WANDRD FERNWEH Backpack Review – TravelFreak

I’ve been backpacking for years, and I started journey pictures as a technique to improve my door expertise by means of this artwork type. On every of my largest gripes, all through the years was not having the ability to match all my needed gear securely in my hiking backpacks—at all times risking harm or loss and by no means having quick access to all my digicam gear.

The WANDRD FERNWEH Backpacking Bag goals to fill a special area of interest from most different digicam backpacks. That is the kind of backpack for the aspiring Nat Geo professional who wants to have the ability to sort out the weather and shoulder loads of journey and pictures gear without sacrificing consolation, performance, or gear entry.

Sturdy, multifunctional, and stuffed with distinctive options—like a hidden passport pocket, exterior sleeping bag holder, and velcro straps to save all of your packages—it’s turned out to be a mainstay in our shoot wardrobe. Plus, it is available in a basic smooth black shade, with a tan choice as effective.

I hope this WANDRD FERNWEH evaluation helps different photographers have smoother backpacking expertise when bringing alongside their cameras. In this evaluation, I’ll inform you of every side of the bag—what I like and what I don’t—and the way it performs outdoors.

WANDRD FERNWEH Backpack Evaluate Abstract

The 50L FERNWEH Backpacking Bag is a spacious, thoughtfully designed mountain climbing backpack for photographers who must carry their picture gear out within the wilderness with them.

It’s constructed for multi-day tenting journeys and options a big foremost compartment that may carry your digicam tools, clothes, and tenting gear. It additionally has an exterior house for a sleeping pad or bag, and additional storage within the waist belt and sternum straps.

WANDRD has lengthy been a business chief for the journey pictures area of interest, and it’s no shock they’ve been capable of good the FERNWEH Backpack. This Digicam backpack was Kickstarter-funded, and rapidly gained the help and reward of the out-of-doors group.

Since its success on Kickstarter, this bag has managed to climb to the highest of photographers’ lists of important gear for her adventures.

This bag evaluation will provide you with the entire breakdown of the WANDRD FERNWEH Backpacking Bag!

The WANDRD FERNWEH Backpack: Who Is It Finest For?

Earlier than diving into the backpack evaluate, let’s be certain that the FERNWEH bag is match for you and your wants.

For years, backpackers have had to select: prioritize packing their digicam package and double up on backpacks to make it work, or depart issues behind to suit it multi function bag.

The WANDRD FERNWEH goals to discover a blissful center floor—providing the group to securely pack and simply entry pictures gear whereas sustaining house for all needed tenting gear, clothes, and toiletries.

In contrast to different backpacks in the marketplace, the WANDRD FERNWEH prioritizes photographers’ wants. It has optimized out their house to make sure you’ll be capable of carrying all of the gear you want while summiting peaks and crossing desert landscapes.

The FERNWEH Backpack is for the avid journey photographer who doesn’t wish to compromise on a house or group of their package and needs a well-made, highly-reviewed bag that’s as comfy as it’s useful.

Ergonomics & Inside Options: What’s Inside?

The characteristic that units the WANDRD FERNWEH aside from different digicam backpacks is its capability to accommodate all of the gear you’ll want for a multi-day backpacking journey.

Let’s check out all you may comfortably carry in its varied inside and exterior compartments.

House To Retailer Laptops

The WANDRD FERNWEH backpack options house for a 15″ laptop computer. That is enough for a lot of; nevertheless, I do want this was up to date to suit the various laptops that are actually 16”+. Many journey photographers edit with bigger laptops such because the MacBook Professional, which regularly exceeds the 15” pocket dimension.

But when your laptop computer will match, the design and placement of the laptop computer sleeve are actually helpful. It’s positioned behind the backpack, and it’s geared up with a false backside that enables for shock absorption in case your backpack takes a success otherwise you drop it.

The thought of it being within the again panel frightened me at first, as I assumed it could make it uncomfortable or stiff, however it’s positioned behind the cushions and help, so it actually isn’t a difficulty!

The laptop computer sleeve itself is doubly secured with a velcro strap to cease your pc from sliding out when you open the zip with slightly an excessive amount of enthusiasm.

When you’ve opened the again panel that comprises the laptop computer sleeve, you’ll additionally be capable of entry all of your picture gear inside. So, all of the tech you’re more likely to want on the identical time is well accessible with out rummaging.

