>>4167349>fstopfstop bags are actually really durable and nice, despite using cheap chinese plastic for zippers and for snaps. ive been using the same fstop bag for photo and for hardcore hiking/camping (without the cube) for years now and the bag still looks pretty much brand new, like actually new. the only thing that looks used are the plastic snaps or clips or whatever the fuck they are called, they got a bunch of scratches and dents in them from heavy use but the bag itself, the fabric, nylon and the leather/rubber bottom literally looks brand new and spotless after years of use.
>Shimodamy photo only bag is the black explore bag from shimoda and i have literally no complaints, top notch design and 10/10 durability. peter mccucks bags, peak design bags and other popular bags have nothing on shimoda bags in terms of durability. friend bought mckinnons jew level priced bag and the sides started to fall apart after only a couple (5-6?) months of use, all while my shimoda and fstop bags look literally brand new after years of use.
>Gitzogitzo used to make the best bags worldwide, by far but ive heard from multiple people that they started using chinese plastic on their products (for zippers and snaps) so their bags are probably on the same level as fstop now. point being that if you want to spend a lot of money on a gitzo bag, just go for fstop bags, youll save money and youll get the same quality and durability.
(also, gitzo wrist straps for cameras, i wasted 90 EUR on the leather version wrist strap and the clips/snaps are no longer metal, they are plastic aka they are shit and look and feel very unreliable. wouldnt trust free hanging my camera off of the wrist strap. i dont know whose idea was to use premium materials like real, actual and expensive high quality leather with high grade ripstop nylon and then slapped cheap, plastic snaps/clips on it... pure idiocy. which by the way, if you pull hard enough, you can unclip the clips....... yeah...)
