Shimoda Action X40 v2 (520-130) Backpack X40 v2 - Army Green

Shimoda Action X40 v2 army green, your reliable photo partner for hiking, adventure and everyday life

With the Shimoda Action X40 v2 in army green you get a backpack that feels as if it was made for long days outside, whether you’re in alpine terrain, on a multi-day hike or simply commuting across the city with camera and laptop. 40 liters of volume, cleverly usable and surprisingly compact, ensure that you can store your complete photo gear plus outdoor equipment without the backpack looking like a closet on your back.

40 liters of volume with flexible roll-top, more space when you really need it

The Action X40 v2 starts with very everyday-friendly pack dimensions and grows with you. Thanks to the expandable roll-top access you can increase the volume by up to around 7 liters or keep it nice and slim when needed. This way the backpack adapts to your day: compact on the train in the morning, later on the hut tour with an extra jacket, drone or provisions in the top compartment.

The roll-top closes tightly, protects against rain and snow and also offers a YKK SplashGuard zipper with quick access. Especially when the weather turns and you don’t want to fumble around, you can get to your gear extremely quickly without having to open the entire backpack.

Built tough for bad weather, changing conditions and rough terrain

This backpack is clearly designed for the outdoors. The material is durable, resistant and made for rough use, from muddy forest paths to rocky trails. The construction is designed so that you can rely on it when the weather suddenly changes or you bump into rocks and scree.

Army green here is not just a color, but visually fits perfectly with outdoor and hiking scenarios: unobtrusive, not too loud, yet distinctive enough that you can find it again in the hut-shoe chaos.

Thought-out carrying system with adjustable torso height

In terms of carrying comfort you can tell that the Action X40 v2 is not just “some backpack that also works for cameras”, but was developed by people who spend hours out and about with it themselves.

The X40 offers you three different torso heights with a vertical adjustment range of about 9 cm. This allows you to fine-tune the backpack to your upper body length, whether you are rather short, tall, slim or more strongly built. The result: the backpack sits closer to the body, wobbles less and distributes the weight much more comfortably.

For particularly large or broad upper bodies there is also the option to further optimize the fit with an optional Booster Kit. This turns a “kind of fits” into a “really feels like it was made for me”.

Modular Core Unit system, camera insert as needed

Inside, the Action X40 v2 uses the modular Shimoda DSLR Core Unit system. This means: you decide how much camera equipment you want to take with you and how much padding the interior should have.

The backpack is compatible with the small, medium and large DSLR Core Units as well as with the flatter mirrorless series. This allows you, for example, to store a mirrorless camera with two or three lenses very compactly, or to safely carry a larger DSLR setup with telephoto lens, each with shock-resistant protection, without dragging along unnecessary padding and weight.

Important to know: the matching Core Unit is available separately. This keeps the backpack flexible and lets you tailor it exactly to your equipment instead of having to live with a fixed interior layout.

Side camera access, grab camera, take the shot, move on

When you’re on the move, you don’t want to empty half your backpack for every shot. That’s why the Action X40 v2 offers side camera access. You swing the backpack briefly to the front, open the side zipper and have your camera right in your hand.

Especially when hiking or ski touring this is worth its weight in gold: you don’t have to put everything down, can react spontaneously and miss fewer moments. The construction is designed so that you can easily reach the access even with a jacket and gloves.

Detachable pockets for tripod, water bottle and more

On the sides you’ll find two detachable pockets that can be used very flexibly. Typically you’ll use them for a tripod and a water bottle. But if you prefer quick access to snacks, filters, gloves or a small lens, you can move these pockets to the hip position.

This is particularly practical when you’re on the move and don’t want to stop all the time. And if you want to go ultralight or need every centimeter in your carry-on, you can simply remove the pockets completely and save weight and volume.

Comfortable, interchangeable shoulder straps with practical pockets

The shoulder straps of the Action X40 v2 are not only well padded, but also interchangeable and adjustable. This allows you to adapt them to your body shape and preferences.

