-stop’s optional GateKeeper System of various size straps that attach to the outside of the pack at 14 positions. The biggest benefit of the system is that it keeps the straps and what is attached to them flat to the bag. With the GateKeeper System, you can carry a sleeping bag, snowboard, tripod or even dolly rails.

“I know why this company is called f-stop now. Once you f-stop with one of these bags you aren’t going anywhere else!” - Alex Schult

  1. The f-stop Satori EXP backpack can be purchased directly from the company through its Web site. The shell only sells for $359, with various prices as you add ICUs. Visit http://fstopgear.com/en/product/mountain/satori-exp.

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