Camera Rucksack - slightly different from normal

freecom2

freecom2

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Hi all,
Another "camera bag" thread, but with a difference. I don't really want a camera bag! Here's what I mean - some camera bags look great, but they all seem to be made for people who don't go out for the day with things such as water... and as tasty as some gear can be, it's no substitute for a sandwich.

I currently use a Eastpak rucksack which is durable and semi-rigid which is perfect, but it does tire on the shoulders after a long day (a lack of waist strap probably doesn't help there). I've looked at some rucksacks at Decathalon, but unfortunately most of them aren't rigid and take the shape of the camera cases - often very odd shapes.

Any ideas?
 
There is several bags out there by camera bag manufactures that have a camera compartment then an upper compartment for your lunch and other bits and pieces and most also have a tripod holder.
 
My Lowepro has a lower compartment for camera gear and an upper compartment that holds lots of stuff.

There are other manufacturers that do similar products.
 
saw a lowe pro when i was in a store the other day, looked nice untill i saw the price !!!!!
 
What about the Dakine range

freecom2 said:
Hi all,
Another "camera bag" thread, but with a difference. I don't really want a camera bag! Here's what I mean - some camera bags look great, but they all seem to be made for people who don't go out for the day with things such as water... and as tasty as some gear can be, it's no substitute for a sandwich.

I currently use a Eastpak rucksack which is durable and semi-rigid which is perfect, but it does tire on the shoulders after a long day (a lack of waist strap probably doesn't help there). I've looked at some rucksacks at Decathalon, but unfortunately most of them aren't rigid and take the shape of the camera cases - often very odd shapes.

Any ideas?
Click to expand...
 
I get lunch in the front pocket of a Flipside 400AW, 2 bottles of water in the elasticated sides and a tripod in its dedicated holder.

Strap a waterproof over the top and all ready to go, very comfy bag with padded waist and back straps for under a 100 quid
 
Phil V said:
My Lowepro has a lower compartment for camera gear and an upper compartment that holds lots of stuff.

There are other manufacturers that do similar products.
Click to expand...

How much does it actually hold? What are the back and straps like compared to a proper walking bag?

OP I feel your pain. I was just going to say Lowepro do a single bag that would suit your needs but in fact it looks like they have had their butts kicked into gear by the likes of FStop. They seem to have two or three now. The rover pro looks very interesting.

However depending on what you want to do with it FStop are/were basically the only company that make bags for cameras that can actually be used for trips away from town. They do several bags, including ones for multi day hiking if that's what you're interested in.

http://www.lowepro.com/rover-pro-aw
http://products.lowepro.com/product/Rover-Pro-35L-AW,2306,14.htm
 
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I use the Kata Bumblebee UL222, very comfortable and will hold 2 bodys and a range of lens including my Sigma 50-500. The upper compartment will hold extra clothing and food, whilst the side pocket holds my water bottle or flash depending on weather. I do a lot of walking, so can be out all day in the mountains, and this rucksack is the best I have ever had although it is quite expensive, but it works for me.
 
Amp34 said:
How much does it actually hold? What are the back and straps like compared to a proper walking bag?
Click to expand...

Compared to a proper walking bag - the bit that goes against my back isn't quite as breathable - other than that the shoulder straps have a cross piece, the waistband is wide and comfortable and the bottom section holds:
7d with 17-55 2.8
70-200 2.8
10-20
550ex flash
50 1.8
85 1.8

outside pockets hold spare batteries and CF cards. In the top compartment I can get lunch and waterproofs. There's 2 side pouches that'll hold water bottles. It has a built in waterproof cover and a tripod holder I've only used a couple of times.
They don't do it any more - it's a Rover AW2. I think the Dryzone Rover may be it updated.;) but I never paid anything like that for it.
 
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I also wondered where people who used those camera rucksacks put their non cameras stuff, so I looked around and found the Tamron backpacks - I got a Tamrac Adventure 7 which is a great little bag with a top non camera compartment and a bottom camera compartment.
http://www.tamrac.com/5547.htm

Waist strap is a bit crappy (too thin) though so I just took it off. They make bigger (Adventure 9) and smaller versions (Adventure 6) and another version/line called Aero, not sure what the difference is:
http://www.tamrac.com/3370.htm

Kata also make some nice backpack bags like the Kata DR-465i : http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B002OI72UM/1567

These are fine for going out in the day and maybe for hiking in the summer, but in winter I stick a camera (Nex or m43 though so smaller than a dslr) and maybe one extra lens in a camera bag and put that in a larger rucksack as the top compartments of the bags above are too small for anything much more than a waterproof jacket and some lunch.
 
