Atlas Athlete Pack Review: The Best Camera Backpack?
Atlas Athlete Backpack Review
For traveling photographers, protecting expensive camera gear on the road is a top priority. However, a solution for camera protection should also be practical and reliable across a wide range of uses.
Over the past year, we have traveled through several countries in Europe and Central America. Whether hiking alpine trails, exploring the Mediterranean coast, trekking under rainforest canopies, or navigating bustling European cities, the Atlas Athlete pack has been our primary solution for protecting our cameras and drones.
In this review, I will cover key design features and share my thoughts on the Atlas Athlete to help you decide if the Athlete pack is a good choice for you!
Who is the Atlas Athlete Pack Designed For?
The Atlas Athlete is a premium backpack for outdoor photographers designed to provide the following:
- Superior, customizable protection for camera gear
- Durability and protecting your gear from the elements
- Adequate storage for hiking and outdoor gear
- Compact design, ideal as a carry-on for air travel
- Comfort for extended hikes
With these in mind, here are my thoughts after a year of owning the Atlas Athlete.
Construction Quality of the Atlas Athlete
Atlas confidently claims, “A dirty pack is a happy pack.” For this to be true, high-quality materials and smart construction are essential. The excellent quality of the materials and craftsmanship stood out to me from the moment I first handled the Athlete. This was further confirmed after our trip to Italy and Switzerland. The webbed fabric held up well against the rigors of Europe’s hiking trails and city streets. Its water-resistant properties easily repelled light rain and mist and were easy to clean at the end of the day.
The weather-resistant YKK zippers and top-quality buckles and snaps were also impressive. Zippers have always been a concern for me since they can fail at the worst times, but I’ve had zero issues with the Athlete’s zippers.
The adjustable shoulder straps are designed for durability, with strong stitching at stress points and padding that’s firm but not overly stiff. The internal camera storage compartment is also well-padded, and despite a few slips and falls over the last year, I never worried about the safety of my gear. Other great features include MOLLE loops on the top hatch, a rain cover, a swappable aluminum frame, a removable hip belt, plenty of padded internal storage dividers, internal water bladder storage, and deep side pockets for water bottles or other bulky items.
Atlas Pack Comfort
In terms of comfort, most camera packs will be fine for a short distance. However, when carrying 20 or 30 pounds of camera and hiking gear over several miles, the question of comfort certainly comes into play.
To provide a more custom fit, Atlas offers two different frame sizes and multiple hip belt options (more on that below). Once properly set up, the Athlete proved to be very comfortable, well-balanced, and the hip belt rested comfortably on the hips for property support. For shorter day hikes, I even removed the hip belt to reduce bulk, and the pack was still a pleasure to carry, although I had to tighten the shoulder straps to raise it higher on my back.
The shoulder and chest straps are fully adjustable and well-padded. The waist strap is also adjustable. Ribbed padding where the pack contacts your back allows for ventilation, keeping you cool while offering excellent support.
Origami Camera Core Storage
What truly sets Athlete Pack apart is the Origami Camera Core system (OCC). Instead of a removable camera cube, the OCC is fixed and can fold inward as needed. Fully expanded, the OCC measures 14.25H x 9W x 6D in. (36 x 23 x 15 cm). The pack also comes with a LOT of padded internal dividers that can be placed anywhere inside the Origami insert to fully customize the layout.
If you desire less camera storage to make additional room for hiking and survival gear, the core can collapse down to 9H x 9W x 5.75D in (23 x 23 x 14.6 cm).
As you can see below, there is generous space to store lots of camera gear. The gear packed below includes the following:
- Sony A7riii camera
- 16-35mm lens
- 24-105mm lens
- DJI Mini 3 Pro with RC controller
- 3 spare drone batteries
- Insta360 camera
- Lens filters and memory card case
One other nice feature of the Origami Camera Core is the front side of the expandable core includes a laptop sleeve to easily store a computer or tablet.
On the inside of the camera compartment’s back panel, there is a large elastic pouch and two small zippered pockets, which I used for storing spare memory cards, lens wipes, and spare drone props.
Accessing your camera core is fast and simple. The back panel fully unzips and folds down for quick access.
