Atlas Athlete Camera Packs are the Best Camera Backpacks
The Athlete Camera Backpack by Atlas Packs is perfect for photographers seeking a slim, versatile solution for everyday use and short adventures. As the thinnest full-frame camera bag in the world, it offers impressive capacity, ranging from 20 to 40 liters, while maintaining a streamlined profile. Designed to fit easily under airplane seats, it’s ideal for travel photographers who need to carry essential gear without the bulk.
Innovative Design and Smart Storage
The Athlete Pack features a single-fold Origami Camera Core™, providing customizable storage for your camera bodies, lenses, and accessories. Despite its compact size, the pack offers efficient organization that maximizes space for both camera gear and personal items. With its durable, lightweight materials and smart design, it’s the ultimate blend of mobility and performance for photographers on the move.
Comfort and Practicality
Built for comfort, the Athlete Pack includes ergonomic shoulder straps and a padded back panel, ensuring a comfortable carry even during extended shoots. Its slim, compact profile makes it perfect for navigating both urban environments and outdoor settings, offering both style and functionality. Whether you’re commuting, traveling, or exploring the great outdoors, the Athlete Pack provides a practical, space-saving solution for photographers who prioritize agility and ease of access.
| SPECIFICATION | TOTAL |
| Height | Medium | 21"/53.5cm |
| Height | Large | 23"/58.5cm |
| Height | Lrg. No frame | 20in / 51cm |
| Height | Med. No frame | 18in / 46cm |
| Width | 11" / 28cm |
| Depth | 7" / 18cm |
| Laptop | 16" MacBook |
| Min Liters | 20 liters |
| Max Liters | 40 liters |
| Weight | 4.95lbs |
The Athlete Pack is designed for gear up to about 6" tall. Let's breakout the specifications and measurements for camera gear.
The Origami Camera Core (TM) allows you to shift space into and away from the camera section. The first photo includes the full storage capacity. The second photo shows how the top fold has been pulled in and this space is no longer accessible for camera gear.
|
MEASUREMENT |
|
Interior Height | |
14.25in / 36cm |
| Interior Height | Origami In |
9in / 23cm |
| Max-Depth | Origami Out | 6in / 15cm *deeper towards the top |
| Max-Depth | Origami In | 5.75in / 14.6cm *shallower towards the bottom |
| Interior Width | 9in / 23cm |
| ORIGAMI FOLD-IN | MEASUREMENT |
| Height | 14.25" / 36cm |
| Width | 9" / 23cm |
| Depth | 5.75-6" /14.6-15cm |
| ORIGAMI FOLD-OUT | MEASUREMENT |
| Height | 9" / 23cm |
| Width | 9" / 23cm |
| Depth | 5.75 /14.6cm |
|
|
1. Cut a piece of string 18"/45.5cm
2. Hold the top to your C7 vertebrae and drop the bottom end.
3. Now feel all the way down to where string ends. It will fall either above or below your Iliac Center (essentially your love handles and where you rest your hands when you are putting your hands on your hips).
-----
PS: If the string goes past your love handles, that means your torso is
shorter than 18" = medium size pack. If the string ends before your love handles, that means your torso longer than 18" = large size pack.
| CHOOSE YOUR BELT SIZE |
BASED ON PANT SIZE |
PADDING TO HIPS |
| SMALL / MEDIUM ATHLETE BELTS |
30 - 33IN 76 - 84CM |
26IN | 66CM |
| MEDIUM / LARGE ATHLETE BELTS |
33 - 38IN 84 - 96CM |
31IN | 79CM |
| LARGE / X-LARGE ATHLETE BELTS |
36 - 42IN 92 - 106CM |
33IN | 86CM |
| SMALL MEDIUM ADVENTURE HIP BELTS + TRAVEL |
28 - 33IN 71 - 84CM |
27IN | 68CM |
| MEDIUM / LARGE ADVENTURE HIP BELTS + TRAVEL |
34 - 38IN 86 - 97CM |
30IN | 76CM |
| LARGE / X-LARGE ADVENTURE HIP BELTS + TRAVEL |
36 - 44IN 91-117CM |
33IN | 84CM |
| X-LARGE / XX-LARGE ADVENTURE HIP BELTS |
42 - 52IN 106-132CM |
36IN | 92CM |
LET'S CHECKOUT THE SPECS AND COMPARE PACKS
Athlete vs. Adventure Exterior Size Comparison
ORIGAMI CAMERA CORE (TM) — US PATENT NO. 11,033,086
Unlike camera bags that need to be stuffed with ICU's or camera cubes, the Adventure Pack has a sewn-in two-fold Origami Camera Core (TM). With a simple push or pull you shift up to 44 liters of space between the camera section and the camping section. No noise, no inserts, no pressure fitting. Just friction.