Thanks all, comments all noted - will reply to them properly at the computer.
 
A Kata 3N1-30 does the job for me. Holds loads of gear, and has the added benefit of being easily convertible from backpack to slingpack in seconds. When slung round gear is easily accessable without taking the bag off and makes a nice support to rest your elbows on. The tripod attachment works very well and the bag is comfortable to carry for long periods if need be.
 
Phil V said:
Compared to a proper walking bag - the bit that goes against my back isn't quite as breathable - other than that the shoulder straps have a cross piece, the waistband is wide and comfortable and the bottom section holds:
7d with 17-55 2.8
70-200 2.8
10-20
550ex flash
50 1.8
85 1.8

outside pockets hold spare batteries and CF cards. In the top compartment I can get lunch and waterproofs. There's 2 side pouches that'll hold water bottles. It has a built in waterproof cover and a tripod holder I've only used a couple of times.
They don't do it any more - it's a Rover AW2. I think the Dryzone Rover may be it updated.;) but I never paid anything like that for it.
Click to expand...

Ahh, sounds like the bag I was thinking of when I went to look on lowepros website. Its the only one they did until recently.
 
applemint said:
I also wondered where people who used those camera rucksacks put their non cameras stuff, so I looked around and found the Tamron backpacks - I got a Tamrac Adventure 7 which is a great little bag with a top non camera compartment and a bottom camera compartment.
http://www.tamrac.com/5547.htm

Waist strap is a bit crappy (too thin) though so I just took it off. They make bigger (Adventure 9) and smaller versions (Adventure 6) and another version/line called Aero, not sure what the difference is:
http://www.tamrac.com/3370.htm

Kata also make some nice backpack bags like the Kata DR-465i : http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B002OI72UM/1567

These are fine for going out in the day and maybe for hiking in the summer, but in winter I stick a camera (Nex or m43 though so smaller than a dslr) and maybe one extra lens in a camera bag and put that in a larger rucksack as the top compartments of the bags above are too small for anything much more than a waterproof jacket and some lunch.
Click to expand...

The fact it doesn't come with a decent waist strap pretty much destroys it as a decent day pack to me, fine for carrying round ton from your car but not much else. Its one of the big problems with almost all camera packs, they don't seem to have good shoulder and waist straps and the material is also usuallly akin to the £20 rucksacks you get from sports shops as well. Luckily some manufacturers are learning, especially lowepro who have a good range of walking backpacks in their Lowe alpine range, and starting to use walking pack back systems and materials instead. I may egentually replace my Osprey backpacks with home made foam inserts if they get much better!
 
Oops - I got confused between my 2 bags - The Kata bag has the almost useless thin waist strap which I took off, the Tamrac Adventure has a thicker one (which cannot be removed, unless you cut it off!).

But I don't use either bag for hillwalking as they don't have enough space in the top for gear (eg a fleece and a waterproof, plus map, compass, torch, lunch, etc) and in any case I take a nex or m43 camera and lenses hillwalking.

I am fine without a waist strap for non hillwalking days out or just going into town for the day, but my camera and lenses are fairly small and light (Sony SLT and 2 prime lenses + Minolta 100-200 zoom). I am happy with mine as I bought it used but in good condition for 20 quid, the Kata was 36 quid, new.

The bigger Tamrac bag would have a bit more space I guess and you might be able to add some padding to the waist strap? That Lowepro Dryzone Rover looks nice but it's almost 200 quid. :eek:
 
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An alternative is to get whatever bag you fancy, and then buy a separate padded insert for the camera stuff. Probably not as convenient (especially if you're changing lenses a lot) but gives you more choice of bag...
 
Amp34 said:
Osprey backpacks with home made foam inserts
Click to expand...

I've been trying to come up with a solution like that. As a hillwalker who later came to photography I gave up trying to find a camera-oriented rucksack that was big enough and ergonomic enough for long or multi-day hikes.

The 45L rucksack I take on highland two-dayers has a big zipped opening at the bottom so I'm thinking about getting this stuff (efoam.co.uk) and shoving it in the bottom so I can just unzip and whip my stuff out, in a manner of speaking.

Not sure how to approach cutting it to size, getting the cavities the right shape or waterproofing the outside yet though (I expect things to get very soggy). How did you go about it? How firm is your foam?
 
Phil V said:
My Lowepro has a lower compartment for camera gear and an upper compartment that holds lots of stuff.

There are other manufacturers that do similar products.
Click to expand...

