North White Plains, NY—Shimoda U.S. debuted the Shimoda Women’s Collection of camera bags in five backpack sizes. The company’s first women’s-only teal colorway line was launched as a result of the worldwide response to its female-specific harness straps.
“As a company that prides itself on designing products that are thoughtful and comfortable under some of the most extreme conditions, we have long recognized that what’s comfortable for men, isn’t comfortable for everyone,” the company announced.
Shimoda’s team of female creators, through real-world testing and guidance, developed the new Women’s Collection. The collection comprises five of Shimoda Design’s most requested backpack sizes wrapped in an exclusive teal colorway. Moreover, all fit with the company’s new women’s-specific harness.
Shimoda Women’s Collection Overview
Each backpack in the collection includes women’s tech straps already fitted to the pack. Moreover, the lineup includes three sizes from the company’s new Action X v2 series as well as two sizes from Shimoda’s existing Explore v2 series.
Furthermore, all backpacks in the women’s collection feature a harness system designed to fit more comfortably to a woman’s body shape. The women’s tech straps curve around and away from the chest area and are slightly smaller than Shimoda’s stock shoulder straps. 
In addition, the dual sternum straps eliminate awkward pressure points across the middle of the chest. The straps also integrate two pockets for storing a phone, food and accessories.
The women’s backpacks also have an adjustable waist belt that you can shorten or lengthen by 2.4 inches. Consequently, women of all sizes can find a better fit around their hips and take full advantage of transferring weight off their shoulders directly to their hips.
The women’s-specific backpack starter kit line includes the Explore v2 30; the Explore v2 25; the Action X40 v2; the Action X30 v2; as well as the Action X25 v2.
Explore v2 25 Women’s Starter Kit
The Explore v2 25 backpack is Shimoda’s smallest adventure bag. For women who want to venture into demanding locations but also need to travel globally, its size meets international carry-on regulations. The backpack is also small enough to fit under most airline seats. Its overall footprint makes it an option for those wanting a camera pack that accommodates a women’s torso.
Along with Shimoda’s women’s-specific tech straps and adjustable belt, the kit includes Shimoda’s small mirrorless Core Unit. The E25 itself is stocked with smart travel features, like lockable zippers; a hidden passport pocket; and a luggage-handle pass-through. The backpack is also water resistant.
The pack offers multiple access points, including a quick dual-access document/book sleeve. What’s more, a side opening is ideal for quick, under-the-arm access without completely removing the pack. Plus, the anti-theft rear opening allows wide, unobstructed access to the bulk of your gear for less time-sensitive shooting situations.
In addition, both rear- and front-panel padded sleeves fit a 14-inch laptop. As a result, you pack both a tablet and laptop.
Furthermore, the kit’s small mirrorless Core Unit modular camera insert provides shockproof protection for mirrorless, SLR and DSLR cameras as well as lenses. You can also increase your layout options with two or more Core Units by stacking and shifting how they are placed in the pack.
Specs
Weight: 5.3 pounds
Outside Dimensions (WxHxD): 10.6×18.3×6.6 inches
Inside Dimensions: 10.2×17.9×6.2 inches
The Explore v2 25 Women’s Starter Kit has a suggested retail price of $372.90.
Explore v2 30 Women’s Starter Kit
The Women’s Explore 30 is Shimoda’s midsize travel and landscape-specific adventure backpack. Like the slightly smaller version, it’s for photographers who venture into demanding locations but also need to travel globally. Its size meets both EU and Asian carry-on regulations.
The E30 comes with a medium mirrorless Core Unit to accommodate mirrorless and compact DSLR cameras. It also features lockable zippers, a hidden passport pocket, and a luggage pass-through handle. In addition, both rear- and front-panel padded sleeves fit a 16-inch laptop. Also water resistant, the backpack features a quick dual-access document/book sleeve and both side-opening and rear-opening access.
Specs
Weight: 5.5 pounds
Outside Dimensions: 11.6×20.3x 6.6 inches
Inside Dimensions: 11.2×19.8×6.2 inches
Available for preorder, it has a suggested retail price of $384.90.
Action X v2 Women’s Starter Kits
All Women’s Action X v2 camera backpacks feature interchangeable and adjustable shoulder straps. The straps have two zippered pockets to carry pro-size phones, a water bottle or personal accessories. The Action X25, X30 and X40 also provide side camera access and two removable tripod or water bottle pouches. You can move the pouches to the belt location for access to key accessories like snacks and lenses. Or you can completely remove them to save weight.
