The adventure starts in the most extreme place in the world that is the Chilean Patagonia, which has the third natural reserve of fresh water of the planet. In the Campos de Hielo Sur (Southern Patagonian Ice Field) everything you see is an experience, its wild paths, fierce weather and unique landscapes. This journey is a milestone in my career as a photographer and as a person because being able to reach this place, it is necessary to be trained in extreme environments, practice your ice skills, glacier progression, rescue techniques, among others. After having said all of this, it is important to make a trip for several days to the most beautiful places of the planet as well as the most difficult ones. Every trip starts with a 3-hour flight to arrive to the only airport of the zone. Then, driving in a 4x4 car for a couple of days and don’t stop there but continuing by boat for another extra hours until we get to the landing point, where after three and a half days non-stop, eventually, we are at the beginning of this experience where kilometers and kilometers of ice is seen, always supported by local tour guides, who will be our safeguards, during this harsh journey.
Every trip to the Patagonia is challenging, but to go to the Southern Patagonian Ice Field is like getting into the wolf’s mouth because you won’t be sure if you are coming back. One of the biggest challenges was feeling exhausted physically and the extreme weather because you are responsible for carrying the total weight of your belongings, cameras, clothing, sleeping bag, food, etc. For that reason, I prepared myself in advance by training hard with overload as much as I could, also I prepared my technical equipment with my f-stop Shinn backpack with extra batteries, carbon fiber tripod, versatile lenses because it has an ideal size that resists efficiently against snow, rain, ice by keeping my photographic equipment in perfect conditions and everything necessary for an adventure like this, however, if you feel like the most prepared person, you realize that it is not enough or you forgot something, or something comes out suddenly or it is just the weather and the ice that reminds you don’t feel like home.
One night in the middle of the ice, a storm broke over us and the wind hit our dome house where we were staying, the cold felt all over our bodies because when it’s windy, the temperature goes down to 10°C, none of our sleeping bags kept us warm enough to tolerate the cold air and wind. The night felt endless in our bodies, we waited the wind calmed down its fury against us. The cold air along with the wind took the water from our skin, we dehydrated quickly and because of that our skin cracked while the night was endless for going to sleep. During this trip, I discovered new techniques to protect myself and develop my work efficiently. For example, I became minimalist about equipment and carrying weight so that you don’t overload your backpack or solving simple problems because if you don’t control them on time, they can become catastrophic like injured feet after walking a distance of 50 kilometers which is the same as having a wound exposed to air or any other movement like walking on millenary ice that can end up with a person falling into a crack that will never go out.
One of the best moments of this trip was being able to walk freely kilometers and kilometers of millenary ice, contemplate the purity of the landscape surroundings, drinking pure, crystal clear and clean water extracted from ice, feeling how a crack is opened under your feet, sleeping while you look up the starry sky without any light even the tiniest star of the firmament, having peace and time to take pictures of the scenery that very people has been allowed to glance and enjoy it, walking on the glaciers that will support life on the planet, however, it is worth noting that glaciers are retreating almost 1000 m per year, without any ice recovery, even so, it was mesmerizing to see kilometers and kilometers of ice that were surrounding us completely that became our base to walk, sleep and eat. We saw glacier cracks and walls in front of us that were just ice and nobody have never walked on before, we got filled with natural energy. In the Patagonian culture, food is very important, it means get together to drink mate, have a good conversation, eat fried pastries, roast meat and sharing stories. I was lucky to participate in this tradition, eating around a bonfire with wood from local forest, eating roasted meat from animals fed without any chemicals, freshly ground vegetables and eating fried pastries while they are hot.
For this excursion, it is always advisable to have a full understanding of the potential environments to face, you need to be prepared physically, mentally and technically to survive in extreme environment conditions that might be there such as storms, cold air, lack of sleep or lack of food because if you are not prepared enough, you start loosing control of your mental and physical abilities which are the main cause of accidents and deaths in extreme places like Southern Patagonian Ice Field. One of the tricks I used was putting inside my backpack a double cover for the ICU where I had my camera equipment and above it putting all my clothes and my sleeping bag in order to avoid my batteries running down early. Another trick was carrying a duct tape that can fix everything and it is useful for emergencies to patch wounds, cuts and clothes when an accident occurs during the trip, besides sleeping as much as you can because the lack of sleep causes small errors that can end up in bad accidents.
