F-Stop Tilopa backpack review update
I have been using f-Stop bags for several years now and am a big fan of their modular system (more on that in a moment). I have four f-Stop backpacks but the 50litre Tilopa, which sits in the middle of the range of Mountain Series backpacks has long been my favourite. Back in 2020 I wrote a review of the Tilopa (read it here) but since then it has been updated and as I have been using the new and improved DuraDiamond Tilopa for a few months now, I thought it was time to update my review.
The f-Stop system
I don’t want to repeat my original review but for those unfamiliar with f-Stop bags, here is a quick overview of the system.
F-stop have a different, more flexible approach than most camera bag manufacturers, theirs is a modular system in which you choose the individual components according to your needs.
The first step is to chose the range and size of the bag. For outdoor photographers it will be the Mountain Series in which there is a choice of 5 backpacks ranging in volume from the 32litre Lotus all the way up to the massive 80litre Shinn, each available in a choice of 3 colours. At the time of writing, 3 of those backpacks have been upgraded to the new Dura Diamond version… the Ajna (37L), Shinn and of course the Tilopa.
The backpacks have no internal compartments for your gear so once you have selected the bag you then need to choose a camera bag insert, or ICU (internal camera unit) as F-stop refer to it, to go in it. With 8 different sized ICUs to chose from you can tailor the bag to your exact requirements, deciding how much of the bag you want to use for camera gear and how much for other items. You can of course buy different sized ICUs, for example a large ICU for carrying mainly camera equipment and a small ICU for hiking trips when there is only space for minimal camera equipment.
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.
What’s new?
The most obvious change, is the DuraDiamond material, proprietary to f-stop for which the bags have been named. Aside from having a fetching woven diamond pattern, they have somehow managed to make this new material stronger, lighter weight, and more weather resistant. It is also considerably easier to clean, wiping it with a damp microfibre cloth being all that is usually necessary. And, if that wasn’t enough the new Magma orange colour is even more orange!
There is a lot more to the upgraded Tilopa than the material though, there are a whole host of refinements.
Zips are now welded and woven in, increasing weather proofing and the zipper pulls are now longer and shrink wrapped making them a lot easier to grab, especially on cold days when you are wearing gloves.
Continuing with the upgraded hardware, all the plastic buckles on the straps have been swapped for stronger T6 aluminium items. The jury is still out on the waist strap buckle which in place of the usual simple click together plastic type is now a metal slot together affair. It is clearly stronger (and I have broken one of the plastic buckles before) but it has taken some getting used to and although it is growing on me, is still a bit slow to use.
Another change is the removal of the fixed straps on the back and on each side. Instead there are additional anchor points to which gatekeeper straps (available separately) can be attached. It does clean up the profile of the bag and makes the system more flexible but if, like me, you want to use the side straps for attaching a tripod (or a dog lead) then you’ll want to buy the ‘Essentials bundle’ which as well as coming with sidestraps also includes a camera insert and rain cover.
In my original review, I pointed out a few minor niggles, many of which I am pleased to see have been ironed out.
The biggest one was the inside of the back panel which on the older version of the Tilopa ha little more than a small zip up pocket, a waste of valuable space in my opinion. Now this has been replaced with a complete organiser panel which includes a drop-in laptop sleeve and multiple quick access storage pockets (most of which use magnetic fasteners which are quick and quiet to open). A huge improvement.
The new organiser panel on the inside of the opening
Similarly, the flat side pockets have been redesigned, they are still rather flat but now split into two which makes them more functional.
On a different note but another negative I pointed out in my last review was the lack of a UK distributor. I have ordered all my gear directly from f-Stop in Europe without issue but if you prefer to buy from the UK you can now do so from https://www.photo-tools.co.uk.
Left to right: Side pockets, pocket, removable gatekeeper straps, upgraded buckles, upgraded weather resistant zips
Upgraded T6 aluminium buckles
Large Pro camera bag insert
Medium Slope camera bag insert
XL Pro camera bag insert
For an idea of what the Tilopa will hold, I usually carry the following in a Large Pro camera bag insert…
Canon R5
Canon R7
Canon RF 14-35mm L, RF 24-105mm L & RF 100-500mm L lenses
f-stop filter pouch containing LEE 100 system filters
LEE ND filters
Spare batteries & memory cards
Peak Designs straps
If I need to carry more non-camera gear (or I’m using a smaller bag like the Lotus) then I carry the following gear in a MediumSlope camera bag insert (with my filter pouch in the top of the bag)…
Canon R5
Canon RF 14-35mm L, RF 24-105mm L & EF 70-200mm L lenses
LEE ND filters
Spare batteries & memory cards
Peak Designs straps
I also have an XL Pro camera bag insert which I use for the following gear…
Canon R5
Canon R7
Canon EF 500mm f4 L & Canon RF 100-500mm L lenses
Canon EF 1.4 TC
Canon EF-RF adaptor
Spare batteries & memory cards
Peak Designs straps
Depending on which camera unit I am using there will be varying amount of space remaining for other items, with the large camera unit installed if I need to, I can comfortably fit the following with room to spare…
Internal top compartment - easy to reach things (torches, sunglasses, wallet, snacks etc)
Internal compartment above camera insert - Drone (in large pouch), hat, gloves etc (in small packing cell)
Internal back panel pockets - cleaning cloths, lens wipes & remote controls
Exterior front pocket - jacket, any other extra layers & microfibre towel
Exterior side pockets - rain cover, bungee cord & water bottle
Verdict
Ending this review with the same question as I ended the last review with… is this the perfect camera bag?
Obviously we will all have different ideas of what that is but that’s the beauty of the f-Stop system, we can each use it to create our own perfect backpack… as long as the components available are suitable for the task.
With many of the minor issues I found with the previous version of the Tilopa now fixed, the DuraDiamond Tilopa feels more refined and for me, as good as it gets. Comfortable, functional, flexible and orange… what more could you ask for?