WANDRD FERNWEH Backpack Overview – TravelFreak

I used to be uninterested in attempting to suit all of my digital camera gear into my backpacking bag and never having the ability to determine an environment friendly system that was simple to arrange and stored my package protected.

I’ve been backpacking for years, and I started journey images as a technique to improve my out of doors expertise by means of this artwork kind. Considered one of my greatest gripes all through the years was not having the ability to match all my crucial gear securely in my hiking backpacks—all the time risking injury or loss and by no means having easy accessibility to all my digital camera gear.

The WANDRD FERNWEH Backpacking Bag goals to fill a distinct area of interest from most different digital camera backpacks. That is the kind of backpack for the aspiring Nat Geo professional who wants to have the ability to deal with the weather and shoulder loads of journey and images gear with out sacrificing consolation, performance, or gear entry.

Strong, multifunctional, and stuffed with distinctive options—like a hidden passport pocket, exterior sleeping bag holder, and velcro straps to safe all of your package—it’s turn into a mainstay in our shoot wardrobe. Plus, it is available in a traditional smooth black shade, with a tan possibility as effectively.

I hope this WANDRD FERNWEH overview helps different photographers have a smoother backpacking expertise when bringing alongside their cameras. On this overview, I’ll information you thru every facet of the bag—what I like and what I don’t—and the way it performs within the outdoor.

WANDRD FERNWEH Backpack Overview Abstract

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

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

WANDRD has lengthy been an trade chief for the journey images area of interest, and it’s no shock they’ve been capable of good the FERNWEH Backpack. This digital camera 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 his or her adventures.

This bag overview provides you with the entire breakdown of the WANDRD FERNWEH Backpacking Bag!

Capability	50L
Supplies	Waterproof Tarpaulin and Robic 1680D Ballistic Nylon. Climate Resistant Zippers.
Dimensions	S/M: 25” X 13.75” X 9.5” (63.5 X 34.9 X 24.1 CM) M/L: 26” X 13.75“ X 9.5” (66 X 34.9 X 24.1 CM)
Weight	5 lbs

The WANDRD FERNWEH Backpack: Who Is It Greatest For?

Earlier than diving into the backpack overview, let’s ensure the FERNWEH bag is match for you and your wants.

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

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

Not like different backpacks in the marketplace, the WANDRD FERNWEH prioritizes photographers’ wants. It has optimized out there house to make sure you’ll have the ability to deliver all of the gear you want whereas summiting peaks and crossing desert landscapes.

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

Ergonomics & Inside Options: What’s Inside?

The function that units the WANDRD FERNWEH aside from different digital camera backpacks is its capacity 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 inner and exterior compartments.

Area To Retailer Laptops

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

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

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

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

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

Area To Retailer Digicam Gear

Let’s discuss arguably a very powerful a part of the WANDRD FERNWEH digital camera bag: the house on your digital camera gear.

The FERNWEH Backpacking Bag is appropriate with WANDRD digital camera cubes, which go in the principle compartment of the backpack. The variety of lenses and our bodies you’ll have the ability to pack will rely upon which of the cubes—out there individually—you go for.

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

You can too straight 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 totally 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 have the ability to match a mid-size DSLR with a 70-200mm lens connected, plus room to stow your nifty fifty and one other compact lens.

After all, the very best factor about cubes is their adaptability. The velcro dividers imply you can customise every of the sections to suit your particular wants.

The dice itself may 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 digital camera and its connected lens out with out disturbing your different lenses.

This pocket function is ideal if that you must seize your digital camera 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 gadgets.

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

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

Different straps embrace 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, supplying you with the power to hold nearly the whole lot you could possibly presumably want.

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

A water bottle/tripod pocket hugs the aspect of the bag when not in use, and expands to suit the gear that you must 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 can assist you connect additional gear, which is a good bonus but in addition 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 just 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 have got the again open, it’s nice to have the ability to transfer it rapidly with out having to shut the whole lot again up first!

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

The WANDRD FERNWEH is extraordinarily purposeful, and there are a selection of helpful equipment and particular gadgets of package that may be stowed inside, not simply in the principle compartment.

Right here, I’ll dive into the principle entry factors of the backpack and the gadgets you may retailer inside this digital camera backpack.

Prime Entry Level

The highest entry level of the FERNWEH takes you straight into the principle compartment of the bag. You should utilize the detachable bucket, which is roughly half the scale of the principle inner compartment, or you may go with out it when you have bigger gadgets or favor one massive compartment.

I sometimes hold the bucket in place to arrange 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 an alternative of tossing and turning the entire pack!

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

Entrance Entry Level

One other technique to get to the principle compartment of the WANDRD FERNWEH rapidly is by opening up the entrance clamshell opening. This provides you with zippered entry to the detachable bucket and digital camera dice.

If you need entry to most the whole lot within the bag without delay, that is the best way to do it!

Facet Digicam Entry

The aspect panel opening supplies entry to the underside of your bag. This useful mode of entry is especially glorious if you happen to’re utilizing a digital camera dice.

The aspect flap is accessible whilst you’re carrying the bag, supplying you with an easy-access choice to seize your digital camera on the go. It additionally provides some further useful storage choices within the type of a zippered pocket with three small compartments for reminiscence playing cards, battery packs, and different small gadgets.

Again Panel Entry

Nobody desires their costly tech and irreplaceable laborious drives and paperwork on the entrance of their digital camera bag, the place somebody may 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, after all, however when you open up the again, you’ll discover a laptop computer sleeve, full entry to your digital camera dice, and a number of other additional storage choices. There may be even a hidden passport pocket that’s good for stashing these vital paperwork and a few emergency money.

