If you weren't so lazy and actually took the 3 minutes it takes to read that amazingly thorough review, you would realize that the detail you want has been covered.Quote:
Originally Posted by jm2e
:rolleyes2
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If you weren't so lazy and actually took the 3 minutes it takes to read that amazingly thorough review, you would realize that the detail you want has been covered.Quote:
Originally Posted by jm2e
:rolleyes2
I did this entirely for Hop. Enjoy.:fm:
I wish I knew what you did with it besides carrying it on a 747. Is that all you do with it and then you have a satellite bag for shooting? Do you ski with it? Do you shoot weddings with it? Day hikes? Sunrise shots before work?Quote:
Originally Posted by XavierD
This sounds like something out of an REI catalog. What's a "sleep system"? You say it only fits 3 MREs (about the size of a gallon ziploc bag), but when I sleep outside it involves tent, sleeping bag, extra clothes, etc. If it was a "bit" bigger, could you use it for camping, or is it safer to say "this is not a multipurpose overnight camping backpack."Quote:
Originally Posted by XavierD
So, is this all your camera gear? I wish I knew what body you used because it makes a pretty big difference. Any flashes to go with your extra wizards? What is this extra lens of which you speak? Could be pretty big, could be pretty small.Quote:
Originally Posted by XavierD
This part was helpful, thanks.Quote:
Originally Posted by XavierD
Things I have used it for: international travel (only bag), Extended day ski trips, 2 and 3 day supper light hikes, Caring other stuff (non photo) when I want ~3000cubes, day long moving photo work. I have used it for some school (when I also needed camera) so add a laptop, 2-4 textbooks, notebooks, calc, etc etc. Add in food and jacket.
Sleep System = Bivy (the nomo is small) and sleeping bag, possibly foam pad.
It is not a multipurpose over night bag for most people. With the smaller ICU it could be.
For 2 days you are pushing it, even if you are a minimalist. Without having to worry about most of my food I have made it though. I did not carry a sleep system.
Camera Gear in ICU:
30D,
70-200 f4
17-40 f4
50 1.8
Flash, (sometimes PW's)
random other small crap
Heavy load example
camera gear listed, a few extra flashes, tripods, skis and ski boots, (non touring lightweight crap), plus water, medical pack, food and extra two layer (1day)
That one approached 60lbs. There have been others, but that is one most people can relate too.
Add biking day rides to that list.
So far no water borne travel.
AWESOME!
just ordered a medium ICU, if it looks good I'll probably snag the tilopa with the large ICU. stoked.
Does anyone here have any experience with the Zealot? I'm looking to pick up a small case to protect my d5000 and 18-55 lens in a pack and occasionally by itself. I don't want anything too bulky.
http://fstopgear.com/en/digi/zealot
Info on the Loka is up on the site now. Looks super sexy... I should have pre-ordered one.
I didn't see a laptop sleeve, but I'm guessing it's not since the pack is kind of small.
The Loka indeed looks sick. I'm impressed F-stop has finally added some more info to their website. The diagrams are very useful but I am thankful that they added a bunch of pictures of empty and loaded ICUs in different sizes. Now my only decision is do I want the medium ICU by itself or with a small one as well. Decisions! So pumped on the pack though, will post a review come September (or whenever it arrives).
You still haven't received it yet? Wasn't the pre-order months ago?
I didnt realize that my copyright name had been violated by Saaka! I will now have to sue that ski bum and take every last yen he has so that I can move into his house and send him packing. I will, however, drop the suit in exchange for one Satori bag :the_finge ;)
It was supposed to be March, then late spring (this was before the pre-order though), they pre-order was released around May I think, for late June delivery, now it's August. I am not totally surprised, this seems to be par for the course with F-Stop. I remember hearing many complaints about delivery timing for the new tilopia last fall/winter. Anyways, I'm not too concerned right now, so long as I have it before ski season starts it's ok. They haven't charged me yet so it's not a big deal.Quote:
Originally Posted by hop
I am pretty confident that anyone who waited for the pack will be stoked. Especially powder loving mountain folk. Its a bummer we have had delays but its better than releasing a compromised product.
Also there is a another 15 dollar discount on the preorder now.
http://www.modestbike.com/lokajen.jpg
Done... order placed.
The Loka is up on their site now, and has all the details about the pack. Looks pretty damn nice.
Now I just have to convince myself to drop that much coin on a photo pack...
Loka looks sick, its too bad money is tight. otherwise I would drop for one.
Any shots of the other colours?
Tempted to get rid of a few other packs to get a loka... Nice looking pack indeed.
Not yet. But Black is all black and Green is all green except where its black on the Grey mist one.
This year we matched the webbing(straps) to match the bag color.
If you check the web site and other packs you can see those in the actual colors (minus the matching webbing).
Awesome, thanks.
Probably pick one up in January if there's still some around.
Hey Saaka! Im looking to get the Loka but it appears the direct buy is 100% out of stock of every type. Is there going to be another chance to order this pack this fall?
I'll be looking on my front porch all week for the delivery
fm
I don't know about stock right now, I thought we had 20 or so left, at least last I heard last week we did... The boss is on his way back from Peru, so I will have to wait to here back about stock. Second shipment is in November I believe.
As for folks who are in on the first shipment they should be shipping next week. They left Asia by air already. Thank you for remaining stoked and not publicly slagging us for our tardiness. It's not always an easy task.
