Just finished a 34 day trip from Philippines and Japan. The Urban Explore 25 was a BOSS! I only traveled with my a7iii + 35mm GM 1.4, Sony xm5, DJI pocket 3, Macbook pro 14”. My absolute favorite feature is the dedicated Peak Design capture clip strap. Makes it even more comfy to carry your camera without digging into your pec.
Just came back from a two week trip around Europe. Used the Explore v2 30L and I freaking love the bag. So many useful pockets and compartments. I packed light with just my a7iii and the Sony 16-35mm GM II since I wanted more space. If I didn't already have the Explore v2, I would totally get this bag instead just because it's more discreet looking. The materials and construction is so good on the Explore v2. I ditched my PD Everyday Zip because I hated how limited the organization and pockets were.
So I understand! Did they send you the other two bags to review or did you buy them on your own? If you said their bag is useless, do you think they would send you the next bag to review?
Just a bit of backstory, I reached out to Todd a while back after watching a review that he made which he paid for the bag - I did not know Todd at that time. I generally like to work with people familiar with our product as they tend share accurate information but also know the differences from model to model. It's also best when we know the reviewer feels no obligation to review products positively. Mark Denney used to use Shimoda (similar history and meeting as Todd) but he decided he liked f-stop better (publicly through YT) we still send Mark bags if wants to try them. He may or may not release an Urban Explore review video too. Reviewers have no obligation to publish any content on our gear, We specifically let everyone know before we send a bag out. Regardless of the packs performance, personally I think this packs looks great on Todd, it's a perfect match.
@@ShimodaDesigns Thx for this clarification because not all brands do the same. Anyway - as I said in another answer - your product seems,very good, at a level of quality of PD which is for me a reference and more practical. The fact of having 3 sizes is a plus (20-25-30L) vs 2 sizes (hi California guys ;)) and in summary the only reason I won t order one is that I already get too many of them (Thule, manfrotto, peak design and lowepro) :).
@@ShimodaDesigns Are these available for purchase now or will they only be available through the Kickstarter after February? I'm looking to get one for a trip in December!
As someone who has a lot of bags including every Shimoda Action and Explore series bags. I say they are so great and fills the niche for a hiking camera bag, so much so that I don't need a Shimoda Urban Explore bag. I mean, there are other bags that can fill in that space e.g. PGYTECH One MO 2, Think Tank Urban Access 15, Nomatic PM, LowePro AW 450 II, Manfrotto Pro Light etc. Also not a big fan of the cube. It just eats up space, if I need to put something without needing the dividers then I prefer just removing the dividers. I appreciate the less strappy design though. Sad that they removed the Explorer straps. It was the best thing about Shimoda.
If you look at the outside dimensions the new UE20 isn't actually 20L but 25.38L. Which is the same size as the E30v2 (25.82L). Your E25v2 is actually smaller at 21.34L Love the dedicated PD capture clip on the strap, but really really miss the adjustable torso straps.
maybe it's a silly question, but if you remove the core unit, is it possible to collapse it flat or is that too much structure in it which won't allow the collapsing?
Two deal-breakers on this bag: 1. The side access is on the wrong side. If it wasn't on the wrong side it would matter that the tripod is also on top of it, but the fact that the location is on the absolute wrong side makes this second complaint irrelevant. Somebody should remember Shimoda that all cameras are made for right-handed use. Trying to swing around the shoulder that belongs to the same arm which hand's you're going to be using to pull the camera out makes absolutely no sense. That would be like applying deodorant with the hand that belongs to the armpit's arm. 2. The lack of a waist belt is absurd. Camera gear can get pretty heavy and not having the ability to ease that weight is also a very odd decision by Shimoda. Goodbye Shimoda. Until another time. Back to Boundary Supply.
Hi Todd. Thanks for the great video. Can you tell me, what is the weight of this Shimoda Urban Explore bag - with core unit and without, if that is no problem ? Is this version a bit lighter then Action or Explore versions? Thanks.
