In summary
The Zkin Yeti camera backpack could meet the needs of most photographers who want a well-constructed weatherproof backpack with traditional styling. It’s best suited to those who carry a relatively modest camera kit.
It fits a pro-sumer DSLR camera with a standard zoom lens (24-70mm or 24-105mm for a full frame camera or 18-135mm/18-200mm for a cropped-sensor model) plus up to three additional lenses, depending on the size of the camera and lenses. You could replace one or more lenses with an external flashgun.
If you’re using a mirrorless kit, you should be able to pack in a second camera body, probably without an attached lens. With M4/3 gear, there’s enough space for a couple of bodies plus three to five lenses (depending on their sizes) and there may still be space to spare. There’s a dedicated sleeve behind the camera compartment for storing a 13-inch laptop and a strap that secures a compact tripod.
The tough, splashproof nylon from which this pack is made will withstand quite heavy rain and blown spray and the pull-up rain cover should keep dampness out of the zippers and flap closures. Most compartments are easily accessed via zippers or press-stud fasteners at the ends of the leather straps.
While many backpacks are uncomfortable for female photographers, we found the Zkin Yeti to be better than the average backpack.
With its retro styling and fabrics that aren’t typical of a camera bag, the Zkin Yeti is a good looking bag and is solidly built.
On the downside it takes to adjust the straps, particularly the chest strap. Having to thread it back and forth through the buckle each time you fit the pack and take it off may cause the strap ends to fray over time.
The lack of a waist strap is also problematic since it puts all the weight onto your shoulders. A well-designed waist strap would help to spread the load more comfortably.
Most photographers experience periodic struggles to find the perfect camera bag that can hold all the gear they use frequently. Plenty of them also want a bag that doesn’t appear obviously like a camera bag. The new Zkin Yeti camera backpack can meet both requirements ““ and also double as an everyday backpack when you don’t want to carry a lot of gear.
Full review
The Zkin Yeti backpack in the Sand Copper colour option. (Source: Zkin.)
Zkin was founded in Hong Kong in 2009 by designers, Quincy Wong and Yee Chan, who set out to produce a range of functional and fashionable camera bags. Targeted at fashion-conscious photographers, its products are sold in Japan, China, Singapore, Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, United States, United Kingdom, Germany, France and parts of Scandinavia. They have been available in Australia since December 2014.
Who’s it For?
The Zkin Yeti camera backpack could meet the needs of most photographers who want a well-constructed weatherproof backpack with traditional styling. It’s best suited to those who carry a relatively modest camera kit.
The main compartment of the Zkin Yeti backpack packed with a DSLR camera with attached lens, two additional lenses and a flashgun. (Source: Zkin.)
It fits a pro-sumer DSLR camera with a standard zoom lens (24-70mm or 24-105mm for a full frame camera or 18-135mm/18-200mm for a cropped-sensor model) plus up to three additional lenses, depending on the size of the camera and lenses. You could replace one or more lenses with an external flashgun.
If you’re using a mirrorless kit, you should be able to pack in a second camera body, probably without an attached lens. With M4/3 gear, there’s enough space for a couple of bodies plus three to five lenses (depending on their sizes) and there may still be space to spare. There’s a dedicated sleeve behind the camera compartment for storing a 13-inch laptop and a strap that secures a compact tripod.
This illustration shows the water-resistance properties of the splashproof nylon fabric from which the bag is made. One of the brass and zinc alloy snap fasteners can also bee seen opened at the end of the leather strap. (Source: Zkin.)
The tough, splashproof nylon from which this pack is made will withstand quite heavy rain and blown spray and the pull-up rain cover should keep dampness out of the zippers and flap closures. Most compartments are easily accessed via zippers or press-stud fasteners at the ends of the leather straps.
Design and Construction
Designed to be worn as a backpack, the Zkin Yeti has padded shoulder straps Webbing straps attached to the lower corners of the back panel pass up through dual-slot buckles attached to the shoulder straps, which allow their length to be adjusted. The seemingly ‘natural’ mesh webbing fits more tightly in the adjustment buckles than the synthetic straps on cheaper backpacks. This means they take longer to adjust.
Side views of the Zkin Yeti backpack. (Source: Zkin.)
There’s no waist band but a webbing chest strap is provided with a double-D loop that is fixed onto the shoulder strap on the right side. This, too, takes a while to adjust and you have to pull the strap out whenever you take the pack off.
The inner side of the Zkin Yeti backpack showing the shoulder straps and padding plus the webbing chest strap. (Source: Zkin.)
The back panel is thickly padded and has a woven fabric covering that feels soft and comfortable against the body. The same fabric lines the shoulder straps. Between the padded back panel and the main compartments is a dedicated laptop sleeve that is accessed via a zipper next to the seam on the right hand side of the pack.
This illustration shows the location of the laptop sleeve. (Source: Zkin.)
The pack is divided into two compartments: an upper one for holding personal items and a lower one for camera gear. They are separated by a removable divider that attaches via Velcro tabs that hold it firmly in place.
The upper compartment is accessed by lifting the generous hood-like cover. It has two drawstring closures, one pulling in the fabric lining that extends for about 14 cm upwards of the main rucksack body and the other a thin leather strap that passes through eyelets around the body’s top.
The top compartment of the Zkin Yeti backpack can be used for personal items. (Source: Zkin.)
The hood is secured by two leather straps that are anchored to the body of the pack but attached to the hood by large brass and zinc alloy press-studs. A zipper on the right side of the compartment provides direct access to its contents, while a webbing strap on the opposite side provides a tethering point for a compact tripod.
