Is this the BEST camera bag for Field Recordists?

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The Evoc CP26L

Like every field recordist I'm often carrying a lot of gear. Microphones, headphones, recorders, tripods; the list goes on. All that kit is expensive so we need a decent backpack to store it in. Something that's comfy, durable, and erganomic. That's where the Evoc CP26L bag comes in.

Designed for action sports photographers, the Evoc CP26L has been my main backpack for the past 3-4 years. It's travelled all over the UK, Australia, New Zealand and the Middle East. I'm going to explain why I think this is the perfect bag for field recordists too.

Let's begin with the exterior of the bag.

Hooks & Straps

The backpack is covered in hooks, clips and straps. Which make's it ideal for cables and accessories. There's a pop out sleeve on the bottom to support a tripod but I tend to attach mine onto the side of the backpack to make it easier when I place the bag on the ground.

Shoulder Straps & Padding

The shoulder straps, waist straps and back padding are excellent. They offer great support with a lot of room for adjustments. The waist strap is removeable which is usually how I use the bag. If I'm carrying a lot of weight I'll add the waist strap back on but often when I'm field recording, I'm out in the damp rainy woods placing my backpack on the floor. The straps end up getting wet when they inevitably touch the ground. Then when I put the bag back on, I get soaking wet! So it's easier just to go without.

Built in rain cover

Speaking of wet, there's a built in rain cover on the bottom of the bag which is also removable with this little clip. There's been a few times where I've been caught out in the rain and this has come in sooo handy.

Chunky Quiet Zips

The main compartment of the backpack is fitted with big chunky zips with a nice hoop. I especially like these when I'm recording in the winter. They're easy to use when you're wearing thick winter gloves which eliminates the need to take your gloves off and put them back on again.

The zips aren't that noisey when you're walking either. Some backpacks I feel like a cow with a bell around it's neck. The bag jingles and jangles which is an absolute nightmare for recording. These zips aren't silent but they are quiet.

Outer Fabric

Like I mentioned before, this bag has been everywhere with me. The outer fabric is really tough and extremely durable. From skidding along tarmac to dropped in mud it's held up great so far. There are a few signs of wear and tear but nothing major. Mainly scratches and scuffs which I actually quite like. I'm not a huge fan of pristine equipment.

Now we'll move onto the interior of the bag.

Main Interior Section

My favourite thing about this bag is how it opens. It's designed to open to the side like a book unlike most camera backpacks which open towards you. I keep all my bits and bobs organised on the left hand side (the back of the bag) in the various pockets

Adjustable Dividers

Adjustable dividers are pretty self explanatory but they are great for organising kit into groups. I group my small Sony M10 with the Oaka Mini Verdi's in a seperate section away from the Rode Lav Mics.

Organisation Pockets

I've labelled some of my pockets on the inside with gaff tape so it's easy for me to know where everything is. It also helps when you're on set and you need someone to grab something for you. For example, you need a fresh SD card, it's straightforward to see where you'll grab it from.

60/40 Partition

The 60/40 partition is a great feature for travelling and hiking. When I hike, I keep most of my food, jacket and bits in here.

If I want to get to stuff without opening the main compartment (potentially showing off my kit to theives) I will store stuff in the top 40% section. The other cool thing about this 60/40 partition is that it's removable. If you want to make use of the whole bag and treat it a bit like a suitcase, you can.

Cons of the bag

It can get heavy. It's a lightweight bag as far as camera bags go. Weighing in at 2.24 kg it's not too bad when you don't over pack it. But I've had the bag stuffed with batteries, cameras, a laptop and my recording equiment which sometimes brings it close to 10 -12 kg+. So it can be hefty.

What I mainly use it for

This bags main use is for packing my mid side setup or a bigger rig. What i currently have in it is the Radius Mini Alto 115 or 180 blimp, it fits nicely in the lower portion on the bag. Along with my headphones, Zoom F6, Sony M10, Oaka Mini Verdi Mics & Tellus, Rode Wireless Pro and some spare batteries.

If I don't have anything stored in the top portion of the bag I'll use it to store the Zoom F6 and headphones when I'm actually out recording as apposed to transporting the kit.

This makes setup time for recordings super quick. I pop my tripod on the ground with the blimp then I place my backpack next to it. Then its as simple as connecting the XLR cable and you're good to go! It's also a bit comfier to carry as the weight of the bag is now distributed higher up your back (kinda in the centre).

If you would like to purchase the backpack, head on over to Evoc Sports.com