Hi Todd! Can the 25L or 30L fit a thick laptop in an EVA case? Mine is an ASUS TUF 15.6 gaming laptop at 3cm Thickness that I put in an EVA case for additional protection with 4.5cm thickness when the laptop is inside. Im just curious because most of my camera bags will fit my laptop but with the hardshell eva case then it wont fit anymore. Im a casual gamer and have mirrorless camera gears and a small drone when I travel. Laptop EVA case with Laptop inside Dimensions are: Length 28cm x Width 4.5cm x Height 49cm. Hope you can answer. Thank you!
This looks pretty promising and solves a lot of the issues that I had with the Explore V2 when I bought it. I'm curious about the horizontal pocket on the back (opposite of the straps) of the bag. One of my biggest annoyances with this pocket on the Explore V2 was that it was incredibly deep but the opening for it was rather small which made it very easy to drop something to the bottom of that pocket and then be very difficult to retrieve. Is it easier to dig down into the bottom of that pocket? I have small hands as it is and it was still tough to get in this pocket on my explore bag. Additionally, did you encounter the bag showing visible signs of scuffs/abrasion in your use? My other big complaint is that the vinyl coated fabric on the explore almost immediately showed marks from any little scuff/rub on it, which was a big negative for me considering how much the bag costs. Any insight on this?
Thanks for highlighting about the marks from little scruff/rub, you will never hear reviewers talk about it. That is certainly a negative. I have the Tenba Fluton V2 and it has the same problem on its water resistance material and the manufacturer refuses to acknowledge that it is a problem with the bag.
Shimoda says both the 25 and 30 liters fit a 16inch MBP, but the real questions is does the 16 inch MBP fit in the back flap/cover above the cube or does it only fit in the front part of the part. The problem with front is when you lie down the bag to take out your cameras, your laptop will be crushed under when it’s in the front pocket.
Great Bag. I have the Expore V2 and love it. But why do they do the side opening on the right? Most people are right handed and this way is a pain. Probably just me
It makes more sense. You swing it over your right shoulder, unzip with your left hand, grab the camera with your right hand, zip with your left hand, then push the bag with your left hand and swing it back. The camera stays in your right hand the whole time.
Great review I’ve just ordered the 25lt It’s the style of bag that suites well. Just wonder how long it’ll be before China reverse engineers the bag and it’s sold on eBay lower price which I despise 😡Well covered Todd thanks 🙏
Ok so we’ve already seen a similar design by Peter McKinnon’s Everday Bag by Nomatic. There’s features on that bag that make it a better option for the money.
Im seeing a ton of these showcase videos, even from very small channels under 1000 subs, and yours is the first with anything approaching criticism. I'll take your word that you were not paid for the content, but no bag is absolutely perfect for everyone, and pretty much all the showcases/previews/'reviews' are nothing but positive which is extremely suspect.... even if the bag is good for you its not going to be perfect for every possible use case.. Does the magnetic sternum strap stay closed? Is the material not as waterproof as their other bags? Is there a place to store a rain cover? With everyone's video pretty much only covering the marketing points with little criticism this reeks of a Shimoda marketing campaign.... I also generally dislike when established companies use kickstarter to launch new products.
@@ShimodaDesigns Thanks for clarifying. I was under the impression that the ML core units might be (slightly) too shallow for the Urban Explorer, like fitting a DSLR core unit inside an Action X70's deeper interior.
Todd, thanks for the nice review. How comfortable or difficult is it to carry it around without a waist strap? Even when visiting cities, I end up walking for 7-8 hours and I carry my Explore v2 everywhere, particularly because of the waist strap.
They do look very nice. I have black duct tape on my camera bag logo so it doesn't scream 'hey i have expensive camera equipment in there'. Seems that wouldn't be necessary here.
Be worth making a few amendments to the video or as a description disclaimer. The ICU is not unique and at best between all companies it is just variation and preference at this point.