General Storage Capacity of the Athlete
The Athlete at its smallest capacity is 20 liters, expanding up to 40 liters. The illustration below shows a few different options for storage allocation:
There are four access points to reach the general storage inside the pack. The three most obvious ones are the top lid and two zippers on either side of the pack.
The fourth way inside the general storage is accessed when OCC is open. When inside the camera compartment, you will see a zip panel above the camera storage that allows access to the inside of the pack without having to open the top hatch. I like this feature since I generally keep a couple of small cases on top of the camera compartment for small batteries and a gimble for my iPhone.
When it comes to storage for small miscellaneous items, the Athlete has multiple pockets. As I was writing this review, I had to retrieve my pack and physically count to make sure I didn’t forget any!
- Top Lid: 3 zipper pouches, all with weather-resistant zippers.
- Front of the Pack: A single deep pouch with an integrated zipper pouch.
- Base of the Pack: Two zippered pouches integrate with the hip belt.
Frame and Hip Belt Options
Atlas offers two frame sizes. Generally, individuals 5’9″ (1.78m) or shorter may prefer the medium frame, though a torso fitting guide is also available.
You can choose from three hip belt styles, each available in three sizes:
- Athlete Hip Belt: Designed for lighter loads, featuring a single layer of foam. Ideal for loads under 25 pounds.
- Adventure Hip Belt: Suitable for heavier loads, with dual-layer foam for added support.
- Traveler’s Hip Belt: Minimalistic and without padding.
Athlete Belt 
Adventure Belt 
Travelers Belt
Weather Protection
The Atlas Athlete is constructed from weather-resistant materials that repel light rain, mist, dust, and dirt. For more severe weather conditions, it includes a rain cover to protect the pack from rain and snow.
In Costa Rica’s rainforests, we faced daily rain, but the pack stayed dry all day with the rain cover.
If you expect any part of the pack to come into contact with standing water (such as crossing a stream), then I recommend placing any electronics inside the pack in a dry bag. I personally used Earth Pak dry bags for this when crossing streams in Central America.
Atlas Athlete Dimensions
Fully loaded to capacity, the Athlete will have a height of approximately 25/23 inches (large/medium frame), a width of 11 inches, and a depth of 13 inches.
Air Travel with the Atlas Athlete
There’s nothing more nerve-wracking than having your camera bag, full of expensive gear, denied as a carry-on. One of the reasons I chose the Atlas Athlete is its design, which meets overhead airline storage specifications. When the pack is set up at 20-25 liters and without the hip belt, it should fit under the seat and certainly in overhead storage.
Criticisms of the Atlas Athlete
It’s really hard to knock this pack for too much. At times, I wished the camera compartment was a little deeper. I know this pack is designed for photographers, but as someone who also uses DJI drones, I wish my DJI RC2 controller could stand upright without the foldable antennas sitting above the side walls of the camera core. A little more clearance would be nice, but this would add extra depth to the pack, so it’s understandable why the camera core has its current dimensions. If you need a deeper camera compartment then the Atlas Adventure may be a better option.
Other Atlas Camera Backpacks
If you want more storage, consider the Atlas Adventure pack, which offers up to 60 liters of total capacity. The Adventure not only provides more camera storage space, but it also has a deeper camera core. If you use battery grips, large telephoto lenses, or a full size drone, the Atlas Adventure Pack may be better alternative to the Athlete.
Like the Athlete, the Adventure pack is designed as a carry-on. With the 35-liter setup and no hip belt, it meets overhead storage requirements. However, to fit the Adventure pack under an airline seat, you’ll need to remove the frame and hip belt. Just something to keep in mind.
Final Opinion After 1 Year of Use
I purchased my Atlas Pack in 2023, and couldn’t be happier with my decision. I don’t think there’s a better hiking pack for photographers. Be warned, though—it’s not cheap, but it’s worth every penny. The thoughtful design and high-quality materials make me confident this pack will last for many years. It’s been a worthwhile investment!
I hope my review has been helpful. If you have any questions, feel free to comment or reach out on Instagram. If you’re considering purchasing an Atlas Pack you can check them out here.
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