[Yes] I just got home from a 2 week trip to Chamonix, France where this backpack served as my carry on luggage, hiking backpack, and day pack. It's been everywhere between sea level and about 12,000 feet in elevation, dragged across airports, dragged across rocks, subject to rain, heat, and wind - and snow snowballs - and it looks as good as the day I took it out of the box!


Things I especially love:
- Fits my 5'2 female self. I've been photographing for 20+ years and this is truly the first bag I've ever found that feels like it wasn't designed for a 6' tall dude.
- Made for adventure. I'll be able to use this on backcountry ski adventures (it even has a helmet, ski, and snowboard carry system!!!) and will absolutely continue to use it for hiking. It's reinforced with all the right materials in all the right places.
- Incredibly well thought out functionality and design. Super easy to get to my camera gear, but keep it safe and hard for any less-than-honest passerby's to get at. Also one of the front chest pouches can fit a passport AND an iPhone 13/14.


Super happy I purchased this bag!

[Universal] This pack is really great for what it is built for. It carries weight well, is durable and can be stripped down if you need to save weight, simplify your life, or use it as a carry on.

Access, weather resistance are the two things that sold me. Whether it's side access, back access, top access - it all works well. To make it carry on capable, remove the stay and use the roll top to shrink the pack.

Con is that it's pretty heavy if you're used to ultralight backpacking or alpine climbing packs. But if that's your priority you're likely seeking another solution. That said, you could also use this pack for awhile and then cut off what you don't need (extra side handle, tripod pouches, zipper pulls and extra webbing, etc)

[Yes] I recently took delivery of this bag and all I can say is WOW!! It is so much more than I could have expected!! Such high quality and workmanship for a camera backpack!

First and foremost, I was NOT compensated for this review...I bought the bag with my own money and was not paid for a review. However, I am also the owner of another Shimoda bag, the Explore 40. I am very much aware of the quality of the Shimoda line of backpacks, having owned the Explore 40 for nearly two years now. With that said, my expectations for this new Action 50 were high to begin with. But the expectations were far exceeded with its arrival!!

You can notice the difference between the two, as is expected with any evolution of a product line. And that is not to take anything away from the Explore line....top notch quality all around!!

The Action 50 now affords me the ability to carry my mirrorless system, in addition to backcountry camping gear (tent, sleeping bag, etc.) for overnight trips here in the Blue Ridge of NC. The stitching, zippers, shoulder straps, etc. scream first class!!

I am so happy to have stumbled upon the Shimoda line of backpacks nearly two years ago!! They have a customer for life!! Thank you Shimoda...and thank you B&H for carrying the line! Two top notch companies in my books!!

[Yes] I've had the Lowepro Protactic bp 450 aw ii for a while now, but, while it fit all of my gear, it was uncomfortable when heavy. And, it was heavy without much gear in it. Also, there was no room for non-camera related gear.


The Action x50 solves both of those problems. It is bigger, but lighter when empty. It has room for everything that I need, with room to expand! I wore it fully loaded the other day for several hours with absolutely no discomfort. I also like that it is very weather resistant. It may be a bit big for people with smaller frames, but fits me nicely.


Highly recommend.

[Yes] Just returned from 1st trip with this bag. Completed 5+ mile hike at the Grand Canyon with fully loaded pack. More comfortable than I ever dreamed. I am 5'2 and 115 lbs and pushing 70 years old. With all of the available adjustments, it was easy to get this bag to fit my frame and not be cumbersome. It was more expensive than most bags but well worth it. Thank you Shimoda for creating a bag built for a woman!

[Yes] Searched everything I could find online, and was always worried that the bag I was looking at would be designed for too much camera equipment and not enough for hiking needs. At 63 and in love with landscape and wildflower pics as a hobby, I recently upgraded equipment as a nearing retirement gift to myself. Day hikes in Colorado, no matter what time of year, require a fair amount of cold-weather gear. But also important, a safe space for a Canon R5, 240 zoom and 100 macro lenses, and a speedlight flash. But so many packs looked like they were designed for multiple cameras and bigger lenses. With the Shimoda Designs Action X50 and starter kit, the equipment fits nicely, and I have room for a raincoat/pants as well as good warm layers, a couple of water bottles on the outside, lunch, and a few small extras. All loaded it weighed in at about 25 pounds. Soon I was off on a 6-mile hike and a first test. Surprisingly comfortable, easy on and off, good adjustments on the waist belt and shoulder straps, easy access to the top compartment (which would expand to hold much more), liked that my smartphone fit in its own large-enough compartment on one of the shoulder straps. I did add my own Osprey rain cover for the pack. I know it is supposed to be water-resistant, but you often can't predict when a downpour may occur in the mountains. The quality looks good but will need much more time to make a final judgement on that. It was not the cheapest choice, but getting it right with size and good protection for my new equipment was much more important.

[Yes] I tried A LOT of bags during the pandemic and finally settled on this one. I'm 6' and the 50L was big enough when I need to pack a lot, and still a good size for me when I'm traveling light as the top expands as needed.


My camera/lenses are mirrorless, but I ordered with DSLR Medium Core Unit as it's deeper so I could stand up a few lenses I couldn't in the mirrorless version.


Very comfortable for hiking as similar to my Osprey backpacks, yet extremely practical for all photographic/hiking needs. The flexibility it allows is the best of all I tried. You can fit laptop and a water bladder, and it's very weather proof.

[Yes] I've been looking for a good ski touring / photo bag for a while. Overall, I'm very happy I went with this bag. The main reason I chose it was for its dedicated snow safety gear front pocket. With my previous photo bag, I could't fit my shovel and probe without having dangling pieces or open pockets. The size of the Action X50 is perfect for me. When working in the mountains, I usually pack a drone, lots of extra batteries, a gopro, one dslr with one or two lenses, a shotgun mic, phone, repair kit. All this fits easily in the lower compartments. Up top, there is plenty of room left for a water bottle, down jacket, skins, cap and goggles. You could fit more but it will start to be a cluster...

The little extras I really like are the front pockets on the shoulder straps. I use these to pack a small radio and a couple cliff bars. The weight is very acceptable. Also, the water resistant separator that separates the top and bottom part of the bag is a great touch. I'm a splitboarder and it's easy to stash the collapsible poles on the side of the bag when riding.

The one thing that I don't like as much is the side opening back panel. Not because of the actual access but because I get caught in the straps when I use the bag with my holster pack (I always travel this way when shooting rapid paced video).

When in use, it's obvious that this bag was made with backcountry ski photography / videography in mind.

[Yes] Hiked with about 25 pounds in this pack and it felt like nothing was on my back. Very comfortable.

[8.29 lb] Holding up so far.