i really wanted to like this bag and gave it a fair chance on a recent trip to thailand that included climbing, trekking, and city travel. overall, the paralax is a nice camera pack that is well-designed, solidly constructed, and comes with many thoughtful features (rain cover, laptop sleeve, hidden tripod attachments, outer mesh pockets, and two durable rubber handles). however the pack is remarkably cumbersome, awkward, and bulky. without a tripod attached, you'll stick out like a sore thumb; with a tripod, all bets are off for navigating any populated area. i'd liken it to carrying a child on your back that is carrying a child on his back. additionally, the pack suffers from less than ample padding in the shoulder straps, and unpadded hip straps (?!), a major oversight on a pack designed to carry several lenses, 1-2 bodies, and a laptop. check out the lowepro vertex series for a very comfortable, functional, and all-around slick pack if your an adventurer looking for the perfect all-purpose bag.

I’ve used the Paralax Backpack twice on different trekking tours to the Italian Alps, near my hometown. My Leica and Canon gear were perfectly protected and sufficiently on hand for use.