Camera bag that works well with rucksack for hill walking

Hi there,

 

 

I like to take my Bronica S2A out to the hills in a little rezo 120 lowe pro

bag. Thing is I need to carry stuff for being safe up the mountains so that

fills a small rucksack. I can pop my camera bag into a 35l rucksack but its a

pain getting it in and out. Or I can carry the shoulder bag, but thats a pain

climbing. Dangerous if scrambling. Anyone else know of a solution.

 

 

Thanks,

 

 

 

Roddy

Lowepro offers camera backpacks that come with an additional day-pack for other gear like

clothing. The day-pack can be attached to the front of the camera backpack or be used on its

own. I own one. It works. See their Photo Trekker AW II and scroll down to "related

accessories". My Photo Trekker came with the day-pack. At the time it was rather unclear

whether it was "included" or "extra". It appeared to be included. The described outfit may be

a bit large for your needs. The day-pack comes with several backpacks. May be there is a

smaller one than the Photo Trekker.

I have 2 camera backpacks so far. 1 huge Tamrac & 1 medium Lowepro. I truly like the Lowepro. My rucksack for hiking is also a pain in the butt if the camera gear is buried in it! What to do!?<p>

I Have been able to compromise (depending on the type of the hike!)by refitting the Lowepro as needed. I take less photo gear, but the load distributes easier . . . and that is the goal. . .weight distribution and carrying the right stuff when you need it!<p>

I am looking at the Kata midsize rucksack because it can strap my Kata waist pack into one backpack unit. With some experimentation, I am finding Kata bags rather a good fit for me and ingeniously flexible.

There's a lowepro model, the orion aw? that has a detachable hip bag + rucksack so you can swivel the hip bag around tot the front. Think Tank has a more techical solution as well.

When you don't have to carry much walking/climbing gear, I support the others, a "split" rucsack from Lowepro is ideal, put your clothing etc. in the top bit.

 

When the load gets a bit heavier such as winter scrambling or when you could do with 30L+ then I think you already have the best solution, get a proper rucsack and put the camera protected within it.

 

I really like the lowepro, but for anything strenuous its not really a great rucksac, too much weight is put on the shoulders, not greatly balanced and poor hip-belt.

 

If you decide on a bag which has an external strap for a tripod, they come in two sorts, one straps the pod to the side of the bad, others, like the lowepro often stap centrally to the back of the bag. Beware with the latter type, if you slip over backwards, the tripod hits the rock/ground first and the pod rises-up towards the back of your head. Hence not recommended for scrambling with tripod attached.

I just got back from travelling in the hills of Northern West Italy, the Liguria region of the Imperia province. I did a lot of steep climbing and I needed good life support due to being a type one diabetic. I carried a Leica M6 and three lenses, 9 rolls of film, an insulin and blood test kit, 10 essentials, 4 protein bars, glucose tabs, lens cleaning brush and cloth, bread, cheese, two apples, a notebook and a small pair of binoculars. I used the LowePro Mini Trekker AW and it was perfect. I also used this pack to transport my gear through three airports worth of security stupidity (that's 6 X roundtrip).

Ah, yes, small tripod too...I carried a small tripod on those walks.

You may want to consider using a modular belt/harness and pouch system. I used such a system made by Kinesis Photo Gear (kgear.com) when hiking in Alaska and found it quite versatile and suitable to the task -- at least in respect of 35 mm. gear. Similar set-ups are available via other manufacturers; also consider adapting similar military surplus set-ups since most infantry forces ave been using such set-ups for decades.

 

The principal problem I have found with the photo-related belt/pouch systems is that they are designed primarily for 35 mm. -sized gear and the pouches are often too small to accomodate medium format bodies without some form of end-user modification or mounting a chest holster/pouch on the harness. Conversely, such systems leave one's hands free and keeps everything close to the body; allows for a great amount of freedom in balancing the load (albeit a somewhat limited one); and provides for very quick access to equipment.

I have a Kinesis belt system that I've used on about ten weddings (on hiatus now...two little kids). While it works good for that purpose (lots of standing around, little walking, lots of modular, specific componets), I personally don't see an advantage of that system for hiking over a belt bag like a Think Tank Rotation or Lowepro.

 

The problem is unless you have the Kinesis bags attached in the rear or front of the belt, your arms hit them as they swing to and fro. So, why not use a TT or Lowepro?

 

Even the TT belt system, which allows one to push the attachments around, still would seem to interfere with a normal sized rucksack.

 

However, if memory holds, Kinesis does sell some backpack/camera gear combos, but their site is down right now. I think the camera pack attaches on one's chest.

 

My 2 cents.

David,

 

I never had problems with my arms hitting the sides of the pouches when hiking/scrambling/etc. I usually carry my survival kit/light hardshell jacket/etc. in a rear mounted pouch, two water bottle pouches or a water bottle and single lens pouch on one side, and a double lens pouch on the other side for what is admittedly not much camera gear. I sometimes mount a large pouch in front on a harness, but that is generally uncomfortable over a long haul, and also makes scrambling 'interesting'.

 

For a fuller kit I use a Journeyman backpack with a 'front-opening' insert modified to carry two lens pouches upright beheath the insert. The remaining space is used to carry the 'survival kit' pouch; and I center-mount a tripod on the outside. This works remarkably well and provides relatively quick access; but, as with most backpacks, one must take it off to access one's gear which, in practice, really isn't that big a deal unless wants to take a really quick 'grab shot'.

 

Mind you, if the Think Tank Rotation had been available when I acquired the Journeyman there is strong likelihood I may well have went with the former.

Lowepro bags are excellent as long as you don't need an extra divider. I am fed up with them as it is impossible to find some spare dividers. I don't plan to buy a second bag only for these ridiculous parts.