Shimoda V2 Explore 35 Camera Bag – Reviewed & Tested

Henry went looking for the ultimate camera bag for his two month adventure through Indonesia and Borneo. Was the Shimoda V2 Explore 35 the answer to his gear-carrying prayers?

Spend a few minutes searching online for a suitable camera bag for the adventure-inclined, and you’ll soon stumble across Canadian-born company Shimoda Designs. Started in 2017 by adventure photographers Ian Millar and Peter Waisnor, the two created a pack that enabled creatives to live their passions across the Earth’s wildest terrains without compromising their gear.

Their attention to quality and community-centric product testing and refining has produced a range of rugged yet comfortable backpacks widely regarded as the best out there.

The brand offers two core lines – Action V2 and Explore V2. Whilst the former caters more towards action sports photographers and the latter towards travel and adventure photographers, the reality is that they are very similar, minus a few small design features. The Action V2 offers bags up to 70L with some arguably juicier colour options, although a major prerequisite for me was the need to be carry-on size and also serve as a multi-use bag outside of photography missions.

Therefore I chose the Explore V2. So, was it as good as it was cracked up to be? (If this review convinces you it’s worth the mula, we’ve even secured a cheeky 10% discount for ya – just type ‘WAE10’ into the discount code box at check out to save some cash.)

Why am I the right person to do this review?

I own an ungodly amount of packs (just ask my wife) so I appreciate how design and functionality can work together to make something very fit for specific activities – be it day hikes, multi-day hikes, trail running, backcountry skiing, or even festival-ready rave-spec bum bags.

I’m a passionate photographer and take on occasional paid assignments as part of my job running We Are Explorers. I’d been scouring the market for over 12 months before picking the Shimoda V2 Explore 35 camera bag, diving deep into the review ravine to watch and read everything I could in relation to adventure camera bags. I kept talking myself out of it and settling on using an old reinforced Osprey backpack that I padded down further with down jackets and individual lens bags; a gamble I was confident would backfire sooner or later.

Read more: An Explorer’s Guide to Hiking With a Camera

In short, I’ve become somewhat of an armchair expert in adventure travel photography backpacks!

Quick Specifications

Weight: 2kg
Outside Dimensions: 29.5W x 54H x 20Dcm
Max Laptop Size: 16”
RRP: $579
Warranty: 5 years
Colourway: Army Green or Black
Size: 35L (Also available in a 25L and a 30L)

Performance

I’ll approach this product’s performance in two ways – how useful it is as a camera bag and as a travel bag.

In May 2024 I set off on an eight-week adventure with my wife and two young kids through the islands of Indonesia and deep into the Bornean jungle. This bag essentially became my mobile office, carrying everything I needed to work on the road – Macbook Pro, camera kit (Canon R5 with 3 lenses – 70-200mm, 16-35mm and 50mm), plus other essential accessories including filters, hard drive, charger, and tripod.

In addition, I was carrying headphones (Sony M4s and Jabra 75s) and too many books for a man who knows about Kindles.

Durability

Now I really thrashed this thing – I lugged it on dozens of planes and boats and taxis, some structurally very questionable ones at that. It was strapped on top of a cart being pulled by a seemingly agreeable horse on one island and I hiked it to the summit of Mt Rinjani and it spent a night with me in a tent atop Indonesia’s second highest volcano.

I’d say I’ve put the Shimdoa V2 through its paces and what’s quite dumbfounding is that it looks pretty much in exactly the same condition as when I unboxed it! This is testament to its forgiving army green colour of course, however the material, stitching, componentry, and overall build quality are outstanding. Yes, it’s relatively early days but my hunch is that this bag will last a very long time indeed – good news, considering the hefty price tag.

Read more: If You’re Chasing Gear in an Outdoorsy Green Colour, You’ll Love Alton Goods

Design

The Shimoda V2 Explore 35 camera bag is packed full of features and has clearly been road-tested to such an extent with adventurers who have a penchant for photography, that pretty much everything has been considered. There were several occasions on my eight-week adventure that I momentarily questioned whether the bag had a certain functionality and then chuckled to myself when I realised that once again, of course they’d thought of that! I’m confident I’ll still be finding hidden features for years to come.

Top Section

The top section offers a surprisingly large volume and was the most regularly used section of the travel bag for me, storing most of my go to items. It cleverly contains two mesh zippered pockets and an additional hidden travel document section sewn into the rear. The entire top section is removable via a zip if you wanted to use the bag as a more regular backpack.

