Manfrotto Off Road Hiker 30L backpack

Conclusion

With the Off Road Hiker, Manfrotto created a true hiking bag which can hold its own next to the big players in the outdoors industry. The designers then added all that is needed to turn it into a camera bag. The final result is a compelling offering, striking a good balance between the needs of hikers and photographers.

The quality of the bag leaves little to be desired. Fabrics are on par with industry standards, the straps and padding are generally comfortable even after many hours and the stitching appears durable.

The camera compartment is not too large (which would be a mistake when hiking) but large enough to carry a full frame DSLR and lenses. It is just deep enough to hold a 70-200mm F2.8 lens, and it appears obvious that this was a design requirement. A large number of smaller lenses can be placed in the compartment. We believe Manfrotto should have included more dividers. We also wish there were dedicated pockets to carry small items such as memory cards, spare batteries or lens cleaning equipment. As it is, the only solution is to throw these items at the bottom of one of the few smaller pockets.

Access to photo equipment during use is sufficiently convenient, and gets easier with practice. Manfrotto did not break the mold there, but went with a proven solution.

The lack of a hydration pouch compartment has been noted before and must be mentioned again. Water is of paramount importance when hiking, and this bag limits possibilities. It is very difficult to use a water bladder inside the main compartment and, as such, the only solution is to use the side mesh pocket to carry a water bottle. Doing this removes the possibility to place a small travel tripod there.

There are two sets of elastic cables which would, in theory, solve this partially by carrying the tripod. These cables are perfect for walking sticks or a monopod, but their elastic nature means they are not ideal for heavier equipment such as a tripod.

This is the only significant flaw on what it otherwise an excellent product. Manfrotto should be commended for succeeding in making a true photographer's backpack.

Pros

• Large and light enough for day hikes
• Mesh back provides best-in-class ventilation
• Camera compartment just the right size to carry enough gear, but not too much
• Comfortable in use for various body shapes once properly adjusted
• Right hip pocket can store a small to medium lens
• Several options to carry a tripod or monopod
• Many clever ideas (rolled-up loose straps, attachment points for walking sticks, camera support band)
• Can carry a sleeping pad instead of a tripod if needed
• Pleasing aesthetics with four color options
• Good craftsmanship, appears durable
• Included rain cover and water resistant fabrics

Cons

• No room for a hydration pack
• Impossible to remove the camera support band
• Not enough dividers to take advantage of the insert's volume

Who is it for

The Off Road Hiker from Manfrotto is an excellent choice for hikers, climbers, backpackers and other active photographers. It can also be used as a carry-on in a plane. Available in two sizes and four colors, its numerous adjustment make it a good choice for people of various body shapes.

In the US, the bag is a relatively low cost solution: at the time of writing the bag retails for US $119.88 and $89.88 at B&H Photo depending on the size. This is less than many simple hiking backpacks. On other markets the price can vary considerably depending on the currency; for instance it retails for 249.95$ CAD (30L) and 199.95$ CAD (20L) in Canada.