F-stop Lotus Backpack Review

The Lotus Camera Backpack Review

The Lotus’ 32L capacity is pretty roomy without the ICU installed.

One would be forgiven for thinking the Lotus backpack is the little brother of the Tilopa backpack.  They look similar at a quick glance.  Both backpacks are from F-stop’s  Mountain series of rugged backpacks.  Both the Lotus and Tilopa backpacks are made of rugged material,  use the ICU system for camera equipment storage, have a waterproof material on the bottom of the bag, and come in a few different colors.  Both bags can be packed to the point they become too heavy to be practical for extended use.  However, upon more than a casual glance the two bags do have some big differences other than just the size. 

Why I purchased my Lotus

My readers out there that are photographers will definitely agree with the next sentence.  Just as soon as you find a backpack you think will fit all your needs, you’ll find something it can’t.  I purchased my F-stop Lotus backpack back in 2019 for various local trips that I was going on.  I was looking for the interchangeability of the ICU system, but unfortunately using my 50 liter Tilopa would be overkill.  I also liked that the Lotus backpack uses an aluminum internal frame and adjustable support system which helps make the bag comfortable to use over a long period of time.   The Lotus was nice in that it protected my camera gear and made a great day bag, albeit slightly large for my taste, once I was on location.  The Lotus backpack lived up to my expectations of F-stop Gear’s products after experience with my Tilopa backpack.  Much like the Tilopa, the Lotus is designed to be rugged and handle a wide variety of conditions.  I’ve carried my Lotus backpack through good weather and bad, set it down in damp environments, and dropped it on more than several occasions.  Just like with my Tilopa, it hasn’t failed me yet.  You’ll find that I stuck with the aloe or green color.  I still can’t decide if that was because I like having a more subdued color, because I’m a creature of habit, or both.  Regardless of the reason, I’m more than happy with my purchase.  

If you find my information about F-stop’s 32L Lotus backpack useful, please consider using the Amazon affiliate links at the end of this article.

The zippers on the Lotus are well protected.

Most of the Lotus is made of a tough water resistant and ripstop fabric, but the bottom of this rugged photography backpack uses an even sturdier durable waterproof material.  There’s no need to worry if you have to set this bag down on a damp or muddy surface while you are out on location.  The Lotus backpack also comes with a zippered pocket at the bottom.  The pocket is a nice size, but I’ve honestly not used it much.  I don’t recommend putting anything fragile there.

The shoulder straps are a bit thin for my taste, but they do the job well enough.

The shoulder straps are the one area of this rugged photography backpack that I feel F-stop fell short on.  The shoulder straps are wide enough and have adjustment straps at the top to help set the shoulder straps the way you want them.  With backpacks like the Lotus, the waist belt is supposed to take the majority weight distribution; however, I still wish the shoulder straps were at least a little more padded like the Tilopa.  It hasn’t been a deal breaker for me, but the lack of padding on the shoulder straps has left my shoulders sore a time or two after long hikes with heavy equipment.  Just like on the Tilopa backpack there are useful metal D rings on each shoulder strap.  They are both solid and reliable, but it is up to each person to find their own way to make those D rings useful.  I’ve used one of the D rings in the past to mount a small item to keep track of how much water I have drank.  Also, just like the Tilopa there is a small whistle for emergencies incorporated into the clip on the left shoulder strap.  This whistle could be extremely useful if you need help during one of your travels or outdoor adventures.

The attachment points on the waist belt can be useful.

The built in waist belt on the Lotus is thinner than the Tilopa; however, it is still comfortable for day hikes and day trips.  I do wish that the non-removable waist belt was a little more padded, though.  There are built in Modular Lightweight Load-carrying Equipment or MOLLE style attachment points on the waist belt designed to accept F-stop accessories.  Much like the Tilopa, I wish I could attach standard MOLLE pouches without them being loose.  

