Clik Elite Medium Nature Backpack (Gray)

Comments about Clik Elite Medium Nature Backpack (Gray):

I wanted a bag that would hold a semi-pro body and several lenses and/or accessories, and have a provision for a hydration bladder. On longer outings I find water to be every bit as essential as my photo gear, and in my experience a hydration bladder is the best way to go.

The Medium Nature has room for a 70oz. bladder, the aforementioned photo gear, and plenty of space for personal items for a long day in the field. Smaller, more packable tripods are easily stowed on the outside of the pack. Construction is excellent, and it looks more like a large daypack than a photo bag making it a bit less conspicuous to would be thieves. The harness system is highly - and easily - adjustable to various torso lengths, and allows the pack and all it's contents to be carried very comfortably.

I only had 2 small nitpicks: camera insert dividers that are just slightly too large; and the hydration bladder hose exit hole is much too small. It was very difficult getting my Camelbak bite valve through there; perhaps some type of rubberized or elastic fabric would have been a better choice. Nonetheless, this pack fits my needs far better than anything else I've looked at.

I think some potential buyers might be put off by the pack's weight and bulk initially, but with it's excellent harness it carries much "lighter", and that heavy construction pays off in durability and protection for your gear.

Comments about Clik Elite Medium Nature Backpack (Gray):

I ordered the product, hoping to use it for my jaunts around the city and other local areas. It's well-made, with a lot of pockets (which I love), and seemingly-sufficient padding to keep things safe. I would absolutely recommend it to people who are out hiking, etc, for extended periods of time, but unfortunately for my shorter day-trips around town, it was too big for me. If I had more adventurous needs, I'd have greatly appreciated it!

Comments about Clik Elite Medium Nature Backpack (Gray):

I have been on several hikes in the mountains and desert using my lowpro backpack. I had to improvise what equipment to carry so that I could pack food, water, extra layers etc. The lowpro did not distribute the weight well and was uncomfortable. Clik has created an exceptional product, this pack holds everything and more for a comfortable day hike. The only complaint I have is that the opening for accessing your photo equipment is not very large. Don't expect to just swing the pack around for easy access, most of the time you will have to drop the pack.

Comments about Clik Elite Medium Nature Backpack (Gray):

I recently used this bag on a trip to Puerto Rico. I used this as my main carry-on and it worked out perfectly. I was able to fit my D7000 with battery grip and 24-70 attached plus a 105 Macro and 10-24 wide angle and hoodman loupe in the bottom. I had 2 SB-900's, an iPad and book/sunglasses/jacket in the top. Even with all that weight, the bag was very comfortable. It was perfect for hiking in the jungle and I was able to fit a 100 oz Camelbak bladder in the hydro compartment (barely, it was a squeeze). The bag was a bit large for hauling around the city and beaches, but still very comfortable. Would highly recommend this bag. I previously had tried a Tamrac adventure but it was not big enough. I also have the Thinktank Urban Disguise 40 which I would recommend for when less bulk is desired.

Comments about Clik Elite Medium Nature Backpack (Gray):

We use this pack when we are hiking and camping in the high country. It's very comfortable and leaves enough room for extras (rain jacket, water, snacks) in addition to all of our camera gear. Love that the size is adjustable as both my husband and I use it so we can adjust it to fit each of us as needed. The ability to add the front chest pack and all the extra compartments give a lot of flexibility. Very durable, built in rain cover is essential, and the water bladder is nice to have. Best purchase yet to carry all of our camera gear!

Comments about Clik Elite Medium Nature Backpack (Gray):

This pack does exactly what it is designed for. Not too big and not too small. I travel light so it works great with a D200 body and three prime lenses including an 80-200. Can't wait to make full use of it.

Comments about Clik Elite Medium Nature Backpack (Gray):

Just came back from Peru. I had this bag with me all the time. Excellent bag, very comfortable. The bag is a bit heavy...but that's a small price to pay for the quality. I had my D300S with a 24-70 lens attached, a 10-24 lens, SB900, 50mm 1.4 lens in it. The top compartment had food, rain gear, and everything else I need. Mostly food for my 6 year old son. I did not use the hydration feature at all. Just carried a bottle of water. Now..I just need to figure out how to fit a 70-200 lens in there with my other stuff.

Comments about Clik Elite Medium Nature Backpack (Gray):

I bought this pack for a day hike up Half Dome in Yosemite and it worked perfectly. The camera compartment was sturdy and fit my camera plus 2 lenses with room to spare. I stuffed the top with snacks, an extra layer, and water. Overall the pack worked great, very adjustable and very comfortable. The only downside I can think of is that the pack might be a bit heavy, but maybe that was just my tripod :)

Comments about Clik Elite Medium Nature Backpack (Gray):

I've had this pack a couple of weeks now, and I've used it on several dayhikes here in the Rocky Mountains. I tend to hike to a destination where I plan to take pictures rather take many along the way, although there are always exceptions.

