Backpack for D90 + 18-105mm + 70-300mm...

I recently got a Nikon 70-300mm VR lens for my D90. I already had the kit lens (18-105mm).

My previous bag was the simple Lowepro Nova 1 AW. I really liked this bag, but it's simply too small when I'm using the big lens.

I've been combing these forums and the Internet in general, but can't make up my mind. I'm pretty set on a backpack. A shoulder bag (like my Nova) I think would be too big/heavy for longer walks/hikes; same goes for a sling-style pack. I'd like room for a little more gear than I have now. In the future, I might add the 35mm prime and perhaps an SB600 flash. But I can't see myself having much more than that for the next several years (except maybe smaller odds and ends, e.g. filters, cloths, memory cards, batteries, etc). I have a Slik tripod as well; a backpack that can accommodate this tripod would be ideal.

Based on what I've seen, the Lowepro Flipside 300 looks nearly ideal. But I also want something that is rainproof (i.e. AW or all-weather). The next step up is the Flipside 400 AW, but it looks a bit too big. Also, I'd like to spend less than $100 (but I'm willing to stretch a little).

The Kata 3N1-20 also looks nice. However, I'm not too hot on its looks, plus some of the minor complaints I've read in various reviews give me a bad gut feel.

So... in short: looking for an all-weather/rainproof backpack for my D90 + 18-105mm + 70-300mm + room for a bit of future growth. Ability to handle my Slik tripod is not absolutely required, but definitely a plus.

I appreciate any thoughts or suggestions!
-Matt

I use the Kata DR-467 and really like it.

I have the d5000, 18-105, 70-300 and the 35 1.8 all in the bottom compartment of the Tamrac Adventure 7 with room to spare. I'm very pleased with the quality and "all-day" comfort of the bag.

http://www.tamrac.com/5547_open_lrg.htm

http://products.lowepro.com/product/Micro-Trekker-200,1963,14.htm

I like this bag a lot: it holds both my DSLRs (D80 & D90), a couple of lenses, SB-600 flash (or vr70-300 in the same slot). And the inside can be re-configured to address the specific storage/carriage requirements for a given day. It also has a good amount of room for trinkets (filters, extra battery, lens cleaning cloths and pen, etc.). It is a backpack, so not as "cool" as the sling bag, but it is fairly small and as you can see, allows carrying a good deal of stuff.



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The Rule of Thirds is meant to be broken, but only 1/3
of the time.



D80/D90 gallery: http://esfotoclix.com
Photo blog: http://esfotoclix.com/blog1

matt_ said:

But I also want something that is rainproof (i.e. AW or all-weather).

Click to expand...

There are a couple of strategies for rain-proofing, and if this is as important as you make it sound, you should be careful about which way you go.

Lots of affordable bags (like my Kata DR-467, and most LowePro AW) are barely rain-resistant at all, but include a rain cover. It's a huge hassle to attach, and even when it is attached, there's a gaping hole against your back. But, it's cheap, and it works well enough when you're only in the rain a couple times a year.

You can pay a little more for a bag that is inherently going to block more water, like the Tenba Shootout Small ($160) or Tamrac Expedition 4x ($140). I think they're going to be worth every penny, if you're out in the rain regularly.

--



http://www.benseese.com

After doing more research, and considering the suggestions here, I have firmed up my requirements a bit:

• My ideal is a "daypack" which has two compartments, one for photo gear, and one for misc stuff (water, snacks, a small book or two, change of socks, etc). Examples include the Tamrac Adventure 7 and Kata DR-467.
• I also want something sturdy enough to accommodate my tripod, which is the somewhat large and heavy Slik 700DX Pro. I'm not sure if the Adventure 7 and DR-467 are robust enough to handle this tripod. I'd prefer that the tripod attach vertically, in the middle of the pack.
• Photo gear area must be able to hold D90, 18-105mm, 70-300mm, extra D90 battery. Also should have spare room for future 35mm/1.8, SB600 flash, and maybe some odds and ends (extra memory cards, filters, etc).
• Non-photo area should be able to hold at least one 32 oz (1 quart) Nalgene water bottle, and maybe a day's change of clothes (socks, underwear, pants, t-shirt).
• As for weather-proofing: I don't anticipate being in a monsoon. However, I can see myself being caught out on a hike in a sudden downpour, too far away from any shelter to not have fairly robust water protection.
• Still small enough to pass as carry-on luggage.

Given all the above, I have increased my budget a bit. I'd like to spend less than $175, if possible.

Thanks again!
Matt

It does not fit all of your many requirements, but I think that the Lowepro Fastpack 250 would work for you. You have to keep in mind that you are asking for a smaller bag but then on the other hand want to carry around clothes and everything else. A good site to visit is cambags.com. They will give you a great idea as to what bags are out there, what can fit inside them and the going rate.

I would think the bag I use would work, its the Lowepro Slingshot AW200, its awful nice to be able to swing the bag around and pull the camera out without removing the bag itself.

matt_ said:

I recently got a Nikon 70-300mm VR lens for my D90. I already had the kit lens (18-105mm).

