The Edit: This is an honest Nanuk N-PVD 35L review from a 6 foot 3 photographer in a full time traveling family. I’ve carried it for almost two years on flights, military hops, road trips, and hikes. The N-PVD 35L is a 35 liter camera backpack for hiking and travel from NANUK, a protective case brand based in Terrebonne, Québec. Its parent company, Plasticase, has made cases since 1984, and SKB Cases and MPE Partners acquired NANUK in April 2026. Per Nanuk, the bag measures 24 x 12.2 x 10.2 inches and weighs 4.95 pounds empty. I bought it with two N-CUBIK 17S organizers through AAFES on Black Friday 2024. The verdict: it fits the overhead bin, hikes well once I strip it down, and has needed one hand sewn strap repair. There is no Nanuk promo code right now. Written for photographers and drone pilots who travel and need one bag to carry it all.

We bought this bag ourselves. Our opinions are our own.

You can find the Nanuk N-PVD 35L direct from Nanuk. There’s no promo code from us right now, though. If that ever changes, it goes on our discount codes page first.

A Camera Backpack for Travel, Tested by a Full Time Traveling Family

We fly constantly, so this is where a bag earns its keep with us.

Too big on paper, never stopped

This bag is 24 inches long. Most US airlines set carry on bags at about 22. So on paper, mine is over the line, even though Nanuk lists it as airline carry on. In practice, nobody has ever stopped it. I’ve flown with it for almost two years. On commercial flights, it has gone in the bin every time, and the bin has closed.

The shape does the work

The top of the bag is the reason. It slopes, and that slope sits flush against the back wall of the bin. First, I slide the bag in flat with the straps facing up. After that, the extra length just disappears. Somebody clearly planned it that way, and I love that detail.

Wondering whether your own pack counts as a personal item or a carry on? I broke down what really happens at the gate in Is a Backpack a Personal Item?

It’s heavy, so I set it down

Fully loaded, my bag weighs about 35 pounds. That is not light at all. So at airports, I don’t wear it the whole time. Instead, I find a spot and set it down whenever I can. A carry strap sits in the padded back panel, and it helps a lot. Because of that strap, I can pull the bag out and pick it up while it lies flat.

On military hops

We fly military hops more than anything else. The Nanuk has made those trips too, and nobody has turned it away. On some of those aircraft, though, there is no overhead bin at all. That’s why two carabiners live in my bag. Our military hops packing guide covers the rest of what we bring.

Is It a Good Camera Backpack for Hiking?

Yes, as long as I lighten it first. I don’t own a dedicated hiking pack, so this bag does both jobs.

I strip it down first

A hike is a different game. More weight is a killer when you’re covering long distances to reach a shot. So before a trail day, I pull out everything that doesn’t need to come. Usually, that leaves the camera and a couple of lenses. The bag is also shaped oddly for hiking. It has a big open cavity down low and a square pouch up top. Because of that, I pack the heaviest gear low and close to my core. My full loading method is in our guide to what to pack in a day hike backpack.

How it carries on a tall frame

I’m 6 foot 3 and about 200 pounds. On me, the bag feels fairly comfortable. The waist belt deserves most of the credit. It takes the load, spreads it out, and pulls some weight off my shoulders. Still, I can only speak for my own build.

Is it a waterproof camera backpack for hiking?

Nanuk calls the fabric water resistant. The removable rain cover is the piece the tag calls waterproof. I have used that cover, and it works. However, I honestly can’t remember where I was that day.

What Fits in the Nanuk N-PVD 35L

Nanuk says the 35L fits two to three camera bodies, two large lenses, a drone, a tripod, and a 16 inch laptop. However, here is how I really use the space.

Two N-CUBIK 17S organizers

Two N-CUBIK 17S organizers ride inside my bag. Between them, they hold the camera body, the lenses, and the drone gear. They keep everything from shifting, yet they pull out fast. That especially matters on easy days. Sometimes I leave the big bag in the car and work out of one small case. That way, the camera body and an extra lens stay handy, and the load stays light.

