Camelbak for MTB/Skiing with camera?

deadkenny

deadkenny

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Looking for a bag with a bladder for drinking but with enough capacity to take some MTB kit (spare tubes, maps, toolkit, snack etc) when MTB'ing and similar when skiing, but also take an SLR with one lens attached (e.g. a typical all-rounder zoom, like the 18-200VR Nikon).

Not bothered about a dedicated camera bag as the photography stuff is kind of secondary to the MTB/skiing. I'll be using my old D70 which has been battered about plenty and still going strong. So far I've just been chucking it in a regular lightweight backpack, together with a water bottle, but I'd like a bladder kind of bag really and something more robust. No need for carrying tripods and the like.

Seen a few mentions of the Camelbak Mule, which looks like the right kind of size, but only having pictures on the web to look at I can't be sure. Or there's the big Alpine version but looks a bit too big for what I want (especially for skiing as it's a big bag to be messing about with on chairlifts).

Anyone use a Mule with an SLR? or other recommendations?
 
I've got the SnowDawg for boarding. Just the right size, and the insulated drkink pipe does help extend the amount of time before it freezes (blow the water back down the tube when you're finished, that works better).
It's a good size and will take a spare layer, lunch and would probably fit a camera. It's also got some compression type straps accross the sides, so if it's not full, it doesn't flap around.

It's a few years old now, but there should still be a similar model available.
 
For biking I use a wingnut hyper which is a great pack. Has big wing pockets so you can get you flash quickly.

The new Osprey Raptor bags look great too. All my other packs for climbing, walking and trekking are Osprey. Also the talon 11 or 22. Lightweight. Not sure they're widely available yet.

Otherwise take a look at the Da Kine bags. Apex looks pretty good.

You might also want to consider carrying your SLR in a toploader (Tamrac Adventure Zoom 5 in my case) strapped to your front. Much faster access to the camera and balances out nicely.

FZ - I always found the dedicated camera bags poor carries on a bike. The stiff padding means they don't hug your back as well. It's less of a problem walking but on a bike it's a pain to have them flapping about. The all weather covers are next to useless at speed as the water flows around your body and under the cover. I've also found that the padded linings also take a long time to dry out if they get wet. Just my experience.

Final thing, if you're worried about padding or water protection, you can get padded roll top dry bags that will hold an SLR with lens attached. Great if the weather gets nasty. I keep my flash in a separate one in changeable weather.
 
I was looking at getting a Camelbak for my hiking since my Crumpler isn't exactly designed for it. My best solution so far is a H.A.W.G and a Crumpler Jimmy Bo inside. Plus I can always wear the Jimmy Bo over my shoulder if I want quicker access to the camera. I think the best I could find this combination for was just under £100, but you get two bags out of it and still get a 3L bladder. I think you should do this and then report back to me with how you get on :naughty:
 
On the Mule in particular. I found it too small if I wanted to carry lunch, tools, jacket and camera. The Hawg it it's big brother which also looks pretty good. Then again, I always end up carrying all the tools etc. Don't forget that the bladders tend to take up some of the space in the bag when full. It means you'll need a slightly larger pack than you'd expect.

I have a Dakine Apex and North Face Hammerhead spare. PM if interested.

If you're buying new take a look at www.Merlincycles.co.uk they have good deals at the moment.
 
vchaney said:
FZ - I always found the dedicated camera bags poor carries on a bike. The stiff padding means they don't hug your back as well. It's less of a problem walking but on a bike it's a pain to have them flapping about. The all weather covers are next to useless at speed as the water flows around your body and under the cover. I've also found that the padded linings also take a long time to dry out if they get wet. Just my experience.
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That was my thinking. I've got a Mini-Trekker AW but it's way too big, bulky and too "square". My priority isn't for photography though (shame on me! :D), but for the biking and/or skiing with the option to chuck an SLR in there with one lens on it.