Read more: How To Choose A Hiking Pack

Front Section

On the front side of the pack there’s a large pocket that’s divided by a nylon panel. I used this section on a recent multi-day hike in the UK’s Peak District to hold sweat-drenched clothing as well as my water bladder which I clipped in at the top and then fed back through the loop. There’s also a smaller additional front pocket on the face of the bag which became the home for my Sony M4 headphone case.

Laptop Sleeve

A well-padded laptop sleeve makes a good home for devices up to 16 inches, and can be accessed easily from the top of the bag.

Side Pockets

Two hidden mesh pockets flip out on both sides of the bag to become a tripod carrier that’s held in place by the side clips, a large water bottle holder, or even an easy-access toilet roll holder for compromised guts.

Luggage Carry

Another useful feature for moving the bag around when it wasn’t on my back was the luggage carry handle on the side of the bag, which came in handy on multiple occasions.

Hop onto the Shimoda product page and the feature list is extensive.

Camera Storage and Access

At an extra cost, there’s the option to buy a ‘Core Unit’ which then forms the ‘Starter Kit’. These are camera inserts that have a reinforced wall to protect your equipment. These, of course, are essential to buy but it’s important to buy the right one as there are a range of options available for various DSLR and mirrorless camera and lens set ups.

For my Canon R5 and lens I had the Medium DSLR Core Unit, which doesn’t totally dominate the internal capacity, leaving space for other stuff in the top section of the bag.

Comfort

The shoulder straps come with simple but effective S, M, L adjuster (at a towering 5’7”, M was perfect for me) and made with soft, aerated mesh which feels super comfortable on my shoulders. They also have well-placed zipped pockets on each side that provide easy access for phone and snack wrapper disposal.

Fully laden this bag quite deceivingly weighed close to 20kg and I didn’t once feel unexpected pain. The stitching is tough as nails. The waist belt is easily removable for lighter missions, which is once again, a nice and handy touch.

Sustainability

It’s hard to gauge the sustainability credentials of this bag as there’s very little is outlined on their website or product description. I suspect that ensuring the ruggedness of the materials has been prioritised over their environmental impacts. Nature and landscape photographers are of course highly tuned into the earth’s beauty and fragility, so it’s a real shame that this isn’t factored in more deeply with this product.

For photographers who do prioritise the planet in their purchases, Shimoda has recently released a new line of bags for street photographers called Urban Explore which features an outer shell made from polyester recycled from PET (polyethylene terephthalate) bottles and packaging.

Price

Make no mistake, at $579 ($699 including the full starter kit), this is by no means a cheap bag. But nor should it be. The Shimoda V2 Explore 35 camera bag has been so carefully designed for a certain market and so well built and refined that I strongly feel you get what you pay for here, which, when it comes to lugging my most expensive toys around, makes perfect sense.

For transparency, I was given this bag for free so that I could review it but the question is, would I buy it if I hadn’t been? The answer is absolutely.

Keen for a cheeky lil discount? Type ‘WAE10’ into the discount code box at checkout and Maxxum will grant you 10% off the cost of the bag. Hellll yeah.

Final Thoughts

The Shimoda Explore V2 camera bag lives up to the hype. You only have to spend a few minutes scrolling online to catch wind of the buzz for this brand, with ambassadors big and small singing their praises quite literally from the mountaintops. Their laser-sharp focus on creating superb products for a certain sub-section of photographers means they really do know what they’re doing.

I got the sense that every minute detail of his pack has been thoughtfully designed and tested. Whilst you might find cheaper ones out there, I doubt there are many that come close, if at all, to the Shimoda Explore V2.

The photography community’s admiration for this backpack – from where I’m shooting – is very much deserved.

FAQs Shimoda V2 Explore 35 Camera Bag

Is the Shimoda V2 Explore 35 a good camera bag for travel?

Absolutely! The Shimoda V2 Explore 35 is designed with travel in mind, featuring comfy straps, intelligent storage options, and strength to handle whatever you throw at it (or on it!). Whether you’re hopping between islands in Indonesia or backpacking through Europe, this bag has you covered.

Is the Shimoda V2 Explore 35 comfortable to wear?

Yes. This bag is designed to be worn all day without any discomfort. Make sure you utilise the waist strap and balance the weight across the bag.

How much can you fit inside the Shimoda V2 Explore 35 camera bag?

Approximately 35L of gear! That’s the technical answer anyway. This will fit your SLR, several lenses, a laptop, plus quite a few more bits ‘n’ bobs. Check our guide to packing a backpack like a boss for more tips to use that space as effectively as you can.