NYA-EVO Fjord 60-C Review

When I received the Fjord 60-C from NYA-EVO, I was immediately impressed with the quality and attention to detail in the design.

This bag is a feature-packed adventure camera backpack that is incredibly durable and well-built.

The designers clearly evaluated other available options so they could incorporate the best features into their bag without making compromises.

After owning this bag for a few months, I think it’s ideal for the traveling photographer who takes a large kit with him/her and flies frequently.

It’s built to keep your gear organized, protected, and packed into an airline compatible backpack.

This bag is also well suited to photographers who travel further into the back-country and need to take outdoor equipment (i.e. sleeping bag, clothes, tent, stove, etc).

Because it offers a variety of compatible camera cube sizes, the ratio of outdoor gear to camera gear can be scaled.

This allows you to take more outdoor equipment on expeditions or long trips while still having space for cameras and lenses.

Let’s take a closer look to see if it’s the best camera backpack for your next adventure.

NYA-EVO Fjord 60-C Backpack Specs

 

• Volume (expanded): 60 liters
• Volume (not expanded): 44 liters
• Weight: 1.9 kg / 4.18 lbs
• Dimensions expanded: 34 (W) x 70 (H) x 32 (D) cm / 13.4 (W) x 27.5 (H) x 12.6 (D) in
• Dimensions not expanded: 34 (W) x 56 (H) x 25 (D) cm / 13.4 (W) x 22 (H) x 9.8 (D) in

Build & Appearance

My initial assessment of this bag was correct: it’s incredibly tough and well-built! The fabric, buckles, zippers, and reinforcements all make this bag extremely durable.

The exterior fabric is tough and sheds moisture well. Even while hiking with it in the snow, it never got wet.

Even the zippers are sealed to keep out moisture.

The waist belt and shoulder straps have a tough/durable exterior fabric while the body-facing side is very soft. This makes the Fjord 60-C very comfortable and enjoyable to carry, especially on long hikes.

I appreciate this kind of attention to detail when it comes to the design of a camera bag.

The difference between an adequate carry solution and an amazing backpack is the small details that make it comfortable and functional. The Fjord 60-C has them in spades.

All of the buckles and straps on this bag feel very tough. Some bags have small buckles that break easily but this bag is built to last.

I especially like the heavy-duty zipper on the main back panel camera access. This is a high-use area and having a small lightweight zipper on one of the most important closures would not be a good idea.

The large aluminum zipper pulls are easy to find and grab, even with gloves on.

Another thing I like about the Fjord 60-C is the color offerings. I really like all the color choices but especially the blue and the white versions.

I chose the blue because I was worried the white bag would look dirty after a few months of use – but if you can keep things clean, the white is very stylish.

Overall, this bag is very tough which gives me the peace of mind to focus on creating instead of taking care of my backpack.

Knowing that your gear is tough enough and will endure the adventure is so helpful. The last thing you want to be worried about on an important photoshoot is whether your camera backpack will fall apart!

Thankfully, this bag is built to withstand lots of abuse.

Exterior Features

There are so many useful features on the outside of this bag. The more I use it, the more features I discover!

Starting with the top of the bag, you’ll notice the roll-top closure. This pocket is designed to give expanded volume.

Because it’s water sealed, this pocket can be used to store wet items while keeping the rest of your bag dry – a very handy feature!

This bag has back panel access (my favorite type of camera pack). By unzipping the back panel, you have quick access to all the camera gear.

I especially like using this style of bag when it’s wet or muddy because I know that I can keep my back clean/dry when I put the bag back on.

Above the back panel zipper is a large clam-shell-style access pocket that gives access to the main non-camera compartment. This zipper is also weather-sealed ensuring that everything stays dry.

The suspension system of the Fjord 60-C is very customizable. It offers several different settings for torso length (shoulder straps move up/down on pre-sewn straps).

Additionally, the chest strap can be moved up/down depending on your preference. This makes the bag flexible enough that either my wife or I can carry it comfortably.

On the front of the pack, a large (and expandable) pocket offers a flexible option for packing gear, clothes, etc. With the expansion, it will fit a lot of stuff!

Two gear straps across the top and bottom of the pack allow you to attach items to the exterior with ease. I appreciated that these straps were removable to make the pack lighter if you don’t plan on using them.

On the sides of the bag, there are two large water bottle pockets with expandable elastic and keeper straps. They easily fit all my water bottles without looking loose or baggy.

I always like bags to be sleek and not have a lot of excess fabric, so these slim pockets are a welcome addition. These pockets also easily hold light stands or tripod legs.

A super tough Hypalon fabric covers the bottom of the bag making it even more durable. I never hesitate to set the Fjord 60-C down on sharp rocks or mud/dirt/snow because I know that it will wipe right off and stay dry.

My only complaint with the plethora of zippers and pockets on this bag was the potential for confusion on where I stored my gear.

Sometimes simple is best, but as long as you get your system dialed, this bag will keep you organized.

Interior Features

Inside the Fjord 60-C there’s a wide array of storage options and organizational pockets. I find them to be useful in keeping all my gear sorted out so I don’t lose things.

I typically prefer to use an accessory pouch to keep my items inside my bag but the Fjord is great at offering a multitude of dividers and zippers for each type of item you might want to carry.

