The Shimoda Side Street is an urban-style side-access camera bag with a roll-top section for your non-photographic essentials and a padded laptop sleeve. The Side Street brings Shimoda’s rugged, outdoorsy styling to the city, much like its rear-access Urban Explore backpack. If you like the idea of a simpler, lower-priced Shimoda backpack with a removable shoulder holster inside it, this may be the camera bag for you. In this review, we’ll take a detailed look at the Side Street’s features and compare it to the other camera backpacks in the Shimoda Side Series lineup.
Disclaimer: Shimoda provided the Side Lite 28L backpack for testing and review. No money changed hands, and they did not get to see the review before it was published.
Table of Contents
Shimoda Side Series Explained
Before we dig into the specifics of the Side Street backpack, we need to take a second to understand the big difference between Shimoda’s Side Series backpacks and all of its previous camera packs. The Side Series comprises three side-access backpacks that work in conjunction with Shimoda’s Top Loader camera holsters to create a multi-purpose ecosystem of camera-carrying solutions that adapt to your needs as your day or photographic trip evolves.
Instead of using the brand’s well-known Core Unit system for camera protection, as seen in the Explore and Action X series of backpacks, the Side Series relies on Top Loader holsters. These offer a protective pod for cameras and lenses within the backpacks and can also be repurposed as shoulder bags, hip holsters, or chest harnesses once removed from the pack.
The Top Loaders are available in three sizes: Small, Medium, and Large. The Small and Large sizes are available in Black or Boa colors. The Medium is also available in Black or Boa, along with a third black and white cross-hatched pattern, which is exclusive to the Side Series bags when purchased as a kit (Top Loader + backpack shell).
While the Side Lite and Sidecountry backpacks are available in a “shell only” configuration, the Side Street backpack, the subject of this review, is only available as a kit with the medium Black and White Top Loader. If you want to pair the Side Street with a Small or Large Top Loader, that would require an additional purchase. To get more details about the holsters, check out my Top Loader review.
Shimoda Side Street Specifications
- Minimalist urban-style side-access camera bag
- Rain cover included
- Carry-on friendly sizing
- Color – Anthracite or Boa
- Laptop – Up to a 16-inch laptop
- Volume – 22L or 28L
- 22L Outside Dimensions – 10.6W x 17.1H x 6.7D in (27W x 43.5H x 17D cm)
- 22L Inside Dimensions – 10.2W x 16.7H x 6.3D in (26W x 42.5H x 16D cm)
- 28L Outside Dimensions – 19.7W x 11.4H x 6.7D in (50W x 29H x 17D cm)
- 28L Inside Dimensions – 19.3W x 11H x 6.3D in (49W x 28H x 16D cm)
- 22L Weight (shell + medium Top Loader) – 3.9lb (1.77kg)
- 28L Weight (shell + medium Top Loader) – 4.2lb (1.92kg)
- Price at review time – $269.95 / $299.90 – Check current price.
Side Street Design and Features
I always like to break down the bag’s features and share some detailed images. Although the Shimoda Side Street is the brand’s least expensive backpack, it still packs in a good number of features. Let’s dig into them now.
Grab Handles
Nylon grab handles at the top and bottom of the bag can be used for moving the bag around on the ground, or extracting it from an overhead locker in an airplane, or a shelf on a bus or train. These are thin handles, designed for very short-term carry.
Roll Top
The Side Street features an expandable roll-top design with a lightweight magnetic fastener attached to a nylon webbing strap for secure closure. Instead of buckling both sides of the rolled top together, as you do with many roll-top bags, the rolled material is secured by a single nylon strap. One advantage of this design is that the strap also compresses the contents of the bag’s top section. If you pack softer items at the top, you can squish them down when the strap is tightened.
Onsen Bag
Inside the bag’s roll-top, you’ll find a lightweight removable pocket that Shimoda calls an Onsen Bag. The Onsen Bag is secured into the top half of the bag using hook-and-loop and two snaps. Left in place, the Onsen Bag splits the backpack in two, separating your non-photographic items from the Top Loader camera holster in the bottom half. Once removed, the Onsen bag can be carried with its nylon handles. If you leave the Onsen bag out of the bag, the bag acts as a regular backpack with a single 22L or 28L internal volume.
AirTag Pocket
Shimoda has been working to add Apple AirTag pockets to most of its backpacks and accessory bags. The pocket is well hidden within the top section of the bag. Sorry, non-Apple folks. I have written before about how useful it is to keep track of your gear this way, and I love to see this becoming a standard feature in camera bags. I don’t know if there are any equivalent tracking devices for the Android ecosystem.
Quick Access Zipper + Laptop Pocket
Shimoda calls this the quick-access zipper, which provides access to the padded 16-inch laptop sleeve. It also allows you to access the top section of the bag without unrolling the roll-top. The problem with that second use is that the roll-top’s nylon securing strap runs right across the middle of the zipper (see above photo). This means that to open the zipper fully, you need to release the roll-top’s securing strap. At that point, you may as well access your gear from the wider opening of the roll.
Additionally, since the roll-top isn’t buckled together in the same way it is on the Shimoda Sidecountry, and so is held closed by the compression of that nylon webbing strap, it tends to unroll when you undo the strap to open the front zipper.
Front Zippered Pocket
The front zippered pocket is positioned and oriented so that you can access its contents without needing to set the bag down. Swing the bag around your torso off by taking it off your left shoulder, and you have access to your camera gear. If you remove the bag from your right shoulder and rotate it to the front, this zippered pocket will be positioned directly in front of you and oriented correctly. This position, and the flat nature of the pocket’s interior, make it ideal for slim quick-access items such as a memory card wallet.
Side Zippered Pocket
One side of the bag includes a large zippered pocket that holds a smaller zippered pocket and a lightly padded unzipped larger pocket. The smaller pocket is an excellent size for a filter or two, or a small case containing spare camera batteries. The larger pocket is a great place to store a tech pouch, a larger filter case, such as the Shimoda Filter Wrap, or the Shimoda Accessory Pouch.
Camera Access
The Side Street’s camera access is via a zippered side hatch, allowing you to swing the bag off one shoulder and around to your front to grab what you need without putting things on the ground. The bag comes with a medium-sized Top Loader designed to hold a mirrorless camera with a standard zoom lens attached, alongside one additional lens. The attached lens can be anything up to a 24-70mm f/2.8.
If you need to carry more or less gear, you can optionally purchase a small or large Top Loader. That said, you should calculate the purchase prices. In many cases, depending on the size variation you choose, it may be more cost-effective to buy the Shimoda Side Lite or Sidecountry in the shell-only option and then add the Top Loader size you need instead of being forced to buy the Side Street as a kit with a size of Top Loader you don’t want.
Tripod Carry
The Side Street backpack features identical side pockets on both sides. When not in use, the pockets are pulled flat to the side of the bag by an elastic strap in one corner. A nylon strap with a custom Shimoda metal g-hook secures a small travel tripod.
Sternum Strap
The adjustable sternum strap on the Side Street models uses a magnetic buckle and includes a hypalon pull tab and an elastic strap keeper to keep things tidy. A good amount of vertical positional adjustment is available.
Back Padding and Lumbar
Two sections of aerated mesh padding enhance overall carrying comfort. In this regard, the photos are somewhat self-explanatory. The separated sections create a gap in the middle of the pack that promotes improved airflow while minimizing the overall weight of the bag. The padding feels sufficient for a bag designed for urban use, where your carrying duration will likely be shorter side.
Shoulder Straps
The Side Street features the same thickly padded straps as the Shimoda Urban Explore. They are shaped similarly to the brand’s Explore and Action X pack straps, but do not include additional features, such as a phone pocket or a water bottle pocket. The one feature they maintain is the camera clip rail for easily attaching a Peak Design Capture Clip or a similar knock-off device. Shimoda states that the contour of the straps suits both men and women, and unlike some of the brand’s other packs, this one isn’t available with a women-specific strap option.