It securely holds my EOS 7D with 28-135 zoom and lenshood. I use the other camera compartments for other delicate items I often bring, like cell phone, filters, extra battery pack, view hood, etc. Items in the camera pocket are all held very securely and can be configured many ways to accomodate your equipement. Getting to your equipement does require removing the backpack and setting it down.

What I like best is the fit and quality. Because I am in the mountains I usually carry a full lunch, extra clothes, rain gear, dog treats, and basic survival gear. The exterior pockets work great for my glasses, bug spray, sunscreen, snack bars and other quick access items. It also has many options for attaching additional items to the pack, such as tripods, glass cases, pepper spray, binoculars, etc. It only took a short time to adjust the pack to fit comfortably and after my very 1st 4-hour hike I was amazed how comfortable this pack was despite the amount of gear and the weight I was carrying.

I'm slighly dissappointed in the hydration reservior as I was expecting something similar to the Camelback packs I have used so much. Unfortunately, the reservior is not easily accessible (behind another pocket, feeding\removing the hydration access tube through the pack is required whenever you fill\empty your reservior. Too bad as this is one of the features that drew me to this pack. For shorter hikes I've opted for traditional water bottles instead.

Overall, I recommend this pack if you need to carry additional gear, do not need quick access to your photo equipment, and desire high quality and great fit options.

Comments about Clik Elite Medium Nature Backpack (Gray):

This backpack is strong and very well made. The company CLIK Elite have put a lot of effort in little detail (velcro on strap when not in use)

Comments about Clik Elite Medium Nature Backpack (Gray):

This it the perfect bag for anyone who enjoys hiking and photography. Highly recommended! Hydration sleeve, although not perfect, is a great addition.

The bag is VERY well built and serves its purpose--to carry a modest amount of camera gear (not for professionals looking to cary a lot of gear), tripod, some personal items, and a hydration bag. I think it has a nice balance between equipment storage and personal item storage. Work very well on my recent trip to the Adirondacks. Lots of adjustment (almost overwhelming, but much appreciated). No major complaints, but a few minor improvements that could be made in future models:

The hydration sleeve is not long enough to fit most hydration bags properly. The CamelBak 72 oz seemed to fit fairly well because it is wider and shorter than the others. Still worked great on those long hikes.

The adjustment straps for the waistband are much longer than they need to be. Let's face it, anyone big enough to need the entire strap most likely isn't going to be doing much hiking. The manufacturer did provide a little nook to fold up the excess strap and tuck it away though.

I think this product is already far superior to most others and will only get better as this company grows.

Comments about Clik Elite Medium Nature Backpack (Gray):

I picked up this bag for a weekend camping trip and this was one of the few in my price range that also offered a place to carry other gear than camera equipment. From what I used the pack for, it was perfect. The zippers and compartments were nicely sized and offered me plenty of versatility. The bladder compartment was a bit small for my 100oz bladder but the bag was only designed to hold a 70oz one. The camera compartment had a good amount of room to hold my d2x 24-70, 50 1.8, 70-200, and a SB600. Also had room left over for another lens if I wanted. Overall, great bag for the price!

Comments about Clik Elite Medium Nature Backpack (Gray):

Finally an actual photo hiking daypack. Unlike others this has room for your photo gear, personal stuff (like food or extra clothing), and water! The pack fit nice after a few adjustments and made carrying everything (incl. tripod) very easy. The only thing that isn't so great is removing the pack to access your equipment. But really, if you're stopping to take some photos then it's easier without a pack on anyways.

Comments about Clik Elite Medium Nature Backpack (Gray):

I picked up this bag to carry my slr body and 3 lens. I still have room for an additional body and a flash. The compartments are adjustable so you can keep all your gear padded and sturdy inside the bag.

In addition to space, the bag is very comfortable. I've been taking it on my road bike, and I plan to take out on the mountain bike. I'm very excited for the winter to take out while snowboarding.

The only slight downfall of the bag is that I wish it had a little more space for my personal gear. Unfortunately the compartment is not big enough for a lap top. Plan on using it for a place to keep a change of clothes, snacks, a book, and camel back.

Overall I love the pack and plan to invest in more Clik Elite gear.

Comments about Clik Elite Medium Nature Backpack (Gray):

I mainly use this as daypack for hikes and so far I did get what I paid for: A pack that would protect my camera and gear but would make it also possible to take it with me everywhere I go.
The accessibility is great: I can get to my camera without taking of the waist belt. The same applies for the memory/small gear pocket. I really like that they both have waterproof zippers that close tight.
I use the tripod holder for my old Velbon tripod (heavy and VERY sturdy) and it holds the tripod in place very well.
The raincover is great protection against the weather and won't let anything through.
The personal gear compartment could be bigger and should hold a 100 oz bladder rather than just 70 oz but other than that it is great!
Also it takes a little bit until you adjusted all the belts and straps to you back but once you did you want to never take the backpack of again!

