If you have a camera that you care about that you want to take with you on the mountain then look no further than the Burton Zoom. This pack was made for the photographer and videographer to ski or snowboard and stick to your back comfortably, while carrying the backcountry essentials for a day trip. First and foremost the pack provides protection for your expensive gear with dense 1/4″ foam padding lining the entire camera compartment. The pack is made of water resistant nylon, coated on the inside with a water-resistant lining.
Camera Compartment
When opened, the pack looks very similar to most photo packs of its size with removable 1/4″ foam dividers secured in place by velcro. The 3 rows of camera compartment are divided by 2 main foam dividers spanning 12″ top to bottom with removable 1/4″ foam divider pieces that secure into place with velcro. Each row of storage space is approximately 3″ wide for a total of 2,200 cubic inches of storage space.
The camera compartment can be divided up just about any way you can think of to suit your needs for that day of shooting photos or video. The basic setup would be with your primary SLR camera body and longest lens attatched with the camera body at the top of the pack with the lens pointing down. To each side of the main storage row is room for (3) 35mm leses up to 4.5″ tall. I have mine configured to hold my flash and one lens on one side and on the other side, one lens, a tele converter and extension tubes.
This pack opens from the back unlike most photo packs to allow for easier access to your photo gear if you have a shovel, probe, or snowboard strapped to the outside of your pack. The access flap to the camera compartment is padded very well for a comfortable fit and to protect your gear. On the inside of this flap are two large pockets enclosed with clear plastic so nothing can hide from you. These pockets are thin, meant for things like batteries, cables, filters, buisness cards, Mini DV tapes, etc. Each of the two pockets are 7″ wide and 6″ tall. To top it off there is a secondary interior cover (a flap made of the same water-repellent nylon) that you can use to keep out snow, dust, and water out of your camera while you change lenses!
Exterior Storage
The outside of this pack also provides lots of functional storage. The outside face of this pack has a carrying pockets for a collapsable shovel with 2 straps to carry a tripod or to vertically carry skis or a snowboard. The two other elastic straps work perfectly to carry a probe or a monopod and can be cinched down tight to keep your gear on your back.
On both sides there are pockets for (3) rolls of film per pocket. Above the left side is a pocket perfectly sized for a nice quenching can of PBR or whatever else you may desire that would fit in a space the size of an 8oz. beverage can. On the other side is a mesh pocket with an elastic top cinch down a water bottle.
The top of this pack has yet another pocket measuring 5″ tall by 5″ deep by 10″ wide. Inside this pocket is a mesh pocket to hold your keys, wallet, and anything else you might want to bring for the day that you want to be secured here. I store my wireless flash remotes, sunscreen, talkabouts, and snacks in this pocket.
Carrying Straps
Finally, the straps have the same 1/4″ dense foam padding with a nylon loop and plastic D-ring on each strap. A waist strap and elastic chest strap make this pack stick to your back while riding.
— Erik Seo – FeedTheHabit.com Correspondent
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