Hip Belt
The hip belt of the Side Street is removable, and if you plan to use this bag in a mostly urban environment, you should consider doing so. Those who keep the belt installed for occasional hikes and adventures will find it comfortable and helpful, particularly with pack stability. However, it offers only minimal support on the hips for a heavy load when the pack is fully laden.
Rain Cover
Though the bag’s face fabric is tough and reasonably weatherproof, the Side Street comes with a black rain cover for use in torrential downpours.
Compared to Other Side Series Backpacks
If you’re considering Shimoda’s Side Street backpack, you may wonder whether the other Side Series backpacks, such as the Side Lite or Sidecountry, might be a better solution for your needs. The Site Lite is only available with a 22L volume, while the Side Street comes in 22L and 28L varieties. The largest of the three bags in the series is the Sidecountry, available in 28L or 32L sizes. The available volumes alone may influence your decision. Also noteworthy is that the Large Top Loader doesn’t fit in the Side Lite, but does fit in both sizes of the Side Street, and both Sidecountry models. Further differences are noted in the table below, or you can read my Sidecountry review or Side Lite review.
| Feature | Side Street | Side Lite | Sidecountry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Volume | 22L or 28L | 22L | 28L or 32L |
| Weight (shell) | N/A | 2.4 lb | 2.9 lb or 3.1 lb |
| Weight (kit with medium Top Loader) | 3.9 lb or 4.2 lb | 3.5 lb | 4.4 lb / 4.6 lb |
| Color | Anthracite or Boa | Black & White | Black & White |
| Laptop Sleeve | Up to 16″ | No | Up to 16″ |
| Laptop Sleeve Is Removable? | No | N/A | Yes |
| Hidden AirTag Pocket | Yes | No | Yes |
| Removable Onsen Bag | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Small Top Loader Compatibility | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Medium Top Loader Compatibility | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Large Top Loader Compatibility | Yes | No | Yes |
| Available as a Kit with Medium Top Loader | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Available As an Empty Backpack Shell? | No | Yes | Yes |
| Sternum Strap Safety Whistle? | No | Yes | Yes |
| Side Tripod Pockets | Yes | Yes | No |
| Removable belt | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Shoulder Strap Phone and Accessory Pockets | No | Yes | Yes |
| Camera Clip Compatible Shoulder Strap | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Price at Review Time – Shell Only | N/A | $239.95 | $299.95 (28L)/$319.95 (32L) |
| Price at Review Time – Kit | $269.95 (22L)/$299.95 (28L) | $319.90 | $379.90 (28L)/ $399.90 (32L) |
Conclusion
The Shimoda Side Street, with its removable holster-style Top Loader shoulder bag, is a versatile camera bag designed for urban use. Despite its position as the more city-oriented bag in the Shimoda Side Series lineup, the tough face fabric chosen by Shimoda, along with the thickly padded shoulder straps, makes this a suitable companion for occasional outdoor adventures. Interestingly, this is now the least expensive camera backpack in Shimoda’s catalog, which may open up ownership possibilities for a few more people who couldn’t previously afford some of the more technical packs, like the Explore, Action X, or Sidecountry.
One thing you should keep in mind is how much use you think you’ll give to the removable Top Loader holster, which is such an integral part of the Side Series system. Shimoda’s choice to use these holster bags for camera protection in the Side Street offers a lot of functional flexibility. Still, it comes at the expense of camera and lens capacity. For their overall size, the Side Series can carry significantly less camera gear than other comparably sized and priced alternatives. However, if you can envision many scenarios in which you would set aside the backpack shell and utilize your gear in the Top Loader, the Side Street remains a unique and compelling choice.
Where to Buy (+ Save 10%)
Shimoda Designs has offered Shutter Muse readers a 10% discount on anything purchased through their online stores. US, Canadian, UK, French, or German residents should use the discount code ShutterMuse10 after clicking here to access the store. Australian readers should use the same code on the local Shimoda distributor’s site, Maxxum, instead.
It’s always appreciated when you use my links for your purchases. I recommend shopping directly with Shimoda, if you can, to take advantage of that 10% discount. However, using one of our other links is also appreciated if you are unable to do so.
