F-STOP TIPS AND TRICKS
CAMERA UNITIS STACKING & HATCHBACKING
October 2018
Our Mountain Series systems have become widely recognized for their comfort and modularity. A feature our hardware people always speak highly about has been the compatibility with our ICU system (a.k.a. Internal Camera Unit). It enables users the ability to balance their load and compartmentalize their gear. Although many ICU options are available, users are not limited to a single option per bag. This is something we hope to cover in this f-stop Tips & Tricks - ICU stacking and hatchbacking.
Stacking and Hatchbacking Defined:
ICU stacking is simply placing one ICU on another, preferably positioned to both be accessible through the rear. ICU hatchbacking is stacking and rotating a small sized ICU to be accessed from the top. Some things to be aware of when stacking ICUs is the size of the opening of your f-stop pack. For example, a Lotus has a rear access opening the size of a large ICU. If you stack a Medium ICU you exceed the size of the opening. However, a small and small will work just fine as the two equal the size of a large in terms of height.
The rear panel opening on the Lotus and Kashmir is 16” ( 40.6cm ) while the opening on all of the larger bags are 17” ( 43.2cm ). The depth will vary, but all of the packs are at least 7” in max depth. If you’re selecting a bag around ICU compatibility, be aware that the larger bags are designed to not also carry more volume, but also weight. Please reference the compatibility chart below to see what combinations work best with each of our current Mountain Series bags.
FINAL THOUGHTS:
For those needing to utilize the entire main compartment for strictly camera gear, ICU stacking is one of the most efficient methods of doing so. There are countless configurations that could be done and the ability to stack and separate different kits could be the optimal setup for your workflow. If you are in need of assistance in picking the right combination, give us a call and we’ll help you get sorted. For everyone else, happy packing and hopefully this article provides some insight on another way to configure your f-stop.
Here you can take a look at the ICU fitting guides:
