camera bag for hiking?

hi all
i'm planning a long trip (some 8 months) to india and neppal.

already got everything ready but a dayback, preferbly a light bag which could hold and protect my camera (D300) and lenses (50mm 1.4 and 16-85).

anyone?

YuvalBSH said:

hi all
i'm planning a long trip (some 8 months) to india and neppal.

already got everything ready but a dayback, preferbly a light bag which could hold and protect my camera (D300) and lenses (50mm 1.4 and 16-85).

Click to expand...

Sounds like some serious hiking and given that you'll be carrying a modest amount of gear, I'd consider a real hikers pack like a Osprey, Kelty, or whatever. Then some protective cases for your camera and lenses.

I think this will likely give you more flexibility and comfort than any of the usual camera-specific bags. More so if you already have a favorite day pack make/model.

considering that you are only taking the camara and two lenses I believe you should get a comfortable day pack with a good harness system and perhaps a bladder for water. You then need a small case for the camera and one of the lenses and another case for the other lens. Most camera stores carry these and some lenses even come with them. I presume you will want to carry more than just the camera and lenses? REI carries some pretty good models but they are not inexpensive.

I looked for a long time for a good hiking option. I went with the Dakine Mission Photo. It's very comfortable and there's lots of room for your gear. It has a waist and chest strap as well. I've had other Dakine bags and they last forever. The photo block is also removable if you just want to use it as a bag.

http://www.dakine.com/skate/photo-packs/

Another idea: I recently spent a couple weeks hiking in the Swiss Alps. I took my favorite REI backpack and attached a couple of ThinkTank lens bags to the outside of the backpack. While lens access wasn't perfect, and it may have looked odd to my fellow hikers, I found it comfortable. I also hung an empty ThinkTank digital holster on the bag and only used it when it rained and I needed protection for the camera.

Try a Lowepro Nature Trekker II AW Backpack. Fits in the overhead compartment of an aircraft. Also well built & comfortable. Holds my D300 with 70-200 attached as well as several lenses, etc...It also comes with a daypack for your non-camera gear. It attaches to you pack.
--
Dejan Smaic
http://www.sportifimages.com

I'm not a D300 shooter, however, when I went to Patagonia earlier this year (there wasn't too much hiking - about 20 hours and slightly more than 2km in elevation, but the terrain was rough sometimes and the weather changed all the time).

I found the Tamrac backpack "Adventure 6" that I was using totally adequate for a K10D (similar size to a D300) and 3 lenses (35/2, 70-300 and 18-55, also similar in size to Nikon counterparts).

I recommend any backpack designed for trekking, which includes a small compartment for non-photographic stuffs (handkerchiefs, water, snack in ziplock bag, hat, sunglasses...)

YuvalBSH said:

hi all
i'm planning a long trip (some 8 months) to india and neppal.

already got everything ready but a dayback, preferbly a light bag which could hold and protect my camera (D300) and lenses (50mm 1.4 and 16-85).

anyone?

Click to expand...

James Gaston said:

Another idea: I recently spent a couple weeks hiking in the Swiss Alps. I took my favorite REI backpack and attached a couple of ThinkTank lens bags to the outside of the backpack. While lens access wasn't perfect, and it may have looked odd to my fellow hikers, I found it comfortable. I also hung an empty ThinkTank digital holster on the bag and only used it when it rained and I needed protection for the camera.

Click to expand...

Hallo James

where did you go? any link from that walk?

i was up there last sunday, my legs still hurt like a......well , a lot.

i had a Wide Waist banded Tamrac.

here some pictures.

http://www.pbase.com/highlights/camicaminata_dominical

Joaquin
--
Si a la primera no triunfas, haz trampa!

YuvalBSH said:

hi all
i'm planning a long trip (some 8 months) to india and neppal.

already got everything ready but a dayback, preferbly a light bag which could hold and protect my camera (D300) and lenses (50mm 1.4 and 16-85).

anyone?

