McKinnon 25L Camera Pack: a crazy versatile backpack!

By Jeff Daum, Ph.D, PPA, Technology & Product Analyst

I have owned many backpacks designed to carry my camera equipment but have to say that none have proved to be as customizable and convenient as the McKinnon 25L Camera Pack.¹

As soon as you take it out of its wrapper you are impressed with the quality of materials used and its fit-and-finish. The case is a combination of Polyester, Nylon and Polyurethane foam and has a water-resistant exterior.

Empty it weighs 3 pounds 3.4 ounces (1455 grams) and measures approximately 20 inches H x 12 inches W x 7.5 inches D (508 mm x 304.8 mm x 190.5 mm). It has an easy-to-grip carry handle at the top of the back, along with heavily padded shoulder straps. The straps are adjustable and include an adjustable cinch strap that can be used between the two shoulder straps.

The back side of the McKinnon is heavily padded to ensure the backpack is comfortable on your back yet allows for air circulation. The center padded section can also serve as a strap to slip over another suitcase handle when you are not wearing the backpack. Each side of the bag has a nice sized drink or item holder pocket. The pocket is held flat until you use it by a magnetic flap. There are also attachment slots near the top of the sides for optional gear straps to secure a tripod or monopod on the side.

At the back of the backpack is a zippered laptop sleeve. The zipper runs from the left side (looking from the back) of the top down the full height of the backpack. The laptop sleeve is the full width of the backpack. The next zippered compartment (from the back) fully unzips the entire back so that the backpack interior is completely accessible. At that point you’ll see two mesh zippered compartments on the interior of the heavily padded back that can hold filters, paper, pens etc.

You will also see the Nomatic ladder system. That allows you to reconfigure the interior of the backpack. The ladder easily divides the interior to have the top section, which is accessible from the outside top of the backpack separated off from the rest of the interior, to be either one third or two thirds of the usable storage space. You can also fully remove the ladder system so that you have one large interior compartment.

If you leave the ladder system in you have access to the separated top section from the inside by a flap that is held magnetically closed. That same section is accessible by a zippered flap on the front top of the backpack. On either side of this top section are two small mesh pockets and there is also a larger zippered pocket in the top flap.

The front of the backpack is minimalist and has surprising rigidity. The case can stand upright on its flat base.

Nomatic sells optional add-ons for the McKinnon 25L Camera Pack that enables a variety of internal configurations for your equipment. These include a Divider Kit to create sections horizontally and vertically, Small and Large Cube inserts, Accessory Straps, Waist Straps, Memory Card Case and a Battery Case. All except the straps, attach using Velcro and are easily positioned and removed as needed. You can see these at their site https://www.nomatic.com/collections/all-camera/products/mckinnon-camera-backpack-25l .

The McKinnon 25L Camera Pack lists for US$299.99, comes with free shipping (in the contiguous US) and a lifetime warranty.

Field Test

My initial impressions are that the McKinnon 25L Camera Pack is well thought out and highly practical for most photographers. I set out with it fairly loaded at more than 20 pounds of equipment including two Nikon Z7s, one with a Nikkor 28-120 mm zoom attached and the other with a Nikkor 100-400 mm zoom attached, a Nikkor 50 mm lens, an LG laptop and miscellaneous chargers and cords.

It felt comfortable on my shoulders throughout the day. The access to the cameras was easy. I especially liked having my prime camera in the upper section accessible through the top flap.

Summary

If you are looking for a highly customizable camera backpack, the McKinnon 25L Camera Pack should be at the top of your list. I give it five out of a maximum of five Mules!