HOW THE ORIGAMI CAMERA CORE (TM) WORKS
NO ICU OR CAMERA CUBES
SIMPLE PUSH AND PULL
INTERNAL + EXTERNAL EXPANSION
How Camera Gear Fits the Atlas Athlete Camera Packs are the Best Camera Backpacks
ATHLETE PACK: Super Shallow
ATHLETE PACK: How Bodies without Battery Grips fit
ATHLETE PACK: CANON R BODIES W/GRIP
ATHLETE PACK: How GM & RF wide fits in the Athlete Pack
COMPARE: ATHLETE vs. ADVENTURE
Sony a7Riv and Sony a7iv kit in the Athlete Pack
Leica M6 and Canon R6 kit in the Athlete Pack
Sony A7RIII H+ Astromodified in the Athlete Pack
Sony A7RIV and A7C Kit in the Athlete Pack
Canon R5 kit in the Athlete Pack
Sony A7R4 Sony A7S3 in the Athlete Pack
Fuji, DJI and Insta360 kit in the Athlete Pack
The Atlas Athlete - The most versatile camera backpack on the planet
Atlas Athlete Pack Specs and Expansion (20-40L)
EXTERIOR SIZE: 20L
EXTERIOR SIZE: 30L
EXTERIOR SIZE: 40L
See the Atlas Athlete Pack in Action - 20-40L Expandable Camera Backpack
Never Check your camera gear with Atlas Packs
Atlas Athlete Camera Packs are the Best Camera Backpacks
SPECIFICATIONS AND MEASUREMENTSINTERIOR DIMENSIONS: Origami Camera Core
SIMPLE PUSH AND PULL NO ICU OR CAMERA CUBES HOW IT WORKS
CAMERA BODIES EXAMPLES
FITS 200-600 SIZE GLASS ATHLETE LONG DIVIDERS
YKK ZIPPERS & PULLS
TOP LID MOLLE
Small and mighty. Expands to nearly double in size. The Atlas Athlete is like three camera bags in one. Compressed down at 20 liters, makes a great EDC. Bump up to 30 liters for a day trip, easily fits under a seat. And expand all the way out to easily haul 40 liters and more for extended treks and long overnights. Fantastic for ski, snow and mountaineering. Unparalleled access, weight distribution and organization. Camera gear is safely and securely stored in our patented and award winning Origami Camera Core (TM) that holds from 7-10 liters and is just 6" deep!
The award winning Atlas Athlete is the most versatile camera backpacking solution on the market. Designed to well exceed the needs of today's adventure seekers. Amazing access, organization and expansion. The perfect pack for camera daypacking.
ADVENTURE PACK FITTING GUIDE
Both the Athlete and Adventure Packs are sized based on an 18" / 45.5cm torso length. If your torso is shorter than 18 inches the medium is the right fit. If your torso is longer than 18 inches the large is the right fit. Go shorter if in doubt. A pack that is too tall will not distribute weight properly.
BASED ON HEIGHT:
+ If you are 5'8" / 1.7m or below, the medium size pack typically fits best.
+ If you are taller than 5'11" / 1.8m the large size pack typically fits best.
HOW TO MEASURE YOUR TORSO:
1. Cut a piece of string to exactly 18" / 45.5cm.
2. Hold the top to your C7 vertebrae and drop the bottom end.
3. Feel all the way down to where the string ends. It will fall either above or below your Iliac Center (essentially your love handles and where you put your hands on your hips).
If the string goes past your love handles, your torso is shorter than 18" = medium size pack.
If the string ends before your love handles, your torso is longer than 18" = large size pack.
INCLUDED WITH THE PURCHASE OF YOUR PACK
CUSTOM FIT HIKING-GRADE HIP BELT
LET'S CHOOSE YOUR BELT
The hip belt is the most important part of camera backpacking. Without the right size hip belt, one with padding that properly wraps around the front of your hip bones, you will not be able to properly load the weight of your heavy camera gear. Atlas Packs offers three different style hip belts in four size ranges. The hip belt is designed to transfer around 90% of your backpack's weight from your shoulders to your hips.
All Atlas Packs hip belts are interchangeable and can be used with all packs. And because the hip belt is removable, it's easy to make your pack smaller when you need it. Perfect for daily use and light loads.
THREE STYLES. FOUR SIZES. ONE IS RIGHT FOR YOU.
THE ADVENTURE HIP BELT
THE ATHLETE HIP BELT
THE TRAVELER'S HIP BELT
Featured Reviews from Leading Outdoor Publications
Trusted by Experts in Outdoor Adventure and Photography
ADVENTURE PACK BACKGROUND AND HISTORY
We designed the Adventure Pack because camera bags are all giant boxes. We wanted a thinner, more nimble design that holds weight close to the body and doesn't impede movement in busy urban areas or while moving over terrain.