This is a hard pass for me. Camera bag companies need to rethink the "mirrorless" label - it doesn't always translate to a compact size! 🤔 I own a Canon R5, and even though it's mirrorless, it's too big for this bag. 😓 And seriously, the cube system? It might sound cool, but those cube walls just eat up valuable space. I feel for anyone who discovers their new bag is too small for almost anything substantial. 🚫🎒 Let's prioritize functionality over gimmicks! 👍 #CameraBagReality #SizeMatters
lol funny how everyone has a review on this one bag today and yet none of them were paid to do so… man don’t be a product shill. Your content is better than that low level crap.
Just finished a 34 day trip from Philippines and Japan. The Urban Explore 25 was a BOSS! I only traveled with my a7iii + 35mm GM 1.4, Sony xm5, DJI pocket 3, Macbook pro 14”.
My absolute favorite feature is the dedicated Peak Design capture clip strap. Makes it even more comfy to carry your camera without digging into your pec.
Looks like a great bag - other than the absence of a waist strap. With my back, that's a deal breaker. 😞
kay, I’ve always scratched my head about the obsession around the kislux book totes and their practicality, but this one is adorable!! Congratulations
Just came back from a two week trip around Europe. Used the Explore v2 30L and I freaking love the bag. So many useful pockets and compartments. I packed light with just my a7iii and the Sony 16-35mm GM II since I wanted more space.
If I didn't already have the Explore v2, I would totally get this bag instead just because it's more discreet looking. The materials and construction is so good on the Explore v2. I ditched my PD Everyday Zip because I hated how limited the organization and pockets were.
No way, no way, I've been looking for something like this and I almost got the Explore V2, but it was a bit to outdoorsy for my use. This is perfect!
Me too omg😂
So I understand! Did they send you the other two bags to review or did you buy them on your own? If you said their bag is useless, do you think they would send you the next bag to review?
Hum it s a quick starter project so it can t be buy before the end… so you have the answer.
Just a bit of backstory, I reached out to Todd a while back after watching a review that he made which he paid for the bag - I did not know Todd at that time. I generally like to work with people familiar with our product as they tend share accurate information but also know the differences from model to model. It's also best when we know the reviewer feels no obligation to review products positively. Mark Denney used to use Shimoda (similar history and meeting as Todd) but he decided he liked f-stop better (publicly through YT) we still send Mark bags if wants to try them. He may or may not release an Urban Explore review video too. Reviewers have no obligation to publish any content on our gear, We specifically let everyone know before we send a bag out. Regardless of the packs performance, personally I think this packs looks great on Todd, it's a perfect match.
@@ShimodaDesigns Thx for this clarification because not all brands do the same. Anyway - as I said in another answer - your product seems,very good, at a level of quality of PD which is for me a reference and more practical. The fact of having 3 sizes is a plus (20-25-30L) vs 2 sizes (hi California guys ;)) and in summary the only reason I won t order one is that I already get too many of them (Thule, manfrotto, peak design and lowepro) :).
@@ShimodaDesigns Are these available for purchase now or will they only be available through the Kickstarter after February? I'm looking to get one for a trip in December!
@@aloi HI, not available yet, Kickstarter only
As someone who has a lot of bags including every Shimoda Action and Explore series bags. I say they are so great and fills the niche for a hiking camera bag, so much so that I don't need a Shimoda Urban Explore bag. I mean, there are other bags that can fill in that space e.g. PGYTECH One MO 2, Think Tank Urban Access 15, Nomatic PM, LowePro AW 450 II, Manfrotto Pro Light etc.
Also not a big fan of the cube. It just eats up space, if I need to put something without needing the dividers then I prefer just removing the dividers. I appreciate the less strappy design though. Sad that they removed the Explorer straps. It was the best thing about Shimoda.
Beautiful bag. Too bad like all the other bags now days, they're too expensive.
My bag has that same kind of a side access and I use it a lot. I'm instantly jealous of the pocket for holding the inner flap 😮
Good review Todd
this looks like the perfect camera backpack!