I was actually just about to post some pics so good timing with the bump... Here is a few pics of the 'Black Loka'. I have never wanted to get sexually active with a bag before but I had some strange thoughts yesterday and am a little worried about my next solo adventure in the back country...
For those that ordered- I hope you got black.
http://cdn.fstopgear.com/images/fwbi...0/dsc_0867.jpg
http://cdn.fstopgear.com/images/fwbi...0/dsc_0878.jpg
http://cdn.fstopgear.com/images/fwbi...0/dsc_0879.jpg
http://cdn.fstopgear.com/images/fwbi...0/dsc_0881.jpg
Where do I place my order?Quote:
Originally Posted by saaka!
follow me for order info> http://fstopgear.com/en/product/mountain/loka
I got the grey/white-ish one, but damn that black looks good. I'll be awaiting my email notification from Point Roberts for when my pack arrives!
edit: Loka has shipped! looking forward to September 16th.
I'm eagerly awaiting a green one.
just talked to Druid....ICU's are stuck in customs for past 9 days. they are doing what they can to get them out and shipped.
Transaction just showed up on my amex, hopefully that's a good sign and fucking customs can release the stuff soon.
got my pack today. great looking and feeling pack.
working on understanding the transition b/t my current set-up and using the f-stop
insights coming later
thats good news hope my icu shows up soon.
Mine arrived in Point Roberts yesterday, going to pick it up on Saturday morning. I'm very excited. Will post short review after.
Looks like Pondella already got his Loka in the high country. envy.
http://cdn.fstopgear.com/images/stor...llaloka/-3.jpg
http://cdn.fstopgear.com/images/stor...llaloka/-2.jpg
some more info for those looking for ski specific fits and various ICU possibilities. Ski photog Dan Carr just made a super sized post on his blog with 42 images of different fits for almost everything.
check it out... its your one stop Loka answers page.
http://dancarrphotography.com/blog/2...-tilopa-fstop/
Only thing I would personally side against is the shovel in the front panel pocket... not sure how he manages this. Only thing I can see is if he uses a small shovel(although not sure what he uses). Personally I try push the use of bigger blades... as small ones don't move much snow and its ideal to have all your avi gear accessed from the same zip when time matters.
The Loka blog write-up looks sweet. When are the Lokas going to be available for order again? Right now it says everything is sold out. I'm wanting to get a Loka with the small ICU.
Quote:
Originally Posted by saaka!
I haven't seen my pack yet (it's arrived but I'm not home), but I was expecting/under the impression that the front pocket was designed to be big enough to hold a real shovel and probe. I agree that it's good to have all of my avy gear in the same place for easy access, and that same place is not buried under my skins, lunch, extra clothes, and everything else in the main body of my pack.
Hopefully my shovel and probe will fit up front. If it doesn't, I may have a Loka for sale.
Can anyone that has received a pack confirm/deny that a shovel and probe fit up front? FWIW I've got a Voile Tele-D and a 320cm probe - some "guide" model by BD or G3?
The Loka will NOT fit a full size shovel blade in the outside front pocket. Nor will one fit inside in the little sleeve (though I believe that was made more for hydration). I have an older Black Diamond shovel (with a full size blade) that I'm thinking about giving to my brother and picking up a G3 spadetech shovel (that blade WILL fit inside the outside front pocket). The full-size blade will fit inside in front of the ICU and it looks like there is still room to put a hydration bladder in the sleeve. I haven't tried putting my probe in that outside front pocket (G3 320 tech) but I was planning to put that either inside the pack or in/on the side of the pack (bottom in pocket, secured with straps).
edit: Hop, I'll try and grab some pictures this evening for you (and others).
That is most disheartening. What a bummer!
:nonono2::tdo13::cussing:
It'll actually be faster to fetch it from via the top opening than trying to wrastle it out of the front pocket. A blade and probe will easily slide in along the ICU.
That may be the case with the pack as it is, but I'm still disappointed. I (and apparently saaka!) prefer to have our avy gear in one place; the difference is I prefer to have it separate from all the rest of the crap in my pack and he doesn't mind it all mixed up.Quote:
Originally Posted by truth
Oh well. I guess I'll see if I can live with it when I get home, otherwise it's off to Gear Swap until it's redesigned with a larger front pocket.
The other option is to keep the ICU and just use that in a proper BC pack w/ back access?
I'll say that the front pocket is perfect for holding splitboard skins...something my Dakine Ridge couldn't fully handle....they'd stick out a bit when stored...of course, that was in the same pocked as my shovel blade. But I'm happy that they fit completely....good design there. I can also say that with all of my BC stuff loaded in (shovel, handle, probe, down sweater, water bottle), plus a loaded ICU, that this pack feels 1000% better than the Ridge with camera block. It will ride like a champ.
So, for me, the shovel handle goes outside, the blade behind the ICU, and my probe to the side of the ICU along the frame. I'm kinda worried about a carbon probe breaking, but we'll see about that.
I already asked the fine folks at fstop about potential damage to camera gear if the shovel blade is slid down behind the ICU, in the case of a fall where the vertical edges of the shovel are compressed into the ICU. Druid passed my note to Ian...never heard back. Shovel is an old standard Voile blue bomber from way back...maybe it's dished more than newer shovels.
overall, solid pack that feels better than what I had before. can't wait to really put it to the test!