Backpacker Magazine – 2010 Editors' Choice/Gear Guide

Gear Review: ClikElite Nature 35 Camera Pack

This is a true hiker's camera pack.

by: Steve Howe

Tags:
• Gear
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• Backpacks
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• Daypacks
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Best Photo Pack
Camera packs, with all of their padded compartments and zippered slots, do one thing really well: store photo gear. But they rarely carry comfortably (bowling ball with straps, anyone?) or have space for food, layers, and water. The Nature 35 solves both problems with a stable yoke, flexible but supportive backpanel, and a back-hugging fit that keeps weight close to your spine.

That means excellent weight transfer with loads up to 35 pounds, and top-notch stability for fastpacking, scrambling, skiing, and even canyoneering. And capacity? It’s big enough for a day’s worth of supplies in the hydration-compatible compartment up high. Photo gear goes in the well-organized, 540-cubic-inch camera compartment down low.

“I packed a puffy jacket, gloves, bars, and two liters of water as well as my Nikon, three lenses, and a flash—and nothing slopped around or threw me off balance,” one tester wrote after shooting on Switzerland’s Aletsch Glacier. For photography on the go, ClikElite offers optional chest and holster pouches ($20 to $90) that attach via quick-release buckles. Torso length adjusts from 15 to 20-plus inches, with a suspension that’s easily best-in-class. Bonus points: It comes with a fold-out rain cover. Demerits: weight and price. $235; 2,100 cu. in.; 5 lbs. 8 oz.

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