Not too bothered about the padding. I've had the D70 in my basic backpack with virtually no padding and managed to have it clonk around and taken a few falls in the snow with it, and no damage. Quite robust camera in my experience. It's going to be my 2nd camera anyway soon as I'll get a D300 perhaps as my main (which will stay at home for biking and stuff).

vchaney said:
On the Mule in particular. I found it too small if I wanted to carry lunch, tools, jacket and camera. The Hawg it it's big brother which also looks pretty good. Then again, I always end up carrying all the tools etc. Don't forget that the bladders tend to take up some of the space in the bag when full. It means you'll need a slightly larger pack than you'd expect.
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Good point on the bladder size. I generally wouldn't have a jacket though, just tools, spare tube(s) and usually I have my compact pump in the bag (just can't find an easy place to stick it onto my GT i-Drive that isn't in the way). Add to that the camera with probably the 18-200VR lens. Another option (for Camelbak that is) is the Alpine Explorer, but wondered if it might be too big. Maybe not if the Mule is a bit small. The Hawg looks like it could do the job too, and maybe 'The Don' (says it carries a full face helmet, but that must be strapped on the outside :D. Not that I'm up to full face helmet kind of riding just yet :D).

Maybe I can find some on the high street just to check the size, then I can order online (doubt they're cheap on the high street). Though usually I can only find the tiny Camel's.

I'll check out the other brands mentioned too.
 
I've got a Mule for mountain biking and can honestly say that it doesn't take the stuff for the ride and a dslr. I've tried a Canon 50D and my older 400D with its kit lens, still no luck.

Have started recently having the Mule on my back and using a LowePro topload zoom for the camera. It came with a chest harness to mount on the front. Putting that on first its quite stable, and it came with a waterproof cover. Also with it mounted on the front its easily accessable and very quick to get the camera out and ready to use.

Can be a bit of an odd set up on tricky technical trails but it works and I've now got used to it. Be aware though that a dslr's weight can shift your balance a bit on the bike ;)
 
I use a Burton zoompack, a specialised camera backpack made for skiing/snowboarding. I also have a dakine helipack pro with a bladder bag in. Personally I don't feel too safe mixing both a bladder bag and my SLR in one compartment as there is always a chance of leakage from the bladder bag.
The burton zoompack is well padded so no worries about falling down whilst skiing, and of course water proof. It is a bit more bulkier than the dakine helipack pro, so I interchange the two during my snow holiday.
You are probably best of buying a specialised camera bag for skiing/MTB'ing as you do need the extra padding to protect the camera from any falls or knocks. These specialised bags as far as I know don't have any bladder bag functionality.

I am selling my burton zoombag is you are interested at all.
 
If your after a burton zoom new i would suggest you pre order one soon, they go stupidly fast :(
 
The Burton sounds good in that it's made for snow with camera, but it looks too bulky. I think if I was doing some serious backcountry hiking with shovel etc, then maybe :D

The Hawg seems to be coming up as a success with a camera in my searches across bike and ski forums, and yeah the Mule seems to get negative comments due to the capacity.

As for the bladders, do they ever burst? I've never heard of it happening myself, and they are made to be burst resistant apparently. And as for protection for falls, I've used my cheap £20 (non hydration and unpadded) Karrimor for years now with my D70 and even with a few falls it's never been an issue for the camera or my back :D. Usually have something wrapped around it to stop it rattling about, but that's about it. I'm not too fussed if the worst happens though, it's an old camera now.

That said, falls on the bike are more serious than in the snow, though I'm likely to only take the camera occasionally on the bike and be careful about it (not risk suicidal drops etc). However I'm usually more concerned about not breaking my neck than my camera :D
 
Bladders are made of thick, elastic plastic and probably won't burst but you know nothing is 100%. There are also connections of the tubing to the bag which can come loose, of course it would require a lot of force for it to. Just putting your camera so close to a water source... I'd be a little nervous lol.

Let us know what you decide.
 
I've not had a problem with a bladder bursting in use. They tend to squish and the rest of the pack protects them from sharp objects. Just don't overfill them.

As mentioned above, you could keep the camera in a dry bag if necessary. I think it's more likely that rain will get in than the bladder bursting.
 
I've got zip lock bags anyway, which are also handy when skiing to avoid moisture build up when moving from cold to warm environments.

And yeah, the rain gets everywhere. My old bag was soaked inside and out from the rain last weekend. Not just the rain, even the mud got inside despite being zipped up thoroughly. Was an extreme mud ride. For some crazy reason I seem to be planning a ride tomorrow in the torrential rain and even worse mud!!. The camera will be staying at home though :D.

Anyway, just ordered the Hawg and I'll see how that works out.
 
Good stuff. Jealous of the ride. I'm off games for a month while I recover from surgery. Just need to be patient.
 
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