In addition, they all have roll-top access so you can adjust the bags to your gear needs for the day while maintaining a tight fit. The rolltop can expand with a volume range of 7 liters. All the packs’ top sections also have an additional quick-access YKK SplashGuard zipper to make getting at gear quick and easy, especially in foul weather.
Action X25 v2 Women’s Starter Kit
The Women’s Action X25 is for female photographers looking for an agile, fast-access and extra compact adventure camera bag. It’s an efficient backcountry backpack built for action in foul weather and challenging terrain.
Further, the low profile of the X25 will comfortably fit most non-gripped mirrorless and DSLR cameras via the included small mirrorless protective Core Unit. Roll-top access also allows users to expand or compress the volume to meet the demands of the day.
The backpack features multiple attachment straps, including TPU compression straps for greater durability when attaching skis, for example. Plus, a removable helmet holder lets users secure helmets to the outside of their pack.
Additionally, two padded sleeves protect laptops and tablets up to 14 inches. Finally, the removable belt, luggage-handle pass-through and hidden AirTag sleeve make the Action X25 a stealthy partner in urban and travel environments.
Notably, the X25 has three adjustable torso height options with approximately 2.7 inches of vertical adjustment. This means the same backpack can fit short or taller torso heights for a more custom fit.
Specs
Weight: 5 pounds
Outside Dimensions: 10.6×18.9×6.7 inches
Inside Dimensions: 10.4×18.7×6.3 inches
This starter kit includes a Women’s Action X25 backpack, a small mirrorless Core Unit, a helmet holder and a rain cover. SRP: $362.90.
Action X30 v2 Women’s Starter Kit
The Women’s Action X30 is for adventurous female photographers looking for an efficient, fast-access and compact backcountry camera bag. Shimoda built it for use in foul weather as well as challenging terrain. In addition, the X30 has three torso height options with approximately 2.7 inches of vertical adjustment for a more custom torso fit.
The X30 will comfortably fit most non-gripped mirrorless and DSLR cameras with the bundled medium mirrorless Core Unit. Its roll-top access also allows you to expand or compress the pack’s volume. Furthermore, multiple attachment straps include TPU compression straps.
Again, interchangeable and adjustable shoulder straps provide two zippered pockets to carry iPhone Pro Max phones, a water bottle or accessories. The pack also features side camera access and two removable tripod or water bottle pouches that you can move to the belt location for access to accessories or remove completely to save weight.
Two padded sleeves protect 16-inch laptops and tablets. Additionally, it has a removable belt, luggage-handle pass-through and hidden AirTag sleeve. Moreover, its rolltop can expand, and the top section has an additional quick-access YKK SplashGuard zipper.
Specs
Weight: 5.3 pounds
Outside Dimensions: 11.8×20.1×6.7 inches
Inside Dimensions: 11.6×19.9×6.3 inches
The X30 v2 backpack can accommodate Shimoda’s small, medium and large mirrorless Core Units. This starter kit includes an Action X30 backpack in teal, a medium mirrorless Core Unit v2, a helmet holder and a rain cover. SRP: $374.90.
Action X40 v2 Women’s Starter Kit
The Action X40 is for female photographers with serious gear needs. It’s a fast-access backcountry photo backpack built for action in harsh weather and environments. The X40 will carry gripped bodies and comfortably fit most mirrorless and DSLR cameras via the included medium DSLR Core Unit.
Like its siblings, roll-top access allows you to expand or compress the volume to the needs of the day. It also features multiple attachment straps, including TPU compression straps. Again, interchangeable and adjustable shoulder straps offer two zippered pockets to carry iPhone Pro Max phones, a water bottle or personal accessories.
What’s more, it too features side camera access and two removable tripod or water bottle pouches, along with two padded sleeves to protect 16-inch laptops and tablets. Other shared features include adjustable torso height; a top-section quick-access YKK SplashGuard zipper; a removable belt; a luggage-handle pass-through; and a hidden AirTag sleeve.
Specs
Weight: 6 pounds
Outside Dimensions: 11.8×20.9×7.9 inches
Inside Dimensions: 11.6×20.7×7.5 inches
The X40 v2 can accommodate a small, medium or large DSLR Core Unit and Shimoda’s shallower mirrorless series. This starter kit includes an Action X40 backpack, a medium DSLR Core Unit v2, a helmet holder and a rain cover. SRP: $419.90.