The Lotus has two compression straps overtop a large zippered pocket on both sides of this rugged backpack.  Each side pocket also comes with velcro that can be used to further compress the pockets or allow them to expand a little bit more.  The back of the Lotus has one large zippered pocket.  These pockets are extremely useful for carrying items you want quick access to.  I’ve used the side pockets for everything from carrying extra bottles of water to storing rain gear.  At the top of the Lotus there is also a velcroed H2O access flap for a hydration system that can be stored inside this durable backpack.

This large pocket on the back of the Lotus backpack a great place to store items you need quickly on the go.

I’ve mostly used the large pocket on the back of the Lotus to hold clothing when traveling or rain gear on hike.  There is a small hole built into the bottom of the back pocket to allow for drainage, which is nice if you have to store some moist items there for a short time.  

This outdoor photography backpack is rugged and does a great job protecting my camera equipment.

The main zippered compartment for access to the internal camera unit or ICU is well padded and rests against my back comfortably.  As someone that travels often, I really like knowing that the most direct access to my camera equipment is directly against my back. I particularly like this feature of the Lotus backpack as it  makes it harder for any thieves to get to my expensive camera equipment.

On the inside of the padded flap that rests against the back, there is a small zippered pocket at the top with three rows of additional MOLLE attachment points.  I’ve mostly used the small zippered pocket for extra cleaning cloths.  I’ve found that while traveling, the additional MOLLE attachment points are good for running a cable through for a spare charger for a phone or other device.

I really like the detachable key ring.

The top of the Lotus has a useful zippered pocket that can be accessed without going into the main compartment of the bag.  That pocket includes a mesh pocket with a small strip of velcro and a detachable key ring just like F-stop’s Tilopa backpack.  If you press the button on the detachable key ring, then you’ll be able to take your keys with you when you don’t want to have your whole bag with you.  I also find that this is a good place to store your keys during a hike.  No one wants to finish a hike and get back to their car only to discover their keys fell out of their pocket at some point on the trail.  I’ve had that happen to me and it’s no fun.  If you’re traveling carry-on only, this pocket is great for storing a small bag of toiletries or any travel documents in the airport that you’ll need for security.  When hiking, I usually use this space to store a warm hat during the winter or stuff like a small bug spray can or a small sunscreen tube during the summer.  

This pocket is really useful for storing the things you need to keep safe while traveling.

Opening the main compartment of the Lotus backpack can be done by unzipping the heavy duty zipper that is somewhat protected from the elements by some overlapping water resistance material.

Flip the lid to the Lotus backpack and you’ll find a zippered mesh pocket like the Tilopa.  This pocket is also good for storing travel documents and other small items you want protected while traveling.  I’ve used this space to store everything from copies of my passport to wall chargers.  

Just below that mesh pocket you will find a built in protective sleeve.  I’ve mostly used that protective sleeve to store a hydration system.  However, I was able to fit my iPad Pro there when I needed that area for storage space.  In theory, you could probably store a small amount of clothing in there, but that will be a little difficult to be worthwhile when you are using one of F-stop’s ICUs.  

Optional attachments are available for an extra cost, but offer greater flexibility in customizing your Lotus backpack to your needs.  Gatekeepers can be very useful with this backpack, so you can attach equipment like a tripod to the outside of your backpack.  F-stop also sells attachments that can be used to organize everything from memory cards to extra batteries and cables.  These aren’t an absolute necessity, as many of you probably have something already.  However, I do recommend investing in F-stop’s MOLLE attachments if you plan to attach something like a water bottle holder to the outside of your Lotus backpack.  

Gatekeepers are pretty useful if you plan on strapping something to your Lotus backpack.

The rain cover that I purchased for use with my Tilopa backpack works with my Lotus.  I still don’t use it much of the time, because the water resistant material the Lotus is made out of is good enough for most light rains.  However, it is definitely nice to have a rain cover just in case I get caught out in anything more than a drizzle.  I highly recommend picking up a rain cover for your Lotus.

I always recommend investing in a rain cover.