A lot seem to be made this way around, trouble is personally I don't want my flask of tea above my camera.
 
Fhuaran said:
I've been trying to come up with a solution like that. As a hillwalker who later came to photography I gave up trying to find a camera-oriented rucksack that was big enough and ergonomic enough for long or multi-day hikes.

The 45L rucksack I take on highland two-dayers has a big zipped opening at the bottom so I'm thinking about getting this stuff (efoam.co.uk) and shoving it in the bottom so I can just unzip and whip my stuff out, in a manner of speaking.

Not sure how to approach cutting it to size, getting the cavities the right shape or waterproofing the outside yet though (I expect things to get very soggy). How did you go about it? How firm is your foam?
Click to expand...
Oooh Matron !!:naughty::naughty::naughty:
 
I use the largest Lowepro on the market for trips where I don't know what I want to take (so I take everything), a HPRC Rucksack for when I know what I want to do, and a small pelicase to keep my camera and lens in - which goes with me wherever I go.
 
Another :thumbs: for the Lowepro Rover AW2 - and support Phil's view 100%.

Useful split between space for camera gear and your sustenance/spare fleece/jacket and so forth.

Also agree that the harness isn't as breathable as a proper dedicated hiking pack - but it's all day comfortable - the straps are well comfortable.

Know it's been discontinued but can still be bought new - see http://www.amazon.co.uk/Lowepro-Rover-AW-II-Backpack/dp/B0001MIIHO - and at £69 it's a bargain.
 
I've got a Lowepro Fastpack 350, fits enough camera gear in the bottom, can strap a tripod to it, space in the top for sandwiches, and a space on the side for a flask. Fully padded shoulder straps and waist belt. Very comfy.
 
Fhuaran said:
I've been trying to come up with a solution like that. As a hillwalker who later came to photography I gave up trying to find a camera-oriented rucksack that was big enough and ergonomic enough for long or multi-day hikes.

The 45L rucksack I take on highland two-dayers has a big zipped opening at the bottom so I'm thinking about getting this stuff (efoam.co.uk) and shoving it in the bottom so I can just unzip and whip my stuff out, in a manner of speaking.

Not sure how to approach cutting it to size, getting the cavities the right shape or waterproofing the outside yet though (I expect things to get very soggy). How did you go about it? How firm is your foam?
Click to expand...

Have a look at Fstop, they do bags designed for walkers who have photography kit. Expensive (and then some...) but they are supposedly very good. If you live in/near London the Paramo store in/near Covent Garden "stock" them (although when I went they were out of almost everything).

For my home made solution it was much less technical. I have a 22L Talon which I use for general day to day walking so used a load of 10mm foam and sewed it into foldable base and back cover using silicone coated nylon (the stuff lightweight tents/tarps are made of). It's more to protect the lenses and camera from bumps when putting the bag on the floor than anything else however I still find with a couple of lenses that's the best option so far. I am however seriously contemplating getting one of the Fstop bags, they do a selection from 25L-55L.
 
Take a look at the Lowe Alpine Airzone Centro, would be ideal with a foam insert as it has side access as well. I find the airzone's great very comfortable and the design keeps the pack away from your back so there's no condensation.
 
I have bought the LowePro Rover Pro 45l, I can get all I need inside & outside for a three day hike. :thumbs:

Very comfortable to wear, just back from a walk through Glencoe with no problems


http://www.lowepro.com/rover-pro-aw
 
Thanks for the continuing recommendations all. I don't seem to go on TP on the computer much but I will reply when I can! :bonk:
 
Digitalize said:
I've got a Lowepro Fastpack 350, fits enough camera gear in the bottom, can strap a tripod to it, space in the top for sandwiches, and a space on the side for a flask. Fully padded shoulder straps and waist belt. Very comfy.
Click to expand...

+1 on this; it's a camera backpack but I've thrown sandwiches, crisps and fruit into it around my camera stuff. Pocket on the side takes a bottle of water. Also has connections around waist (padded) and chest (clip only). It only gets heavy when I took it out weighing 12kg for an afternoon...
 
As I 'bird' as well as photograph, I've adapted a military-standard rucksack by use of dropping one or two (dependent on what I'm carrying) Lowepro lens cases, which can be secured inside thanks to the various straps inside as well as on the back of the cases themselves, thus ensuring no movement.

