Evoc CP 26l Camera Bag

The Evoc CP 26l In the Field

Many of the activities I shoot require a special backpack. For example, I usually have a hydration pack when biking, or a backpack with avy gear when backcountry skiing. The CP 26l aims to replicate the functions of those specialized bags, while also allowing me to carry my camera gear. So how does it do?

Really, the answer depends on what your objectives are. Where the CP 26l shines is on shorter trips where you want to haul a lot of camera gear and not too much else. That 60 / 40 division, combined with its plethora of features and relatively heavy weight (stated: 2.45 kgs / 5.4lbs) means that you can get a lot of camera gear out into the field, but not so much other stuff.

I used the CP 26l both backcountry and resort skiing, and found that I was pushing its capacity on longer tours. Granted, I tend to overpack, but the CP 26l has several distinct design features that make it suboptimal for longer objectives.

First, the CP 26l’s laptop sleeve doubles as an avalanche gear pocket. It’s easily accessible through one zipper from the outside, and features a nice little illustration of what to do if an avalanche happens. (Although I sure don’t want to be reading instructions in that sort of a situation.)

However, because it is situated at the front of the pack, this pocket is not very deep (about 18” but the top slopes in so it actually closes smaller). This means that it can be difficult to fit a shovel blade, handle, and probe into this pocket. My K2 Shaxe with its 19” handle doesn’t fit in this pocket, and I have to put the handle in the larger back camera pocket. This of course means I have to undo one more zipper and potentially dump out all of my camera gear in the event of an emergency.

The other issue that makes it difficult to use the CP 26l for longer tours is the fact that it doesn’t have much capacity for non-camera gear. Since it’s divided 60 / 40 with the bias towards camera gear, it only has about 10.4 L of non-camera capacity. That’s a pain on longer tours where I need to bring water, skins, extra layers, food, approach shoes, or any sort of climbing or glacier gear. Since I often have leftover space in the camera compartment, I sometimes store extra gear in there, but it’s not very easily accessible.

I’m also less likely to take the CP 26l on longer trips because of its weight. At 2.45kg, this thing is no ultralight bag. The 37 liter F-Stop Loka only weighs 1.56 kg, without an ICU. Of course, the CP 26l offers a lot of protection and padding that the Loka, without an ICU doesn’t, but none of that weight is really removable from the CP 26l; you’re pretty much stuck with that weight, regardless of how much camera gear you actually need to carry.

I’m not usually a weight weenie, but in the backcountry, it’s already challenging enough to keep up with athletes since I’m weighed down by camera gear. So this is one area where the F-Stop bags or a dedicated mountaineering bag outshine the CP 26l—it’s not really modular at all.

Where the CP 26l does shine is on shorter (and less gear-intensive) objectives. All that padding means I’m very confident throwing it around in the snow and on rocks. If I am unlucky enough to crash while wearing it, I believe it will do a better job of protecting my gear than any other pack I’ve used, and that gives me the confidence to get into more … “interesting” locations to get the shot.

The CP 26l carries surprisingly well given its size, weight, and lack of a rigid frame. Even when loaded down with all my camera gear, it still rides more comfortably than any other comparably sized pack I’ve used. I’ve put it through the wringer, skied terrain that was outside of my comfort zone in New Zealand, and ridden rowdy downhill trails in Idaho and Wyoming, and the pack has been as close to invisible on my back as I’ve ever experienced. That’s huge when I’m pushing my limits to keep up with the talent. Any time thinking and worrying about my pack is time spent not getting the shot. If you’re looking for a camera pack that feels like an extension of your body when the going gets gnarly, the CP 26l should be high on your list.

I’ve carried skis in both an A-frame and diagonal orientation on this pack, and it’s done well in both situations—although the stiffness and width of the pack mean that your skis usually end up in more of an “H-frame” configuration with the tips far apart. But I never ran into issues with the tails hitting the backs of my legs.

The rain fly is functional and easy to access, a huge plus when you’re trying to protect your life’s savings in camera gear.

Durability

The Evoc CP 26l has traveled a lot of miles with me in the past few months, and overall, it has held up very well. I’ve only experienced one very small (1-2mm) hole in the back of the pack, probably the result of dragging it around the airport strapped to my ski bag. I’ve thrown it into cars, dropped it in the desert, crashed my mountain bike while wearing it, and even had to chase off a flock of Keas that were trying to eat it, and honestly I’m a little surprised it’s not showing more scars. The black fabric does get dirty quickly, but wipes clean very easily.

A big issue for many mountain packs, both camera and non-camera specific, is durability. It’s hard to design something that keeps your gear safe and accessible that also stands up to the abuse that mountains deliver. The CP 26l earns points on this front so far.

Bottom Line

It’s hard to find camera packs that function well in the field and also keep your gear protected and easy to access. While the Evoc CP 26l isn’t the lightest or most customizable option out there, its well-thought-out features, impressive fit, durability, and its uniquely quick camera access make it a very good choice for shorter trips where hauling, protecting, and accessing your long-lensed banger-grabber is top priority.