Field Review: NomadPack 35L — A Traveling Photographer’s Carry for Background Shoots
We tested the NomadPack 35L with real background shoots: gear fit, lighting access, and travel practicality in 2026.
Field Review: NomadPack 35L — A Traveling Photographer’s Carry for Background Shoots
Hook: If you’re photographing location backgrounds — beach sets, urban murals, or staged parallax plates — the right pack makes the difference. We spent two weeks on assignment testing the NomadPack 35L for backgrounds.life. Here’s what worked and what didn't.
Why the pack matters
Background shoots combine stills, quick video plates, and lighting rigs. You need a bag that balances camera access, lighting stowage, and personal essentials like power and spare gimbals.
How we tested
Three real shoots over ten days: a Cornish coastal sunrise, an inner-city night-market sequence, and a studio parallax session. We prioritized:
- Quick access to main camera body
- Secure stow for a 24–70 and a 70–200
- Space for two compact LED panels and an extra battery pack
- Comfort for multi-hour walks
Key observations
- Capacity: The 35L fits a mirrorless body, two lenses, a small gimbal, and two LED panels if packed tightly — perfect for rapid background capture.
- Comfort: Ergonomics are excellent for urban walking but felt tight on the long coastal hike with wet sand ingress.
- Weatherproofing: Good for drizzle; we still recommend an additional rain cover for beach shoots.
- Accessory access: Secondary pockets are great for batteries and cards; quick-access top flap is ideal for a compact camera or phone for reference shots.
Why it’s a smart choice for background professionals in 2026
Mobility matters more than ever. With more creators shooting ambient loops for backgrounds and parallax plates that demand multiple capture modalities, the NomadPack’s balance of size and organization suits field workflows. If you’re also carrying audio and PA gear for on-site ambient capture — consider cross-referencing portable PA reviews and power-solution guides to pair the pack correctly.
Pairing recommendations
- Combine with a small portable PA for ambient sound capture; see recent portable PA field reviews for compact options.
- Bring a high-capacity power bank and evaluate battery guides aimed at marathon shoots.
- Use a CDN-backed workflow to upload large raw plates from secure hotspots — review CDN tests to choose a provider that handles large file delivery without throttling.
Related resources we leaned on while testing
- Field Review: NomadPack 35L — The Traveling Vlogger’s Everyday Backpack — an in-depth hands-on reference for packing tactics.
- Gear Review: The NightRider Portable PA — Small Footprint, Big Sound? — consider this for ambient capture during night-market shoots.
- Gear Guide: Batteries and Power Solutions for Marathon Streams and Concerts — battery choices for long capture days.
- Review: FastCacheX CDN — Performance, Pricing, and Real-World Tests — for uploading and delivering large wallpaper sets quickly to clients.
Verdict
The NomadPack 35L is a highly practical field pack for background-focused photographers who need mobility without sacrificing essential kit capacity. It won’t replace a full studio roller for large rigged shoots, but for on-the-move background capture — especially where you need to move quickly through market stalls or coastal trails — it’s a top recommendation.
Author: Marcus Chen — Field Producer & Photographer, backgrounds.life.