I am a photographer dedicated to live my life to the extreme in every adventure I go, experiencing it firsthand. I love telling the story from the inside as a narrator and adventurous person. If the adventure is at the the coldest place of the planet, I will be there doing what I love, generally you can find me in deserts, mountains, oceans, rivers or glaciers, everywhere someone is practicing a extreme sport, that’s where my home is, my photographic studio, my favorite place of the planet. Now, I hope traveling to the Sahara Desert to cross it again by rally driving for several weeks inside the endless dunar field and sand, but first, I will go to the glaciers of the Llaima Volcano in Chile to live a new adventure and see their unceasing cracks and stormy weather. You can check out my work and my excursions on my Instagram account @paolophotojournalist, currently I find myself visiting most of the Patagonia and looking for the best sportsmen and the most beautiful landscape to shoot.
This trip took place in the Aysen Region, in the extreme south of Chile, specifically in the Southern Patagonian Ice Field, starting on January 05th, 2021 until January 25th, 2021. For this adventure, I travelled with my f-stop Shinn 80L backpack, one of the best mountain backpacks and having the Pro XL ICU, I reduced my photographic equipment with two cameras, three lenses and one drone. I chose this versatile and resistant backpack for its suitable capacity for the most severe environments, I needed to have enough space to carry my mountain clothing, rain clothes, food, sleeping bag, security equipment, climbing ropes, etc. Along with that, this backpack would be tied up, dragged over and transported without rest during this excursion. This backpack was created to give its utmost in the most intense environments, all this gear was a gift from Cuarto Digital, a photographic shop located in Chile that are responsible for bringing this brand to South America, which is very important because in Chile there are great extreme outdoor photographers and they need the best equipment for their adventures.
Paolo Avila is a person who loves simple things, born in Chile, country of natural contrasts, high-performance athlete, he is specialized in photography, extreme sports and also a survival expert. Nowadays, his life is divided by two suitcases, one for his clothes and the other one for his cameras. His backyard is the airport and his home is where no one can go, inhospitable deserts, giant glaciers, enormous mountains and rough rivers. He is passionate about living to the limit and capture the moment, experiencing adventures and taking photos firsthand. He loves feeling the adrenaline running through his body while he is descending waterfalls or covering up in the snow to survive. Having this lifestyle, Paolo is sponsored by different brands such as Lippi, Nikon, Cuarto Digital and Stanley that motivate him to keep living to the limit and he has been called to be part of the greatest teams created by Restart, which have worked in the most difficult events of the planet.
f-stop backpacks are designed to carry and protect its contents from rigorous mountain terrain, airborne elements, and moisture. If you are doing battle with these elements, they can cause damage to your bag. Therefore, maintenance is required to ensure your bag is in optimal performing condition. There are simple steps you can take to ensure your pack has a long life, while still doing its job in the field.
Below is a simple guide users can follow to help keep your pack in an optimally fresh and functional condition.
When cleaning your f-stop backpack you should never use abrasive pads, detergents, or a washing machine. Those cleaning tools can cause damage to the material and its water resistant coating. Hand washing with mild hand soap in warm water is the best method to keep your backpack shell materials clean and functional.
Follow these simple steps:
1. Use a non-abrasive soft sponge to hand wash contaminated areas of the product.
2. Only wash dirty areas as the unnecessarily brushing of clean areas can remove DWR* surface coatings
3. For more difficult stains and filth we suggest Nikwax® Tech Wash (or similar products). Again hand wash with a sponge and be sure to read the product directions for detailed cleaning use.
4. It is best to avoid any unnecessary agitation with the outer shell DWR and Advanta™ undercoating. Agitating either surface can reduce water-repellency
5. Optionally, users can also clean SR buckles, ladder locks, zipper heads and Hypalon® areas. Airborne elements and ground dirt can build up on the components. In general these items are very durable but it does not hurt to take a fine soft brush (tooth brush) to clean out the corners for greater performance and longevity.
