The Atlas Athlete Pack is a high-performance backpack designed for hikers, adventurers, and photographers who need consolation, digital camera storage, and sturdiness (with a lifetime guarantee). I’ve used the Atlas Athlete Pack since 2019. Over the final 4 years, I’ve taken my Atlas Athlete to the demise zone on Makalu Summit, greater than twenty totally different international locations, and numerous multi-day treks. In this overview, we are going to delve into the options and specs of the pack, in addition to my very own private expertise utilizing it.
ATLAS ATHLETE PACK REVIEW
As somebody who hikes nonstop, travels full-time, and is at all times carrying numerous digital camera gear, you’ll be able to think about a backpack is kind of necessary to me. I exploit it every single day and retailer my most useful possessions inside. I spent a couple of years attempting totally different baggage and had a couple of that I loved however none got here near the Atlas Athlete from Atlas Packs. In this text, I’ll offer you as a lot data as I can and even share with you the backpacks I used prior to now and why the Atlas Athlete outperforms them.
ATLAS ATHLETE QUICK SPECS
- Capacity: 20-40L Expandable
- Fits: Mirrorless w/battery grips and DSLR
- Fits: Lenses as huge as 200-600
- Camera Storage: 7-10 liters
- Non-Camera Storage: 10-30 liters
- Inches: 21h / 23h x 11w x 7d
- CM: 53.5 / 53.8H x 28w x 18D
- Laptop: Fits 16″ MacBook Pro
- Weight: 4.5lbs
- Carry-on: Yes
- Waterproof cowl: Yes
ATLAS ATHLETE PACK QUALITY
The Atlas Athlete mannequin is constructed with high-quality supplies which can be constructed to final. I’ve completely smashed this bag through the years. Examples of conditions the place I’ve hammered this pack over the past 4 years and it has by no means ripped, torn, or come aside:
- Climbing into the demise zone on Makalu on glaciers, mountaineering, and excessive chilly
- Hiking by dense forests with sharp crops continuously catching the material of the bag
- Exposure to prolonged durations of salt water on longtail boats in Asia
- Many falls and crashes on hikes the place the bag is dragged over rocks and grime
- Thousands of hours of strain on belt buckles
- Years of use of zippers, typically with an overloaded bag
The Atlas Athlete is made with 500D Cordura nylon, which is abrasion-resistant and comparatively water-repellent, guaranteeing that your gear stays dry in any climate situations. The zippers are YKK and the buckles are Duraflex, each of that are recognized for his or her sturdiness and power. I can attest to that as I’m genuinely stunned to have by no means damaged a zipper. While the bag does face up to some rain earlier than it wets your gear inside, it isn’t waterproof. However, it has a water-proof cowl which is waterproof.
WHO IS THE ATLAS ATHLETE FOR
Adventurers who use digital camera gear: wildlife photographers, hikers, trekkers, and vacationers. This is the premium journey bag that can retailer your digital camera gear. Even if you happen to don’t journey typically, the digital camera storage compartment will entice sports activities photographers, marriage ceremony photographers, and concrete shooters. However, the principle draw to the Atlas Athlete is that it may possibly carry a bigger load, a number of cameras, and lenses but be extra snug than most different common digital camera backpacks.
WHO IS THE ATLAS ATHLETE NOT FOR
This pack isn’t for everybody. These are the explanations you shouldn’t purchase this backpack
- Photographers solely: This pack is just for photographers. The inside design is about as much as maintain cameras organized and protected. If you simply have one small digital camera you don’t want the inside design, which takes up house and provides weight to a daily again. This is the incorrect again for a daily hiker or trekker.
- Budget: It’s not low-cost, there’s no manner round that reality… There are backpacks available on the market which can be underneath $200 and even some underneath $100 that can do the job relating to carrying your gear. However, you’ll make sacrifices in consolation, sturdiness, and inside storage design. I used to be utilizing cheaper packs however ultimately switched after a couple of lengthy treks with baggage that had been carrying my digital camera gear however giving me again and neck ache as they weren’t designed for giant adventures.
- Regular vacationers: If you might be doing small adventures, exploring cities and by no means embarking on huge hikes or lengthy journeys, I’d say that the Atlas Athlete is doubtlessly overkill. I beforehand had no subject with my Wandrd 31L PRVKE mannequin (pictured beneath) for smaller day journeys, carrying a laptop computer/drone, and so forth.
ATLAS ATHLETE STORAGE CAPACITY
ACCESSING THE CAMERA GEAR
As a photographer, with the ability to rapidly entry your digital camera and lenses can imply the distinction between getting the right shot … or not. As a climbing digital camera bag, I need to have the ability to rapidly cease, get out the digital camera, and put it away inside seconds, in order that I can proceed on my route.
The Atlas Athlete truly permits me to simply take off the chest clip and spin it round in entrance of me. I then unzip, attain in, and don’t even should take the bag off. Alternatively, I usually hike with a Peak Design clip on the shoulder strap which clips onto my digital camera.
The customizable digital camera compartment is nice for photographers who carry a number of lenses, a drone, or a couple of digital camera. I simply unzip that digital camera compartment and make my choice.
ATLAS ATHLETE PACK STORAGE SYSTEM
The Atlas Athlete pack is designed to be compact and light-weight, measuring simply 6 inches in depth. However, it may possibly maintain a major quantity of digital camera gear due to its progressive design. The bag encompasses a single-fold Origami Camera Core (TM), which creates 3-4 liters of house between the back and front of the pack. This house permits for straightforward group and entry to your digital camera gear.
