Backpack for roadtrip westcoast USA

[Frakkie]

hello all,

im looking for a backpack to take with me on a roundtour trough the parks in America (westcoast)

the gear i am planning on taking:

Nikon D800

24-70

70-200

12-24

wacom companion intuos laptop

any suggestions what you can recommend for me? It also has to be carry on since i will be travelling from Belgium

 

[dougeryb]

I'm not sure if weight is an issue but this one seems pretty nice. It does weigh 5lbs, but has some nice features. I really like that it has a rolltop, weather resistant zippers. I just placed an order with REI and saved 20%.

Loading…

www.popphoto.com

 

[Craig Gillette]

I don't have a definite answer for you, more a question that might help others towards an answer - and a comment. Comment first. I find backpack fit and comfort pretty individual and would suggest shopping locally for something that fits right/feels good and carries your intended load. In my case I'm tallish and find that many standard fit packs ride funny or the waistband is too high above my waist.hips to properly deal with weight distribution so tend to look for packs that are longer or have tall versions. The question would be are you looking for a photography specific "camera" backpack or are you looking for a pack that will also carry other items, say some added clothing/rain gear, snacks, water, etc?

The answer to that might suggest aiming towards shopping in photography type shops or in sporting goods/mountaineering type shops where they may carry a wider array of packs. It would seem to me that many "daypacks' would fit the bill and at least around here (Southern California), a lot of students use daypacks for school the like and so many come fit with laptop sleeves.

 

[Cliff Fujii]

hello all,

im looking for a backpack to take with me on a roundtour trough the parks in America (westcoast)

the gear i am planning on taking:

Nikon D800

24-70

70-200

12-24

wacom companion intuos laptop

any suggestions what you can recommend for me? It also has to be carry on since i will be travelling from Belgium

A ThinkTank Airport Essentials is what you need. It's small enough to fit under the airline seat so you can't be refused. Just make sure that bag makes weight with all of your gear. Your airline web site will give you the specifications of the carry-on bag(s) that they allow in the cabin. The Airport Essentials has a security wire so you can lock it to the airport lounge seating and it also doubles as a pillow or a foot rest. I have been on 8-10 hour international flights and being able to change your foot position or lean on something will contribute greatly to the comfort of your trip.

The Airport Essentials also has a sleeve for up to a 15" MacBook Air (my Surface Pro 3 fits just fine).

I have gone a step further and pulled out the dividers from my Airport International and replaced them with TrekPak Rolli70 divider system so that I can reconfigure the bag if I decide to go with a different camera/lens combo.

 

[SirSamkin]

FSTOP gear is having a pretty good sale on their bags. You can get the Loka UL for about 200 bucks.

 

[Veloster75]

Lowepro Pro tactic 450 AW

 

[calson]

Best backpack I know of and it is one I own is the Guru Gear Bataflae 18L. It will hold a full size dslr with a 70-200mm lens attached and hold several other lenses and flash.

Best part is that you can open one half at a time and keep the insides cleaner.It is also designed to easily carry a tripod on the side of the bag so you don't have to remove the tripod to get to gear inside the bag as is the case with most small backpacks.

Outer flap pockets as well as interior pockets to keep small items so they are easily found. Bag includes a small outer pocket that holds a combination rain cover and ground cloth for the bag.

Very comfortable shoulder straps and a waist strap. The shoulder and waist straps fit inside an outer pocket area so when traveling you don't have them exposed to catch on anything. Backpack also has a great carry handle at the top which is terrific for use when going through airports or carrying the bag in and out of an airplane.

The Bataflae are also the lightest bags around which is important when airlines have a weight restriction. They also are very flexible so I have had no problems even with the large 32L backpack in squeezing it into the small overhead bins of planes like the Bombardier Q400 that have an 8 inch opening.

Guru Gear also makes some neat pouches that have a clear side and come in different sizes and shapes. I use one for my camera batteries and another for cables and chargers.

The Bataflae are not inexpensive but they will last for years and are the best travel backpacks I have found and I have looked extensively.

 

[Rexgig0]

I recently acquired a Think Tank Shape Shifter, which is specifically made to hold the three "Trinity*" zoom lenses and two pro-sized camera bodies, in neoprene pockets, and a large (17-inch) laptop. The bellows-type construction allows the body of the pack to be zipped to assume a much thinner front-to-back profile when the cameras and lenses are not inside the pack. The Shape Shifter is not intended to hold many general items other than those listed, so one's luggage would need to be carried elsewhere.

As the OP's narrative indicated a road-trip tour, this brought to mind that a tour bus would be the mode of transportation, and while I have not (yet) traveled by tour bus, I would think the Shape Shift might be well-suited, based upon the OP's specified equipment, particularly the three fairly large lenses.

I must emphasize, however, that the Shape Shifter is a specialized backpack, best suited to those who are carrying the equipment for which it was designed to carry, three pro zoom lenses and two bodies, in the designated neoprene pockets, or other items that will fit into those pocket sizes, such as substituting Speedlights for a body or lens. (Obviously, a pocket sized for a pro DSLR body can hold quite a bit.) A visit to Think Tank's site would be a good idea; personal inspection would be better. All of their products seem very well-designed; something else in their line-up may be better-suited.

