The New Shimoda Designs Action x50 v2 Camera Bag

[@PatriciaDavidsonPhotography]

Aww you bought one! That sure is a nice looking bag. I'm sure you'll enjoy it. I'm really enjoying the roll top on my latest bag.

[@JeffreyTadlockPhotography]

I did! Turns out B&H had them in stock, so got one ordered! The roll top seems like just what I was wanting to give me some nice usable flex space when I need it, and roll it down to keep the bag size manageable when I don’t! Can’t wait to try it out!

[@PatriciaDavidsonPhotography]

@@JeffreyTadlockPhotography I didn't know I needed the roll top until I got it! Now I think I'm sold on it for all my bags going forward ;)

[@JeffreyTadlockPhotography]

My hikes/trips tend to vary on what I need to carry so the roll top had been attractive. Now that they brought some of my favorite Explore features I really wanted to try it out!

[@davidgray6622]

Hi Jeffrey Your reviews of the Shimoda bags have been the most influential in helping me narrow down what bag to order. It was between the Action X40 V2 & the Explore V2 35. I think the Action X40 is the overall winner for me. One decision remains... the color. I love the new yellow color but am a little worried that over time it will show dirt and stains more than the green. I really like both colors almost equally. You have owned and used both the green and the yellow, so would you steer me more to one or the other based on how they look over time? Maybe one is easier to keep clean than the other? Thank you again for the detailed reviews! Dave

[@davidgray6622]

Oops, noticed you mostly answered that in a question below. Thought I had read them all. Would love to hear if your thoughts are still the same. Thank you!!

[@JeffreyTadlockPhotography]

My yellow bag does look dirtier than my green bag, even today! They aren't super hard to clean, but any dirt is much more obvious on the yellow bag than my green one. So I would lean towards the green one in that case. Hope that helps! And enjoy the new bag! I still love both my Shimoda bags!

[@davidgray6622]

@@JeffreyTadlockPhotography Thank you again! I really appreciate the reply. I guess I liked the yellow more, lol. Just ordered. Either way you were instrumental in my decision. If it gets dirty, oh well, means I'm using it. Thanks! .... and black friday for the win... 20% off plus an additonal 10%. Got the medium and large cores too. 🙂

[@JeffreyTadlockPhotography]

@@davidgray6622 I do like the yellow even if it shows dirt a bit more! Just had mine out yesterday! That is a really great deal - definitely hard to pass that up! I think having both core units is nice - really helps you decide how much flex space you want at the top of the bag. Enjoy!

[@sekaf4125]

very interested. Im shooting Nikon Z8, have a ton of lens with 300 2.8 being largest. Im 6'3". I have a regular size carbon fiber tripod with RRS head. You were saying better to get large DSLR insert? Does it already come with insert ? Thanks for the video!

[@JeffreyTadlockPhotography]

I like the Large DSLR core unit in the X50, it is the one I use most often in the X50 v2. (I do tend to use the medium core unit in my Explore 35L). The large unit is handy if you are carrying a lot of lenses as you can typically find a spot for each of them. It will also let you configure it to carry the camera body with something like a 100-400mm without having to take the lens off. I like the DSLR core units instead of the Mirrorless because the DSLR one is a little taller, which means you can often put your lens in there vertically instead of horizontally maximizing efficient use of space. For example, I can put my 14-30 and 24-120 in vertically, as the core unit is tall enough. Shimoda has an option that comes with a kit - i.e. bag and core unit, but it is the medium core unit. If you want the bag and the large core unit, probably best to order the bag only option and then get the large core unit as well. Hope that helps!

[@sekaf4125]

@@JeffreyTadlockPhotography thank you! It does help

[@Maebbie]

i am almost surprised they didnt sponsor a video and sending you a backpack to review lol, I saw some creators get one (who also make good content) but where I wonder if it is even worth it for them to send them one. I will stick with my explore v2, its more low key just the way i like it. Looking forward to your long-term/in-field review of this new bag.

[@JeffreyTadlockPhotography]

The explore v2 is a great bag - mine isn't going anywhere yet! If they are looking to send a bag - would love a smaller version of the actions series just to see what options it opened up. 25L might be too small, but the 30L with the roll top would be interesting to try.

[@Maebbie]

@@JeffreyTadlockPhotography I got a 30l one, its slimmer than the 35l one and i am quite happy with it. I can fit everything I need in that and it fits well for european air travel.

[@JeffreyTadlockPhotography]

I suspect the 30L is a nice size. I don’t know how confident I am to fly with either of the ones I have internationally. The 35L hasn’t been an issue within the US, but I’ve always been on non-regional planes.

[@Maebbie]

@@JeffreyTadlockPhotography yeah europe is a bit more strict, but at worst you would put it in the overhead bin and take out your core unit. I managed to fit it under my seat so far (barely). I only travel with 1 backpack though, so I split between personal item and carry-on and then put it back into the backpack after i made it through due to weight restrictions and all lol.

[@JeffreyTadlockPhotography]

The dust cover over the core unit is always my fallback plan if an airline ever tries to make me check the camera bag.