We also wanted a way to move space inside the pack without having to remove and insert anything, which is why we designed and developed our Origami Camera Core (TM). Camera bags are floppy and lack structure and have to be filled with smaller bags to secure camera gear. These systems add costs and weight and use a "pressure fit" design. Pressure fitting results in a fundamental compromise to a bag's load carry ability, which is why camera bags carry so much heavier than they actually weigh.
With the Adventure Pack, we've designed the world's first and only true hybrid, taking the best from the world of camera and the outdoors and combining them together. Countless awards and accolades. Battle tested worldwide since 2018 by thousands of pros and amateurs alike.
The Adventure Pack was the first pack we designed. It was 2014 and we wanted to hit the ground with a pack designed exclusively for the professional photography and video market. None of the camera bag companies making bags for this market properly load the weight of heavy gear to your hips. We designed the Adventure Pack to fix that.
ATLAS PACKS CUSTOMER REVIEWS
Let customers speak for us
Amainzjnv build quality and attention to detail. Cery happy with the purchase. Couldn’t recommend it highly enough
I’ve used the Atlas Athlete for several years and love it. I bought this pack because of its versatility to carry and protect camera equipment but also extra clothing, food etc that are more difficult to carry and access with other packs. This pack is also very comfortable to hike with because it’s a true hiking backpack. I recently added the QD clips to carry an extra camera from my waist belt and this has worked well. This saves my neck and is very secure. When using the origami feature I can pack a camera with lens attached inside the pack where I pack extra clothing (I’m trying to depict this in the 1st photo). I’m planning on also buying an adventure pack soon but I can carry an Olympus 150-400 attached to a camera with this pack.
This is not just the best camera pack I’ve ever had, it’s an amazing pack, period. Well-made, super comfortable to wear. Well thought out all atound. I will definitely be buying more from AtlasPacks.
I’m on my second Atlas pack now having owned the Athlete since 2019 and now a newer Adventure, and both times that I’ve dealt with Allan and the team have been phenomenal with personalised service helping me getting the exact bag I need. I’ve really appreciated the help each time and the extra mile they’ve gone. The bags themselves have been phenomenal as well with great features and superb build quality. Can’t fault Atlas Packs and will be a life long buyer and user of their bags and accessories.
Best camera Pack I have ever owned after decades of trying different brands, mostly Lowepro. Comfortable, sturdy, excellent zipper, good protection. I would like it if the chest strap was wider and the strap buckles were bigger.
The Atlas Athlete pack is easily the best (and my favorite) I’ve ever owned. Whether I’m going on a road trip or a day hike, it’s the ideal solution.
There are many camera packs, but most do not have adequate suspension systems for a full camera kit and also tend to lack the capacity for non-camera essentials (layers for cold nights, food, rain gear, etc.).
Atlas has put a real backpack suspension system onto a bag that is highly flexible and tremendously versatile. I particularly like the origami fold system in my Adventure pack. It allows me to adjust the volume distribution between the rear camera section and the top compartment to fit my needs. I keep my long lens at the top of the camera compartment; if I don’t need to carry the long lens I can fold down the first fold of the origami and increase the volume of the top compartment.
Atlas Pack has created the most innovative camera backpack on the market, I've tried the other ones but their Adventure Backpack is my favorite.
This company knows and understands great design, and that is why I'm extremely excited to continue to keep up with all of their future projects.
I take my Adventure Backpack with me on every shoot, and it provides the perfect balance to fit all my camera and personal gear.
I've tried all the other camera backpacks but this one was instantly my favorite, and with the extra accessories, I've been able to tailor my backpack to all my travel needs.
What a great backpack - super flexible and so comfortable.
Simply incredible product, quality and company. Allan was great to work with. I only bought a hip belt (for my existing back pack). In terms of the quality.... lets put it this way, my next backpack will definitely be an Atlas.
On a trip I was on a boat and needed access to a handheld wide angled camera and a 200-800 zoom on a second camera. The 200-800 is too heavy for a double strap over several hours. My solution was a gun belt from Kore belts and an Atlas Click QD Camera Clip. I was able to attach the Click clip to my belt and using a ProMediaGear plate on the lens foot was able to hang the camera off my waist. Worked great, I was able to freely move about with the heavy camera fully supported by my waist for 6 hours. Attaching and detaching the Click on my hip worked easily as I moved from wide angle to zoom. Very happy with the Click.
Superb service...quick reply to any questions and fast & easy dispatch of my order. Happy to use again A++++
I purchased an Atlas Pack as a gift. The quality is impeccable and it arrived earlier than expected. The customer service was amazing and responded to my questions quickly. I’ll definitely be an Atlas Pack customer for life!
