Camera backpacks

Hi all,

what do you all use to carry your kit around on a day out? I'm trying, and failing, to choose a backpack. I like the idea of this one..

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/TRACKPACK-LARGE-PHOTO-RUCKSACK-NEW-RRP-79-99_W0QQitemZ3874...

with the ability to carry a large lens already attached, and space for lots more lenses etc.

Any recomendations?

Cheers

Liam

i use a tamron ltx series backpack that has withstood years of abuse, for my slr kit. I use a lowepro hip pack for slr and a couple lenses.
I also use padded lunch coolers, coleman coolers, a diaper bag, and other bags. depends where I'm going and what I'm carrying.
my advice in choosing a backpack is this:
Comfort! Waist belt, shoulder straps and chest strap, should all work together to keep the weight on your hips and shoulders not your back.
Balance! bags should distribute weight properly.
Ease of access! you should be able to get at your rig easily and find stuff quickly.
Design! it should help you to stay organised, and not allow dirt/sand etc in when you set it down to open it.

The trouble with backpacks is they are very slow to access the equipment. You stop, take off the pack, undo it, get the kit out, and so on.

I now always use shoulder bags worn across the chest so they don't slip off the shoulder, and always use rapid access designs like the Billingham Alice and Hadley. If I need more euipment I wear two bags, one each side, but it is raely necessary.

In addition, one bag is not enough. The size of bag is geared towards the smallest possible for the purpose. Only necessary items are acrried for any particular purpose. The lighter the load, the more inclined I feel to walk further and the better the results will be.

Buy a fairly good one - it is worth the relatively modest investment. I have a Tamrac model which is quite comfortable and versatile. The Lowepro ones have a good reputation as well, and come in a wide variety of sizes with various levels of features. Another recomended option is the Crumpler 'Brians Hot Tub' which opens 'backwards'. This means when you take it off you dont put the bit that touches your back on the ground - so it does not get wet and muddy. The one in the ebay ad looks a bit flimsy and the strap sytem looks rather rudimentary - probably best avoided.

I use a choice of three bags, a large Jessop's Palmyra shoulder bag (would like a Billingham but to expensive at the moment), a smaller Jessop's Town and Country shoulder bag or a Lowepro Mini Trekker AW Backpack depending on what kit I wish to carry, also depends where I'm going, what I'm going to shoot or how I intend to get there.

The Mini Trekker can carry as much kit as the Palmyra and is very comfortable to wear for extended periods, either walking or cycling. I actual prefer to use the backpack but as John mentions, the shoulder bags are much easier and quicker to access, the backpack now mostly gets used when I'm out on the bike (it has an integrated weather cover which get plenty of use up here).

I use a Lowepro Micro-Trekker 200 SE. Not all-weather, sadly, though showerproof.

It'll take a body with long lens fitted - such as a *ist D with F* 300mm. It's too small to take the M 400mm, though, unless detached. There's space for several smaller lenses, plus batteries, etc. as well.

When full it's pretty heavy, and I wouldn't want a larger bag. Even when travelling abroad it takes all the equipment I am likely to use, and more.

I take JR's point about access, but I think it's a question of need. If I'm just out for the afternoon, I'll take a smaller bag slung round the front. If I'm on a jopurney, I'll take the Trekker.

G

Thanks all, for the advice.

A couple of points I hadn't considered there, so I'll probably pop down Jessops and try a few on , once I've worked out what I need exactly.

Cheers

Liam

I use a Lowepro Rover AW II, which is pretty waterproof on its own, and has a built-in rain cover. I also have a couple of slip-lock pouches attached to the hip belt in which I carry two lenses which I am most likely to switch to. This gets round John's problem of stop, take off ruckack open, change etc etc. You can also get very large slip-lock cases which should take the longer focal length lenses.

Hi,

I would be very wary of all backpacks, they look great and are good to 'wear', however I had a supposed good quality Tamrac one. The first time I used it in rain, was a 5 minute shower in Wales....all the gear in the top of the backpack was literally covered in water..the zips at the top had allowed water penetration very badly. Suggest you ask any sellers to guarantee WATERPROOF not weather or shower RESISTANT.

I now use a relatively unknown to the UK shoulder bag from the USA by Domke.

Cheers Steve (UK)

I use a Lowepro Mini-trekker. I've had it for quite a number of years and been impressed with it.

All of my bags are Lowepro AW (All Weather) models. Backpack is a mini-trekker AW, other bags are Stealth Reporter 500 AW and 300 AW. I have a non-AW TLZ-2 as well for carrying around 1 X SLR with a 70-210 or similar length Zoom lens.

low pro compu treaker allows you to carry your laptop as well as all your digital tack

you can have a large telephotolans attached

: just havent figured out where you put the generator to power the laptop though the pockets are a bit small even for a honda hehehe

I am more than happy with a Konica/Minolta backpack. It takes my ist and 3 lens no problem plus an Apacer CD-burner etc etc + an umbrella!

Hi all,

I decided on which bag to get..

http://www.lowepro.com/Products/Sling_Bags/Designed_for_Digital/SlingShot_200_AW...

It arrived today, and is perfect for my needs. It incorporates an all weather waterproof cover (attached) that comes out of a little hidden pocket underneath, and is very comfortable as well.

I'd recommend it for using as a day pack, although if you regularly use a lens much bigger than a 100-300 (which fits quite nicely), you may need something a bit roomier.

Cheers

Liam

That looks quite an interesting option. At the moment I have a Mini-Trekker which can carry a decent sized system (DS, 10-20, 24-135, 80-200 F2.8, 55 macro, flash, 2xTC, filters, tripod attached externally) and a Nova (can't remember which) which will just about take the DS, 10-20 & 24-135 and a few filters but is a bit of a squeeze with two sizable lenses.

Do you think an 80-200 F2.8 would fit in that bag or is likely to be too long?