Hiking Switzerland with Shimoda: Confessions of a Pocket Person

Some people pack for a hike and leave. I used to pack, unpack, stare at my backpack and start negotiating.

Could I fit everything in? What would have to stay at home? And if I somehow managed to close the zip, would my back forgive me?

I’m Ula, a photographer based in Switzerland. I hike a lot and take a lot of pictures, which means packing for a walk involves a little more than putting on my shoes. My camera equipment needs to come along, together with the things I need for the hike. Unfortunately, my previous backpack and I didn’t always agree on how much that should be.

There never seemed to be enough space. When I did squeeze everything in, the bag felt heavy and uncomfortable. Halfway through a hike, my back would be screaming for help. I had successfully packed my equipment, but carrying it was another story. That was the situation when the Shimoda Explore V2 30 in Teal joined me on my summer hikes. I had a few hopes for it: a comfortable fit, easy access to my camera and enough organisation to satisfy a very specific part of my personality.

Because I am, unapologetically, a pocket person.

I love pockets. Give me somewhere to put something, and I’m happy. Give everything its own space, and I’m even happier. There is something deeply satisfying about opening a backpack and knowing where things belong. Apparently, this is who I am now: a woman with strong feelings about bag compartments. The Explore V2 suits that side of me. I can organise what I’m carrying instead of putting everything into one space and hoping we’ll meet again later. That matters when I’m hiking with my camera. I want to stop, get what I need and take a photograph. I don’t want to conduct a small archaeological excavation inside my bag first. Having a place for everything also helps when I pack away. Each thing goes back where it belongs, ready for the next stop. My little system makes sense to me, and that is what I appreciate about it. Of course, pockets alone won’t get you comfortably up a trail. The fit was the first thing I paid attention to once I started using the backpack.

I could easily adjust it to suit my height and shoulders. Taking time to do that made it feel comfortable on my body, and I’ve found it comfortable while hiking. My camera equipment still weighs what it weighs. There is no secret button that turns a packed bag into a feather, although I would happily test that feature. But the way I carry the weight feels different from my previous backpack, and that has made a noticeable difference to my experience. My back has been considerably less dramatic.

When I’m out with my camera, the walk has its own rhythm. I hike, notice something I want to photograph, stop and take a picture. Then I put the camera away and carry on. Easy access is important to me because I repeat that process throughout an outing. With the Explore V2, I can reach my equipment easily. Combined with the organisation, that makes those stops straightforward. This summer, those everyday details were what I appreciated most. Packing before leaving. Adjusting the bag to fit me. Walking with my equipment. Reaching for my camera and putting it back afterwards.

They might not sound particularly exciting, but they are the things you actually do with a backpack. You discover quite quickly whether a bag works with your habits. If you’re choosing one for photography hikes, my advice is to think about the problems you already have. What annoys you when you pack? What becomes uncomfortable when you walk? What are you forever searching for? Try the backpack with your usual equipment inside, if you can. Adjust it properly. Have a look at the layout and ask yourself whether you would actually use those spaces.

Everyone carries different things and has a different body. For me, the Explore V2 30 has worked well because it fits comfortably, gives me easy access to my equipment and lets me organise things the way I like.

I still have to decide what to bring on a hike. A backpack cannot make all my decisions for me.

But now I get to give everything its own place, close the zip and head out with my camera.

To see more of Ula's work, check out her Instagram.

To find out more about Explore v2, click here.