The bag I have is here, just to give you and idea of size and shape:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Condor-12...t=LH_DefaultDomain_0&var=&hash=item3a7b49b593

With this, I have a Lowepro LC-5 which can take up to a Nikon D3S with Nikon 200-400mm attached, what stands proud of the lens case I then protect with velcro inserts from old camera bags, etc.. I've lived out of this bag for three days on a trip to Spain and one to Moscow (with changes of clothes - 3 x tops, 1 extra trousers, 3 x underwear) plus wash kit, snack bars, binoculars, draw-action telescope, Kindle, packs of polos, LensPen, TC-14EII converter and who knows what else, plus raincoat stuffed into the hydration bladder compartment, and can't rate it enough.

It may not quite suit your needs, but I hope it'll give you and idea of a non-camera bag that can be adapted pretty much how you want.

Cheers

Mike
 
I've commented on this before but personally I don't think any of the camera backpack manufacturers have really produced a decent piece of kit..I've tried F Stop & Clik Elite too which IMHO are way too expensive for what you're getting

I've made my own using the excellent Lowe Alpine Centro 45 backpack, it has a large side pocket which is perfect for taking a padded insert

http://www.thetogstore.com/lowe-alpine-centro-4510-hiking-bag.html

Simon
 
I'm not going to say it's perfect - but I love my fstop Loka.

I personally think a better / dedicated tripod carrying solution would be a great bonus to the Loka (Manfrotto 410 and 438 make my CX055 tripod top-heavy). I thought my old Lowepro Vertex handled that problem in a better manner.

But... the Loka is VERY comfortable and the hip belt removes a massive amount of weight off the shoulders. It's expensive, yes, but it's the best solution I've come across.
 
freecom2 said:
Hi all,
Another "camera bag" thread, but with a difference. I don't really want a camera bag! Here's what I mean - some camera bags look great, but they all seem to be made for people who don't go out for the day with things such as water... and as tasty as some gear can be, it's no substitute for a sandwich.

I currently use a Eastpak rucksack which is durable and semi-rigid which is perfect, but it does tire on the shoulders after a long day (a lack of waist strap probably doesn't help there). I've looked at some rucksacks at Decathalon, but unfortunately most of them aren't rigid and take the shape of the camera cases - often very odd shapes.

Any ideas?
Click to expand...

-Lowepro Flipside 400 AW
-does the job, good waist strap, cross strap.
-carries anything.
-pad out any space with bubble roll or similar.
-winter or summer, there is always something to hand to pad out my bag.
-any bag is too heavy if full of camera kit
 
I use a Lowepro Flipside 500AW.

There's loads of room for gear and plenty of room for a days provisions. If I'm out for the full day I regularly take a 0.75 litre flask with sandwiches, biscuits and other snacks. These fit comfortably in the front pouch beside some of my other accessories.

There are additional pouches on the side if I want to carry additional water or whatever and it has the sliplock system to add more pouches if required.

It has good padded straps and good waist support.

The only thing I don't like about it is the tripod holder the top strap doesn't secure as I'd like but that is the same with I think, all of the on-board tripod holders I've seen. I keep meaning to get someone to stitch it up properly.
 
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simonkit said:
I've commented on this before but personally I don't think any of the camera backpack manufacturers have really produced a decent piece of kit..I've tried F Stop & Clik Elite too which IMHO are way too expensive for what you're getting

I've made my own using the excellent Lowe Alpine Centro 45 backpack, it has a large side pocket which is perfect for taking a padded insert

http://www.thetogstore.com/lowe-alpine-centro-4510-hiking-bag.html

Simon
Click to expand...

I'm inclined to agree - 'proper' mountain rucksacks are far better!
Currently I carry my kit wrapped in towels stuffed into drybags, which is far from ideal...
I've been seriously thinking about the f-stop ICUs, which can be bought separately and look perfect.
http://fstopgear.com/product/mountain/icu
 
Those fstop bags are just as limited as all other "outdoor sports" camera specific bags - with the extra advantage of being more expensive.

I wouldn't use one if I was given it.
 
The only thing I don't like about it is the tripod holder the top strap doesn't secure as I'd like but that is the same with I think, all of the on-board tripod holders I've seen.
Click to expand...

You can use the other straps on the top if you don't use them to carry a waterproof. I have also found it's better to carry the head in with the cameras, makes the tripod sit better when it's not so top heavy.
 
tijuana taxi said:
You can use the other straps on the top if you don't use them to carry a waterproof. I have also found it's better to carry the head in with the cameras, makes the tripod sit better when it's not so top heavy.
Click to expand...

That's what my brother does with his. I generally have a camo mesh net thing lashed on mine and I prefer just to carry the tripod at the front on a separate shoulder strap to help with the balance.
 
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