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Product Review: Clik Elite Large Hiker Camera Bag

I bought the Clik Elite Large Hiker Camera Bag last week before heading up to Goat Lake for a LONG and laborious hike. Anybody daily readers of this site know that I'm a total fanboy of the Clik Elite camera bags.  I like that they are built for rough treatment (always have rain covers, a zillion pockets, waist belts, and are built like a tank).

I already own the Clik Elite Pro camera bag, which is probably fits more gear than any other camera bag on the planet.  It's my go-to bag that I use for most shoots.  Since I like that bag so much, I decided to get the Clik Elite Large Hiker camera bag so I could take it on a 3-day backpacking trip.

I found the bag to be ergonomic, comfortable, and has a reasonably large camera compartment to bring just enough gear for photography while camping.

The trouble with the bag is that it doesn't have anywhere to strap on a sleeping bag very easily, and I couldn't get the straps for the tripod to hold my tripod in place, so I had to run to Walmart and buy some more straps to hook on the sleeping bag and tripod…. not cool.

PROS:

  • Has TONS of pockets all over the place.  Trust me… you don't have enough little gadgets to fill the pockets no matter how hard you try.
  • The camera compartment fits a pro-size DSLR with battery grip and a wide-angle lens attached with hood facing forward.
  • Enough other compartments to fit a lens like a 28-300, a fisheye, or other standard lens sizes.  One other compartment that can BARELY fit a Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8 with lens hood reversed if you take out one layer of padding on the bottom.
  • Rain cover (A necessity for hikers)
  • Place to put your water bladder or other hydration system.
  • Nice waist belt
  • Comfortable and ergonomic
Cons:
  • Ladder-fit system isn't quite tall enough.  I'm only 5'10” and I'm on the highest setting.  This is also true of my Clik Elite Pro bag, so tall people might not like these bags.  If you're average height, you'll love it.
  • Shoulder straps could use some extra padding.  This is also true on the Clik Elite Pro camera bag.
  • No place to strap on a sleeping bag very easily.
  • Pretty tough to strap on a full-weight tripod.  If you have a travel tripod, you'll be fine.
Conclusion: This is probably the best day hike camera bag ever made, but it has some limitations for use as an overnight pack.

5 thoughts on “Product Review: Clik Elite Large Hiker Camera Bag”

  1. Hey, thanks for the review! I am happy to report that all of the issues you had with this pack as an OVERNIGHT pack have been addressed on the 2012 version which will be available in Fall 2012, if not earlier. Email me if you want..
    Thanks,
    Mike

  2. I’ve looked everywhere, but I have never found a bag that was a long term hiking bag AND a camera bag. I am not sure such a thing exists at this point. This bag you found here and the Burton Focus pack are the best two I have found. The Focus is more for backcountry snowboarding, which means it has pockets and loops for poles, snow shoes, cross country skis, show shovel, ice axe, etc. Hiking you don’t find use for most of these, but they can be adapted for different purposes.

    At the end of the day, neither the pack you chose or the Burton are adequate to a prolonged hike. Maybe there’s a business opportunity there. If Mr. Blosser above me is interested in working on one, I have a lot of backcountry experience and can help with design.

  3. We’ve discovered the identical thing myself, but overcame it with perseverance and determination. You actually can accomplish anything you want in daily life if you just make a decision and stick at it.

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