House To Retailer Digital camera Gear

Let’s discuss arguably a very powerful a part of the WANDRD FERNWEH digicam bag: the house to your digicam gear.

The FERNWEH Backpacking Bag is suitable with WANDRD digicam cubes, which go in the primary compartment of the backpack. The variety of lenses and our bodies you’ll be capable of pack will rely upon which of the cubes—out there individually—you go for.

When you entry the digicam compartment from the left-hand facet entry level of the backpack, you’ll discover that there’s a helpful pocket within the flap that makes the proper cupboard space for little equipment comparable to reminiscence playing cards, lens wipes, and spare batteries (a characteristic I get actually good use out of)! This facet flap additionally has a velcro sleeve that’ll preserve your dice safe inside, making certain your valuable gear doesn’t get moved round when you’re on the go.

You may as well instantly entry your package by means of the again of the bag.

When buying the backpack, there are 3 bundle choices out there, together with three completely different cubes: The Mini Camera Cube, Essential Camera Cube, and Pro Camera Cube.

When you’re utilizing the WANDRD Important Dice—our dice of option to pair with this pack—you’ll be capable of match a mid-size DSLR with a 70-200mm lens connected, plus room to stow your nifty fifty and one other compact lens.

In fact, the very best factor about cubes is their adaptability. The velcro dividers imply that you may customise every of the sections to suit your particular wants.

The dice itself could be opened in two other ways: you may both unzip its prime panel to get to all of your package, or you may unzip one finish of it and slide your digicam and its connected lens out with out disturbing your different lenses.

This pocket characteristic is ideal if it’s worthwhile to seize your digicam rapidly and get the shot with minimal fuss!

Exterior Options

The WANDRD FERNWEH is all about performance and sturdiness. Provided in black or tan, this backpack has a easy, minimalist look.

The outside of the backpack has a number of storage choices and different functionalities that make it good for backpacking.

Exterior Storage

One of many key exterior storage factors of this backpack is the sleeping bag holder on the backside of the pack. It’s hidden away in a stash pocket, and when unzipped, reveals a G-hooked carry system that can be utilized for a sleeping bag, tent, tripods, coats, and different objects.

Inside the stash pocket, you’ll additionally discover one other small compartment, good for conserving a rain cowl.

Throughout the backpack, there are helpful spots to safe additional bits of package, from the 2 pockets on the detachable hip belt to the 2 compression straps on both facet of the bag, which I’ve discovered significantly useful for securing a tripod or a monopod!

Different straps embody stowable ones designed for ice picks and skis, which can be used to hold different, similarly-sized instruments. Plus, you’ll discover numerous webbed gear loops and carabiner attachment factors, providing you with the flexibility to hold nearly every part you could possibly probably want.

There’s additionally a helpful exterior zippered pouch that’s designed to carry a jacket and has a hydration bladder sleeve with a tube routing system, which is a helpful technique to keep away from leakage into the primary compartment of your bag.

A water bottle/tripod pocket hugs the facet of the bag when not in use, and expands to suit the gear it’s worthwhile to carry. Having the pocket flush with the bag provides it a smooth, skilled look.

Practicality: Straps & Zippers Galore

You’ll by no means run out of exterior straps and loops that will help you connect additional gear, which is a superb bonus but additionally one of many downsides of the FERNWEH for some. It tends to really feel as if there’s rather a lot happening, and also you’ll have to simply accept some quantity of dangling and enterprise as a part of the deal.

I personally like having the ability to connect my sleeping pad, hydration bladder, rain jacket, and tent  to avoid wasting room contained in the pack.

There are additionally a number of padded seize handles across the bag, so you may decide it up in any scenario. For instance, when you will have the again open, it’s nice to have the ability to transfer it rapidly with out having to shut every part again up first!

Inside Entry and Storage: What Can You Match Contained in the WANDRD FERNWEH?

The WANDRD FERNWEH is extraordinarily useful, and there are a variety of helpful equipment and particular objects of package that may be stowed inside, not simply in the primary compartment.

Right here, I’ll dive into the primary entry factors of the backpack and the objects you may retailer inside this digicam backpack.

