Multi-day hiking problem.

This is a problem already discuss earlier here I believe but still there wasn't a real solution.

The problem is I want to do a multiday hike so I need a big backpack 65 or 75 liter where everything fits in clothes, sleepingbag, tent, etc.
Now I also want to take with me the camera and here is where the problem comes. Taking two bags for the camera and the other gear isn't practical and there aren't camera bags so far as I know that are big enough to carry the other gear.

I'm wondering if there are some hikers here with a solution to this problem.

My idea so far is to get a bag like this link and simply carry the camera and lenses in the side pockets. The only problem is that the lenses are free to move then and I'm afraid of damaging them.
I also looked at this one link it says it has pockets but I don't know what kind, if they are side pockets I can use the compression straps to pull it all closer together so that the lenses don't have room to move.

What do you think or do you have more ideas or suggestions?

Thank you for reading.

Stefan,
The problem is how much can you carry being comfortable. My brother once went with 2 rucksacks, one on his back, the other on his chest. It also helped him with a balance (or at least he claimed so).
Do you want to have an easy access to the camera?
Did you think about a large rucksack (at least 75l) with separate chambers? Then you can put heaviest and sturdiest things on the bottom, then clothes etc, then camera equipment? BTW, tent / sleepingbag they won't go inside, do they?

I must admit I never hiked with a large rucksack, usually I left it at the campsite (or wherever I stayed) and walked with much smaller one.

My son used to have a rucksack on his back and a small day pack on his front when he went hiking. He travelled all over the UK and Ireland like that, plus through Portugal in the summer heat.
I recently saw somewhere a camera bag designed to be carried in front, clipped onto the rucksack straps, but I can't for the life of me find it at the mo. It's too late in the day and my head is still full of tonight's concert. I'll see if I can find it in the morning.

Hi Stefan,

I do a fair amount of hiking from one day trips though to 2 week backpacking trips (carrying everything including food).

I find that with modern light weight kit I can get everything for a 2 day trip into a 55 litre sack - including tent, sleeping bag, sleeping mat, food, stove, clothes, waterproofs and camera. Given that usually when hiking photography is a secondary objective I would just carry K20D (no grip), spare battery, spare cards, and DA*16-50 all in a Lowe Topload zoom 1 which can either go in the pack, on a waist belt or on neck strap - but I prefer in pack.

If I feel that there may be a few more photo opportunities then a combined walking stick monopod is handy, and for a second lens I would take the DA 50-200 in a small Lowe lens pouch.

On a longer trip (3 or more days) I would use a larger bag (75 litre) because more food and some extra clothes would need to carried, but I would not see my self filling the spare space with camera gear. Extra camera gear would probably be just extra batteries and cards.

Looking at your kit I would take the K10D, 40Ltd and 18-250; the 18-250 would be the standard lens for the trip with the 40Ltd for special occasions. But if you think there may be a heavy macro bias to your photography then the 18-55 plus 100macro would be a good combination too.
As you are outdoors the flash will be unnecessary the pop-up will be fine for pictures of companions at night or for fill in flash for a person in front of a scene.

I would only take a tripod if the objective of the trip was to walk to a particular location where pictures were to be taken and a tripod was known to be needed for the pictures required.

Have a good time and bring back some pictures to show us.

Thank you all for your helpfull comments.
A bag on your chest doesn't do it for me, it limits you in your movement.

To at a bit to Bob advice, the gear would be.
The DA40, no excuse not to take it with you.
DFA 100 with 2x tc, my most used lens can't do with out it.
The flashgun.
Then I also have a carbon monopod, I'm not worried about that since there are many option to fit it onto the bag.
And then the small bits, cards batteries etc. also not really something to worry.

My main concern is that the lenses will move in my pack and get damage.
I also want to have a longer lens in the near future for wildlife which would complicate things. Maybe I just need to cut image quality and get the DA 55-300 instead of the longer lens

The lowe packs have two compartments, one top and botom. I could do the sleeping bag in the bottom and do the camera gear above that so that it atleast have some protection. A small camera back might also be an option. Like some said, the balance is important and the camera isn't the lightest thing.

I've recently bought an Osprey Atmos, brilliant lightweight rucksac..the beauty of it is that it has 2 external pockets large enough to carry lenses in padded pouches, your kit & the body can go in the main compartment. I've owned several rucksacs and I can honestly say that the Atmos is the most comfortable by far

simon

Personally Osprey never could cought my interest, the new packs looks better but there older models where just to heavy for my interest at the time.
I just had a look but those are open sidepockets Simon, what if it will rain or if you fall in the snow, no change of them coming out?
Also only 50liters...
I already have a lightweight 25liter pack from Mammut, I can fit in their everything for a weekend so long I don't need to sleep outside.

The new Atmos packs are probably the lightest available, massive difference to my previous Berghaus effort..the strap/waistband system is excellent too as it really transfers weight very well.

The pack has the 2 open side pockets, as you say not much use for photographic gear..I use them to carry waterbottles... but also 2 very large zipped pockets which are probably more on the front of the pack than the side..these are the ones I meant.....I'd highly recommend you go & give one a try in the shop, it's an excellent pack.

If you do end up using a bag or compartment not designed for camera equipment, lenses are protected well simply by keeping them in leather pouches. Fill up any spare space in the compartment with something like an item of clothing.

One of these pouches even totally protected one of my lenses as I dropped it on a concrete floor - not that I'm recommending you test yours that severely!

The camera can be protected by an Op/tech neoprene pouch, with other items packed under and around it for extra shock absorbtion. I use one when I cycle with a bike bag rather than camera bag.

The only major downside to using a non camera-specific bag is that it's slower to access your gear.

Simon, the bag might be excellent but it's to small for my use, I really need atleast 50liter and that's without any camera gear, so 65 or 75 liter are the bags I'm looking at.
Lowe has a special system for your back which seems to give the most freedom of movement, that's something what is important to me and one of the reasons I don't want a second bag on my chest.

Pete, I might have a bit of luck. I've a crumpler bag and where you can take the whole complete padding out of it, just need to find another bag where I can fit it in and I'm setteld.
Since I work quite a lot with primes I'm considering 1 or 2 lens bags that I can fit onto the waist band.

I find a Sherpa is the best bet, and if you can find one that can cook then you have a perfect combination.

Nah, that will take the joy away.