6. When hand cleaning is complete hang dry at a neutral room temperature. Be sure all zippers are open and air is flowing through the bag. Using a circulating fan on a low setting can aid in the drying process.
It is best to store hang your backpack in well-ventilated area that has a neutral room temperature. A damp basement is the worst place to store your backpack and should be avoided if possible. Airflow is incredibly important when not in use to allow your backpack to breath and avoid moisture build up.
If you do not use your pack daily - and even if you do, we recommend removing all the contents after every use. Leaving any items in the pack reduces the bags ability to breathe and resist moisture build up.
Following the simple steps below will help keep you and your backpack happy.
1. Empty your backpack and clear out all pockets. Be sure to double check for sandwiches and wrappers hiding in the corner of the pockets!
2. Do a hand cleaning of the shell and components - if required.
3. Unzip and open all pockets and access points. Clean out any contamination from inside the pockets.
4 Leave pockets and zippers open and hang dry in a well-ventilated area. (Air circulation through the product is recommended and required for long-term storage)
DWR and Advanta™
DWR or Durable Water Repellant, is a coating applied to the outer shell of a textile. DWR adds water-resistance by sealing the fabrics weave. It causes water to bead into droplets and run off the shell instead of building up and penetrating into the material.
All f-stop bags use DWR treated fabrics. Over time and depending on use- the coating can wear and may eventually need to be re-treated. To bring new life to your exterior shell material, we recommend using waterproofing DWR treatment like Nikwax® Tent and Gear Solar Proof. When re-treating your DWR coating- follow the directions provided by the product you chose to use.
Advanta™ (featured in the 2015 Mountain Series) is a specially developed film that is laminated to the underside of the Nylon shell textile (DWR coatings exist on the exterior). The film lamination actually creates a waterproof barrier preventing any water from penetrating the Nylon surface. It is important to note the difference between Water Proof and Water Resistant. ‘Resistant’ generally is the first layer of protection but can be penetrated in consistent rain fall or soaking. ‘Water Proof’ actually stops water from entering through the Nylon. f-stop uses both for the 2015 Mountain Series as means to protect the contents of your bag.
As a result is it very important to exercise care if you are cleaning the inside of your pack. On Mountain Series products the Advanta™ laminate is white and very obvious to the eye. Please take extra care if cleaning the film. Again do not use detergents, strong soaps, and avoid heated storage. Always avoid using cleaners with alcohol or ammonia when cleaning your backpack. These items can easily remove the protective coatings.
All f-stop bags use Industry Leading zippers. While these are widely recognized as the best zippers available, they are not 100% invincible. Proper care of zippers will not only extend the life of the zipper, but also for the life of the backpack.
Most zippers on our packs have added aids to provide more efficient usability such zipper protection and pull-tabs. Hypalon® zipper garages, Hypalon® zipper pull-tabs and slider pull cords all aid to the user experience.
If it starts to rain - stop and tuck the zippers under the zipper garages. Use the zipper pull tabs to get a straight line when zipping (one hand on the pull the other on the zipper - this helps create a straighter zip path). Pull cords help sooth out kinks/corners and provide easy locating and grip of a zipper.
Below are some precautionary tips for keeping your zippers healthy, smooth and functional.
1. Operate zipper in a calm smooth manner for best results.
2. Avoid awkward jerk motions when closing or opening zippers (use the Hypalon® zipper pull tabs).
3. Keep zipper track in a straight line when operating if possible.
4. Do not over pack your bag at the zipper track areas (avoid sharp bends in zipper track - especially the PU zippers).
5. Do not store product with any weight placed on the zipper areas.
6. Tuck zippers in 'zipper garages' for best water protection.
In point ‘4’ we mention ‘PU’ zippers, These are commonly referred to as Waterproof - but do not be fooled they are not. They follow the same Water Resistant VS waterproof story mentioned in the DWR/Avanta™ treatment section. PU zippers are very water resistant and do a great job keeping elements out - on the PU surface. You still need to take care around the seams (if no storm flap) and also use the zipper garages to keep out water. Where two zipper sliders meet there will always be a space between them potentially allowing elements to pass, but if you cover that space with the zipper garage, you will get much better protection.