This is useful if you plan on using this as your main camera bag because you will develop a system that keeps everything in its place. For this reason, I think this bag is perfect for the photographer who lives on the road full (or nearly full) time.

Inside the main (largest) top-accessed compartment, you’ll find a large zippered pocket. This is handy for storing medium-sized items that you don’t want to lose track of (wallet, electronics, etc).

I also like the use of light gray fabric that keeps the inside of the bag bright (way better than a black interior where things get lost easily).

Inside the large zippered front pocket, you’ll find several sleeve-style pockets that are perfect for storing electronics and paperwork.

The padded laptop sleeve easily fits my 15″ MacBook Pro.

The lower pocket is designed to fit an A4 envelope to keep your documents from getting bent/folded. On the flap, a zipper pocket is perfect for keeping other small accessories.

The internal organization of the NYA-EVO Fjord 60-C is really well thought out. I love how everything has a place.

Once you figure out (and remember) how to organize your bag, it will hopefully help you to stay that way while on the road.

As I mentioned above, the top roll-top pocket has a waterproof enclosure that’s perfect for storing wet gear. With this pocket, you won’t have to stuff your swimsuit in a trash bag to catch an early flight.

This pocket is also great for additional storage when the rest of the bag gets full.

Initially, I was confused by the zipper and roll-top combo (seems redundant), but after using it a few times, it became familiar.

Inside the Fjord 60-C, you’ll find a pocket for everything! The key is to make sure you know where you put everything because there are a number of pockets that seem similar.

Some color coordination or other differentiation on the zippers would be helpful on this bag, especially if you’re telling someone else where to find something. It can be a little confusing at times!

With every bag, there are so many features that go unnoticed or unused and this bag was no exception. It took me a while to figure out my packing system but once I dialed it in, this bag was great at keeping things sorted.

If you can never get enough pockets, this is the perfect bag for you!

Storage Capacity

The Fjord 60-C is a beast when it comes to storage. It easily swallows all my camera gear with plenty of room left for travel/outdoor gear.

With the large camera cube, it easily carries:

• 2 camera bodies
• 4 lenses
• Flash
• Flash Trigger
• Action Cam
• Laptop
• Clothes
• First aid kit
• Lunch
• Water
• Light stand &/or tripod
• Other outdoor equipment (climbing gear, tent, etc)

I love having a bag where I don’t have to worry about whether it will fit my equipment. I almost always have room for more!

The stated capacity of 60 liters seems accurate (with expansion). The only concern is that if you have the space, it tends to fill up. When this bag is full, it can get heavy!

If you’re not careful, it can be easy to exceed the airline weight specs by packing this bag full of gear. Airlines in the US rarely weigh carry-on bags but flying internationally can be different.

While you may not want to carry it all on your back, this bag certainly has the capacity to do it!

Ease of Use/Comfort

Because of the large capacity of this bag and the potential for it to get heavy, I was happy that NYA-EVO spent the time to develop a solid suspension system.

The straps are very well padded and feel great on your waist/shoulders. As mentioned above, I really appreciate the soft fabric of the components that touch your skin.

I like how this bag can accommodate a variety of items while keeping them organized in separate areas. Many bags use more of a rucksack approach that causes things to get jumbled, but that’s never an issue with the Fjord 60-C.

Each compartment feels purpose-built and has a defined space in the bag. I especially like the addition of a waterproof compartment and an expandable capacity. This gives me the flexibility to always stuff more gear in the bag.

I often find that my gear tends to grow as I travel. At the end of a trip, things are just not quite packed as neatly and therefore don’t fit into the same spaces.

With the expandable compartments, the Fjord 60-C is so easy to use.

Every detail of this bag feels customized to give the best functionality. From the zipper pulls to the interior pockets, this bag functions extremely well in a variety of situations.

Value for Money + Discount

At around US$400 this bag is right in line with other offerings. I think the main advantage of the Fjord 60-C is the organization and functionality built into the bag.

If you want a bag that’s built to travel the world and keep your camera gear protected (and accessible) while adventuring, this bag is a great choice.

With a lot of choices for adventure camera bags on the market these days, it can be tough to decide which model is most suited to your use.

If you want a bag that has a lot of features, is very durable, and will hold a lot of gear, the Fjord is a great choice.

If you want a simpler bag, the Shimoda Explore or Action series might be better suited to your needs. Depending on the selection, they may be a little cheaper but don’t offer quite as much organization.

Judging the value of the Fjord 60-C really depends on the needs you have.

If you’re a nomadic world-traveling photographer, this bag is perfect.

Additionally, this bag is built to last. It may be a little more expensive than some of the competitors but I think it will definitely outlast other bags!

NYA-EVO Fjord 60-C Review | Conclusion

Because the Fjord 60-C is incredibly durable, organized, and functional, I would recommend it as a great bag for the traveling photographer.

However, since having a light weight bag is one of my top priorities, I don’t think I will be using this bag very often – it’s just a little too heavy for everyday use for me.

I do plan to use it for some extended trips that require the simplicity and organization one bag can provide. It keeps all my equipment sorted out in a way that other bags can’t match.

Overall, this bag is an impressive design and has great looks. It carries well and feels great on my back, even when loaded with a large kit.

I appreciate the versatility it offers and that it looks like a proper hiking backpack (not a camera-specific backpack).

If you’re thinking of getting the Fjord 60-C, let me know in the comments below what features are most appealing and why!