Great bag. The bag survived a challenging trip up Mt Kenya. Conditions were bad and ranged from tropical to glacial. The bag held three lenses, two camera bodies, and heavy day gear including crampons. The bag stayed dry inside without the rain cover in medium to heavy rain and snow. Good as an international carryon too. Adequate camera access for safari and walking safaris too. Sturdy camera area with room for more gear.
Frequently Asked Questions
Atlas Athlete Camera Packs are the Best Camera Backpacks FAQs
We designed the Adventure Pack because camera bags are all giant boxes. We wanted a thinner, more nimble design that holds weight close to the body and doesn't impede movement in busy urban areas or while moving over terrain. We designed and developed the Origami Camera Core (TM) so users can move space inside the pack without having to remove and insert anything. Camera bags are floppy and lack structure and have to be filled with smaller bags via pressure fit, which fundamentally compromises load carry ability. The Adventure Pack was the first pack we designed, back in 2014. It's been battle tested worldwide since 2018 by thousands of pros and amateurs.
+ Removable overbuilt shoulder harness
+ Load lifter adjustable fit
+ Fireman style "Harrington" Side-Handle
+ Removable frame / stay
+ Numerous attachment points from MOLLE to axes and sleeping bags
+ Incredible weight distribution and support
+ 10mm thick and curvy dividers
+ Removable proper hiking hip belt
+ Two-fold Origami Camera Core (TM)
+ Weatherproof 240 Double Rip Stop shell
+ x2 water bladder tube routing slits under top lid
+ x2 stretch side pockets (fits 48oz Nalgene)
+ x2 hidden dump pouches (fits 48oz Nalgene)
+ YKK Buckles and Zippers
+ Plus many more...
Inspired by the Japanese art of paper folding, we invented and patented a new type of camera core. Unlike camera bags that need to be stuffed with ICU's or camera cubes, the Adventure Pack has a sewn-in two-fold Origami Camera Core (TM). Each fold shifts space between the camera and camping sections of the pack.
The Origami Camera Core (TM) is a much better system than ICU's because:
+ It's safer for camera gear
+ Distributes weight better
+ Holds more gear per liter
+ Allows for both camera and camping gear
+ Can be resized on the fly
Instead of pressure fitting we use friction, which is key to how the Origami Camera Core (TM) functions.
Laptops up to 17" will easily fit. The Adventure Pack has a dedicated pocket for laptops located between the admin panel and front section, accessible without having to unzip the backpanel or unclip the front buckles.
While torso fitting is best, it's easiest to start with height. This method works 86% of the time. Check the size chart for sizing and the fitting guide above if you want to measure your torso directly.
It's not going to fit well. With the Adventure Pack there are no benefits to the wrong size. Get the size based on your torso length. Pack size is different from liters or capacity. There is no difference between the medium and large in terms of capacity or footprint, only the backpanel height differs.
With the Adventure Pack go shorter if you are of average weight and between sizes. If you have a medium torso and are broad chested consider getting the large. Please chat with Pro Support for help.
There is only one difference between the medium and large Adventure Pack. The large has a longer backpanel to accommodate longer torsos over 18" / 45.5cm. The medium has a shorter backpanel for torsos under 18". There is no difference in volume, footprint, or any other measurement. The packs are identical in all other regards.
A dirty pack is certainly a happy pack, but a cleaned dirty pack is even happier.
To clean the shell and zippers, give your pack a steam shower for 15-20 min and use baby wipes and microfiber towels to clean the ripstop and get into the grooves around the zippers.
To clean the inside of your pack, remove all dividers and gear and from the inside of the non-camera section push hard on the bottom of the camera core so it pops out.
Super easy to remove and reinstall. No tool is needed. Takes less than 10 seconds for either motion. Please note the orientation of how the frame curves when reinstalling.
The best way to tell is by looking at the buckles. If the pack has the newer YKK style buckle it's a GEN2 pack. Packs sold prior to 2021 are typically GEN1 packs. The main GEN2 updates include a decreased exterior height (now 23" / 58.5cm), a redesigned two-fold Origami Camera Core (TM) that shifts twice as much space, and an improved rating with new foam types and shaping.
Welcome to the family. Be sure to check the torso length. If it's a GEN1 pack and you have gear that needs the two-fold Origami Camera Core for maximum camera space, the GEN2 update is worth considering. That said, GEN1 packs are still great for many setups. Get a new hip belt and check that the dividers are still in good shape. Foam breaks down over time, so fresh dividers are a good investment on any used pack.
ATHLETE PACK | EXPANSION IN LITERS
INTERIOR DIMENSIONS: Origami Camera Core
SIMPLE PUSH AND PULL
NO ICU OR CAMERA CUBES
HOW IT WORKS
CAMERA BODIES EXAMPLES
FITS 200-600 SIZE GLASS
ATHLETE LONG DIVIDERS
YKK ZIPPERS & PULLS
