About two years ago, my search for a new camera backpack came to an end when I came across a company called NYA-EVO. In this article, I review their largest backpack, the Fjord 60-C. After two years of heavy use for travel and hiking, I feel competent enough to share why I think it’s the perfect camera backpack.
Since my previous camera backpack, the Satori f-stop, started to break down after five years of use, I started looking for a replacement. I have reviewed several backpacks and have even ordered a few, including one of the newer f-stop packs. But none of them fit all of my requirements, which I detail below. Just as I almost gave up and started applying glue to my Satori in various places to prolong its life, I found 60-C Fjord and never look back.
Requirements for camera backpacks
Let’s start with a list of the minimum requirements I have for a camera bag:
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It should be sturdy and protect my device against minor impacts. The material and zipper of the pack must withstand showers for a shorter time. The bottom of the bag should be reinforced with a thicker, waterproof material.
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The bearing system makes it possible for me to carry loads up to 18 kg comfortably.
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Nowadays, many brands make the camera compartment in their pocket accessible from the back, which is the right way. But to achieve this, good padding and ventilation often have to be sacrificed. While I don’t expect a carry system to compete with Deuter Aircontact, I still want comfort.
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The tripod can be attached to the front of the backpack for proper weight distribution.
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The size of the package must be adaptive. In its compact form, it must comply with the carry-on baggage restrictions of all major airlines. In its extended form, it should fit around 50 liters of equipment, ideally with the option of wearing additional gear outside of the pack.
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I’m a big fan of detachable camera units because they offer so much versatility. Depending on the hike or photography tour, I can pack more or less and adjust the camera compartment accordingly. Additionally, being able to remove the internal camera unit is important for flights on smaller aircraft where hand luggage is further restricted.
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Many newer camera backpacks don’t have open side pockets that can fit a water bottle. It is a necessity for me.
In addition to those requirements, there are other things that would be nice to have. But the list above contains what I consider necessary. Your list may be different, but I’m sure there will be duplicates.
NYA-EVO Fjord 60-C
In the introductory video, I share my first impressions of the Fjord 60-C a week after purchasing it. After more than two years of using this 60-liter backpack, I’m still excited. I use it with medium RCI, what NYA-EVO calls internal camera units. In it, I can comfortably fit in Canon R5 with Canon RF 15-35mm . Lensone Canon EF 70-200mm f/4 . Lens with an RF adapter, my filter bag, a DJI Microphone and some little stuff. This configuration leaves a lot of space in the top compartment where I can put food and clothes, for example.
What I Like
The Fjord 60-C is the most comfortable camera backpack I’ve ever used. It’s a huge improvement over my Satori and I had no problems wearing it for hours on end. I will sweat on my back because there is not much room for ventilation with the package opening later. But it’s a compromise I can live with.
The adaptive back and shoulder straps are very well padded. I’m 6’1″ and with the shoulder strap on the top setting, the bag fits perfectly. If you’re smaller, you can switch to one of the two bottom attachment points.
As mentioned above, I bought Fjord with medium RCI. It can be easily added and removed from the pack via the rear opening – no need to slide it down from the top. The opening is large and all devices can be reached without problems.
A great feature is a removable canvas that divides the top compartment from the bottom compartment. With my Satori, I usually have small things fall out when I open it in the back. It doesn’t happen with the Fjord.
A key feature of the pack are the sturdy, adjustable straps that go all the way around. They allowed me to attach my tripod to both sides and front of it. This flexibility is great. For hikes, I put the tripod in the center, and if I’m carrying a laptop, I put it on the side.
Which brings me to another feature: My Dell XPS 15” fits in a large front pocket, even with the padded Inateck box I use. It means a 16-inch MacBook should also fit.
Expandable front pocket. It allows for a bit of travel hacking, which I share in the following video.
It’s also worth reiterating that I’ve had this pack on a number of flights and never had a problem fitting it into the overhead compartment. With a length of 56 cm in compression, there is usually some room to spare.
In the photo above you also see the thick rubber material, which covers the bottom of the Fjord. It extends around its edges a few centimeters and allows me to place the package down on a wet surface without worrying about my device getting wet. It also prevents the bag from spilling.
Side pockets are also present. Although they are a bit limited, I can hold up to 1.5 liter bottles.
One game-changing element is the roll pocket at the top. It’s large enough to fit a sleeping bag and has a water-resistant coating. That’s why I often use it at the beach to store my wet clothes or water shoes. Those things won’t seep through the main compartment.
There’s even more caching with this package. It comes with a mesh that can be attached to its bottom, front or top to accommodate more devices. I have a dedicated video in which I show how I use all this storage for multi-day hiking.
What can be improved
One of my requests was to open the side pockets. While I can fit bottles of up to 1.5 liters in these pockets on the Fjord 60-C, it won’t hurt to have them a little more flexible. Therefore, large diameter bottles are not secure.
Ever since I started using Vapor’s one liter bottles, that’s no longer a problem. They are the perfect fit for the Fjord 60-C. Once they’re empty, I can roll them up and they don’t take up any more space until I’ve filled them up. That’s great for traveling.
The second improvement is to make the belt detachable. It will make commuting more comfortable, and it seems NYA-EVO is thinking the same. They added this feature to the updated version of the package they just announced.
Inference
The NYA-EVO Fjord 60-C is a feature-packed camera backpack perfect for traveling and hiking. It protects the camera device while keeping it easily accessible. It’s small enough to carry around, while its extensive features make it a suitable adventure pack that holds up to 60 liters of gear. At 2,400 grams, it’s not light at all. But considering the high-quality materials and padded back, this is nothing out of the ordinary and is similar to other backpacks in this league.
So back to the original question: is this the perfect camera backpack for hiking and traveling? For me, it’s very close.