High Entry Level

The highest entry level of the FERNWEH takes you straight into the primary compartment of the bag. You should use the detachable bucket, which is roughly half the scale of the primary inside compartment, or you may go with out it you probably have bigger objects or want one giant compartment.

I sometimes preserve the bucket in place to prepare and pack clothes. It’s very easy to take away and reinstall, for these nights the place I possibly misplaced my pair of socks on the backside of the compartment (we’ve all been there—shoutout to the infinite black holes in backpacking backpacks) and simply wish to sift by means of that part in my tent as a substitute of tossing and turning the entire pack!

There’s additionally a small mesh pocket inside the highest flap. This pocket is a superb spot for small objects like a toothbrush, e book or pocket book, or your AirPods.

Entrance Entry Level

One other technique to get to the primary compartment of the WANDRD FERNWEH rapidly is by opening up the entrance clamshell opening. This will provide you with zippered entry to the detachable bucket and digicam dice.

If you would like entry to most every part within the bag without delay, that is the way in which to do it!

Aspect Digital camera Entry

The facet panel opening gives entry to the underside of your bag. This helpful mode of entry is especially glorious when you’re utilizing a digicam dice.

The facet flap is accessible when you’re carrying the bag, providing you with an easy-access choice to seize your digicam on the go. It additionally affords some extra helpful storage choices within the type of a zippered pocket with three small compartments for reminiscence playing cards, battery packs, and different small objects.

Again Panel Entry

Nobody desires their costly tech and irreplaceable laborious drives and paperwork on the entrance of their digicam bag, the place somebody might simply entry and steal them. That is the place the WANDRD FERNWEH’s again panel entry is useful.

You’ll must de-bag to get into it, in fact, however when you open up the again, you’ll discover a laptop computer sleeve, full entry to your digicam dice, and a number of other additional storage choices. There may be even a hidden passport pocket that’s good for stashing these necessary paperwork and a few emergency money.

Storing Your Digital camera Gear

The lodging for digicam gear is the place the WANDRD FERNWEH actually shines for journey photographers, whether or not you employ a WANDRD dice or a third-party digicam bag.

There’s a devoted house inside the WANDRD bag that’s designed for digicam luggage to fit into securely, providing you with fast entry along with the bag and the again, too.

There’s loads of house for just a few lenses in addition to your major lens connected to your digicam physique, which is right if you wish to flit between panorama pictures and wildlife or documentary pictures and want the suitable selection in your package to have the ability to accomplish that.

Even higher? You’ll completely be capable of use a few of these exterior attachment factors to carry your tripod or monopod on the go along with you.

There’s additionally room for personalisation right here—you should utilize a smaller digicam dice when you simply have one physique and a few compact lenses, or you may decide for a bigger dice that matches hefty telephotos when you want much less in a single day gear however wish to have as many glass choices as potential.

Consolation: How Snug is the WANDRD FERNWEH Backpack?

One of many main drawbacks of many backpacking luggage is that they’re designed to suit a particular physique kind and peak. Normally, anybody outdoors of these slim parameters has a much less comfy expertise.

The WANDRD FERNWEH, although, works as effectively on brief people as tall ones, and that’s partly as a consequence of its sensible, ergonomic design options. Such a adjustable backpack is very nice for many who don’t match inside commonplace measurements, and may have roughly wiggle room than the common consumer.

Again Help

There’s an inside body that does some fairly heavy lifting: it gives construction to the backpack and safety to your gear, whether or not the bag is full or not.

When totally loaded, the inner body stabilizes the load towards your again, with the assistance of its shoulder straps, easing the load in your backbone.

Like a lot of the backpack, you’re capable of customise this body by selecting one in all two body sizes to finest fit your physique kind.

Shoulder Straps

The shoulder straps and the again of the WANDRD FERNWEH are generously padded with EVA foam, which additional helps take in shock, unfold the stress of a heavy load, and decrease sweat.

These are totally adjustable shoulder straps, too. There are gatekeeper buckles on the prime with three attachment factors, plus load lifters that you may make use of as wanted.

There may be nothing worse than an ill-fitting shoulder strap that’s uncomfortable on a protracted journey! Fortunately, WANDRD gives a sort of shoulder strap that has tons of padding and is adjustable.

