Hi everyone,
This is a post with no photo in it!
I have a problem that maybe you have an answer for.
I'm usually traveling with either a very comfortable Deuter backpack, with a superb back breathing system, straps, water bladder pocket, etc. - but not "camera" friendly, so my 70-200 is in there with it's own case, hard to get, and same thing for filters, and obviously no room for a case for the camera with the attached lens when not in use.
OR
I take my (small) lowepro with all the photography gear, but have room for nothing else, and put them on the kids or wife and end up dehydrated.
So, I'm looking for a backpack with a good photography compartment for a DSLR with lens + 70-200 + flash + filters to be handy, water bladder, room for some food (not much), but a GOOD back system that will let a bad back like mine carry those 10kg around forthe day...
Recommendations?
Thanks!
Oren
There are pack inserts for photo gear so you can still use your favorite pack and also have your gear somewhat protected.
Really? Who makes them? Can you give some more info please?
I was looking at these Ape Case inserts for just that. I am sure there are other brands too. DIY or some help from a heavy duty sewer could also get the job done.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009KY5ZWK/ref=ox_sc_saved_title_2?smi...
https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B017H01JVE/ref=sspa_dk_detail_1?psc=1&pd_rd_...
Thanks a lot for your help! I'll look up something that fits my bag and gear...
YVW! Same problems/issues here with the photo bags and you can get such a better fit with a traditional bag for longer hikes.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01JLP2HFA/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s...
I have been using this one for about 8 months now. Inserts depend on what fits well with your existing pack and the level of accessibility you are after.
I went on a two week train trip with this insert, it worked well enough. Fits quite a bit of gear, pockets on the "lid" could do with a bit of Velcro to keep them closed. Insert can function as a personal item on a carry-on for air travel so you can check your main, larger bag if you want. YMMV.
This is an interesting one. From my experience your options are either to prioritize a bag optimized for hiking with some photography features, or optimized for photography but serviceable in the outdoors.
I think it comes down to a couple competing factors. For photography you want to make sure your gear is protected, but you'll pay for that in weight and perhaps a bit of comfort. Hikers tend to want to travel light and fast, so all that padding doesn't make sense in a hiking bag. My sense is that the crossover market is small enough that companies don't have a ton of incentive to design a bag specifically made for both - and when they do, they don't often get it right.
With that in mind, I have a couple options that I use depending on the type of trip (and weather!).
I have a Peak Design Everyday Backpack that I use as my camera bag for walking around town most of the time - particularly if I am bringing a tripod and additional lenses. It doesn't have an integrated hydration sleeve, but it does have a separate laptop compartment that is a good size for a bladder. This means that you'll have to run the hose out of the zipper at the top, which isn't really an issue unless you're caught in the rain, as it compromises the weatherproofing a bit. Peak Design does now make a rain cover for one of their other backpacks, but it fits the larger (30L) Everyday Bag pretty well so that should negate any waterproofing issues. I don't believe it has a hook or clip to hang a bladder from (I'll have to check), so there could be some issues with the sleeve sliding down to the bottom of the compartment instead of staying flat against your back where you want to carry the weight. I generally just use a reusable water bottle when I use this pack since I'm not overly concerned about weight or the added convenience of a bladder in most of the situations where I use it. I also often use this bag for day hikes when I am carrying a full setup (tripod, lenses, etc.) and have been happy with it. It does have sternum straps and a hip belt that will help carry the weight a bit, but certainly not a full suspension system that you'd find in a backpacking pack.
For day hikes where I want to travel lighter or don't need multipIe lenses or a tripod then I actually sometimes split into two bags, which might seem counter intuitive. I have a lightweight REI Flash or similar that I'll throw a bladder, rain gear, snacks, etc. in and then use a cross body sling-type bag for my camera and maybe an extra lens. It's not ideal, but I find that I have my camera out and shooting a lot in these situations, so the uneven weight distribution of the sling doesn't tend to bother me. If I know the weather is going to hold for the entire time I'll be out, then I may even skip the additional camera bag altogether and just use my camera strap.
I'm assuming you're looking for day pack options, but I have a different setup that I use for backpacking. It's a bit of a patchwork solution, but I've found it to work very well on on anything from 3 weeks of teahouse trekking to a week backpacking in Glacier NP. It's basically a Lowepro top loader with Think Tank camera support straps (designed for a harness system). I run the buckle of my pack through the belt loop of the Lowepro, and then run the Think Tank straps up to the load lifters of my pack to help distribute the weight to the pack's suspension system. The Lowepro also has lens pouches that can be attached to the main top loader. I like this setup because I think it keeps the weight distributed pretty well, but also because it lets me have very easy access to my camera (and possibly an extra lens) so I'm inclined to use it more. If I had to take off and dig through my pack every time I wanted a shot, I may be less inclined to use my camera frequently. The biggest downsides here are that it does still have a bit of wobble even with 3 contact points (particularly when moving quickly uphill/downhill) and it adds about 30-60 seconds every time you put on/take off your pack. Not sure if I explained this well, so I attached a picture of this setup here.
Sorry for the (incredibly) long response, hope some of this is helpful!
Thanks for that detailed answer. I tried the two bags approach, as well as a backpack plus chest harness or waist belt nose hanger, and I don't like it. Oren feels clumsy to me.
I'm using an old Deuter aircomfort 40l. ( https://i.ebayimg.com/images/i/121640059409-0-1/s-l1000.jpg ) Seems small, but I'm able to fit in supplies, clothes, raingear, headlamp, etc. on top of a tripod and my camera gear. I'm usually out for day hikes, often 2 days in a row. Like you said, having a really good back system is key to carry 10/12kg around for the whole day.
Depending on the weather conditions, a camera clip for your Deuter rucksack might work wonders. -> https://www.amazon.com/Peak-Design-Capture-Camera-Black/dp/B07818LB9D/re...
Such a clip with your DSLR attached saves a ton of space in your bag, room for extra water or just less weight on your back. If you're carrying your tripod in/on the backpack, think about balancing out the weight with the camera clip on your shoulder, avoids having a sore back. (I speak from experience, haha).
If rainy/snowy weather forces me to keep my camera in the bag I go with a small Lowepro bag on the very top in the backpack which closely fits my X-T2 and the 55-200 lense. Im usually only carrying 2 lenses, extra gear (filters, cleaning stuff) all fits into the lense case who's in one of the side pockets of the backpack.
Long story short, if you can get your hand on one of those older Deuter models (or something similar), give it a try. Should be quite cheap to pick up and has a great back system aswell. It kinda lets you pack up your stuff much more efficiently than newer backpack models.
Anyways, hope some of this is helpful!