F-stop Loka looks like a winner

I'm not convinced the sleeve will accommodate that laptop. It's roughly 31-32 cm high by 22-23cm wide. I found a book with two dimensions close to that of your laptop, 23.4 x 3.1cm. The sleeve isn't wide enough for the book to slide all the way to the bottom.

JohnJ80 wrote in post #11039412
Hi Ian,

How is this different than other pack rain covers - you know the things that cover the whole outside of the pack like a big shower cap?

J.

Ours is designed to connect with ours bags. There are pieces on your back pack that you may say 'what the heck is that for', those are for your rain cover to connect.

I can't comment on the other brands construction.

Material wise ours is: N70D Tafetta Ripstop PU 1000mm Water Resitance

....

As for laptops, it will hold smaller laptops/ tablet type units in the sleeve but is not going to take more common sizes like 15/17" in the sleeve. As our sleeve is not padded, I would suggest an independent padded sleeve and placed in your pack for any laptop. This bag is designed for action and mobility. It leans more towards active photographers who demand a lower profile bag and also want to be involved in the action, not so much towards the guys traveling with larger computers (hence the low profile) in there bag.

Here are some more images of the bag on one of our staff pros from last week.

This gives a good idea of the fit.
http://cdn.fstopgear.c​om …ories/pondellal​oka/-4.jpg

And this mounted with skis and in action.
http://cdn.fstopgear.c​om …ories/pondellal​oka/-2.jpg
http://cdn.fstopgear.c​om …ories/pondellal​oka/-3.jpg

Mine arrived last Saturday. Got the black one and am very happy. I am 6'1" and it fits perfectly. Some really well thought out features on this bag. Also for a bag this small it seems to have a mysterious amount of space inside. I have the medium ICU fitted and was surprised to fit;

Nikon D300
300mm f4 + 1.4xTC
24-70mm f2.8
10-20mm f4-5.6
Polarizer
10 Stop ND filter
Remote shutter
Right Angled Viewfinder
Gitzo 1541T + Markens Q3T Tripod

Coat (Paramo Pajaro)
Food
Drink
First Aid Kit
Compass
Wallet
Keys

Plus a few other bits and bobs. With this kit there is still a decent amount of space left for more spare clothes or other accessories. I am also very happy to discover that the straps on the waistband are wide enough to take a Think Tank Holster, meaning I have somewhere to keep my camera temporarily rather than having to keep taking the rucksack on and off.

A few things I would change about this bag though; I know the raincover is an optional extra, but I think for the price and weight it really should come as standard. I would like to see the molle straps on the right hand waiststrap as well as the left, and have the waist pocket detachable. I'm also not convinced by how the ICU attaches to the inside of the bag. I would prefer to see plastic clips doing the job instead.

Other than that it is exactly what I was after. It looks great, fits great and makes my days out much easier and comfier.

cfnz wrote in post #11050269
I'm not convinced the sleeve will accommodate that laptop. It's roughly 31-32 cm high by 22-23cm wide. I found a book with two dimensions close to that of your laptop, 23.4 x 3.1cm. The sleeve isn't wide enough for the book to slide all the way to the bottom.

Thank you very much for taking the time to test it for me!

Fstop-Ian wrote in post #11056498
Here are some more images of the bag on one of our staff pros from last week.

This gives a good idea of the fit.
http://cdn.fstopgear.c​om …ories/pondellal​oka/-4.jpg

And this mounted with skis and in action.
http://cdn.fstopgear.c​om …ories/pondellal​oka/-2.jpg
http://cdn.fstopgear.c​om …ories/pondellal​oka/-3.jpg

Now that is one awesome looking camera bag!

Besides the price and availability which is understandable, the ONE thing that would be absolutely awesome would be if F-Stop came out with a mountaineering shade of red for there bags... that would be just be stunning.

It's pretty much an awesome bag besides being a camera bag. Nicely done.

J.

Just got my Grey Mist Loka with small and large ICU.

First impression: this bag is well made. Impeccable fit and finish, and bloody good looking as well. I loaded up the ICU with some gear, put it on and adjusted everything so it rides nicely – this will be a comfortable bag. It feels just like one of my LoweAlpine packs, which are the most comfortable backpacks I have ever worn. I can see it becoming my regular day pack as well, not just my camera bag. And I think the large ICU might be large enough to hold most of my kit, so I might be able to sell my lowepro backpack that I keep everything in. And with the small icu, which holds my 1DsII, 24 TS-E, filters, and accessories with ease, this will be a great landscaping kit since there is so much room left in the bag for hiking supplies.

I'll take it out for a hike this weekend, and take some pics of the pack loaded up. Cannot wait.

I'm interested to see how the large ICU fits and looks inside the Loka.

The large ICU fits well. I can fit my 1D Mark IV with 24-70/2.8L mounted plus my 100/2.8L IS, 16-35/2.8L, 70-200/2.8L IS Mark II, 580EXII, and spare battery in the ICU. Filters fit in the backpack compartment with room to spare. Then there is the top compartment available where I keep my CF cards plus GPS with additional space. In the top of the pack, above the ICU there is room for two ThinkTank Lens Changers with a 24/1.4L and a 135/2L and I can fit my 13" MacBook Pro in a padded sleeve in the bag. Oh and an additional Lens Changer can be mounted on the waist strap.

That is pretty much the bag totally maxed out and it is rather heavy but I thought it would be good to see how much it could hold, if necessary. Typically I may fill the ICU, lunch goes above the ICU, and I can put a jacket through the compression straps on one side.

Hope that helps.

-Jeff

I'm guessing the lenshood is in the shooting position on the 70-200? I am tempted to get the large ICU. I got my Loka with a medium ICU, and although I can fit all the kit I want in there, it does mean I can't fit the 300mm f4 + 1.4X TC and body, all fitted together. But then I wonder if I would have enough space up to for my jacket and food. Hmmm...

Messiah Khan wrote in post #11089748
I'm guessing the lenshood is in the shooting position on the 70-200? I am tempted to get the large ICU. I got my Loka with a medium ICU, and although I can fit all the kit I want in there, it does mean I can't fit the 300mm f4 + 1.4X TC and body, all fitted together. But then I wonder if I would have enough space up to for my jacket and food. Hmmm...

The lens hood on the 70-200 is in the reverse position in that pic. The hood on the 400mm is in the retracted position.

300/4 plus 1.4x would definitely fit in the large ICU As far as food and clothes go, just get another bag and attach it to the Molle straps

Depends on your jacket but the pocket on the front panel is design to stuff a shell into.

For food you should be able to get lunch in there. i usually a pack a tuper where style container in there.

To everyone, Thanks for posting all the pics and helping people out Much appreciated.

How well does a tripod attach to the Loka?