Industry Leading zipper manufacturer says: “Trying to forcibly close a zipper in a bag that has been overfilled will cause an excess load on the elements. This stress may cause the elements to slip out from the tape. This is a fatal problem with a zipper. The zipper should be closed only after bringing the two element's sides near each other so that the slider can move more easily.”
This simply means if you force your zippers you may loose or damage the elements (teeth) and your zipper will become unusable. Please take caution and do not force or over stuff your pack.
There are numerous ways to keep your zipper clean and smooth, from wax to non-tinted lip balms. But since we solely use Industry Leading zippers and we will adhere to their advice.
“The elements' gears can be damaged by forcing a slider that does not open or close smoothly. Apply paraffin or the lubricating spray "ZIPPYCOOL®" to the front and back side of the elements and move the slider up and down several times to work in the lubricant and make the slider work smoothly.” - Industry Leading zipper manufacturer
As mentioned, there are numerous ways to keep your zipper smooth and you can do a search online for numerous alternatives- although we recommend sticking to Industry Leading zipper manufacturer advice.
Ski boots love to smash zipper pull cord ‘clips’ - the plastic end piece. If you do experience an issue with a lost or damaged pull cord, please contact customer service and we will do our best to address the problem.
In general replacing the clip requires a box cutter and new clip. Simply separate the two plastic parts of the clip (at the ‘seam’) and replace.
There are a variety of deodorizers available that can be used for the padded areas of your bag. Often times sweat will lead to fungal growth and odors if your bag is not properly stored or ventilated. If you’re ok with a strong minty smell (which will eventually go away), then tea tree oil may be an effective solution. Tea tree oil is incredibly potent with a powerful natural scent and antibacterial/antifungal properties. Read on for suggestions of how to use it for treating smells or odors in the back panel and shoulder straps.
(Caution – Avoid eye contact as it can cause irritation)
1. This first step will come down to personal preference as the concentration can be varied. To start, add 5 - 10 drops of tea tree oil to one cup of warm water. Then add it to a spray bottle and give it a good shake to mix
2. Spray the affected area and wipe with a clean damp cloth
3. Dry in a ventilated area
4. If the odor remains, increase the concentration and spray more generously to the affected area before wiping with a damp cloth.
News of Nikon acquiring RED certainly sent a few shock waves through the photography and cinematography circles last week. Nikon posted a press release on their website. Red President Jarred Land shared the following in a press release on his Facebook page:
This acquisition marks a significant milestone for Nikon, melding its rich heritage in professional and consumer imaging with RED’s innovative prowess. Together, Nikon and RED are poised to redefine the professional digital cinema camera market, promising an exciting future of product development that will continue to push the boundaries of what is possible in film and video production.
Who knows what the future holds for both of these giants of the visual storyteller world. But rest assured that whether you use Nikon or RED camera systems to capture your visual stories, our camera bags carry both!
Our Mountain Series camera bags and backpacks are used by countless visual storytellers around the world. They have been used by various production crews to carry their valuable storytelling tools from location to location while working for major outlets such as Netflix, Disney+, National Geographic and much more!
Whether you are a Nikon shooter or a RED user, we have you covered. Our Tilopa 50L DuraDiamond® and our Shinn 80L DuraDiamond® outdoor adventure camera backpacks are the perfect tool to keep your Nikon and Red systems safe and protected.
We caught up with f-stop Ambassador and friend Nick Leavesley to get his take on the news of Nikon acquiring Red. We also get into his insights into his hybrid Nikon and Red camera setups and why he trusts the Tilopa and Shinn camera bags to keep his gear safe.
Nick had this to say:
Having shot with both Nikon and RED for over 12 years, I’m stoked to see what the two brands can create together. No matter where I go I can guarantee that one or both a Nikon and RED come with me. The Shinn 80 liter is my chosen pack as it allows me to take not only a RED V-Raptor and my RED Monstro in a Master Cine Camera Insert with my chosen lenses, accessories and batteries. However now with DSMC 3 I can compress a stills and video kit in to a single f-stop Tilopa 50 liter and Pro XL Camera Insert.