The Lotus backpack weighs 3.3 lbs or 1.5 kgs, which isn’t bad, but should be considered when packing.  At a height of 20.5 in or 52 cm, a width of 13 in or 33 cm, a depth of 11 in or 27.9cm, and capacity of 32 liters, F-stop’s Lotus makes for a great daypack whether you’re on the trail or doing some urban exploration.   I find that the size and durability of the Lotus makes it great for both situations.  F-stop recommends their medium slope, medium shallow, and small pro ICUs for their Lotus backpack.  As someone that doesn’t like to compromise on more than I have to, I like to use smaller ICUs with this backpack to allow for more non camera related items.  Adding the optional gatekeeper attachment straps will allow you to carry even more gear with this 32 liter backpack.  However, you have to ask yourself if you want to carry more items do you need gatekeeper straps or a bigger backpack?  Looking at what exact items you aren’t able to fit inside the Lotus might give you that answer.  

F-stop did not sponsor this review in any way.  Nor have I received any money from F-stop to make this product review.

The following links are Amazon affiliate links.

F-stop Lotus 32L backpack: https://amzn.to/3cMQR7D 

F-stop Gatekeeper Attachment Straps: https://amzn.to/2HNw48J

F-stop Large Rain Cover: https://amzn.to/2VCiOth 

F-stop Small Pro ICU: https://amzn.to/3bFnC6L 

F-stop Medium Slope ICU: https://amzn.to/2S983g2 

F-stop Tilopa Backpack Review

The Tilopa Camera Backpack Review  

There are many like my Tilopa, but this one is mine.

The Tilopa backpack is a durable camera bag from F-stop’s Mountain line of camera bags. One feature of their Mountain backpacks series I particularly like are the Tilopa’s attachment points for the F-stop’s interchangeable Internal Camera Unit or ICU system.  Having the interchangeable ICU’s is a game changer for someone like me that might one day be on a day hike into the backcountry of a National Park and then a few days later be hiking across Spain for a month. In the past, those hikes required me to purchase two separate bags.  With the ICU system in all of the F-stop's Mountain line bags, I am able to switch ICU’s instead of being forced to buy more backpacks.

Why I purchased my Tilopa.

I purchased my Tilopa to use while hiking the French Way of the Camino de Santiago.  This roughly 500 mile trail stretches from St. Jean Pied de Port on the French side of the Pyrenees all the way to Santiago de Compostela in the Galicia region of northern Spain.  Without any camera gear the 50L bag itself would of been overkill for the journey; however, my Nikon camera, lenses, batteries, and other camera equipment took up about one third of the bag’s space.  A great feature of the ICU and the bag is its water resistant material which has protected my camera gear through drizzle and outright downpours and through many adventures since. It hasn’t failed me yet!  I bought my green, or rather aloe, Tilopa in 2016 right after the launch of the bag. It is now 2019 and my bag is still in great shape. This is even after trips to Spain, Panama, Iceland, and various places within the United States.  

If you find my information about F-stop’s 50L Tilopa backpack useful, please consider using the Amazon affiliate links at the end of this article.

Even the zippers are well protected against the rain.

The bag’s exterior is made out of a tough water resistant and ripstop fabric while the bag’s bottom is made out of an even sturdier waterproof material.  I have never once felt unsure when setting my bag down in the field, because I know that the almost rubber like material on the bottom can stop any possible moisture that I may encounter.

The whistle is easy to miss being so well designed into the clip.

The shoulder straps on the bag are wide enough to be both comfortable and help distribute the weight of the bag evenly.  There are adjustment straps on top of both of the shoulder straps. These adjustment straps will allow you to move the shoulder straps higher or lower so you can adjust the shoulder straps to you and how the bag rests in relation to your your shoulders and waist.  In addition, the metal D rings are solid and reliable. They will allow you to mount additional items to your shoulder straps. There is also a clip with a built in whistle located on a small strap attached to the left shoulder strap. This whistle could be extremely useful if you become lost or need help during one of your adventures.

