A little backpack info if you please

I'm considering a Kata PL-220 backpack for day hikes. The spec looks that it ought to barely make carry-on - has anyone had a problem with this? If it has travel issues, plan B is Lowepro Vertex 200 AW which looks to easily fit as carry-on.

Thanks,
-Mark
--
http://www.pbase.com/markland

Nobody who has a Kata PL220? Looking for personal experience, especially with domestic US airlines.
-Mark
--
http://www.pbase.com/markland

MarkLand said:

I'm considering a Kata PL-220 backpack for day hikes. The spec looks that it ought to barely make carry-on - has anyone had a problem with this? If it has travel issues, plan B is Lowepro Vertex 200 AW which looks to easily fit as carry-on.

Click to expand...

Don't know about your Kata, but I have the Lowepro Vertex 300, which is quite a bit larger than the 200. I bring it onto MD-90, 717, 737 and larger planes without any problem at all. (Yeah, Airbus makes planes, too, but I don't care.)

When traveling on a smaller plane, such as a Canadair RJ 700 or 900, or some other regional jet where you have to door check the bag, I do this: I pack a small nail clipper in my carry-on bag ( not the backpack!). I also carry a package of zip-ties (cable ties) in the same carry-on. I'll use those to secure the zippers on the back-pack when I door check it. At the destination, I retrieve the bag on the tarmac, walk into the terminal, cut off the zip-ties with the nail clipper, and toss them in the trash. I'm careful to carry enough for my entire trip with some spares.

I have a Tamrac Adventure 9 that I've used for travelling and hiking. It will go as carry on although fully loaded with netbook, camera and lenses you may get pulled up on the weight. It only happened once on a flight when travelling to New Zealand, everywhere else it went on without issues.

http://blog.photo3.co.uk/2011/03/tamrac-adventure-9-backpackbag-full.html

Thanks, both of you. Decision made.
-Mark
--
http://www.pbase.com/markland

Hey Mark,

LOL, I realize that your decision may already be made, but as it was only 4 hours ago, you may also want to consider the F Stop Loka. I wrote a review about it a few weeks back. It is a really nice bag - ideal for hiking.

http://www.nwpphotoforum.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=35898

Hope this helps.
James

--
The Nature Wildlife and Pet Photography Forum
http://www.nwpphotoforum.com