Last Updated on May 9, 2021
If you have been searching for a high quality camera backpack then you’ve heard about the f Stop Tilopa. It’s an incredibly popular backpack for travelers and professional photographers. It offers a ton of features a photographer is looking for as well as solid build quality. But is this 50L backpack the one for you? Read on for our full rundown so you know if it’s worth investing in.
F Stop Tilopa 50L Backpack Specs
Designed to hold all your camera gear
Features shock cords and accessory loops
Contains MOLLE webbing
Offers front panel straps for lashing tripod or other gear
Large front pockets are expandable
Back panel features EVA padded shoulder straps and waist belt
Has a sternum strap and a built in whistle
Heavy duty handle
Constructed of TPU laminated ripstop nylon for extra durability
Colors: Nasturtium Orange, Drab Green Aloe, or Matte Black Anthracite
Pro Version additionally comes with a rain cover and a removeable foam lid insert
Who is it for?
Travelers, hikers and outdoor photographers
The F Stop Tilopa is a 50L backpack designed for use by avid photographers on the go. The camera compartment is rugged enough to hold your DSLR with a lens attached as well as most mirrorless cameras.
It has enough storage for lenses, flashes and other accessories. Its rugged build quality makes it an ideal travel camera bag that can take a beating when you’re trekking from one destination to the next. It works on planes, trains and busses as well as just throwing in the truck of your car.
What we love about it
The Tilopa has a lot of great features that make it an incredibly versatile and well designed product. Our favorite features include the large front pockets and multiple accessory loop lines. This backpack will hold your DSLR and a lens along with any other flexibility required. It also has MOLLE webbing straps for attaching extra accessories like pouches or tripod straps.
Even though the Tilopa is advertised as a 50L backpack, it actually holds up to near 60L of gear. So you’ve got plenty of space to store all of your photography gear along with your clothes, toiletries and other personal items.
What could be improved
The Tilopa is an incredibly durable backpack but there were a few aspects of it that we thought could be improved upon. First of all, the shoulder straps are not as comfortable as they could be. They’re padded and aren’t abrasive but they just don’t fit particularly well on some people. In addition, the waist belt isn’t really necessary for most people except when you’ve got a lot of weight in the pack or doing back country hiking.
How it performed in our tests
The F Stop Tilopa is incredibly durable and well designed. We took it on multiple hiking and camping trips around the area and it held up to the multiple abuses we put it through. It was comfortable with all of our gear in it, even though some of that weight was definitely overloading its 50L capacity.
We would have appreciated a few more outside pockets but this isn’t really a big deal as most photographers will just use their equipment bag for any extra accessories.
Bottom Line
The F Stop Tilopa is a great option for professional photographers and travelers who are looking for a durable, high quality camera backpack. Its rugged design holds up well to daily use and abuse from photographers on the go. It’s not an inexpensive camera backpack compared to what you get so we highly recommend it for those looking for a dedicated travel camera backpack. The Tilopa is definitely worth considering if you’re in the market for a new camera backpack that will last you years of heavy use.