Comments about Clik Elite Medium Nature Backpack (Gray):

This is primarily a hiking backpack that can safely transport my photo equipment. It is a heavy, well constructed, well thought out bag that will serve all of your hiking needs while also safely transporting your photo gear.

The gear compartment is more than large enough for any gear that you would want to carry when going out on a long hike. My D80 with 18-200mm fits in the main camera compartment with the lens hood on. There is ample room for extra lenses, flash or another camera body. This compartment is well padded and has removable dividers allowing you to customize it for your specific needs. There is a separate zippered compartment for smaller items as well. I found that most of the time I don't need all the room that is dedicated to photo gear because I rarely bring more than an extra lens and a tripod or monopod (strapped to the side of the bag). As a result, I use the photo gear compartment for my hiking essentials like first aid kit, compass, headlight etc., and as safe storage for my phone and GPS unit. This means I can dedicate the top compartment to the stuff I need to access while on the trail such as clothing and food. I can easily access rain gear or a snack without having to dig around for it and risk getting rain, mud or snow on my photo gear.

This is a very solidly built bag. The zippers are heavy duty and they have a dual flap system that seems pretty effective at keeping the water from getting through. I've been out in the rain for hours and no water has gotten into the pack. It comes with a rain cover, but I have not yet felt the need to use it. The part of the pack that rests against your back is well padded, adding comfort and helping to keep the pack stiff . The negative side of the solid materials and padding is that the bag is a little heavy.

The "ladder system" to adjust the shoulder strap height took a couple of tries before I got it to the most comfortable height for my body. But, in experimenting with it, you appreciate what a difference it makes to have the weight of the pack properly distributed on your back. The padded waist strap also helps with the weight distribution. One thing to be aware of though is that I have to cinch the waist strap as tight as it will go in order for it to be snug. I'm not a small man (5'11", 180 lbs.) but if I were any smaller, I wouldn't be able to get a snug fit. Larger people will have no problem and the extra strapping comes with a built in velcro system to keep things tidy. There are also numerous loops, buckles and straps, some of which are intended for the Clik accessories, so you are able to add gear to the outside of the pack.

Overall, I am very satisfied with this pack because of its build quality, comfort and well thought out design. It is exactly what I need for day hikes. The only negatives I can warn you about are the waist strap issue and the fact that it is not a light bag.

Comments about Clik Elite Medium Nature Backpack (Gray):

I think this is a very good backpack, in fact it's my favorite item to carry all my stuff in. I have used Crumpler backpacks,Tamrac's, and Domke shoulder bags (which hurt my shoulders) and they all cannot compare to this click elite. In the modular bottom compartment, it easily holds my Pentax k-x with kit lens attached, my Olympus e-620 +35mm f3.5 and my Sony a500 with a Sony 70-200 f2.8 G. For the amount of stuff this thing can hold it sure doesn't look like a huge backpack from the exterior. Most of the zippers on the bag have some type of rubber sealing to keep moisture out. It even comes with a removable rain cover that is located at the bottom of the bag. The top compartment is roomy. Great for putting food, extra cloths, books….. It has a water bladder compartment also but if not in use, you can fold that compartment with its Velcro strap to get more room out of it. It's a great concept to have camera gear and extras in different locations.

I was pleasantly surprised when I saw how modular the outside of the backpack is. Everything is adjustable. The waist harness is very comfortable and removable. It really does its job when you carry several pounds of equipment and not even feel it. The shoulder harness is impressive. It has a ladder system where you can actually lower or raise the whole shoulder harness to suit your individual height. With all this flexibility I would think it would be flimsy, but it's not, everything is very well thought out to insure that the adjustable sections are as strong as if they were stitched to the bag. It does not have easy access to your gear since you have to take off the backpack to get to all your stuff, but don't let that change your decision. Side access backpacks are more prone to flexing. I wouldn't worry about thinking that people can easily open the back zipper. It's a tough zipper to open, besides it has a piece of rubber next to the zipper so you can thread the zipper through. It is after all a nature pack.
They sell this particular pack in tan/grey or black. I went with the tan/grey since it's a nice blended color.

Overall great bag when on the move.

Comments about Clik Elite Medium Nature Backpack (Gray):

I specialize in photographing remote areas and action sports. Most camera backpacks are fine for holding the gear, but they carry like doodoo. Not so with this pack, because it transfers load to the hipbelt well, sits very stable even when scrambling and skiing and - here's the clincher - the SLR chest pack buckles onto the harness and belt with four quick-release fittings that hold it rock solid. You can ski moguls, or jump down off ledges, without it wiggling around, interfering with your breathing, or hitting you in the chin like most chest packs.

There's plenty of room for a body, three lenses up to 70-210 f2.8, and a flash - which is about all most pros carry at a time. The upper compartment holds extra clothes and food for a long day, even in winter, and you can easily strap a tripod on the side.