Side view of the Zkin Yeti backpack showing the rain cover partially pulled up and the tripod strap. (Source: Zkin.)
The lower compartment is fitted with padded dividers, two of them L-shaped and the remaining three small rectangles that fit between them. Velcro closures attach them to the soft knit fabric lining the pack. There’s also a ribbon strap with Velcro pads at each end, which can be used to pull the ends of the longer dividers inwards.
The opening on the right hand side of the Zkin Yeti backpack which allows direct access to the equipment inside. (Source: Zkin.)
The main access to the lower compartment is via a U-shaped flap with a zipper closure on the front panel. U-shaped flaps with zippered closures provide additional access points on either side panel. A deep pocket that covers most of the front panel flap provides additional storage for small items like batteries, memory cards and personal items.
Tucked into the base of the pack is a compartment containing the rain cover, which pulls up over the front of the pack until its edge reaches the anchor points for the shoulder straps. It’s large enough to provide plenty of extra protection, particularly from rain. The compartment has a zip closure that prevents dust and moisture getting in when the cover isn’t needed.
The base of the pack is leather with a similar colour and thickness to the leather straps. A double layer runs two thirds of the way across the base to provide a flat pocket with a Velcro closure, which could be used for holding maps.
In Use
With some adjustment of the dividers, it was easy to fit a Canon EOS 5D Mark II camera with 24-105mm lens attached along with an EF 70-300mm F/4.5-5.6 DO lens into the main compartment and there was space left over for an additional DSLR body without a lens or a large flashgun. When we swapped to our CSC equipment, there was plenty of space for an Olympus OM-D E-M1 camera with 14-40mm f/2.8 Pro lens attached plus an OM-D E-M5 with a 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 EZ lens attached. Around them we were able to pack in M.Zuiko Digital ED 75-300mm f/4.8-6.7 II and M.Zuiko Digital ED 40-150mm f/4.0-5.6 R lenses.
Our Nexus 6 tablet slipped easily into the laptop slot with room to spare. The front pocket space was more than adequate for holding memory cards, spare batteries and a battery charger and cables. You can also fit in a camera instruction manual and/or a small guidebook. It would have been nice to have a separate, easily-accessed, pocket for a smart-phone but there was enough room to slip that into the front or top pocket with the other items.
The top compartment was able to accommodate a lightweight jacket, hat, sunglasses, wallet, lunch box, small water bottle and tube of sunscreen. The tripod strap was able to secure our Sirui T-025X carbon fibre tripod (with head attached) in its travel bag, although it would have been nice to have some way to keep the bottom of the tripod bag from moving about while we were walking.
Conclusion
While many backpacks are uncomfortable for female photographers, we found the Zkin Yeti to be better than the average backpack, although not as comfortable as Lowepro’s Slingshot bags. The Zkin Yeti is also considerably more expensive than Lowepro bags with similar capacities, like the Lowepro Slingshot Edge 250 bag we reviewed in August 2015. It’s easier to access the equipment in the Lowepro bags and they provide more options for adding additional storage via belt packs and piouches.
With its retro styling and fabrics that aren’t typical of a camera bag, the Zkin Yeti is a better looking bag than the Lowepro alternatives. It also appears to be slightly more solidly built. We’re not sure how long it would take for the webbing straps to start looking shabby and the mesh to pull threads. However, the overall style could probably accommodate a few hints of wear and tear before it lost its trendy appeal.
Our main problems with this bag are the time it takes to adjust the straps, particularly the chest strap. Having to thread it back and forth through the buckle each time you fit the pack and take it off will probably cause the strap ends to fray over time.
The lack of a waist strap is also problematic since it puts all the weight onto your shoulders. A well-designed waist strap would help to spread the load more comfortably.
We have few issues with the amount of gear that can be packed into this bag, which should be adequate for most amateur photographers’ day trips. For sports and wildlife shooters, there’s enough space for a moderately long telephoto lens, although not a fast, professional one with a focal length of 300mm or more. Consequently, it is likely to be inadequate for most professional shooters.
Although it can’t match a hard case, the Zkin Yeti also provides a decent level of protection. It is very well padded and, although we didn’t expose the bag to rain, we feel it should provide adequate safeguards against impact shock and environmental dust and moisture for most outdoor photographers.
Local pricing is also very competitive, making it cheaper to buy this bag in Australia than importing it from a US-based re-seller. It can be ordered directly from the local website and is also carried by a number of nation-wide photographic specialist retailers.
SPECS
Construction: Water/splash-proof nylon with thick cotton inner layer, leather straps, brass and zinc alloy fastenings
Designed for: One DSLR or CSC camera with mid-range zoom lens attached, two extra lenses or lens and flash, 13-inch laptop computer, compact tripod, personal gear (smartphone, headphones, sunglasses, wallet, keys. etc.)
External dimensions (wxdxh): 330 x 510 x 350 mm
Internal dimensions (wxdxh): 260 x 290 x 155 mm
Weight: 2.0 kg
Colour options: Army Green, Olive Black, Charcoal Grey and Sand Copper
Features: Padded shoulder straps and removable inner divider, 5 customisable compartments, zips on each side allow easy access to contents, dedicated laptop compartment, rain cover in base, leather straps with quick-release buckles, quick-release tripod mount.
Rating
RRP: AU$449; US$368
- Construction: 9.0
- Design: 8.4
- Versatility: 8.5
- Value for money: 8.2