And, as soon as once more, you’re given preliminary dimension choices if you buy the bag, which can enable you to finetune your funding!

Padding and Harness

That is the place the FERNWEH actually stands out as a digicam backpack particularly suited to picture gear somewhat than only a typical digicam bag. The WANDRD FERNWEH boasts a excessive degree of adjustability, which implies the bag is suited to any consumer dimension or form.

This digicam backpack options breathable mesh and many padding, so it stays comfy with out getting sweaty and sticky on these scorching hikes.

You’ll discover loads of additional load lifters and tremendous safe straps within the harness system, which can assist redistribute the burden of heavy hundreds. These load lifters embody a surprisingly strong chest strap and waist strap and the detachable hip belt.

The hip belt is available in two completely different sizes and consists of two exterior pockets (and a facet pocket)—good to your cellphone, water bottle, keys, or a small snack. There are additionally a number of extra loops from which to hold extra package.

You’ll be able to even use a few of the exterior attachment factors on the harness, very like a digicam harness. This offers you the choice to have a second digicam available for when it’s worthwhile to snag that good wildlife or motion shot!

Supplies: What Is The WANDRD FERNWEH Backpack Made From?

With its 630D (denier) nylon and 5PM coating, The WANDRD FERNWEH is each strong and weatherproof. Having a backpack manufactured from sturdy and waterproof supplies is unquestionably a deal breaker for me as a photographer.

It feels nearly rubbery in texture and helps give the outside of this backpack some climate resistance, though it’s not proof against scuffs and blemishes!

Construct High quality & Look

All in all, the WANDRD FERNWEH is a high-quality bag—and positively extra sturdy and hard than many different backpacks by competing digicam bag producers that are likely to create pictures backpacks geared extra towards city use.

Its inside body makes the construct extraordinarily strong and ensures you’re not straining your again even when the backpack is stuffed with all of your digicam and tenting gear.

The body is balanced and ergonomic, and with the addition of comfy shoulder straps, waist straps, and a chest strap that enable for distribution of weight, you’ll be comfy on any journey.

The pack is the proper dimension for multi-day adventures and gives consolation even for these with the heaviest gear. Most luggage don’t characteristic such a supportive harness system, making this bag among the many prime in consolation.

The Finest WANDRD Equipment to Retailer within the Backpack

There are a number of equipment that you may retailer on this bag, from digicam cubes and accent straps to shoe pouches and extra pictures gear. WANDRD sells a ton of great accessories that match completely inside the backpack, however you probably have equipment of your individual already, these can usually work nice too!

Camera Cubes

You’ll nearly actually wish to put money into a WANDRD camera cube, which can arrange and safely retailer your gear within the digicam compartment and permit for fast and quick access if you discover a taking pictures alternative.

There are a number of choices out there, however we like the Essential Deep Camera Cube for making certain we get our favourite our bodies and lenses on board.

When you want extra digicam package and fewer of all the opposite stuff, the Professional and Professional+ cubes are roughly 20L and 30L and will provide you with more room for a severe zoom lens in your pack.

Accessory Straps

Most of us gained’t sometimes make the most of the quite a few straps and loops out there on the backpack; nevertheless, when you’re into experimenting with, for instance, studio lighting out within the wilderness, you could possibly discover you fill them up fairly rapidly with package.

When you do end up bringing alongside quite a lot of gear and want that additional storage in your pack, you should buy extra accessory straps to your WANDRD FERNWEH!

Route Pack

The facet digicam entry on the WANDRD FERNWEH bag makes it simple to seize your digicam if you encounter a superb picture alternative. However typically you want entry even quicker than that.

That’s the place the nifty route pack comes into play. The route pack seamlessly integrates into the harness of your bag, offering a front-body pack that simply holds a digicam physique with a telephoto lens connected.

It’s as efficient as mountain climbing with a digicam harness on, however the route pack gives significantly extra safety to your luggage’ valuable package.

Rain Fly

As a lot as we’d all like fixed good climate on the paths, typically we’ve simply obtained to simply accept the weather. And, if you’re carrying pictures gear, you wish to be certain that not one of the water is seeping into your pack.

The WANDRD FERNWEH is definitely fairly dependable as-is towards rainfall, however for additional peace of thoughts throughout these heavier downpours, I like so as to add the rain fly covering to guard any zipper openings.

