I think I was one of the early F-Stop adopters sometime around 2008/9. I didn't see another one on the hills for ages. Eventually three years ago I shifted all my bags over to a newer competing brand which offered a number of very specific advantages for me, not least of which their ability, at that time, to supply dependably. Reviews of those can be found by searching the blog.
Of late, due to a variety of factors, I've been carrying a much reduced camera kit and trying to get overall pack weight down as far as possible.
One quick win that's been nagging me is the empty weight of what has been my regular 30L daily photo bag. At 2.42kg it starts off feeling substantial (although I do have the Plus straps fitted) . The extra padding, heavy materials, immense robustness, additional pockets, adjustability and optional Plus straps have all brought a weight penalty and it feels heavy even when I pick it up empty. I’ve taken to investigating alternatives over the past year or so. When carrying the camera and two lenses with just a spare jacket/ gloves etc., I've taken to using a LowePro Photo Sport BP 300 AWII.
This is a great little bag and works really well but shows its limitations on maximum capacity for both camera and hill kit and also the size of tripod that can reasonably be strapped to it. It weighs about 1.5kg. It won’t really take a big extra jacket and while it’ll happily take a 70-200/4, it won’t fit my 70-200mm f2.8. I do like the fact that it has a side entry for camera equipment. A great bag for specific occasions. - you see very few of these around and they are greatly undervalued in my opinion. There’s a newer model around now but all the important stuff still applies.
My needs are pretty straightforward. A backpack giving easy access that is comfortable to carry, that gives protection to camera equipment and provides space for waterproofs, spare clothing, food, and survival needs.
When you look around for a combination of capacity, comfort and light weight, the choices diminish pretty quickly. A lack of options (unless anyone reading has suggestions to make), caused me to think back to a bag I'd let go three years ago. The F-stop Loka UL. I'd always thought of this as a light and comfortable bag but when I checked the details, my interest was rekindled. The quoted weight was 1.2kg, lighter even than the little LowePro, which is about half the capacity. While considering options and choosing to pass on a couple of really tatty ones on eBay, the sales came round and one popped up at around half price brand new. It was too good to miss and I've been using it for some time now.
The total quoted weight wasn't quite accurate. Mine came to 1.16kg without ICU, one of the very few bags that have ever come in under the advertised weight and 1.62kg all in with a medium shallow ICU. However, that still represents a 33% saving over my existing Shimoda Action X30. To give that context, the weight saving compared with the slightly smaller capacity Shimoda is about the same as the difference between my 70-200/2.8 and the f4 version. A significant margin.
It felt like meeting an old friend again. F-Stop did a magnificent job with the minimalist design of this bag and to get the weight down to 1.62kg with medium ICU is outstanding. There’s nothing missing; there’s just nothing superfluous. All the straps have been pared down to the minimum and the material is certainly less robust than some but from my previous ownership, I don’t recall finding the bag uncomfortable (just light) and mine suffered no damage over the years of ownership.
The UK sales are now being managed by Phototools in the Cotswolds and their speed and efficiency cannot be faulted. If you’re after anything F-stop, click on the link below and go and visit Phototools. I’m not on commission from them, just trying to share great service.
I'm so pleased and enjoying the familiarity that I've decided to part company with the rest of my Shimodas and have recently added an F-Stop Tilopa Duradiamond. I had an original Tilopa 15 years ago and this bag has come on in leaps and bounds from that original Ian Miller design. I suspect I’ll be adding to the bags as 2025 unfolds. Full reviews of all to follow.