The MOLLE attachment points on the waist belt can be quite useful.

I’ve found the waist belt to be comfortable even over a long period time.  It does a great job of taking the pressure off my shoulders when wearing the bag for extended periods of time.  The built in and non-removable waist belt comes with MOLLE attachment points for the company’s attachments. In the past, I have attached a holder for a multitool using a standard MOLLE system, also known as Modular Lightweight Load-carrying Equipment, but it was loose. It would be nice if the MOLLE attachment points on this backpack would accept standard or non F-stop proprietary MOLLE attachments without those standard attachments being loose.

The side pockets offer additional storage room for items you might need quickly.

The Tilopa backpack has two large compression straps overtop a zippered pocket on both sides of the bag.  The back of the Tilopa comes with many useful pockets both large and small. These can be handy to store items in and be able to get to them fairly easily. There are two large side pockets that I have used to carry everything from a 1L bottle of water to extra layers of clothing.  There is velcro on both side pockets that can be used to compress the side pockets down even more or to expand the side pockets. In addition to everything already mentioned, the Tilopa has a velcroed H2O access flap that can be used to feed a tube from a hydration system which can be stored on the inside of the bag.

This large pocket can accommodate plenty.

There is a large pocket on the front of the backpack with two compression straps over it.  There are two loops at the top of either side of this zippered pocket that can be used to hang additional gear or outdoor adventures.  You will also find two small loops underneath this pocket as well. I’ve used this larger zippered pocket mostly as a place to store clothes, dirty laundry, flip flops, or my towel while on various trips.  There is enough room in this large pocket for a packing cube with some clothes in it or some extra warm layers for cold hikes or trips. You can access the foam padding from the inside of the flap on this pocket. On the bottom of the front of the bag just under the larger zippered pocket, there is a small water resistant pocket.   I’ve used it to carry everything from soap and small toiletries for a trip requiring a flight to using it on a local hike as a quick place to store small amounts of trash.

This pocket might be small, but it sure is useful when you’re trying to pack out your trash.

Even the inside of the Tilopa has MOLLE attachment points.

The main zippered compartment for access to the ICU or internal camera unit is well padded and rests against my back comfortably.  It is also nice to know that the most direct access to my camera equipment is directly against my back and that it is hard for any thieves to get into.

On the inside of the padded flap that rests against the back and which you unzip to gain access to the ICU inside the backpack is a small zippered pouch at the top of the flap.  I recommend that anything you place in this pouch be something soft. That pouch will be resting against any large ICU or possibly something fragile inside the bag. Below that small zippered pouch are three lines of additional MOLLE attachment points.  I have never really used these attachment points for any accessories. Instead, I’ve used them to store loose wires for chargers and other USB cords by weaving them through the lines of attachment points.

The top of the Tilopa has a wonderful zipper pocket that can be accessed without going into the main compartment of the backpack.  This zippered pocket opens up to reveal two interior pockets. The top interior pocket is zippered and made of a mesh material. The bottom interior pocket is also made of mesh and comes with a small strip of velcro and one detachable key ring.  If you press the button, then you can take your keys with you for those times when you don’t need to have your bag with you. I recommend using this pocket as a place to store your toiletries if you plan on flying carry-on with only the Tilopa or traveling with this backpack in general.  This area of the Tilopa backpack is very helpful for storing small miscellaneous items as needed when traveling or hiking.

The Tilopa has so much room!

Opening the main compartment from the top can be done by unzipping the heavy duty zipper that is somewhat protected from the elements by some overlapping water resistant material.

Flip the lid up and you find a zippered mesh pocket.  This zippered mesh pocket is great for storing documents and other small items that you may need readily available.  Note, that it is not as fast to get into this pocket as into the earlier mentioned exterior pocket to get to your small items.

Just below those pockets is a built in protective sleeve.  At times, I’ve used this sleeve as a place to store a packing cube full of clothes, as a protective sleeve for my Ipad Pro, or at other times to hold my 13 inch MacBook Pro depending on what I was doing on vacation.  I haven’t personally used it to store a 15 inch laptop, but I have been told that a 15 inch laptop will fit into this compartment.