As I love my Explore V2 25L, I love the small Urban Explore 20L too!
Thanks for the input Todd!
If you look at the outside dimensions the new UE20 isn't actually 20L but 25.38L. Which is the same size as the E30v2 (25.82L). Your E25v2 is actually smaller at 21.34L
Love the dedicated PD capture clip on the strap, but really really miss the adjustable torso straps.
maybe it's a silly question, but if you remove the core unit, is it possible to collapse it flat or is that too much structure in it which won't allow the collapsing?
Hi, does it not fit into the 20l version of the Macbook Air 15? It is only slightly larger than the MacBook Pro 14.
Two deal-breakers on this bag:
1. The side access is on the wrong side. If it wasn't on the wrong side it would matter that the tripod is also on top of it, but the fact that the location is on the absolute wrong side makes this second complaint irrelevant. Somebody should remember Shimoda that all cameras are made for right-handed use. Trying to swing around the shoulder that belongs to the same arm which hand's you're going to be using to pull the camera out makes absolutely no sense. That would be like applying deodorant with the hand that belongs to the armpit's arm.
2. The lack of a waist belt is absurd. Camera gear can get pretty heavy and not having the ability to ease that weight is also a very odd decision by Shimoda.
Goodbye Shimoda. Until another time.
Back to Boundary Supply.
I’m sure they’ve devastated by your loss….😂😂
Hi Todd. Thanks for the great video. Can you tell me, what is the weight of this Shimoda Urban Explore bag - with core unit and without, if that is no problem ? Is this version a bit lighter then Action or Explore versions? Thanks.
Do you have a video on how you light your videos? How do you achieve no reflections on your glasses? Are you not using a grid?
Hi Todd! Can the 25L or 30L fit a thick laptop in an EVA case? Mine is an ASUS TUF 15.6 gaming laptop at 3cm Thickness that I put in an EVA case for additional protection with 4.5cm thickness when the laptop is inside. Im just curious because most of my camera bags will fit my laptop but with the hardshell eva case then it wont fit anymore. Im a casual gamer and have mirrorless camera gears and a small drone when I travel. Laptop EVA case with Laptop inside Dimensions are: Length 28cm x Width 4.5cm x Height 49cm. Hope you can answer. Thank you!
where do you guys usually carry drone and camera chargers? also in the core unit? Always struggle with those.
Can the bag stay vertical when you put it on the ground?
This looks pretty promising and solves a lot of the issues that I had with the Explore V2 when I bought it. I'm curious about the horizontal pocket on the back (opposite of the straps) of the bag. One of my biggest annoyances with this pocket on the Explore V2 was that it was incredibly deep but the opening for it was rather small which made it very easy to drop something to the bottom of that pocket and then be very difficult to retrieve. Is it easier to dig down into the bottom of that pocket? I have small hands as it is and it was still tough to get in this pocket on my explore bag.
Additionally, did you encounter the bag showing visible signs of scuffs/abrasion in your use? My other big complaint is that the vinyl coated fabric on the explore almost immediately showed marks from any little scuff/rub on it, which was a big negative for me considering how much the bag costs. Any insight on this?
Thanks for highlighting about the marks from little scruff/rub, you will never hear reviewers talk about it. That is certainly a negative. I have the Tenba Fluton V2 and it has the same problem on its water resistance material and the manufacturer refuses to acknowledge that it is a problem with the bag.
Great review, thanks!
Shimoda says both the 25 and 30 liters fit a 16inch MBP, but the real questions is does the 16 inch MBP fit in the back flap/cover above the cube or does it only fit in the front part of the part. The problem with front is when you lie down the bag to take out your cameras, your laptop will be crushed under when it’s in the front pocket.
Nice video! I backed the campaign! Curious, how do you get your glasses to not reflect? :D
I'm guessing moving the light to the side further to increase angle and/or raising it higher.
