Great outdoor photography packs are hard to come by so two iconic German brands got together to give it a go. Deuter, known for their durable and comfortable backpacks, teamed up with Compagnon, famous for their photography packs, to create the ultimate outdoor photographer’s carry.
The Compagnon Explorer backpacks function as both everyday carry as well as a photo pack. The main storage compartment comes with a variety of padded Velcro dividers so you can adapt it to fit your specific photo or video equipment setup. Remove the dividers and you have a standard backpack.
To access the main compartment, the back panel zips open fully, enabling you to see all your equipment at once. Inside the back panel you’ll find a padded laptop compartment, as well as a variety of removable velcro pockets for organizing accessories. On the front of the pack, you’ll find an extra organizer pocket for cords, batteries, etc.
When you are on the go and want quick access to your camera, a small zippered opening on the side of the pack lets you grab your camera and go. You will also find a Velcro SD card holder inside the flap.
The Explorer features an expandable, rolltop storage compartment on top of the pack, completely separate from the main compartment. Here you can add more gear like a jacket, water, and snacks and not worry that it will mess up your camera equipment. There is even a small zippered pocket to secure your valuables.
The backpacks are made from a durable, water-resistant material with padded protection throughout the main compartment. The base is made form an ultra rugged Hypalon so you can safely set it on the ground when shooting.
The Compagnon Explorer offers a storage capacity of 16 liters in the main compartment, with an additional 9 liters in the rolltop section. The Explorer+ offers 25 liters of storage capacity in the main compartment and an extra 12 liters in the rolltop.
The Explorer and Explorer+ packs weigh 4 pounds and 4.6 pounds respectively, so not overly heavy. And given that they were built on Deuter’s Alpine back system, you know they will be comfortable to carry. For those with an extra heavy load, you can attach Deuter’s removable hipbelt for a more comfortable carry or stability on the bike. There’s even a sitting mat integrated into the back panel.
Compagnon is running a Kickstarter campaign to take pre-orders on the photo packs — roughly $317 will get you an Explorer and $369 will get you an Explorer+. Expected delivery is in April.