Best hiking camera rucksack?

cardiff_gareth

cardiff_gareth

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Hey,
I have a Lowepro Trekker AW backpack and also a 65l hiking rucksack that I squeeze a camera bag insert into but I'm wondering if there is a good bag out there that has the best of both worlds so a decent size bag with space for clothing, a water bladder etc and also decent padding for camera gear. I have Benro carbon fibre tripod legs that are 70cm closed so I need a bag that's long enough to carry them.
https://www.harrisoncameras.co.uk/p...re-flip-lock-tripod---3-sections_ben-brc4570f

Any advice is welcome!

Thanks

EDITED: To add my tripod details,
 
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I've been using f stop bags for a few years. The ICU system is what I like about it as you can vary the amount of kit (camera gear to other kit) depending on the trip requirements. They are hard to get hold of in the UK now but there are a few European websites that delivery quickly (within about 3 days). At 70cm that's quite long so you would be looking at their larger bags Sukha or maybe Tilopa though it's likely it would out of the top or bottom of that one.

I still think the best option is a hiking backpack if you want to do photography and hiking. F stop bags are great as versatile camera bags but probably not as suited as much as a good hiking bag would be.
 
Osprey Stratos 24/34 are great with lots of space for Camera bag inserts, clothing and hiking gear . As of the Tripod you might need to look at some of the new compact tripods like the SIRUI T-1205X which is only 30cm.
 
Every time I look into this, I come to the same conclusion as @rob-nikon. There are some nice purpose made bags for very specific circumstances but the chances of finding exactly the right ratio of camera storage vs normal storage in the right overall size for a reasonable cost are tiny. And, if you're like me, different trips require different quantities of gear, both camera and outdoor gear. So what works for one trip may be compromised on another. I did buy one of the Lowe Pro orange sport rucksacks (can't remember the model) and it's great for short trips with a smallish camera and maybe one extra lens. That has it's uses but 90% of the time I use a regular hiking bag with an insert inside. It provides far more flexibility as I can just choose whichever normal rucksack suits what I'm doing, chuck an insert in that suits my camera gear and I have the ideal set up. I suspect it works out far cheaper too.
 
I concur with Rob and Graham. Bags are all a compromise, particularly depending on length of trip and time of year. Camera bags are also quite heavy. So I gave up and use an F Stop ICU inside a normal bag. Usually a Gossamer Gear Gorilla or an Osprey Exos 48.

Re the telescope and bag with side compression straps and maybe open side pockets will hold the tripod. As can an ice axe holder which most bags also come with with a bit of thought. Although this works better on some than others.
 
I've just gone through this and wanted a rucksack which I could put an insert into. The rucksack needed to have a zippable panel on the front or back for easy access to the camera insert and additional space for waterproofs, hat, gloves, head torch, easy to attach my tripod and ideally around 50 litres.

I narrowed it down to...

- Gregory Zulu (opens on the front with a panel but only 40 litres)
- Mammut Trion Pro 50 litres (access from the rear) nice rucksack but quite pricey
- Jack Wolfskin Highland Trail XT 50 plus an additional 5 litres when expanded at the top (access from a front panel)... they appear to be on offer at a few places atm too.

I actually ended up with the Jack Wolfskin, largely because I managed to snag a brand new one on ebay for a very reasonable £55.00. It's perfect for what I need, space for the camera gear along with a down jacket, hat, gloves and all the other stuff needed for a hike. It has an adjustable back system to get a perfect fit, bladder pocket, integrated rain cover and lots of other pockets and the quality is very good. I'd highly recommend one.

I don't think I would go below 50 litres though.
 
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Many years ago (when I still had a motorbike) I picked up a "snowboarding" rucksack from a winter sports retailer, and then used it with an insert. It was waterproof, had plenty of pockets and most importantly, those side compression straps. Unfortunately it got damaged when I came off the bike (no camera gear thank God) and got binned. Haven't found anything similar since.

I have a Lowepro Flipside Sport which is mainly for when I take a larger selection of gear, or a Tamrac Expedition (7 I think) for body 2 lenses and some filters. Has a top section for other stuff, and it can take a smaller tripod.
 
Thanks all, will check them bags out and see how they stack up against mine. This is what I have already:
https://m.clasohlson.com/uk/Asaklitt-65-Litre-Rucksack/31-4769
It's a good size, maybe a little too big but I bought it thinking it's big so good for my tripod, can carry clothing, food, water bladder, walking poles and the bottom zipped pocket would be ideal for my camera bag insert:
https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https://www.ebay.co.uk/ulk/itm/371818705084
But the insert is a tight squeeze and probably too big for the pocket as I force the zips so either I have to change the insert for something smaller or the bag and insert all together as all the weight pushes down on the insert as it's at the bottom so the camera and lenses get squashed.
 
Can't think of any bag that will comfortably carry a 70cm tripod, that is very large to take hiking?
 
cardiff_gareth said:
But they're amazing light and so strong and steady! Weight wise, they're lighter than my old aluminium Manfrotto 190 pro legs but massively bigger!
Click to expand...
I've just looked at the spec of the tripod, is 76cm without any head? I had a tripod about that long that I bought in a sale at WEX, I ended up selling it and buying the shorter closed length one. Recently just picked up a benro iFoto IF19 traveller, its a massive size/weight difference but not as a stable. I plan to use it for hiking/camping where size and weight is key.
 
rob-nikon said:
I've just looked at the spec of the tripod, is 76cm without any head? I had a tripod about that long that I bought in a sale at WEX, I ended up selling it and buying the shorter closed length one. Recently just picked up a benro iFoto IF19 traveller, its a massive size/weight difference but not as a stable. I plan to use it for hiking/camping where size and weight is key.
Click to expand...

Yep, with no head but I use a Manfrotto MH054M0-Q2 head so that's probably an added 10-15cm on top. This head might be going though as even though again it's rock solid and awesome, it uses the square QR plates and the Manfrotto L bracket for them is £100+ so I'm debating an Arca Swiss QR head, ideally I'd like to unscrew and replace the plate for the Arca Swiss version but I don't think you can.

That's what worries me with getting a smaller tripod, yes it's smaller and potentially lighter but how stable are they and with long exposures will I see shake in the images.
 
Smaller tripods can be very stable, unfortunately as you no doubt guessed it comes at a price

There is a nice combo in the classifieds (nothing to do with me) https://www.talkphotography.co.uk/t...ler-kit-tripod-legs-head.667599/#post-8007296
No reason long exposures should suffer, can assure you many fine photos are taken with tripods much smaller than your whopper
My old tripod was a series 3 Gitzo Systematic 3540LS, folded down to 55cm and was one of the most stable tripods you can buy, pretty light too at 1.7kg
 
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That is a nice tripod!

If the sale on the house had gone through like it should have I'd have bought that but now I'm looking at staying and remortgaging so large purchases like that will now have to be in the new year when that goes through.

Will start a new thread regarding changing my tripod head from Q2 to Q5 or 6 as not to muddy the threads ;)
 
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