new backpack needed

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john
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Hi i am off to the scotish highlands next week to put some of my new kit to use but i am after a new backpack which can hold my kit (inc a sigma150-500) any advice welcome. I currentley have a lowepro 350 but its just not bigging enough for everything
 
Hi John, I'm going up on the 28th and had the same idea... I've had a few bags over the years and always found they are never really any good on a trek. They always hold your gear perfectly but leave little to no room for anything else.

This time round I have tried something different, I've had a lowe pro walking bag for a couple of years now and its extremely comfortable, for the past few months I've been using it with the camera capture clip to carry my camera outside of the bag and had a single camera pouch in the bag.

I've just purchased a lens pouch for my sigma 120-400mm. So in the bag I can fit my camera 18-50mm lens, 35mm lens and my 120-400mm with enough room for a rain coat, food and room on the outside for a water bottle and little tripod. Accessories fit in the top pocket of the bag.

Not as easily accessable as a camera bag, but I can take everything I need and it can all be kept dry.

Hope this helps.
 
Its a good option especially when you have extras like raincoats and water bottles etc, another option is i will make do with what i have got and let my better half carry the rest
 
I personally use the Flipside 400AW, looking at maybe getting a 500AW too.

I can carry all my camera gear in the main compartment, then have the front zip for sandwiches etc along with a drink on the side pockets and a raincoat across the top of the bag using the draw strings to hold it tight :)
 
Tamrac Adventure 10. Mine takes my 150-500 (off camera), Canon 550+55-250 with room to spare, 18-55, nifty fifty, loads of cables, cards & batteries etc. Top compartment is big and if you need to, you can move a bit of velcro and burst through to the top too. Tripod loops both sides, lash tabs underneath and a laptop pouch at the back. Chest & waist straps included.
BB
 
Have a look at the Tarmac range. I've got an Expedition 8 and it holds 500 attached to body, 300, 70-200, spare body. got a proper walkers waist belt as well so comfy.May be to large for what you want but they do smaller versions.
 
I found the Tamrac bags heavy and eventually went for a Think Tank Streetwalker Hard Drive Bag. It is 1200g lighter than the Expedition 8 that I previously owned. It isn't as heavily padded as the Tamrac, but I don't tend to throw my gear around so that isn't so important to me.
 
Another vote for the Flipside 400AW - good size and as mentioned there's the extra bit on the front for various bits (plus its got a built in waterproof cover).
 
I recently got a kata r103 second hand. At the min it carriers my d90 with the 150-500 attached also in there we have 70-200 2.8 / NIKON 18-105 NIKON 50 mm spare batteries memory cards and is comfortable. Did about 5 miles the other weekend with it on didn't get back ache the extra strap across the chest is great. The waterproof cover that came with it works.
It also has 2 zip openings one that you can opening the ruck sack completely and a smaller one so you can just get the camera and lens out that is in the middle section.
It's big and spacious I went for this over the tarmac ones due to the sizes for cheapo airline hand luggage sizes.
 
I use a normal good size backpack, plus a padded insert/square padded bag/neoprene cover/neoprene pouches to arrange my gear. It offers a lot of flexibility and plenty of space for raincoat, laptop, ipad, sandwiches etc. Everything is well protected without using unnecessary space. Pretty much same set up as Simon.
 
Take a look at the FStop gear range, they are designed as proper outdoor bags rather than padded boxes with straps.
 
If you are planning to take a reasonable amount of gear and walking any distance then you need something that has a proper waist belt and is long enough for your back. The load on any rucksack whether walking or photographic should sit just above the hip bones. The shoulder straps are just to stop it falling off your back they are not meant to carry the load.
 
Craikeybaby said:
Take a look at the FStop gear range, they are designed as proper outdoor bags rather than padded boxes with straps.
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I looked at the F Stop bags and the Clik Elite range and they definitely have better harness systems than Kata/lowepro etc but still not to the standard of a decent hiking backpack (airflow etc) and prices are silly money for what you're actually getting.

I'm suprised that one of the better backpack manufacturers such as lowe alpine or Osprey haven't developed something, they'd easily manage it and substantially undercut the likes of F Stop etc:shrug:

Simon
 
Gaz J said:
If you are planning to take a reasonable amount of gear and walking any distance then you need something that has a proper waist belt and is long enough for your back. The load on any rucksack whether walking or photographic should sit just above the hip bones. The shoulder straps are just to stop it falling off your back they are not meant to carry the load.
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Which the Flipside 400 has. I actually find it more comfortable to wear than my Northface day pack. Best present ever - thanks Dad!
 
simonkit said:
I'm suprised that one of the better backpack manufacturers such as lowe alpine or Osprey haven't developed something, they'd easily manage it and substantially undercut the likes of F Stop etc:shrug:

Simon
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Lowepro started as an off shoot of Lowe Alpine. Think they'v gone their seperate ways now though.
The big backpack companys probably dont want to invest in a market that is already saturated. They do what they do best and leave others to do their thing. After all, Tamrac and Lowepro have been in the photo backpack game for 40+ years. That's a lot of experience and reputation to try to compete with!
 
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