A few weeks ago I got alerted by f-stop gear of a new backpack coming out, the Loka UL. I was always intrigued by the original Loka but never bought it because I didn't think I needed it. Now that my daughter is starting to walk around and becoming more active I decided to prepare myself and get a pack that I could carry some camera gear in but also have adequate amount of room for other essentials. I placed an order for the Loka UL and got it in. The first thing that I noticed was how light it was. I did note that f-stop did make some adjustments and cuts to both lower the cost and more importantly to lower the weight of the bag. Out of curiosity I also ordered the regular Loka as well a few days later to test and I would see which of the two I would keep.
I've decided to keep the regular Loka for myself. There are few reasons for this and I'll attach some pictures to show why. The Loka UL to save weight I believe used the bag material for the entire bag, from top to bottom while the regular Loka has a rubberized material for the bottom of the bag. This can affect if you were to place the bag down on a wet surface and whether or not water will seep into the bottom of the bag. The Loka UL has a very simple back padding while the Loka has a thicker, more comfortable padding. And the main reason that I picked the regular Loka is that the hip support snaps in the center. This is important because if you were to wear the bag but not buckle in the hip support, the straps would not hang down too low but on the Loka UL the hip support buckle is off to the far left side, which means if you don't secure it fully the strap will dangle and become a nuisance perhaps when you're walking. I asked my wife too and she said that the Loka in black is very sleek while the Loka UL with the powder blue accents is a little too loud, it'll work if you're using the back on the mountains or while skiing perhaps but if you're just wearing it around it might be too loud.
Don't get me wrong the UL is a very nice bag, the biggest two oversights for me are the bottom of the pack which is not rubberized and the center buckle is the big one. Sometimes I want to carry the pack but not have to fully buckle in. Having the strap drag or dangle behind my right leg would become too much of a pain. It's very nicely made and you can definately tell the weight difference (the UL is more than 1 lb lighter). If the price difference was bigger and you were on a budget then the UL would make sense, but for only $30 more, if you can tolerate the extra 1lb which I can since I use an a7, I would pick the regular Loka.
DSC00068 Very simple side of the Loka UL
DSC00075 Somewhat more secure side of the Loka
DSC00071 Bottom of the UL which may allow water to seep in
DSC00076 Rubberized bottom of the Loka
DSC00072 very simple back pad of the UL
DSC00077 slightly better padded back of the Loka
DSC00073 And the dealbreaker for me, the long strap unbuckled of the UL
DSC00078 vs the shorter buckle of the Loka
I've decided to keep the regular Loka for myself. There are few reasons for this and I'll attach some pictures to show why. The Loka UL to save weight I believe used the bag material for the entire bag, from top to bottom while the regular Loka has a rubberized material for the bottom of the bag. This can affect if you were to place the bag down on a wet surface and whether or not water will seep into the bottom of the bag. The Loka UL has a very simple back padding while the Loka has a thicker, more comfortable padding. And the main reason that I picked the regular Loka is that the hip support snaps in the center. This is important because if you were to wear the bag but not buckle in the hip support, the straps would not hang down too low but on the Loka UL the hip support buckle is off to the far left side, which means if you don't secure it fully the strap will dangle and become a nuisance perhaps when you're walking. I asked my wife too and she said that the Loka in black is very sleek while the Loka UL with the powder blue accents is a little too loud, it'll work if you're using the back on the mountains or while skiing perhaps but if you're just wearing it around it might be too loud.
Don't get me wrong the UL is a very nice bag, the biggest two oversights for me are the bottom of the pack which is not rubberized and the center buckle is the big one. Sometimes I want to carry the pack but not have to fully buckle in. Having the strap drag or dangle behind my right leg would become too much of a pain. It's very nicely made and you can definately tell the weight difference (the UL is more than 1 lb lighter). If the price difference was bigger and you were on a budget then the UL would make sense, but for only $30 more, if you can tolerate the extra 1lb which I can since I use an a7, I would pick the regular Loka.
Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)
Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)
Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)
Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)
Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)
Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)
Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)
Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)