Optional attachments are available for an extra cost, but offer more even user flexibility in setting up your bag.  Some attachments like the gatekeeper straps are great for attaching larger equipment such as skis and tripods. Additionally, there are other optional attachments such as different sized pouches for storing extra accessories like batteries and memory cards.  An optional filter case is available along with multiple sizes of lens barrel storage compartments for different size lenses. You can get a holder called a Mano for your water bottle. These sorts of optional attachments allow you to further customize your Tilopa backpack to suit your individual needs.

The F-stop rain cover packs down very small.

As an added protection against extreme downpours, I purchased one of their large rain covers for my Tilopa.  For me, the rain cover is mostly a just in case insurance policy and spends most of the time stored inside my bag.  It barely takes up any room and weighs next to nothing. I’ve used it occasionally and was glad to have it at those times.  Although not entirely necessary, it gave me an ease of mind on some long rainy hikes.

The Medium Slope ICU takes up the majority of the Tilopa’s storage space in the main compartment, but the angle of the slope does save you some room behind this ICU.

The Tilopa's height is 23.5in or 59.7cm.  The bag’s width is 14in or 35.6cm. The depth of the bag is 12in or 30.5cm.  The Tilopa is a 50 liter backpack which weighs 4.1lbs or 1.9kgs when it is empty.  I’ve flown on domestic and international flights with my Tilopa as a carry-on bag without any problems.  However, as always be prepared to be stopped by the airline. The dimensions of the backpack are technically just a bit too large for a carry-on for most airlines, but I have yet to be stopped.  I’ve never really been too worried about it, because I can always fall back on using one of my ICU’s as my carry-on item. I have never been forced by airport staff to check my Tilopa backpack, but I have done so voluntarily before.  When I did check my Tilopa, I removed my ICU containing my camera, lenses, and equipment like batteries and then placed my Tilopa inside a medium Osprey Airporter bag. I decided to do this because I did not want the straps of my Tilopa to be damaged while being handled by airport staff.

The Tilopa backpack will fit inside the Osprey Airporter Medium with plenty of room to spare.

ICU Recommendations.

Many different F-stop ICUs can fit inside the Tilopa backpack.  However, you should note that F-stop’s Master Cine ICU is not compatible with the Tilopa.  Also, combining a Large Pro ICU and a Small Pro will not fit inside the Tilopa. Other ICU combinations such as two Small Pros, one Medium Slope and one Small Pro, and one Large Pro and one Tiny will be compatible and, in fact, are recommended by F-stop.  I don’t stack my ICU’s often, but I have found that stacking my Small Pro ICU on top of my Medium Slope ICU does work when I need more camera gear and don’t mind having less space for clothes or other items.

The Medium Slope ICU

If you’re planning on going on a day hike and need more space for camera gear, then I recommend selecting a larger ICU or stacking two smaller ICUs.  I recommend selecting a smaller ICU if you are planning a longer hike or trip and camera gear isn’t your top or only priority. That will allow you to pack other non-camera essentials. The ICUs have a carrying handle at the top which offers you flexibility to use the ICU as a standalone bag if needed.  It also makes it easier to remove the ICU from your F-stop bag. I think the interchangeable ICU system is one of the greatest strengths of this backpack and other Mountain series backpacks made by F-stop.

The Small Pro ICU

F-stop did not sponsor this review in any way. Nor have I received any money from F-stop to make this product review.

The following links are Amazon affiliate links.

F-Stop Tilopa Backpack: https://amzn.to/2tjVkNH

F-Stop Large Rain Cover: https://amzn.to/2LKHgns

Osprey Airporter Medium: https://amzn.to/2OmFz0S

F-Stop Medium Slope ICU: https://amzn.to/2LGc9sY

F-Stop Small Pro ICU: https://amzn.to/30Fv7o2