My previous bag was the simple Lowepro Nova 1 AW. I really liked this bag, but it's simply too small when I'm using the big lens.

I've been combing these forums and the Internet in general, but can't make up my mind. I'm pretty set on a backpack. A shoulder bag (like my Nova) I think would be too big/heavy for longer walks/hikes; same goes for a sling-style pack. I'd like room for a little more gear than I have now. In the future, I might add the 35mm prime and perhaps an SB600 flash. But I can't see myself having much more than that for the next several years (except maybe smaller odds and ends, e.g. filters, cloths, memory cards, batteries, etc). I have a Slik tripod as well; a backpack that can accommodate this tripod would be ideal.

Based on what I've seen, the Lowepro Flipside 300 looks nearly ideal. But I also want something that is rainproof (i.e. AW or all-weather). The next step up is the Flipside 400 AW, but it looks a bit too big. Also, I'd like to spend less than $100 (but I'm willing to stretch a little).

The Kata 3N1-20 also looks nice. However, I'm not too hot on its looks, plus some of the minor complaints I've read in various reviews give me a bad gut feel.

So... in short: looking for an all-weather/rainproof backpack for my D90 + 18-105mm + 70-300mm + room for a bit of future growth. Ability to handle my Slik tripod is not absolutely required, but definitely a plus.

I appreciate any thoughts or suggestions!
-Matt

Click to expand...

--

• David

Kata bags rock! I have the 3N1-20 and looking at the DR 467!

Max

So far, the Lowepro Rover AW II looks to fit my needs. It may be a bit bigger than I want/need, but has been around for a while and seems to have generally good reviews.

http://products.lowepro.com/product/Rover-AW-II,2024,14.htm

I'm also considering the CompuRover AW:

http://products.lowepro.com/product/CompuRover-AW,1923,16.htm

One thing that's a bit confusing: the external dimensions given on Lowepro's site for each bag aren't drastically different:

Rover AW II: 13.4W X 10.2D X 20.5H in.
CompuRover AW: 13.4W X 9.1D X 21.7H in.

However, the CompuRover looks significantly bigger based on the picture from cambags.com:

http://cambags.com/nikon/d70/backpacks/lowepro_compurover_aw_frames.htm

I know I didn't state "space for laptop" in my previous posts; I'm on the fence with that one. On the one hand, if I went hiking for a day in the wilderness, I wouldn't take a laptop. On the other hand, if I went "urban" hiking, a laptop might be nice; furthermore, for weekend trips and vacations, space for a laptop would be handy.

Thanks again for all your thoughts and suggestions!

Hi,

Here is my take. Like you I hike with a camera (D80) and either one (18-200VR), two (18-70DX and Sigma 10-20EX) or three lenses (plus the 70-300VR). I also take a travel tripod. I agree with you that shoulder bags are uncomfortable for walks.

What I want is a comfortable backpack that carries photo gear, tripod, day clothes, rations and water. In my opinion the photo industry does not make such a backpack.

Photo backpacks either put all the heavy camera gear at the bottom which is the worst centre of gravity for comfortable hiking (such as the Tamrac Adventure Series), or have little or no space for daily rations etc (such as Lowe Pro’s trekker series), or do not have a good way to carry a tripod in a stable manner at the side close to the body (instead it bounces around at the back, which is not stable). I have yet to find a photo optimised backpack that puts the heavy camera compartment near the top (centre of gravity and ease of access), puts the lighter clothes at the bottom (which one tends to need less frequently), and carries a tripod stably on the side. If anyone knows of one let me know!

I have therefore bought a good hiking day sack. Very comfortable to wear when laden, waterproof, and does not look like a camera bag. Spare day clothes go at the bottom. A tripod slips inside down the side keeping its weight near your body and stable. Lenses go in individual cases and near the top of the sack. The camera and a normal zoom go in a soft case worn over one shoulder at one’s front and stabilized with a belt (bit like the traditional Sam Browne). It works well. All I would add is to try out various designs for comfort, weigh and CofG carrying ability, and the degree of water resistance (although I accept that most shops will not let you bring in a bucket of water and throw it over their smart, new rucksacks!). I did this (less the water throwing bit) and opted for a 35 litre sack (Berghaus) and have been very happy with it (it has day trekked in the UK, Italy, France, Argentine, Peru, Jordan and NZ in comfort). I use a smaller 20 litre daysack for shorter walks with less gear, particularly in cities).

Worth considering this as an alternative. Hope that helps.

--
J.

http://jules7.smugmug.com/

Ray Vinciguerro said:

It does not fit all of your many requirements, but I think that the Lowepro Fastpack 250 would work for you. You have to keep in mind that you are asking for a smaller bag but then on the other hand want to carry around clothes and everything else. A good site to visit is cambags.com. They will give you a great idea as to what bags are out there, what can fit inside them and the going rate.

Click to expand...

Actually, if this had some kind of weather-proofing, it would be ideal.

