BEST BACKPACK / RUCKSACK FOR HIKING PHOTOGRAPHERS (2021)

Chris 222 wrote:

GuillaumeF wrote:

Chris 222 wrote:

GuillaumeF wrote:

Hey @Chris222 !

Given the sad/unfortunate/very crossing/trying to remain polite news that DPreview is going to shutdown on 10th April 2023, is there any other place on the internet (forum/website/...) where you intend to continue providing the photogs community with your invaluable backpacks/bags/ICU/... reviews and comparison ?

On a more general note, I will very dearly miss the content both the forum & website have generated ... and it is especially crossing that the site won't even be kept live in read-only mode ... despite the fact that doing so probably has a ridiculous cost vs Amazon means...

While the forum is still open, I'd like to thank you in particular, for your amazing threads !

Thanks

Guillaume

You are most welcome Guillaume!

And yeah, it's hard to remain polite when reading some of the official hogwash...

I would definitely be willing to re-publish and/or update my articles elsewhere. If anyone has feasible suggestions, please PM me.

Morning Chris !
I saw you asked for suggestions in PM ... yet I believe if everyone is sync'ing their migration effort, the knowledge/community loss might be a slight bit lessen.

Agreed, but can you take a minute to elaborate on this thought? Where and how would you sync all these conversations?

I suspect I wasn't very clear Sorry !

I meant that if a significant part of users where to join the same new site/forum, the impact (of having DPR erased from the www) could be felt a little bit less by the community.

I see a similar trends in other DPR subforums: people assessing what's the best alternative, in hope that not all the communities would scatter in dozens of site/forum but instead on a few ones ...

Thanks

If you have your own photo website (wix, squarespace, or something), you could host this on a new "blog" page. I don't know how you'd port over all of the discussion in the thread, but at least your reference articles could live there?

Agreed that it will be a big shame to lose this! I've enjoyed coming back for the updates.

Ideally PetaPixel opens up forums, I can imagine the community moving over to that in full. Also I see you already heard of fredmiranda.com, I had no issues making an account there perhaps try making one when you are traveling so you have a different ip to your regular one that is no VPN ip or use a dedicated VPN IP. I could help troubleshoot via dm, should you still be interested in joining that forum.

Other than that, offload your tutorials to a dedicated website. Or make a github page, github is great not just for code, but also for comprehensive guides. Even if they somehow nuke github you can easily backup everything and reupload it to another repository type service. github is also well indexed by search engines.

I sent you a dm just before this, but again also a thanks here for sharing your knowledge on backpacks. One could say you saved my back lol.

Try sending my a dm, it might redirect you to the right page then, maybe it got buried, but Ill just paste it in here for you:

hi, with this website in its twilight I would just like to thank you for your extensive Threads regarding backpacks and what to look out for. I read through them all. I only joined last Month, quite the timing...

After using an Osprey Daypayk for travel, I figured I should upgrade along with new gear and got a Peak Design Everyday 30L backpack. I packed all my gear and travel essentials in it and I still remember after my first and only time wearing it the stinging pain in my shoulders. Just 10 minutes of testing resulted in 3 days of shoulder soreness even with their waist strap. Unbelievable. I despise all those reviewers who clearly as much gear in it as me peddling this overrated fashion statement.

So after extensive search I have come across you and your groups extensive research for the perfect "camera" bag. It helped me a lot to see through the bs of camera backpacks and what to look out for.

Ultimately I have not gone with your recommended Deuter Pack, however I have been very happy with my Shimoda Explore 30L, which you had mixed feelings on. I do have some special requirements though, since I shoot VR Video and an easy access ICU helps a lot with setting up everything needed (tripod, camera, color grading card, leveler, 360 spatial mic to attach to tripod). I posted a picture on how I pack should you be curious:
https://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/66936713

I also like Shimoda as it has structural support and proper straps (I use their Plus Straps), comfortable hip belt and the ability to move straps further up or down, so they wont cling too much to you, reducing strain on shoulders. It also fits as a carry on.

Thanks for sharing your knowledge and answering question in the thread. By the way do you happen to know of a forum that could replace this one? I have learned about one called fredmiranda.com , though it is using quite dated forum software.

.

Hmm, do you know what (entirely evil) entity owns GH?

github is owned by Microsoft... well when it comes to the bigger platforms it truly is unavoidable. However the .git protocol and the way repositories work is open source. So given that you share the rare disdain for larger companies, you could host your tutorials on platforms like gitlab.com or bitbucket.org. Both are independent entities, but I would recommend GitLab. I recommend this as an alternative to self hosting on a traditional website, due to how easy it would be to maintain. You can easily link it and have it be easy to find through searches. And as said in case they shut down a service you can easily port it to another git repository host. Making a Backup would be a breeze. And you can even have others collaborate to fix parts for you to review, as in your whole group could give input more effectively should you so desire. Git has a lot of advantages, even for just sharing knowledge.

Should you go that route, I think using the wiki tab would be quite to your liking. You make 1 index page (a file called Readme.md) and then link your guides to the wiki pages of the same repository, searching for "gitlab wiki" or "github wiki" will lead you right to the appropriate short guide.

(example of how it can look here )

(example of the "issues" tab, its like a mini forum to discuss additions and such )

And as said hit me up if you got questions on all of this.

excuse me? For the record I am for real, are you?

Just for my own reference, I've found that if you put the forum view in "flat" view, a "print" of the webpage through your browser at least gets you a usuable PDF for posterity. I've been doing this for all of my bookmarked articles or forum threads that will inevitably be lost.

Chris 222 wrote:

Please PM me directly if you have more questions or if you'd like a link to a vendor that still has a good price on those models.

Why do I get the feeling that this thread is just a marketing ploy?

We are not allowed to discuss anything in the thread. Only PM the OP (who conveniently has access to all the bags that are no longer for sale, except via his link).

1. Chris 222 wrote:

Ken Gosden wrote:

A quick note that $290 MSRP for the Cosyspeed Photohiker 44 is the intro/preorder price. Their website lists it as $380 MSRP.

Ken,

Not arguing with you as our community's assessment is that their site info is one of the worst of the bunch (see post 4) but I do believe that what I listed is currently correct (go to the products page and then find the "Preooder" price for the CP44):

https://www.cosyspeed.com/en/products/photohiker-44-photo-trekking-backpack?variant=32767571722318

OTOH, I did find that other page that lists $380... but if you click "buy now" nothing happens... GOOD GRIEF!

FWIW, one of the things I did among the conversations I had with their CEO over many months was make some very basic suggestions to him about their site's shortcomings. Sadly, none was heeded, including improving their spec sheets which are basically non-existant... Someone also told me recently that they still have some 404s, a problem that was already reported... 6 months ago! When I was a CEO, I was very much aware of how negatively a 404 is perceived and so was my webmaster. IF he ever missed one, typically after a major site update, it would take him at most a couple of minutes to fix the problem...

Anyhow, to anyone who orders the CP44: kindly PM me what Cosyspeed is actually charging you right now so that we may get to the bottom of this. Thanks.

Thank you for your posts! You truly added interest and value for me

DaveL

Chris 222 wrote:

Hi Chris, just wanted to say, before we have to sign off, that your research and write ups have been truly fantastic. As an enthusiastic hiker and amateur photographer trying to navigate all the various backpack options across domestic and overseas markets is challenging, but you have provided great insights that has helped me, and I hope others, to make informed decisions.

Thank you.