The fabric of the F-Stop Kashmir UL 30L is lightweight but it feels very tough and durable. It also sheds the odd raindrop but there’s an optional raincover available if you’re planning on walking in bad weather for an extended period.
You can access the main compartment via a zip at the top of the backpack, but the easiest way to reach your gear in the ICU is via the large zip around the back panel. That means you need to take the pack off your back before you can get at your kit.
Initially, I kept the ICU zipped closed in the backpack because it seems the most secure, but I soon realised that this was awkward to open and close when it’s inside the bag. The solution is to fold the ICU flap down and tuck it out of the way.
That’s fine with most cameras and lenses, but small optics and some accessories may fall to the bottom of the bag.
F-Stop has a solution for this too, the ICU Gate. This is basically a strip of mesh with a zip down its centre and velcro along each edge. The Velcro holds the mess in place while the zip lets you access your kit.
It takes a while to find the right configuration for your bag and if you’re the type of photographer who uses different kit for different shoots, you may find it a pain or want to invest in a second ICU.
I carried the F-Stop Kashmir UL 30L fully laden on several 4 and 5-mile walks and at the end, my shoulders felt as fresh as they did at the start.
I attribute this to F-Stop’s choice of materials. The shoulder straps, for example, aren’t thick and bulky, but they’re reasonably wide and have high-density padding. If you pinch the strap from either side, you can’t feel your fingers through the foam inside.
Similarly, the back panel doesn’t look especially well-padded, but like the straps, the foam stops you feeling anything on the other side.
Should you need them, there’s a waist-belt and chest strap to pull the pack onto your back and take some of the weight off your shoulders, but I found the shoulder straps comfortable enough to leave these undone most of the time.
With the medium-sized ICU in the main compartment, there’s space on top (accessed via the zip I mentioned earlier) to stash a jumper or light jacket. Bear in mind, however, that smaller item placed here are likely to work their way to the bottom of the pack or behind the ICU.
A little further forward from this there’s a large zip-close pocket with a simple mesh organiser panel that’s useful for stowing your purse or wallet and a few accessories.
In addition, a zip that runs along much of the length of the front of the Kashmir opens to give access to a useful large pocket.
As is quite common, either side of the backpack has stretchy mesh pockets for holding a drink bottle or tripod. There straps towards the top and bottom of the sides to keep the tripod safely in place. There’s room for a larger tripod, but I found that the Peak Design Travel Tripod is a perfect fit and I hardly knew I was carrying it.
