Camera Backpacks

[rogerg]

Hello all,

I'd like to hear from those who do amateur photography using SLR and hike.

I'm looking for a new backpack to store both camera equipment and hiking items (food, jacket, etc), for capacity of only day hikes, not overnight hikes. The backpack needs to store my DSLR, couple of lenses, extention tubes, filters, etc, and small to medium tripod. It also needs to store food, first aid kit, and a jacket or 2.

I currently have 2 backpacks and am looking to amalgamate them in to the one more useful one. My current ones: One is a dedicated camera backpack which stores the equipment fine but has no room for food. I usually put a water bottle and small amount of food where a lense could otherwise fit, and put a jacket slung through the clip on the back. The other is a dedicated day hiking pack, Deuter Ventura, 30 odd litre , which has lots of capacity for lunch, hydration pack, first aid, jackets, and tripod, but isn't well suited to camera gear.

The best I can find is the Tamrac Adventure range:
http://www.tamrac.com/frame_adv.htm

Of those, I think I would need the 9 series.

But the Tamrac ones don't have many external clips to sling jackets, or even hold a tripod. And the internal space for non astronomy items is a little limited. Without one of the other of those it's tricky to know if it'll be sufficient. I wish they'd just add a few extra attachment points on the outside and it'd be fine. Also the space in the Adventure 9 pack for a laptop isn't required, but would be used for maps/leaflets etc anyhow.

Lowpro deem to have only fully camera dedicated pacs, nothing hyprdid.

I can't find any other alternatives.

Ideas?

Thanks,
Roger.

[sheeny]

G'Day Roger,

I don't know of anything off hand that fits your needs, but if you get stuck, maybe try contacting Summit Gear in Katoomba. They used to make up one off specials (we used to get specialist packs made for rescue gear). It's been a while since I've been in contact with them, but they may be worth a try if you can't find what you want off the shelf.:thumbsup:

Al.

[faramir]

Roger the Lowepro nature treker comes with a daypack that attaches to the camera pack. I have the Rover AW plus which is good two compartment bag for walking and stores most of my camera gear with room for a jacket and lunch. It is also comfortable to wear.

[rogerg]

Thanks guy's,

I had somehow missed the Lowpro ones with dual sections. And it's interesting that the Nature Trekker has the extra pock, hard to see that from their site/description.

That Lowepro Rover AW Plus sure looks like a good alternative.

They have a new Primus AW which looks interesting too, but a bit iffy.

More suggestions welcome. More brands etc.

:thumbsup:

Thanks,
Roger.

[iceman]

The Lowepro's are great, that's for sure. I love the AW range with the plastic cover that comes out.

I have the slingshot 200 AW, not suitable for your purposes but I love it for what I needed it for.

[madwayne]

I have the Lowepro Mini Trekker. It comfortably holds all the camera gear and also the T pieces and bits and pieces for astro work as well. My camera tripod clips on the outside of the pack and makes for a nice neat package.

When we go bushwalking my wife carries that with all the camera gear in and I have a day pack with the wet weather gear, first aid kit, water and the kitchen sink ;) in. The obvious benefit of doing it this way is I choose the lenses (and no she doesn't visit the forums [I hope]).

The Lowepro gear is not cheap but the quality is first rate. I bought myn at Camera House and along with a spare battery for the 400D I got a reasonable price negotiated.

[davewaldo]

I use the Lowepro Steet and field series. They have a backpack which goes this this system which is a camera bag in the bottom half of the bag and other gear in the top half. Also with good side pockets for water bottles.

It has done me well for many years.

[rogerg]

I know what you mean... My partner would like it very much if I carried everything except the camera gear. In fact, she's gone as far as to frequently suggest I get one of those backpacks which is a chair for kids to sit in, so she could sit in there and get a free ride :)

But for us we do actually both appreciated having our camera gear with us, we don't think it would work out fighting over the same camera backpack :)

[acropolite]

I have the Lowepro Orion Trekker as well, nice bag, even when it's loaded to the hilt it remains comfortable. I've had mine for over 2 years, not a mark on it and not one stitch let go.

[ausastronomer]

I agree with Mike on the Lowepro range. They are superb. I have 2 Lowepro AW backpacks for different purposes. I can't fault either of them in any way.

I have a Mini-Trekker AW

http://www.lowepro.com/Products/Backpacks/allWeather/Mini_Trekker_AW.aspx

Which is small and light and ideally suited for airline travel. But still holds a lot of camera gear.

I also have a Computrekker Plus AW which is a much bigger heavier bag which holds lots of everything including my 17" Acer laptop. I wouldn't fancy the Kokoda Trail with it. :)

http://www.lowepro.com/Products/Backpacks/allWeather/CompuTrekker_Plus_AW.aspx

For hiking and photography, I would choose something in between those 2. maybe the Rover AW or the Computrekker standard or the Naturetrekker.

http://www.lowepro.com/Products/Backpacks/allWeather/

I like the Lowepro stuff way better than the Tamrac. Lowepro has an unconditional lifetime warranty. They wouldn't give that if it wasn't top quality.

Cheers,
John B

[joshman]

agreed, i also have the slingshot 200 AW, and can't fault it. for simple day trips hiking up a mountain or whatnot, there's plenty of room and i can comfortably find a way to work it in with my camelback hydration pack for larger hikes. the quality of materials and construction is topnotch; it's well padded, and of extremely rugged construction and i feel very comfortable knowing my gear is safe.

one hting i looked at when choosing my bag, was how the camera was positioned in the bag, alot of the bags out there had the camera body sitting in teh very bottom of the bag facing upwards, which i was uncomfortable with as the bottom of the bag is usually the first thing to hit the ground. just something to be on the look out for :D


i definitely reccommend look at the lowerpro range of gear.

[Benny L]

lowepros are excellent.. i have the dryzone and 2 commercial AW's

however if you are looking for something that doesnt 'look' like a camera bag then i suggest you take a look at the crumpler line.