Integrated are two zippered pockets that can even hold large smartphones such as an iPhone Pro Max. Alternatively, you can store a small water bottle, bars, a radio or personal small items there. Things you need all the time move directly to your shoulder, so you don’t have to rummage around in the main compartment.

Helmet holder and attachment options for skis and bulky gear

For everyone who is out with skis, bike or climbing helmet, the Action X40 v2 comes with a detachable helmet holder. Your mountaineering, ski or bike helmet can be securely attached to the outside so it doesn’t take up valuable space inside.

Several attachment straps, including particularly robust TPU compression straps, ensure that even bulky items such as skis can be stably fixed to the backpack. The TPU straps are designed for durability and will hold up even if you regularly move the fully packed backpack through demanding terrain.

Two padded compartments for laptop and tablet up to 16 inches

At the front and back of the backpack you’ll find a padded compartment for your digital companions. Both sleeves are designed for devices up to 16 inches, so you can, for example, carry a notebook and a tablet at the same time.

The dimensions of the laptop compartment are about 25.5 cm wide, 38 cm high and 2 cm deep. This makes it suitable for common 16-inch laptops. The separate compartments give you flexibility: sometimes just a laptop, sometimes tablet plus e-reader, sometimes both, depending on whether you’re on a photo trip, in everyday office use or on a mix of both.

Hidden sleeve for tracking device, discreet security when traveling

A small but very smart detail is the hidden sleeve for a personal tracking device. Here you can place, for example, an AirTag or a Tile Pro without it being immediately noticeable.

If your backpack gets lost while traveling or ends up in the wrong place, the tracker helps you determine its location and recover your gear. Especially with high-value camera and computer equipment this is a reassuring extra that you hopefully never need, but will greatly appreciate if something does go wrong.

Detachable hip belt, luggage pass-through and subtle design for the city

The Action X40 v2 is not only a pro in the mountains and on hikes, but also looks good in an urban environment. The hip belt can be removed if necessary, which makes the backpack visually slimmer and more discreet, ideal for use in the city or on business trips.

An integrated luggage pass-through allows you to simply slide the backpack over the trolley handle of your suitcase. This turns the outdoor pack into a very travel-friendly companion in no time, one that can be moved effortlessly through airports and train stations.

The combination of understated army green, clean lines and functional details ensures that the backpack doesn’t scream “pure camera backpack”. It looks more like a modern, robust daypack or travel backpack, just with far more inner values.

Internal and external dimensions, compact yet surprisingly capacious

Despite its 40 liters, the Action X40 v2 remains pleasantly compact. The external dimensions are about 30 cm wide, 53 cm high and 20 cm deep. This means it fits well in many luggage compartments and remains manageable on your back, even when you’re moving through narrow paths or crowded trains.

Inside you have around 29.5 cm width, 52.5 cm height and 19 cm depth at your disposal. That’s enough space to comfortably store most mirrorless and DSLR cameras with a height of up to about 17 cm, including attached lens and additional accessories, depending on the chosen Core Unit.

With a weight of around 2.1 kg (without Core Unit), the backpack falls into a range that is absolutely suitable for everyday use for a full-featured outdoor camera backpack with this level of equipment. Not ultralight, but very solid and built for longevity.

Who the Shimoda Action X40 v2 army green is particularly well suited for

If you use a camera with a grip or a somewhat larger DSLR or mirrorless camera and still don’t want to carry a huge, oversized backpack, the Action X40 v2 is a very well-balanced choice.

It is ideal for:

• Hikers and trekking fans who want to combine photo and outdoor gear
• Travel photographers who value quick access and protection
• Sports and action photographers who are out with skis, bike or helmet
• Anyone looking for a robust, weatherproof backpack with a well-thought-out interior organization

In short: if you spend a lot of time outdoors, take your camera seriously and want a backpack that adapts to your day instead of the other way around, then the Shimoda Action X40 v2 in army green fits this picture very well.