I had the advantage of personally inspecting the Shape Shifter at Houston Camera Exchange before buying. (HCE stocks much of the Think Tank line-up. HCE does not sell on-line, except for some few items, mostly clearance, listed in their Ebay store.)

I should emphasize that I am not a representative for any manufacturer or seller, and receive no compensation or dividends for promoting anything. I am a satisfied customer of HCE and Think Tank, and strongly believe in supporting my local independent pro-level camera store.

*The "Trinity" pro zooms are the Nikkor 14-24/2.8G, 24-70/2.8G, and 70-200/2.8G, and the Canon 16-35/2.8L, 24-70/2.8L, and 70-200/2.8L.

 

[Gray Drake]

Just made the following post on another thread here. The interesting part is I hiked with grand children in Zion and Bryce Canyon Nat'l Parks a couple months ago using this bag. I to took a laptop (much larger - 17", on the plane, not on the hikes). I carried on two bags - laptop bag and camera bag.

Posted earlier

For me the priorities in bag selection are

• Size - small but capable of handling my mobile system (I shoot an Oly M4/3 with 4 lenses, flash, charger, batteries, etc)
• Protection of equipment in the hiking environment
• Comfort - I no longer do multi-day hikes, but I want a bag that is not a burden on a one day hike in moderate terrain.
• Equipment access - I get into wet and/or dusty environments from time to time and I want a bag that gives access to all my gear very quickly. This means access to all lenses and the ability to make a change without setting anything down. Some sling backs meet this requirement, back packs do not (too much time to get access to equipment)
• Durability and reasonable rain protection

I have looked at pretty much everything out there and the LowePro Slingshot series is the only one that meets all of these requirements.

You must make one easy change in the as designed configuration, however. The lens cubicles are arranged from front to back, you must change these to the side to side orientation so all can be accessed with the bag still on your shoulder, when it is slid around to the front. This only requires reorientation of the velcro dividers. I have also used an additional divider from an old camera bag to optimize my arrangement.

For my size system I am using the 200 series, but when the 7-17, f 2.8 becomes available I will be moving to the 300 series Slingshot.

I use the bag without the waist strap, works great and equip is accessible.

Take a look, you will not be disappointed.

Drake

--
ttps://www.flickr.com/photos/heronden/albums

 

[BillyBobSenna]

I agree that the Think Tank Photo backpacks are great. The build quality and design are outstanding. You may want to also consider their StreetWalker model backpack. I have been using the StreetWalker Pro for a couple years and could not be happier.

 

[KDK1969]

Thank you for your very informative post.

I have two questions regarding the shapeshifter

1. Is the space in the non-camera compartment adequate to carry a rain jacket/snacks etc?

2. I know the bag is designed so that you carry the body detached from the lens. But is it physically possible to store camera/lens for a short while, for example when you want to sit in a cafe/restaurant and do not wish to start the whole disassembly process beforehand!

 

[Rexgig0]

Thank you for your very informative post.

I have two questions regarding the shapeshifter

1. Is the space in the non-camera compartment adequate to carry a rain jacket/snacks etc?

2. I know the bag is designed so that you carry the body detached from the lens. But is it physically possible to store camera/lens for a short while, for example when you want to sit in a cafe/restaurant and do not wish to start the whole disassembly process beforehand!

I can answer #2 immediately: Yes, at least with non-gripped bodies. The individual pouches are permanently-attached, but flexible. The lens, with camera attached, can be inserted into one of the lower or mid-level pockets, so that the camera body simply “squishes” the flexible pocket above the lens. If your camera body is small enough, it can remain attached to a lens stored in the top level of pockets.

As for #1, above, I will have to take a look. I think the answer is yes, but would rather confirm. I have only used the non-camera compartment for very flat objects, and am unsure of its width/depth.

--
I wore a police badge and pistol, and made evidentiary images at night, incorporating elements of portrait, macro, still life, landscape, architecture, and PJ. (Retired January 2018.) I enjoy using Canon, Nikon, and Leica.

 

[Rexgig0]

Thank you for your very informative post.

I have two questions regarding the shapeshifter

1. Is the space in the non-camera compartment adequate to carry a rain jacket/snacks etc?

OK, I shoved a waterproof Pelican case into the laptop sleeve portion of the pack. This case measures 35x27x7cm, or about 13.75x10.75x2.75 inches, so it mimics a very hefty laptop. I was then able to stuff my ancient Moonstone hooded rain jacket, men’s size Large, in the space above the Pelican case. There are thinner-fabric/material rain jackets available. This was a tight fit, but feasible.

Snacks? I don’t know; how large are your snacks? I tend to keep gear and food/drinks separated.

I hope this is helpful.

--
I wore a police badge and pistol, and made evidentiary images at night, incorporating elements of portrait, macro, still life, landscape, architecture, and PJ. (Retired January 2018.) I enjoy using Canon, Nikon, and Leica..