f-stop Mountain Series Lotus Backpack Essentials Bundle (Matte Anthracite Black, 32L)

Good backpack, with some flaws

The good: the Slope ICU is a good match to the backpack, and can carry a decent amount of camera gear. The excess space is sufficient to bring a few extra layers. The water holder pouches are large enough to easily fit most water bottles. The shoulder straps are comfortable enough for all-day wear and the sternum strap does a decent job stabilizing the shoulder strap position. The back padding can make up for places where the slope might be a little too sloped when protecting your gear. The laptop sleeve comfortably carries a 15 laptop, but doesn't provide protection for it. The mediocre: while there are grooves for ventilation in the back, I still found myself getting quite sweaty while wearing the backpack. Not surprising given the design, but something to keep in mind while you're out and about. No place for a water bladder other than the back pouches, but this isn't exactly a hiking backpack so it's more of a note than a real downside. The bad: the waist straps are straight up uncomfortable when wearing them all-day. I ended up with bruising after one day and stopped using them thereafter. They don't have enough padding and don't do a good job (contrast with the Tilopa). Overall: if you need to carry a large but not extreme amount of camera gear along with a jacket, some rain gear, and a couple bottles of water, in a package that will fit in the overhead bin of most airlines, this backpack will do the job.