SmallRig announced the Professional Outdoor Backpack (25L) 6521 yesterday, and the headline feature, a hook-and-loop interior that holds dividers in place, is undeniably clever. The problem is that it is not SmallRig's cleverness. It is Hasselblad's. The design echoes the Våndås backpack almost verbatim, and the question hanging over this launch is not whether the bag works, but whether SmallRig crossed a line between inspiration and imitation. For a brand that has built its reputation on enabling creators to customize their rigs, this feels less like innovation and more like a shortcut. We have covered SmallRig's agility before, they were quick to support the Unlock the Nikon Z5 IIC’s Potential with SmallRig’s New Accessories just hours after Nikon's announcement, but speed does not excuse borrowing a competitor's blueprint.
The practical takeaway for our readers is straightforward: if you are a photographer who values original design, this backpack may give you pause. The interior system works, yes, but it works because Hasselblad already proved the concept. SmallRig's marketing calls the layout "innovative," yet the innovation belongs to someone else. That distinction matters when you are spending your money on gear that should reflect thoughtful engineering, not convenient copywork. We recently wrote about how Unfold Radiance: The OrBrella FM 60B Light Transforms in Seconds brought a genuinely fresh approach to portable lighting, a product that solved a problem without mimicking an existing solution. That is the standard SmallRig set for itself, and this backpack does not meet it.
What would we tell a reader who asks whether to buy the 25L? If your priority is function alone, the bag will likely serve you well. The hook-and-loop dividers are practical, and the 25-liter capacity suits a day of location shooting. But if you care about the story behind the gear you carry, this one comes with a footnote. SmallRig has not acknowledged the resemblance publicly, and silence in the face of a clear design echo feels like a missed opportunity for honesty. The brand could have credited Hasselblad's influence and framed the bag as an homage or a licensed evolution. Instead, they claimed the interior as their own breakthrough.
Watch for how the photography community responds. If SmallRig faces pushback, their next move, whether they double down, adjust the design, or offer a transparent statement, will tell us more about their values than any press release ever could. The bag itself may be a solid tool, but the conversation around it is already about something larger: what we accept as innovation in an industry that thrives on iteration. For now, the smartest thing a creator can do is look closely at the details before deciding whose design they want on their back.