My rig usually consists of a ‘trinity’ set of lenses for both Nikon Z mount and Canon RF, a Nikon Z9 and a RED V-Raptor, 7” touch screen and GDU accessories and handles for the RED alongside a gimbal and between 4-8 V-Lock mini batteries. Now with the amazing capabilities of N-RAW and RED Code RAW, the Z9 acts as the perfect B-Cam when I have to pack light as the image can be matched perfectly between both cameras. When it comes to shoots that require multiple REDs I reach for my f-stop Shinn as it allows me to pack not only a RED V-Raptor and my RED Monstro but a RED Komodo and RED Komodo-X too, not to mention all the lenses and batteries needed.
Nick Leavesley is a visual storyteller and an f-stop Ambassador. He is the Director of Photography for Beyond Content.
You can check out more of his work and connect with him at the following places:
IG - https://www.instagram.com/beyondnick
IG - https://www.instagram.com/beyondcontent
Website - https://www.beyondcontent.com
How would you carry all of your camera gear plus a lot of camping gear? You might do what f-stop Ambassador Pia Steen does when she wants to pack camera gear and camping gear. She loads up her Shinn 80L DuraDiamond® with everything from cine setups to long lenses.
“If I sometimes just need that little extra space I have it and don't need to worry”
One of Pia’s passions is landscape photography which requires a lot of planning, time, and patience. Pia is often on multiple day tours and workshops. So she needs a pack with the capacity to carry EVERYTHING for several days, including clothing, a jacket, a sleeping bag, a camping stove, food, etc. Then, when planning short hikes away from camp and plan, Pia unpacks, reorganizes and just takes the essentials for that day’s hike.
Nature has always been an important and big part of her life. Pia has used f-stop for over a decade and uses multiple Packs - each one for a different purpose! However, the Shinn is a pack she regularly chooses over her Tilopa 50L DuraDiamond® for trips or excursions. .
One of Pia's mottos to get the best light is "Better to be two hours too early than just two minutes late". She has been using f-stop for more than 10 years now and her newest addition is the Shinn 80L DuraDiamond®
Today, she brings all with her that she would need to wait for the perfect light. She pulls out her stove and boils water to make some tea while watching the day’s light develop.
“The emotionality of every moment is like a breath of life. Creating a memory from that ephemeral is a gift.”
The Shinn 80L DuraDiamond® might be designed to accommodate cinema gear, but its biggest strength is its versatility, which Pia takes full advantage of. She utilizes the Shinn’s spacious capacity and all-day comfort on her multi-day hikes and workshops. "Better to be two hours too early, than just two minutes late" she laughs.
Often running multi-day tours and workshops, Pia needs a pack with the capacity to carry everything for several days. This often includes a change of clothing, a jacket, a sleeping bag, a camping stove, and food, all packed alongside her photography gear.
For her multi-day trips or Landscape Photography where she is expecting to carry more than usual, she is using the Shinn 80L Duradiamond® to give her enough space for a sleeping bag, sleeping pad, Bivy Tent, food, etc.
On this occasion she used the Shinn 80 L along with the Slope Medium Camera Insert which gives her additional room to fill with camping Gear from Stove, Gas, and cups in her Packing Cell Kit. Aside from this, she brought a small box of Cookies (or other snacks) Tripod ( attached to the front of the pack with Gatekeepers), Gloves, a Down Jacket, Memory Cards, a Card Reader, a Cleaning Kit, Batteries and an f-stop Accessory Pouch Small and Accessory Pouch Medium.
Whether you pack a Shinn 80L DuraDiamond® like Pia or a smaller Mountain Series backpack, you will find multiple attachment points across the entire Mountain Series range. One of the things that Pia loves about her Shinn and our other Mountain Series packs is the multiple attachment points, which can be used to carry and attach larger items such as sleeping bags and tents to the packs.
Join us as our Ambassadors share tips and tricks they have learned over years of traveling, with Life on the Dāsh, and check out how fellow Ambassadors get organized.
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