Click to expand...

Camera packpacks aren't large enough for an extended trek. Virtually all of them allocate the majority of valume to camera gear, and leave what amounts to a very small day pack to the rest of your gear.

A standard backpack is good from a volume, fit, comfort, and expense standpoint, but it forces you to protect your gear independently and remove your pack to access your camera. That looses spontaneity, slows your down, and effects your hiking partners.

IME the optimal solution is one of each of these -

http://products.lowepro.com/product/Apex-120-AW,1902,20.htm

http://www.rei.com/product/765141

The LowePro is a shoulder bag. It provides protection and allows quick access to your gear.

The backpack is a climbing pack. It's oversized to accomdate additional gear vs. a day pack. It has a built-in rain cover. The shoulder bag fits in the bottom compartment for easy access when you don't want to be seen with a camera bag (which is often) or when you need your arms and torso free for other things like scrambling.

My Lowepro Toploader 75AW holds my D300 (with grip & GPS) and a 780-200VR. The small side pocket can hold an SB-800 and either the 1.4 or 1.7 TC.

It can alternatively hold the D300 (with grip & GPS) and the 24-70 with a Lightsphere II.

These 2 configurations are what I use for hiking, and I pack it depending whether I am going to be shooting WA vs. Tele.

--
'Let my heart be broken by the things that break the heart of God.'
===============
Nikon D300 - MB-D10 - SB800 - TC-14EII TC-17EII TC-20EII
Nikon 24-70(2.8), 105VR(2.8), 70-200 VR(2.8), 300VR(2.8)
http://wretchedradio.com

Kinda what I was thinking about except maybe a Lowepro fastpack 100 or slingshot 100 in the bottom compartment. Backpack volumn to fit your particular needs. I personally use an Osprey Aether 70 which is extremely comfortable.
jk

Naneu K5 its a real adventure backpack and camera gear backpack all in one.

I think I sorta missed you point here. Consider several lens bags (Lowepro) and a Lowepro 75AW Toploader. Backpacks? Like a poster suggested, try REI (if you're in the US). Northface makes great, ergonomic pack. I have 5 or 6 (including the Aurora II - you can sleep in it) packs by NF.
--
Dejan Smaic
http://www.sportifimages.com

Hello Joaquin

We hiked (plus trains/busses/trams) the Haute Route, from Chamonix to Zermatt. This was my third Alps trip, after the tour du Mont Blanc and the Dolomites. So far, the latter is my favorite; best scenery and best refuges.

Since I have only been back two weeks and have 3500 shots to review, I have not posted much. But you can take a look at my start of a smugmug gallery, jamesgaston dot smugmug dot com.

• James

thanks all for replying
first, I already got a Gregory Gravity, which I love

from past experience, I know i'll need a daypack along my large backpack, for day tracking etc.
I was thinking of something in the Tamrac Adventure 6 direction.
i'm not from the US and there don't seems to be a REI distributor around.

found the tamrac at a local shop, as well as a lowpro "version".

I already got a lowpro slingshot, and I know it won't be very good for a long trip
(although perfect for a shooting day in the city).

maybe it's because I am female ;-) I keep suggesting this backpack, the Lowepro Flipside (bigger sized). It's slim, carries enough for me and based on your requirement would be perfect. The good thing about it is that the opening is on the other side (inside your back) instead of the normal backpack opening. Chest and waist harness, slip locks for tripod...

The biggest biggest advantage is that it is more secure, no one can open your backpack whilst you are traipsing around with it on your back. Need something, undo chest strap, whip the backpack around to face you, open and do whatever you need with backpack still attached to you around the waist, close, return to position.

If you trek like I do, you don't want to always set your backpack down just to reach something, it is a fantastic design! I usually stand with the backpack on my waist facing me, change my lenses or take out something and in 5 seconds I have it back where it belongs and carry on hiking.