The Origami Core is mounted and isn’t an insert like many different baggage, which saves on weight. It is totally customizable they usually offer you numerous inserts to design it to finest match the gear you are attempting to retailer. My tip is to place your heaviest gadgets on the backside to not overload the dividers.
The again panel of the Athlete Pack shuts tightly in your digital camera gear, guaranteeing that your gear stays protected and safe. This design additionally helps with weight distribution, making it simpler to hold your gear for prolonged durations. Even when the again panel is open, your gear is not going to fall out if packed correctly.
WHAT I USUALLY CARRY IN MY ATLAS ATHLETE
I often have my pack set as much as match my day by day digital camera gear. I’ve the highest flap down as I like to make use of that as a storage space for jackets, meals, and different gear that isn’t a digital camera. My common digital camera setup for a giant hike is:
- F4 24.105mm lens
- F4 16-35mm lens
- Sony A7riv
- Mavic Air2s and a pair of batteries
- Insta360 (facet pocket subsequent to a water bottle)
- Small accent bag with batteries and filters
- 100-400m (typically)
The relaxation is filled with meals, water, and garments. I’ve typically camped with it and executed multi-day treks. It is usually a bit tight when it’s important to carry the sleeping system and further meals and so forth. nevertheless it does work. I did the complete Manaslu Circuit Trek in Nepal with the Atlas Athlete and whereas I didn’t want a sleeping system, I wanted plenty of heat garments, layers, and further gear. I carried a drone, 100-400mm, and two different lenses.
ATLAS ATHLETE PACK COMFORT AND FIT
The Atlas Athlete climbing digital camera bag is designed with consolation in thoughts. The padded shoulder straps and again panel present glorious assist and cushioning, even when carrying heavy gear. The pack is totally adjustable, making it simple to attain a custom-made match on your physique sort. The chest and waist straps can be adjusted to distribute weight evenly, decreasing the pressure in your shoulders and again.
The predominant cause I purchased the bag, is as a result of I needed one thing for multi-day or lengthy single-day hikes and adventures. I needed to have the ability to carry the cameras I wanted alongside the meals and garments required.
The Atlas Athlete makes use of a extremely stable hip belt that means that you can shift the burden from the shoulders to the hips like a daily backpacking bag from Osprey or Gregory. It’s as shut as you will get to an ergonomic backpacking bag within the type of a digital camera bag.
ATLAS PACKS HIP BELT OPTIONS
The hip belt on the Atlas Athlete pack is considered one of its standout options. Each pack comes with a customized hip belt that’s obtainable in a variety of sizes and kinds to accommodate totally different physique varieties and total load. The hip belt is designed to evenly distribute the burden of the pack, decreasing pressure on the shoulders and again and making it simpler to hold heavy gear.
One of the distinctive options of the hip belt is its Molle attachments, which let you simply connect and entry further gear or equipment. The hip belt can also be well-padded, offering additional assist and cushioning on your hips and decrease again. Additionally, the hip belt options magnetic fastenings, that are simple to make use of and help you rapidly and securely fasten and launch the belt.
Overall, the hip belt on the Atlas Athlete pack is a key element of its snug and practical design. The customizable sizing choices, Molle attachments, glorious padding, and magnetic fastenings all work collectively to make the pack simpler to put on and extra versatile for a wide range of actions and adventures.
ATLAS PACKS MODELS
There are literally two predominant fashions relating to Atlas Packs. I’ve used each and may truthfully say that whereas I’m stoked in regards to the Athlete mannequin, I don’t love the Adventure mannequin. I attempted the Adventure on a 7-day trek round Madeira Island on the Caminho Real 23. It wasn’t dangerous however I felt that it was a bit cumbersome and uncomfortable. There was an excessive amount of room for cameras and never sufficient gear for a bag that dimension relating to climbing. It can be nice for somebody who has plenty of digital camera gear and must nonetheless take it on an journey. I can match all my gear within the Atlas Athlete, which I discover far more snug and ergonomic. I ended up switching to a Gregory 70-lite backpacking bag for longer journeys and simply throw my digital camera gear in a dice.
BACKPACKS I USED BEFORE THE ATLAS ATHLETE
I truly used the Wandrd Prvke 31L for a very long time. It did me very effectively for a few years and was smaller and extra compact. However, as my adventures began to get extra intense, the bag was letting me down. On lengthy hikes, I couldn’t match sufficient additional gear in and it was overloaded. It induced plenty of neck and again ache. Before the Wandrd Prvke 31L, I used a finances Victoria Tourist bag from Amazon that had a pleasant little digital camera compartment. It was $70 and served me effectively.
ATLAS ATHLETE AS PLANE TRAVEL CARRY-ON
The Atlas Athlete is virtually at all times okay for carry-on baggage. I’ve by no means had an issue anyplace on the earth besides with very finances airways in Europe who offer you tiny bag allowances that nearly no bag would match. It suits underneath the seat in an emergency however I at all times stow it overhead and it suits in each instructions. If you pack it to the max, it may be a bit suspicious because it appears like a backpacking bag so attempt to not overload it and produce consideration to the bag.
ATLAS PACKS ACCESSORIES
Atlas Packs supply a variety of add-ons which can be designed to work seamlessly with their backpacks. So whether or not you want a bigger hip belt for additional assist, a sternum strap for higher stability, or an upgraded shoulder strap for extra consolation, they have you ever coated. They additionally provide you with progressive designs comparable to nets, straps, loops, and buckles that assist connect ice axes and further gear to your pack.
I hope this was a real and useful information in regards to the Atlas Athlete climbing and digital camera backpack. This overview has been 4 years within the making and I hope my trustworthy appraisal of Atlas Packs and the Athlete have helped you determine if it’s the backpack for you.