What’s in there, by category

I’m not going to list every item, but here is the shape of it. First of all, the camera kit is a body, a set of lenses, and filters. Next comes the drone kit. After that, there’s power, which means batteries, a wall charger, a slim battery bank, and tons of cords. A few small LED lights also ride along. Then there’s the tablet, plus memory cards, thumb drives, and cleaning gear. Finally, a small go anywhere kit rounds it out. It holds a small medical kit, sunscreen, a buff, paracord, a towel, and two carabiners. A multitool with no knife blade lives in there too. Overall, this really is a go everywhere bag.

Fins on the outside

Here’s a use Nanuk probably didn’t plan for. I strap my diving fins to the outside of the bag with paracord. As a result, they don’t eat space anywhere else. The fins themselves are in our guide to snorkel gear worth buying.

The One Repair I Had to Make

Here is the honest part of this review.

What came loose

The stitching on my right shoulder strap started coming loose. It happened right where the strap connects to the bag. It never pulled all the way out, but I could see it going. I think abrasion caused it. The drone case rides in the top pouch and rubs that spot. On top of that, I tend to pick the bag up by one side.

How I fixed it

I fixed it myself. I used a standard hand sewing needle from a little kit I picked up at Legoland Malaysia. For thread, I used thick black polyester made for outdoor gear. Then I back stitched the seam and packed in plenty of thread. I wanted to make sure it wouldn’t come loose again anytime soon. That’s the only thing that has gone wrong in almost two years. It also took about a year and a half to show up. By then, the bag had been through heavy use and abuse in cars, airplanes, boats, and trains, plus plenty of hikes. Still, it’s worth knowing if you load a bag as heavy as I do.

What I haven’t tested

Nanuk lists a limited lifetime warranty on its site. However, I never contacted them about the strap. I just fixed it and kept moving. So I can’t tell you how a warranty claim goes. If I ever file one, I’ll add what happened here.

Who the Nanuk N-PVD 35L Is For, and Who Should Skip It

This bag isn’t for everyone. Here’s how I’d sort it after almost two years.

Who it’s for

This bag is for photographers and drone pilots who travel and want one bag for everything. It shines when your trips mix flights, military hops, road trips, and trails, because that’s exactly how we use it. It also suits anyone who’d rather carry a backpack than a hard case. For a full time traveling family like ours, that trade makes sense right now.

Who should skip it

If you want a light bag, this isn’t it. Loaded the way I load it, mine weighs about 35 pounds. If your gear has to ride in a hard shell, Nanuk’s hard cases are the better match. And if you want color, keep looking. It only comes in black, and Amanda wanted something girly.

What I like and what I’d change

What I like most is how well it fits the overhead bin. On top of that, the waist belt carries the load, the rain cover works, and my setup is dialed in. What I’d change is the strap seam where the drone case rubs. That said, it took about a year and a half of heavy use to show up.

Where to Buy the Nanuk N-PVD 35L

You have a few options, and one of them is for military families.

Where we bought ours

We bought ours through AAFES on Black Friday 2024, tax free. If you have exchange privileges, check whether they still stock it. Otherwise, Nanuk sells it direct.

Is there a Nanuk discount code?

There’s no Nanuk promo code from us right now. Meanwhile, the codes we do have for other brands all live on our discount codes page.

Frequently Asked Questions

Would I Buy the Nanuk N-PVD 35L Again?

Yes, I would. I’d shop around first, though, to make sure it’s still the best fit for how we travel.

I’m a 6 foot 3 photographer in a full time traveling family, and I needed one bag for everything. This one solved that. It fits the bin, it hikes once I strip it down, and I have it dialed in. Out in the wild, I’ve spotted WANDRD bags, a green Domke sling, and a few others I couldn’t name. However, I’ve never seen another one of these. Still, the strap seam is the only thing I’ve had to fix. If I ever use the warranty, I’ll update this post.

You can find the Nanuk N-PVD 35L and the N-CUBIK 17S organizers direct from Nanuk. There’s no promo code right now, and any future one will land on our discount codes page. Flying with it soon? Then start with our guide to whether a backpack is a personal item.