Would a a7r3 with a battery grip attached fit in there and also be able to get it out of the side access?
Combining elegance and luxury kislux
Great Bag. I have the Expore V2 and love it. But why do they do the side opening on the right? Most people are right handed and this way is a pain. Probably just me
It makes more sense. You swing it over your right shoulder, unzip with your left hand, grab the camera with your right hand, zip with your left hand, then push the bag with your left hand and swing it back. The camera stays in your right hand the whole time.
Great review I’ve just ordered the 25lt It’s the style of bag that suites well. Just wonder how long it’ll be before China reverse engineers the bag and it’s sold on eBay lower price which I despise 😡Well covered Todd thanks 🙏
Ok so we’ve already seen a similar design by Peter McKinnon’s Everday Bag by Nomatic. There’s features on that bag that make it a better option for the money.
I just returned that bag to get this one
Im seeing a ton of these showcase videos, even from very small channels under 1000 subs, and yours is the first with anything approaching criticism. I'll take your word that you were not paid for the content, but no bag is absolutely perfect for everyone, and pretty much all the showcases/previews/'reviews' are nothing but positive which is extremely suspect.... even if the bag is good for you its not going to be perfect for every possible use case..
Does the magnetic sternum strap stay closed? Is the material not as waterproof as their other bags? Is there a place to store a rain cover?
With everyone's video pretty much only covering the marketing points with little criticism this reeks of a Shimoda marketing campaign....
I also generally dislike when established companies use kickstarter to launch new products.
It is worth noting that the existing core units do not work well with the Urban Explorer. The UE core units have unique dimensions.
This is not true. ML - Core Unit's are compatible. 30 (S,M,L) 25 (S), 20 is smaller than anything we have built, so only its default CU fits.
@@ShimodaDesigns Thanks for clarifying. I was under the impression that the ML core units might be (slightly) too shallow for the Urban Explorer, like fitting a DSLR core unit inside an Action X70's deeper interior.
Most bags were not designed for cameras like the Canon R3… what are your thoughts?
Todd, thanks for the nice review. How comfortable or difficult is it to carry it around without a waist strap? Even when visiting cities, I end up walking for 7-8 hours and I carry my Explore v2 everywhere, particularly because of the waist strap.
Todd mentioned somewhere in the video that UE is not as comfortable. Would like to hear from Todd about this.
does it stand straight when filled up like the Nomatic PM bags?
pm is a clown.
They do look very nice. I have black duct tape on my camera bag logo so it doesn't scream 'hey i have expensive camera equipment in there'. Seems that wouldn't be necessary here.
this is the same tier with the pgytech onego air 25l
There's actually no reviews that show the accessibility of the camera from the side pocket!
Several of the features you refer to as being 'unique' to Shimoda, are not unique. Companies like f-stop also have the removable ICU's.
Be worth making a few amendments to the video or as a description disclaimer. The ICU is not unique and at best between all companies it is just variation and preference at this point.
I would not buy a 30l gear back without a waist strap. The gear is too heavy.
The design almost exactly copies the manfrotto before advanced iii backpack 🤔
Shimoda just got this guy for advertising because he looks trustworthy and has good video production.
No belt. No way.
one word. Lowepro.
This is a hard pass for me. Camera bag companies need to rethink the "mirrorless" label - it doesn't always translate to a compact size! 🤔 I own a Canon R5, and even though it's mirrorless, it's too big for this bag. 😓
And seriously, the cube system? It might sound cool, but those cube walls just eat up valuable space. I feel for anyone who discovers their new bag is too small for almost anything substantial. 🚫🎒 Let's prioritize functionality over gimmicks! 👍 #CameraBagReality #SizeMatters
lol funny how everyone has a review on this one bag today and yet none of them were paid to do so… man don’t be a product shill. Your content is better than that low level crap.
lol, really funny...advertise whatever, no problem ...but we are not stupid.
Yet you still watched. LOL. Some of us like to hear about new products through our favourite UA-camrs and what their views are.