Shoe Pouch

Accessorizing your luggage with a shoe pouch is genuinely a game-changer. Have you ever ever unpacked your garments and found that they’re coated in half the path you’ve been traipsing alongside?

Particularly in moist environments the place you could be monitoring mud, having a shoe pouch is a sure-fire technique to preserve your clothes and kit clear.

The shoe pouch is designed to slide simply into the primary compartment of the WANDRD FERNWEH, conserving grime, moisture, and dodgy odors contained and completely separate out of your stuff.

I’d say that is fairly an improve from wrapping your sneakers in a plastic buying bag and hoping for the very best! Plus, a shoe pouch is a staple merchandise for any journey and can be utilized in any of your journey luggage.

Options to the WANDRD FERNWEH

If you wish to discover your choices earlier than making the funding, listed below are a few of the hottest luggage much like the WANDRD FERNWEH in the marketplace.

Shimoda Action X50 Backpack

The Action X50 isn’t a completely dissimilar bag to the WANDRD FERNWEH: it, too, includes a bucket system for inside storage and it has a facet entry panel that permits you to into the inner digicam compartment.

One main distinction? It has a roll-top design which implies its inside capability is expandable past 50L.

The backpack options what they name a core unit modular digicam insert system. Very similar to digicam cubes, these padded, shockproof items present safety to your gear and assist preserve the pack organized. You’ll be able to improve your structure choices by buying extra Core Models and stacking them to finest fit your wants.

Moreover, its again panel is molded, which implies it’s higher suited to winter climates than the breathable mesh of the FERNWEH, and nonetheless gives most consolation. You’ll additionally discover superior options like simple ski attachments and a detachable helmet holder on the Motion X50, which is nice for alpine explorers!

WANDRD PRVKE 41

Because the predecessor to the FERNWEH, the PRVKE has pure comparisons, however is a smaller bag—its capability is 41L to the FERNWEH’s 51L.

The bag options loads of comparable choices, together with the digicam dice system, however we’d think about this the city various to the FERNWEH, because it’s neither as large nor as comfy as its outdoorsy cousin.

Nonetheless, when you’re extra more likely to spend your time on road pictures somewhat than chasing down sprawling vistas, this extra compact choice might be a greater match!

F-Stop Tilopa-50L

As one of many OG on-the-road digicam backpacks, the Tilopa-50L Travel and Adventure Camera Backpack has loads of the identical options because the WANDRD FERNWEH. It makes use of digicam cubes to maximise inside house, facet compression straps, and carries 50L.

In contrast to the FERNWEH, it skips the surplus padding, which makes it a extra light-weight choice—although whis does make it barely much less comfy and affords much less shock safety to your gear on these lengthy hikes.

Just like the Motion X50, it’s additionally been designed with snow sports activities in thoughts, and it’s geared up to hold skis. It additionally has exterior straps and loops to retailer additional gear!

WANDRD FERNWEH Evaluate: Remaining Ideas

Simply shy of $385, the FERNWEH is a distinct segment bag for a specialised consumer—however when it’s paired up with its good individual, it’s greater than price it to put money into one.

I’ve fallen in love with my WANDRD FERNWEH (which, by the way, is the German phrase for ‘farsickness’—a kind of deep ache for journey, which I like) for its performance and modern design.

It holds quite a lot of stuff, and it does it sensibly, compartmentalizing cameras and package so every part is well accessible whereas additionally staying clear, tidy, and secure.

There’s little or no you may’t connect to the skin of the bag both, as a result of its surplus of straps and loops are designed to safe nearly any additional equipment you would possibly wish to carry on tour with you, with fast entry at all times on the forefront of the design.

And this bag actually is all about consolation. With ample padding—in addition to breathable supplies I’m—by means of the shoulder straps, hip belt, waist belt, and again panel, it’s not going to rub or pinch when you’re on the transfer.

Its ergonomic design, which features a strong inside body, affords vital weight-bearing help, spreading the load of your totally laden bag so that you don’t find yourself feeling like a pack mule (though we photographers normally find yourself trying like one)!

Mainly, the FERNWEH takes your thoughts off your bag, providing you with peace of thoughts and the additional mind house to consider what you’re truly out and about for—taking nice photographs.