They are much easier to use than the taller pockets above them, so I tended to put items in them that need to be accessed more often. I have often seen people modify their avalanche packs to include a carabiner or other method to secure the pack rather than using this “safety buckle” style. They have a different approach when it comes to building their products, which are rigorously tested by their team of pro photographers. One of the things I instantly fell in love with when I first got my F-Stop Tilopa, was just how comfortable the bag felt.

It has all the features for making it perfect for the extreme traveling photographer, such as being made of out of water resistant oxford-weave ripstop nylon, all the straps and clips for carrying everything from heavy tripods to snow shoes, and a sturdy H-frame. The rubber loops act as a catch to hold your gear in place so it can’t slide down while you’re on the go. If I were planning an overnight camping trip where camera gear was a secondary concern, I could simply slide in the medium ICU so I’d have more space for a sleeping bag or good. The rear access point means that your gear is 100% secure even in the unlikely event that the main zipper fails. You drop the pack down face first, open up the back panel, get gear, shoot, pack it back up, and put the pack on.

In the F-Stop Mountain Series, the most obvious alternative to the Tilopa 50L DuraDiamond is the Ajna 37L DuraDiamond. It is made from a new, original DuraDiamond™ material exclusively available from F-Stop which is significantly stronger to adverse weather conditions and is lighter than previously used. F-stop, the world's leading manufacturer of camera bags and accessories, announces the redesigned TILOPA 50L DuraDiamondTM camera bag. It now features a padded laptop sleeve that will hold up to a 16″ laptop and an array of small pockets that work well for laptop accessories. Instead there are additional anchor points to which gatekeeper straps (available separately) can be attached.

Other details worth noting are the small accoutrements like the sternum strap that has an integrated rescue whistle, hook and loop secure straps and elastic webbing for things like hydration tubes are a nice touch. f-stop makes a host of accessories to help you customize your bag including packing cells, straps and filter holders.If you carry a tripod, it can be mounted either on the front or the side of the bag using the multiple quick-release straps.

Finally there is a range of accessories available such as water bottles or straps which attach to the anchor points or molle system on the exterior or accessory pouches for organising the interior spaces. It does an excellent job of carrying a good amount of camera gear, clothes, and any other accessories I may want to bring along like a tripod.It is also considerably easier to clean, wiping it with a damp microfibre cloth being all that is usually necessary. Welded seams in key locations combined with DuraDiamondTM fabric and weather resistant zippers provide even better protection from the elements. The gear goes into the ICU; depending on your liking, you can either carry the internal ICU with the lid closed or open. In terms of entirely new features, the Tilopa 50L DuraDiamond adds two new side pockets, a zippered pocket on the inside of the main front pocket as well as a new storage sleeve, and a completely redesigned back panel that has six new pockets of various sizes, all closed with magnets.

Personally, I recommend making it as snug as possible to distribute the weight of the bag more evenly over the shoulders and upper back. I opted for the Foliage color, because I am a fan of all things tactical and it’s a very mellow color. Its big enough to carry 2 bodies, 5 lenses, a filter system, remote triggers, star tracker, pano head, batteries and all my camping gear including a change of clothes, food and water.

The new F-Stop Tilopa is part of the F-Stop Mountain series, described as the most rugged of the bunch. The metal frame is also fantastic for keeping the backpack’s shape as well as making for a comfortable hike. The majority of the volume difference between these two bags comes from the size of their front pockets. It brings a whole new level with well over twice the padding and “cushiness” on both the hip and shoulder straps. This is designed to be used for your garbage, giving you a segregated space for food wrappers to keep crumbs out of the bag’s interior and out of your camera gear.