Storing Your Digicam Gear

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

There’s a devoted house throughout the WANDRD bag that’s designed for digital camera luggage to fit into securely, supplying you with fast entry along side the bag and the again, too.

There’s loads of house for a number of lenses in addition to your main lens connected to your digital camera physique, which is right if you wish to flit between panorama images and wildlife or documentary images and wish the suitable selection in your package to have the ability to accomplish that.

Even higher? You’ll completely have the ability to use a few of these exterior attachment factors to deliver your tripod or monopod on the go together with you.

There’s additionally room for personalization right here—you need to use a smaller digital camera dice if you happen to simply have one physique and a few compact lenses, or you may decide for a bigger dice that matches hefty telephotos if you happen to 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 selected physique sort and peak. Often, anybody outdoors of these slender parameters has a much less snug expertise.

The WANDRD FERNWEH, although, works as effectively on quick people as tall ones, and that’s partly on account of its good, ergonomic design options. This sort of adjustable backpack is particularly nice for many who don’t match inside commonplace measurements, and might have kind of wiggle room than the common consumer.

Again Help

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

When totally loaded, the interior 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 certainly one of two body sizes to greatest fit your physique sort.

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 strain of a heavy load, and reduce sweat.

These are totally adjustable shoulder straps, too. There are gatekeeper buckles on the prime with three attachment factors, plus load lifters you can 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 supplies a sort of shoulder strap that has tons of padding and is adjustable.

And, as soon as once more, you’re given preliminary measurement choices whenever you buy the bag, which is able to enable you finetune your funding!

Padding and Harness

That is the place the FERNWEH actually stands out as a digital camera backpack particularly suited to photograph gear fairly than only a typical digital camera bag. The WANDRD FERNWEH boasts a excessive stage of adjustability, which implies the bag is suited to any consumer measurement or form.

This digital camera backpack options breathable mesh and many padding, so it stays snug with out getting sweaty and sticky on these sizzling hikes.

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

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

You’ll be able to even use among the exterior attachment factors on the harness, very like a digital camera harness. This offers you the choice to have a second digital camera readily available for when that you must 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 product of sturdy and waterproof supplies is certainly a deal breaker for me as a photographer.

It feels virtually rubbery in texture and helps give the outside of this backpack some climate resistance, though it isn’t resistant to scuffs and blemishes!

Construct High quality & Look

All in all, the WANDRD FERNWEH is a high-quality bag—and positively extra sturdy and difficult than many different backpacks by competing digital camera bag producers that are inclined to create images backpacks geared extra towards city use.

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

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

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

The Greatest WANDRD Equipment to Retailer within the Backpack

There are a number of equipment you can retailer on this bag, from digital camera cubes and accent straps to shoe pouches and extra images gear. WANDRD sells a ton of great accessories that match completely throughout the backpack, however when you have equipment of your personal already, these can usually work nice too!

Camera Cubes

You’ll virtually actually wish to spend money on a WANDRD camera cube, which is able to manage and safely retailer your gear within the digital camera compartment and permit for fast and easy accessibility whenever 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 digital camera package and fewer of all the opposite stuff, the Professional and Professional+ cubes are roughly 20L and 30L and provides you with more room for a critical zoom lens in your pack.

Accessory Straps

Most of us received’t sometimes make the most of the quite a few straps and loops out there on the backpack; nonetheless, if you happen to’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 loads of gear and wish that additional storage in your pack, you should purchase extra accessory straps on your WANDRD FERNWEH!

Route Pack

The aspect digital camera entry on the WANDRD FERNWEH bag makes it simple to seize your digital camera whenever you encounter a superb photograph alternative. However generally you want entry even sooner 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 digital camera physique with a telephoto lens connected.

It’s as efficient as climbing with a digital camera harness on, however the route pack supplies significantly extra safety on your luggage’ treasured package.

Rain Fly

As a lot as we’d all like fixed good climate on the paths, generally we’ve simply received to just accept the weather. And, whenever you’re carrying images 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 might be monitoring mud, having a shoe pouch is a sure-fire technique to hold your clothes and kit clear.

The shoe pouch is designed to slide simply into the principle compartment of the WANDRD FERNWEH, holding dust, 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 among the hottest luggage much like the WANDRD FERNWEH in the marketplace.

Shimoda Action X50 Backpack

The Action X50 isn’t an entirely dissimilar bag to the WANDRD FERNWEH: it, too, contains a bucket system for inner storage and it has a aspect entry panel that allows you to into the interior digital camera compartment.

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

The backpack options what they name a core unit modular digital camera insert system. Very like digital camera cubes, these padded, shockproof items present safety on your gear and assist hold the pack organized. You’ll be able to enhance your structure choices by buying extra Core Items and stacking them to greatest 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 supplies 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 digital camera dice system, however we’d take into account this the city different to the FERNWEH, because it’s neither as huge nor as snug as its outdoorsy cousin.

Nonetheless, if you happen to’re extra more likely to spend your time on road images fairly than chasing down sprawling vistas, this extra compact possibility may very well be a greater match!

F-Stop Tilopa-50L

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

Not like the FERNWEH, it skips the surplus padding, which makes it a extra light-weight possibility—although whis does make it barely much less snug and provides much less shock safety on 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 Overview: Ultimate 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 spend money on 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 progressive design.

It holds loads of stuff, and it does it sensibly, compartmentalizing cameras and package so the whole lot is well accessible whereas additionally staying clear, tidy, and protected.

There’s little or no you may’t connect to the surface 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 deliver on tour with you, with fast entry all the time 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 whilst you’re on the transfer.

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

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