Gear: Know your Paks

Know your HipstaPaks from your SnapPaks? With 30 lense, 10 flashes, 33 films and 21 cases, knowing what you’ve got and what you’re missing can sometimes get a little confusing. Here’s a quick guide to the different gear Paks on offer from Hipstamatic.

Different types of Pak
There are several different types of Paks, and understanding them makes things a bit easier:

  1. FreePaks: the name gives it away – these are free to download, and are often linked to a film, brand or event (Cowboys & Aliens, Nike, SXSW etc.).
  2. GoodPaks: the money raised from these goes towards charitable causes or ventures.
  3. HipstaPaks: bundles of gear that work well together but are also versatile – “not designed for any specific situation or lighting condition, but rather as general use equipment” (Ryan Dorshorst, co-founder).
  4. SnapPaks: collections of gear that have a specific primary purpose, such as portraiture or food photography.
  5. RetroPaks: these give you the chance to buy limited edition gear after its original release period. Often only available over selected weekends, RetroPaks don’t include camera cases from the original Paks.

It’s also worth noting that standard HipstaPaks tend to be available indefinitely, whereas the other types of Paks are often limited edition. It’s good protocol to just download Paks as soon as they’re released – that way you won’t be kicking yourself if you miss a killer bit of kit!

Promotional artwork for Soho/Mac & Milk Paks

Promotional artwork for Soho/Mac & Milk Paks

For a full list of add-on equipment that’s available, check out the gear hub over on Hipstamatic’s webpage.