Sometimes I go out to just to take a regular old half day hike. Nothing crazy, I am just hiking, not going on epic mountain bike ride, not mountaineering, just a short ride or hike. While a stroll through a camera store would tell you that you need a tactical looking camera bag or a giant nerdy looking pack. I also recently picked up an Olympus 40-150 F2.8 PRO lens which does not fit in my beloved Mindshift Trail 180 pack. With that lens and use case in mind I picked up the Dakine Trail Photo pack.
The Dakine Trail Photo pack has two main parts, an upper for storage and a lower that is padded for your camera gear. The lower padded insert can be removed if you want to leave camera behind and have a nice day pack. The camera sections zips out on the side.
Under that zipper is the padded camera area.
Underneath that padded flap is room for your camera and an extra lens. I easily fit my Olympus OMD-EM1 and 40-150 F2.8 PRO with the 12-40 F2.8 PRO in the storage compartment.
On the outside of the pack there are two compression straps for carrying your jacket, tripod, etc. It can hold a full size coat no problem.
The pack has a zip away water bottle pocket. The Dakine Trail Photo does not have a hydration bladder sleeve. But that is fine for a pack with this purpose.
There is a fleece lined glasses pocket at the top.
Then yet another pocket for storing widgets and strapping down more things.
Inside the top of the pack there is room for all you need on a day hike in milder weather. A fleece vest, buff, hat, bars and you wallet and keys.
The back is padded with a thick shaped foam.
The Dakine Trail Photo has high quality shaped straps.
The adjustable sternum strap has a built in whistle.
And hidden at the bottom of the pack is a integrated rain cover.
I did not know what to expect when I purchased this pack. I had not heard a lot about the Dakine photo packs anywhere. I have one other Dakine pack, the Dakine Pro II . I have used the snot out of that pack since getting it and really like it.
The Dakine Trail Photo pack is awesome for a day hike with a moderate amount of gear. I bought this specifically because my 40-150 did not fit in the Mindshift Trail 180 with it’s neat camera belt system. But really this doesn’t take much longer to get your camera out of with the side entrance than the Mindshift. I think this pack is really cool and worth the money. At the time I purchased it from Amazon for $80.
Features
- All sport camera pack
- Removable padded camera block
- Side entry to camera gear
- Compression molded back panel
- Multiple lash points for tri-pod, helmet, armor
- Water bottle pocket
- Fleece lined sunglass pocket
- Deployable rain cover
- Padded waist belt
- Integrated rescue whistle/sternum strap
Specs
18.5 x 12 x 6″ [ 47 x 30 x 15cm ]