[@calebmwittler]

Hey Jeffrey, quick question. On the bag with the large core unit, how much room do you still have with the Roll Top? Im trying to decide on the Explore 35 or the X40-50 and I know the 35 maxes out pretty much with the large, but I can't seem to find anyone mention how the large core affects the room in the roll top compartment. Thanks!

[@JeffreyTadlockPhotography]

I took a couple of pictures this morning - this is of my X50, from the top, with the rolltop unrolled. One image has a 30oz HydroFlask standing up in it for context, and the bag as the large core unit in it. Here's a Google Drive link with the two images: drive.google.com/drive/u/1/folders/1CUyFQjvhRZMvr4xApAk65H_uKJo-O970 I tend to use the 35L with the Medium DSLR core unit and find that a really good fit. I feel more constrained if I use the large core unit in that bag. Though I have not used the X40 bag, I feel like it might be the perfect bag size, just a touch bigger than the 35L without becoming troublesome when flying, and not quite as big as the X50 (which feels like a big bag to me). But I haven't had a chance to use one to say that with 100% confidence. Happy to answer any questions!

[@calebmwittler]

@@JeffreyTadlockPhotography Thanks! I appreciate that!

[@Dave-Evans73]

2 questions....is it possible to fit a peak design capture clip to the shoulder straps and are there pockets on the hip belts?

[@JeffreyTadlockPhotography]

I have a PGYTECH clip on the shoulder strap of mine, I often clip my video camera (usuall a Nikon Z30) to it. I suspect the Peak Design Capture Clip would clip on as well. As for pockets, the hip belt has these small pockets that you can put some really small items in, but they have a horizontal opening, are quite small, and only have elastic as the closure. I think the intent is like an energy gel or something - but I don't really trust them and don't really consider them functional. With that said, the new Drop Pockets (they come with the Action v2) are pretty handy. They are made to be removable from the sides of the bag and can be moved to the hip belt. They are available as an add-on if you wanted a pocket on each side of the bag and on the hip belt. I used a drop pocket on my Explore v2 35L in Arizona when I wanted to carry more water and put it on the hip belt. It easily fit a 32oz Nalgene bottle in it. Here's a link to the drop pocket: shimodadesigns.com/drop-pocket/ Hope that helps!

[@DamienOnTheGo]

How does the 50 work on overhead bins when traveling? Any issues?

[@JeffreyTadlockPhotography]

I haven't flown with the 50 yet, and might be October before I get to. I have flown with the 35L Explore v2 and it fits in the overheads.

[@DamienOnTheGo]

@@JeffreyTadlockPhotography Thank you for the reply and great job on the detailed video.

[@Cyrille1337]

Hello, did the yellow bag become dirty when you put it on the floor after many times ? Thank you

[@JeffreyTadlockPhotography]

The lighter color is more susceptible to showing dirt than some of the other colors. (I have a green Explore v2 and I think both are equally dirty, but the yellow does show it more than the green bag). Hope that helps!

[@timothymcdaniel7372]

What's your overall impression after a year of using the X50 v2 over your old explore 35 v2? I'm looking at getting the smaller x40 v2 or the Explore 35 v2 to complement my X70 HD and I'm torn on which one would work best.

[@JeffreyTadlockPhotography]

The bag itself (the X50) is a great bag, pretty much my standard carry for regional trips or when there is not going to be a flight involved. The Explore 35L is bag I carry for flying and it really is a pretty great size for that. Even with my video and audio gear, I can still fit everything I want/need to take. If I was to only have one bag, I feel like the 40L is the sweet spot. Small enough to fly with, but big enough for those cold weather days where you might want extra layers to either put on or store when you shed layers. Happy to answer any other questions - I don't think you can go too far wrong with either of the choices you are looking at.

[@timothymcdaniel7372]

@@JeffreyTadlockPhotographythank you for the quick reply! Also, love your recent videos from Hocking Hills and the Columbus area Metropark testing the 28-400mm lens. My wife has been asking about a little more reach over the Tamron 70-300 without using my 180-600mm lens (way too cumbersome for her liking).

[@JeffreyTadlockPhotography]

@@timothymcdaniel7372 Glad you've liked the 28-400mm videos! It is a pretty great all-around, versatile lens. I just took it (and my 14-30mm) on an Arizona trip back in June. I had the Tamron 70-300mm and ended up selling it, the 28-400mm with its VR felt like a better all-around lens, with the bonus of some extra reach. It does hit that f/8 mark pretty quick, but for landscape photography I don't find that very problematic.

[@swadventurer6624]

Wish this bag had bottom straps to attach a pad or light weight chair.

[@JeffreyTadlockPhotography]

It does have accessory mounting points at the bottom of the bag, just doesn't come with the straps, but it would be pretty easy to strap something lightweight like a pad or one of those small compact chairs. Hope that helps!

[@swadventurer6624]

@@JeffreyTadlockPhotography great, I don’t think I have seen a video yet that points those out.

[@JeffreyTadlockPhotography]

If you shoot me an email or message me on IG, I can take a couple of photos and send them your way - just to see if it looks like they'd work out for you.