I've since decided that tripod-carrying ability is a soft requirement: nice to have, but not necessary. Room for laptop---either as a specific area or a sufficiently large general compartment---is now a hard requirement.

Another requirement is a thick and padded waist belt. I commute daily by train, and while I don't take my camera, I do take a change of clothes for the gym, usually a book, and some other random stuff. I have a ten minute walk to the train and another from train to office. Even in that short walk, and even with a light pack, I've found that having a pack with a thick waist belt is a godsend. It puts most of the weight on my hips, rather than my shoulders. Perhaps this is just personal preference, but for all but the lightest loads, having the weight on my hips is much better than on my shoulders. As such, bags like the Kata DR-467 and Tamrac Adventure series fail for me.

(I realize it's frustrating for folks trying to make recommendations/suggestions when I keep changing my requirements. I'm now looking at this thread as a forum for me to think out loud, a quasi-blog of sorts. )

Anyway, the Fastpack 250 hits exactly my requirements (as of this moment anyway), except the rain-proofing. On the other hand, I figure it shouldn't be too hard to find a generic rain cover to give it semi-weather/rain proofing abilities.

Continuing my search, however, did yield two more interesting bags:

The Mountainsmith Borealis AT:

http://www.mountainsmith.com/products.asp?productId=161&categoryId=13&subCategoryId=14&subCategory2Id=0

And the Clik Elite Medium Nature:

http://www.clikelite.com/shop/medium-nature/

The only problem with these two, is they aren't as popular as the familiar brands like Lowepro, Tamrac and even Kata. So reviews, etc are hard to find. But at least on paper, they look nearly perfect.

Anyone have any experience with either of these?

jhorse said:

Photo backpacks either put all the heavy camera gear at the bottom which is the worst centre of gravity for comfortable hiking (such as the Tamrac Adventure Series), or have little or no space for daily rations etc (such as Lowe Pro’s trekker series), or do not have a good way to carry a tripod in a stable manner at the side close to the body (instead it bounces around at the back, which is not stable). I have yet to find a photo optimised backpack that puts the heavy camera compartment near the top (centre of gravity and ease of access), puts the lighter clothes at the bottom (which one tends to need less frequently), and carries a tripod stably on the side. If anyone knows of one let me know!

Click to expand...

Perhaps this is a matter of preference, but I disagree: I think the heavier stuff should be lower in the pack, near your body's center of gravity (roughly mid-stomach, where your navel is). Of course, in general, closer to your body is best, as increasing distance from your person will result in a "lever" effect, and make stuff feel heavier than it is. At least that's how I feel from the "hiking" I do in my daily commute, and why I decided that a thick waist belt is crucial.

jhorse said:

I have therefore bought a good hiking day sack. Very comfortable to wear when laden, waterproof, and does not look like a camera bag. [...]
Worth considering this as an alternative. Hope that helps.

Click to expand...

My only criticism there is that it increases the number of options dramatically! But, seriously, I think it's probably a good idea. Actually, it makes the discussion about weight placement/distribution/CoG a moot point---you can organize the weight in a way that works best for the wearer.

I found one review of the Clik Elite Medium Nature I mentioned above:

http://reviews.photographyreview.com/blog/clik-elite-medium-nature-camera-pack-video-review/

Interestingly, it is actually a comparison of the Clik Elite to a general (i.e. not camera specific) day pack. The video shows the reviewer transferring the contents of his previous pack to the Clik Elite.

Hopefully this weekend I'll get a chance to hit up some stores and actually see some packs in person. Should be significantly more instructive/enlightening than the web.

Thanks again to everyone for their thoughts and suggestions!

Take a look at the Tamron Velocity 7x, I just ordered it for the same kit plus sb600, It seems to hold what you have with ether lens attached and room for a flash plus some more. Good luck. Brian
--
Life's fast good thing there's burst mode.

My Pics at http://picasaweb.google.com/gonzopics07

Do yourself a BIG favor. Look at the ThinkTank "Streetwalker". They think of everything. Simply the most comfortable camera backpack I've carried. (I've owned four different Kata's, several Lowes, and I've pressed several other non-specific bags for camera use too). I now use Thinktanks exclusively (Streetwalker, Streetwalker Pro, Urban Disguise 35). I think of Lowe and Kata at the enthusiast/prosumer level, Thinktank at the professional level. Try it...you'll never look back.

see http://www.Thinktankphoto.com

I use the Lowepro Fastpack 350 for when I want to take all my gear D90/4 lenses and Laptop, SB-600, etc

I also have a smaller fastpack which is a Blacks Camera (Canada) generic bag. Works well for day trips etc

Take a look at the Lowepro Primus AW. Has a lower compartment for camera gear (accessible without taking off the pack), a separate upper compartment for other stuff, a raincover, and provision for carrying a tripod or monopod. I have a very similar kit, and it easily holds a D80 with the 16-85, 70-300, 50/1/4 or SB600, extra battery, etc.

No pack is perfect, but I have used this in pretty adverse conditions and it has functioned well.

I use Kata DR-467. It's good quality and great price.

I agree - I love my Streetwalker.
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