hiking camera backpack

Im hoping someone can help me out. Im looking for a specific camera backpack. I found it a while back and forgot to bookmark the manufacturer, and now i cant remember who made it. It was a pack similar to the Lowepro Trekker series, with adjustable shoulder straps, hip straps, etc, for hiking. The difference with the one im looking for was that the access to the camera is from the side that would be touching your back if you were wearing the pack, and you can access it without putting it down by removing hte shoulder straps, rotating the pack around your body with the waist strap still attached. Does this ring a bell to anyone?

Thanks

I can't find the Primus on the LowePro website, but I've seen it for sale from other vendors on the internet.

I bought the smaller Primus called the Minumus for long day hikes with the DSLR, but the side access was a bit small for a 5D2 and L-bracket. Shortly afterwards I took up the µ4/3 format, and found it to be perfect. I don't know what the larger size is about in this regard. You might call LowePro on the phone to inquire whether they still sell them before looking elsewhere.

http://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=lowepro+recycled&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8#q=lowepro+recycled+backpack&hl=en&client=safari&sa=X&rls=en&prmd=imvns&source=univ&tbm=shop&tbo=u&ei=3IwAUOa3GOPn0QHquqi7Bw&ved=0CHcQsxg&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.,cf.osb&fp=7c0a655d33a70447&biw=1617&bih=908

LowePro has anew pack with size panel access, the Photo Sport. It's a different type of configuration with lighter materials, worth looking into.

http://products.lowepro.com/product/Photo-Sport-200-AW,2271,14.htm

Both of those have the usual All Weather cover. You'll want to look at the Tamarac backpacks to (I think the Aero, specifically)

--
...Bob, NYC
http://www.bobtullis.com

"Well, sometimes the magic works. . . Sometimes, it doesn't." - Little Big Man
.

narddogg81 said:

Im hoping someone can help me out. Im looking for a specific camera backpack. I found it a while back and forgot to bookmark the manufacturer, and now i cant remember who made it. It was a pack similar to the Lowepro Trekker series, with adjustable shoulder straps, hip straps, etc, for hiking. The difference with the one im looking for was that the access to the camera is from the side that would be touching your back if you were wearing the pack, and you can access it without putting it down by removing hte shoulder straps, rotating the pack around your body with the waist strap still attached. Does this ring a bell to anyone?

Thanks

Click to expand...

There are several bags on the market now that fit this description.

The original "side-loader" was the Lowepro Primus, a massive rugged affair which spawned a Maximus and a Minumus before going out of production a couple of years ago. Now, which one you choose will depend on whether you want something to just carry mostly photo gear and little or no personal items, or a true backpack with photo gear hauling features.

In the Lowepro line, the PhotoSport 200 AW is an excellent active sports backpack for a mid-size camera body and one extra lens plus 14L of personal stuff and gear. Well reviewed. Unlike the Fastpack and HD Fastpack series which also include side portals, the PhotoSport has an excellent hipbelt like a real backpack.

Kata makes the 3-N- series, essentially a pure photo backpack that can convert to a sling and can be accessed from either side.

Tamrac now makes a mostly-photo-gear backpack similar to the Kata: the Evolution 6, 8, and 9.

ClikElite has perhaps the most developed line of hiker's backpacks: The Obscura and Contrejour packs offer side portals in a true internal frame technical backpack. The Obscura is being redesigned to fit D7000/7D size bodies. 32L all up, a good general purpose pack. They also offer more fast-and-light packs like the ProBody Sport. These packs are generally excellent, even overbuilt, but have in the past tended towards gimmicky and the smallish side. They're better now, but for fast-and-light the LowePro PhotoSport is a bit better thought through in my opinion.

f-Stop offers the bulletproof Kenti, though at close to $300. A mostly photo bag; for photo-assisted backpacking, the ClikElite offerings or f-Stop's bigger bags might be more appropriate.
Have fun shopping!

thanks for the answers. i actually stumbled into the bag i was looking for on the lowepro site. i was actually referring to the lowepro flipside 400 aw.

narddogg81 said:

thanks for the answers. i actually stumbled into the bag i was looking for on the lowepro site. i was actually referring to the lowepro flipside 400 aw.

Click to expand...

Ahh, my mistake. I didn't see the "touching your back" phrase following "entry from the side".

mosswings said:

narddogg81 said:

thanks for the answers. i actually stumbled into the bag i was looking for on the lowepro site. i was actually referring to the lowepro flipside 400 aw.

Click to expand...

Ahh, my mistake. I didn't see the "touching your back" phrase following "entry from the side".

Click to expand...

Drat! I saw it, but figured it was an inelegant description of what it brought to my mind [g]. Are you an avid seeker of bags, or a fellow chronic acquirer? My wife informs me I have more bags than she.

--
...Bob, NYC
http://www.bobtullis.com

"Well, sometimes the magic works. . . Sometimes, it doesn't." - Little Big Man
.

Bob Tullis said:

mosswings said:

narddogg81 said:

thanks for the answers. i actually stumbled into the bag i was looking for on the lowepro site. i was actually referring to the lowepro flipside 400 aw.

Click to expand...

Ahh, my mistake. I didn't see the "touching your back" phrase following "entry from the side".

Click to expand...

Drat! I saw it, but figured it was an inelegant description of what it brought to my mind [g]. Are you an avid seeker of bags, or a fellow chronic acquirer? My wife informs me I have more bags than she.

Click to expand...

i think i have 4 now, none of which really satisfy me. i need a bag like this specifically for an upcoming trip to ireland where i will be hiking a lot, and my current sling pack is horribly uncomfortable for hiking. I noticed that new Flipside Sport 15L AW. That looks like it might be the one, with the hydration pocket and tripod pouch

narddogg81 said:

Bob Tullis said:

mosswings said:

narddogg81 said:

thanks for the answers. i actually stumbled into the bag i was looking for on the lowepro site. i was actually referring to the lowepro flipside 400 aw.

Click to expand...

Ahh, my mistake. I didn't see the "touching your back" phrase following "entry from the side".

Click to expand...

Drat! I saw it, but figured it was an inelegant description of what it brought to my mind [g]. Are you an avid seeker of bags, or a fellow chronic acquirer? My wife informs me I have more bags than she.

Click to expand...

i think i have 4 now, none of which really satisfy me. i need a bag like this specifically for an upcoming trip to ireland where i will be hiking a lot, and my current sling pack is horribly uncomfortable for hiking. I noticed that new Flipside Sport 15L AW. That looks like it might be the one, with the hydration pocket and tripod pouch

Click to expand...

I picked up a Flipside Sport 10L AW from Best Buy when they had it on sale online for $65. The 15 was on sale too, but the 10 looked like a better size for me. I haven't had a chance to use it yet, but it looks like a nice pack.