Moment Strohl Mountain Light Backpack Review: A 45 Liter Pack Built for Photographers Who Hike

Introduction

The Moment Strohl Mountain Light Backpack is a 45 liter pack designed for the backpacking photographer. It was developed in collaboration with outdoor photographer Alex Strohl, and the result mixes the load-carrying structure of a hiking pack with the access and protection that camera gear demands.

That combination matters because most daypacks run out of room once a full kit goes in, while most backpacking packs carry awkwardly unless they are filled almost to capacity. This pack sits in between, and the details below explain where that balance works well and where it does not.

Who This Backpack Is For

This is a pack for someone who hikes with a camera body, lenses, a tripod, and the usual trail gear, and who wants all of that to carry like a proper backpack rather than a camera bag with straps.

It also works as a travel option. On a flight, it can serve as a carry-on or personal item that keeps camera equipment with you instead of in checked luggage, which is one of the more practical uses for a pack of this size.

The 45 liter volume is the key figure. It is enough for a day hike with a full camera kit, and it is a reasonable single overnight option when the camera gear is part of the load. It is not aimed at long multi-day trips.

Main Strengths: Carrying Comfort and Camera Access

Weight and structure come first. The pack weighs 2 pounds 6 ounces, and the removable top lid takes 4 ounces off that figure while a removable hip belt pocket takes off another ounce, bringing a stripped-down build to 2 pounds 1 ounce.

The back panel is molded and well cushioned, and the hip belt and shoulder straps are wide enough to stay comfortable without adding the bulk of a heavily padded harness. Load lifters are included, which is not always the case on packs designed around photography.

For camera work, the standout feature is the loops on the left side of the hip belt. They accept a clip-on camera carrier, so the camera rides on the hip instead of hanging from a shoulder strap. That keeps weight off the shoulder and allows a fast draw when something worth shooting appears without much warning.

The two shoulder strap mesh pockets are generous and stretchy enough for a phone and a compact gimbal camera, which covers the gear most people want within arm’s reach.

Hydration, Gear Attachment, and Everyday Use

There is an internal hydration sleeve with ports on the outside for routing a tube. That setup works well on group hikes where stopping to reach for a bottle is inconvenient.

One caution applies to any pack carrying both water and electronics. If a bladder goes in alongside camera equipment, use waterproofing inside the pack or be confident the bladder will not leak. Water and camera bodies do not mix well.

Elsewhere the pack covers the standard backpacking basics. There are attachment loops for items such as an ice axe, a large outer mesh pocket for rain gear or anything needed quickly, and a decent hip belt pocket on the right side, though hip belt pockets can always be a little bigger. The tripod pockets deserve a mention: they are tall, hold real volume, and have a strap above them to keep a top-heavy tripod from tipping out.

Things to Consider Before Buying

The top closure uses a hook rather than a standard buckle. It should hold up well over time, but it takes more dexterity to open and close, which is noticeable with cold hands or gloves on.

Volume is the second consideration. At 45 liters, a multi-night trip with a camera kit, a synthetic sleeping bag, a cook set, and several days of food gets tight. Leaving the top unrolled and stacking gear to the drawstring adds roughly 10 liters, but that leaves a larger opening at the top of the pack that does not cinch fully closed.

Water resistance is the third point. The Cordura fabric is listed as waterproof and the pack is seam taped, but after a long day of rain, water was found inside, including in closed hip belt pockets. That may be specific to one unit, but it is a good argument for packing camera gear in waterproof protection regardless of what a pack claims.

Buying Advice: Sizes, Colors, and Add-Ons

The pack comes in three color schemes, black, blue, and yellow, and in two sizes, medium and large. Pricing moves around between roughly $200 and $220 depending on size and color, and the two camera add-ons are around $49 each.

The hip belt camera pouch adds protection for the camera but weighs an extra 10.5 ounces, and because it has to be unzipped, it slows down access for anything spontaneous. The internal camera insert uses velcro dividers, slides into the bottom of the pack, and is reachable from the back panel, with a small zipper inside the flap for cables. It adds the same 10.5 ounces and suits travel or trips where the pack comes off at a location and the camera comes out deliberately.

For most day hikes and single overnights with a full camera kit, the pack works well as it comes, with a clip-on hip carrier for the camera and no insert needed.

Conclusion

The Moment Strohl Mountain Light Backpack is a lightweight, durable option that carries a load well and solves the camera access problem more thoughtfully than most hiking packs. The hook closure, the 45 liter ceiling for longer trips, and the water resistance question are the trade-offs to accept going in. For day hikes, camera-heavy overnights, and travel where the kit stays with you, it is a sensible choice.