Trekking Bag

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st599

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I've been offered a trip down through Zimbabwe, Botswana and the Okovango delta with some guys from work. Can only fit one daypack each in the canoes, alongside camping equipment so am looking for recommendations for decent bags. It must be able to be taken as hand luggage on a plane (without the tripod or water bottle nets).

It needs to carry:
  • Camera body
  • 50mm
  • 70-300mm
  • CF tripod (external)
  • Cable release
  • Spare batteries
  • SD cards
  • 2 water bottles (external)
  • Spare clothes
  • Jacket
  • Sunblock
  • Snacks

All the electronics will be individually wrapped in https://www.alpkit.com/products/airlok

So I'm looking for suggestions, would prefer to avoid any brands that say "Journalist" or "Rich Tourist"! Has anyone tried:
 
I'd take 2 bodies - long way to go with no pics if your camera body stops working.
 
Hmmmm. Thought I'd put this in the equipment forum.
 
It's not like you're taking masses of gear, I'd just use a proper trekking rucksack and intersperse the camera gear amongst the clothing.
 
I've got the Lowepro Photosport 30L. Its fantastic! Just done a weekend hike through Brecon and I was dead happy with it. Took my camera and spare equipment in the lower compartment and waterproofs, Food, and clothes in the top bit. Tent and sleeping bag rolled up together underneath. (Not quite the same as Botswana though).
 
Thanks for all the ideas. I'll have a look at what's available.

I would love a spare body, but that's not in my budget at the moment plus it's extra weight to carry, we're being very minimalist and will need to take tents etc.
 
st599 said:
It must be able to be taken as hand luggage on a plane (without the tripod or water bottle nets).
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You haven't said which airline(s), but that information is *crucial*. Carry-on allowances vary massively from one airline to another. (Example: BA 56x45x25cm, 23kg, *plus* a handbag or laptop; Virgin Atlantic 55x36x23cm, 6kg).

Useful reference:
http://www.dpsoftware.co.uk/airlines/
 
st599 said:
Egyptair as it was very cheap. Then a short hop on a BA code share.
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I don't care. But you ought to be checking and double checking the luggage allowance on Egyptair before committing to a purchase.
 
Nawty said:
It's not like you're taking masses of gear, I'd just use a proper trekking rucksack and intersperse the camera gear amongst the clothing.
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I agree with this. I take roughly the same amount of gear with me + macbook when I go for climbing weekends away and just put it in normal ruck sack carefully spaced with my other gear/clothes/food
 
As I am in a canoe most week ends I wouldn't be taking my dslr in anything but a peli type case. I have seen many cameras, phone and gps gadgets ruined and lost by other inexperienced canoeist.
 
twhite87 said:
I've got the Lowepro Photosport 30L. Its fantastic! Just done a weekend hike through Brecon and I was dead happy with it. Took my camera and spare equipment in the lower compartment and waterproofs, Food, and clothes in the top bit. Tent and sleeping bag rolled up together underneath. (Not quite the same as Botswana though).
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that's look like an amazing bag! Plenty of storage and the strap at the bottom for taking sleeping bag and stuff!
 
Lemaildetom said:
that's look like an amazing bag! Plenty of storage and the strap at the bottom for taking sleeping bag and stuff!
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It really is! Can't fault it at all!
 
Don't get anything less then 40L bag as anything smaller you will struggle to put stuff in.

I bought a 37L for my trip to Vietnam and only had 3 days worth of clothes and 3 lenses and a body. And it barely fit.
 
Forget camera bags. Just put everything in drybags and stuff inside your normal daypack.

BTW Easyjest have the most generous carry on allowance I've come across. 2 cameras, 4 lenses, tripod, Kindle, hard drive, MBP, SatNav, iPod, Domke day bag and loads more all fit in a ThinkTank UD50 which goes under the seat in an A320.
 
JonathanRyan said:
Forget camera bags. Just put everything in drybags and stuff inside your normal daypack.

BTW Easyjest have the most generous carry on allowance I've come across. 2 cameras, 4 lenses, tripod, Kindle, hard drive, MBP, SatNav, iPod, Domke day bag and loads more all fit in a ThinkTank UD50 which goes under the seat in an A320.
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Disagree.
 
jonneymendoza said:
If their was then their won't be such a thing called camera bags lol.
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There are lots of camera bags - an I have a decent collection.

However, there are very few camera bags that fit the requirements of keeping stuff safe in a canoe AND taking clothes as well. Most camera bags have too much padding so that to hold a lot of gear you need a very big bag. There are some waterproof camera bags but they tend to be heavy and limited capacity.

Really, if I could only take a day bag I'd take a decent trekking daybag and wrap camera kit in bubble wrap and dry bags. Far less space and generally safer. Also, cheaper.

BTW I saw your note that 40l would be bare minimum. If I were running a trip and said day sacks only and somebody turned up with a 40l I'd ask them to repack ;)
 
40l really is not that big mate and that can house 3 or 4 lenses plus extra clothes. 40l ideal for whole day and night out somewhere hehe and smaller ones for just one day trekking and no need for clothes
 
I use the Clik Elite 40 to carry clothes, food, water bladder, etc as well as camera kit, it sounds perfect for you EXCEPT I'd be amazed if you could get it on as hand luggage, and I wouldn't want to capsize with that in my boat...

I don't know if they still do them but Lowe Pro used to do a Dry Zone range that were very good and maybe you could alter the internals about to make enough room for the other stuff.

Other than that it's really Fstop or the lowepro mentioned above at the moment I think.
 
Nawty said:
It's not like you're taking masses of gear, I'd just use a proper trekking rucksack and intersperse the camera gear amongst the clothing.
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i agree with nawty, not enough "gear" to get a specialist camera pack. just use a standard one that looks like all the other trekker types then no one will pay any particular attention to you, hth mike. edit just realised you'll be "advertising" your a tog with a tripod attached so dos'nt matter what you get it will still scream photographer.depending how big your tripod is maybe stow it inside if you have room./or buy a travel type tripod smaller and lighter probably.
 
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