The f-stop Tilopa is a Great Bag. The New Tilopa is Even Better
- DuraDiamond™ 315D HT nylon diamond ripstop material with environmentally responsible C0 DWR & TPU
- Contoured BLOOM™ EVA padded hip belt with super-duty dual density BLOOM™ EVA padded shoulder straps
- Internal metal frame
- 70D Nylon Ripstop lining fabric with 500mm Polyurethane coating
- Heavy-duty stitching with industrial-bonded thread
- Weatherproof heavy-gauge zippers
- 50-liter capacity, with a 39-liter main compartment and various smaller pockets on the top, bottom and sides
- 25.4 x 30.5 x 55.9 inches in size
- 45-day full satisfaction guarantee - you get a full refund if you don't like the bag
- 20-year warranty against manufacturer defects
- 22 Gatekeeper attachment points (up from 10 on the previous version)
- 4 detachable, quick-release, lockable Gatekeeper straps
- Hypalon ski strap loops
- Ice axe loops
- Bungee loops (that can be released with a single hand)
- Angled MOLLE webbing on the hip belt
I've been a big fan of f-stop bags for quite some time.
In fact, their Tilopa bag is one of my all-time favorite camera bags, and just one of a few that I've kept for the long-haul.
So you can imagine my hesitation when f-stop announced that they have a new Tilopa bag. I mean, if the last was so good, what could possibly be done to make it better?
Well, my friends, it seems that f-stop had quite a few tricks up their sleeves to turn out a bag that is most definitely better than the original...
f-stop Tilopa Duradiamond Specs
Let's begin by doing a quick overview of this bag's impressive specifications:
So, in a nutshell, this bag has all the features you could possibly want, the build quality you demand, and a money-back guarantee and hefty warranty to back up your purchase for added peace of mind.
But a list of specifications is just the tip of the iceberg. Let's have a closer look at some of the big changes for this new bag.
f-stop Tilopa Duradiamond Changes
The most noticeable change in the new bag is the proprietary DuraDiamond™ 315D H/T nylon ripstop fabric.
This is an upgrade over the old 420D nylon ripstop that was used in the previous generation of this bag because the DuraDiamond™ is both lighter weight and has a higher tear resistance.
Likewise, the new bag has a C0 DWR coating and a TPU layer that gives the fabric excellent waterproofing and added strength. The old bag uses 210D nylon ripstop, which has proven to be highly durable over the years, but this new material is certainly a step up.
Another big upgrade on the new bag is the introduction of aluminum hardware. Where the old bag has plastic hardware, the new bag features T-6 aluminum hardware for improved durability.
Now, I've never had a problem with the plastic hardware on the old bag, but I can see why f-stop wanted to make this upgrade. Aluminum is light and strong, and for components that get a lot of use, wear, and tear, it makes sense to shift from plastic to metal.
The new bag also has weatherproof zippers all the way around. In fact, there are also multiple weatherproof pockets where you can stash items like your phone that need to stay dry.
And like its predecessor, this bag comes with all sorts of storage options - a main storage compartment, top lid storage, side pockets, and a bottom pocket. Additionally, the new Tilopa has loads of external mounting options:
In other words, this back is perfect for photographers that like to get way off the beaten path and need lots of gear to get them there.
What about the f-stop ICU?
Naturally, the new Tilopa bag retains its ability to accommodate a variety of f-stop's ingenious internal camera units, or ICUs. This includes all ICUs from Micro Tiny to XLarge Pro.
In fact, no less than seven types of ICUs work with this bag, and you can even mix and match some of them for the ultimate organizational tool for your camera gear.
Personally, this bag would be worth the price if all it had was the ICU capability. For me, these internal camera units are one of the best developments for camera bags in the last ten years. They are incredibly functional, keep your gear protected from bumps and bruises, and since they're removable, they offer loads of utility.
But when you add all the new features and benefits of the new Tilopa to the mix, you get an absolutely killer combination.
Now, like I said before, the previous version of the Tilopa has been a favorite bag of mine for years. It is an awesome bag. But this new Tilopa has certainly supplanted it as the best bag I've got in my collection. Between the build quality, the flexibility of the ICU configurations, the smart updates to the materials and hardware, and the fitment of this bag, I just don't think there's a better bag out there right now.
In the video above, you can get a full review with all the details about this bag.
I unbox it, explain how it compares to the previous model, and I go over the reasons why I think it's a legitimate 10 out of 10.
The big question is, when f-stop develops a new Tilopa in the future, how can they possibly top this one?!
Get more details about this bag by visiting f-stop.
