Travel Bags

Just returned from Asia for a short two week tour. Lots of fun and lots of

lessons learned.

 

The big one concerns travel bags for camera gear. I took a tamrac shoulder bag

and it weighed me down quite a bit. So I'm looking for advice from those of you

who travel internationally. What seems the best and most desireable way to carry

your gear?

 

 

I take two camera bodies, three lenses, a flash, tripod, and my laptop. I'd like

something to handle it all and keep my hands free. Backpacks seem like a good

idea. However, I have heard of problems getting them into overhead bins.

 

 

Your thoughts and advice are appreciated.

 

Marc S

I wish I knew. I think that the end solution must be something like get a bunch of camera bags of different sizes and choose the one that seems best for a particular project, trip, whatever.

 

I took a HUGE Tenba bag that held two cameras, lots of lenses, a 17" laptop on a long trip. Boy was I glad we were on transportation where we could leave the bag behind. That sucker weighed a ton and was probably only just barely within the maximum dimensions for carry-on at that. The good news is that I didn't actually need any surgical repairs after carrying it around.

I use the Lowepro Computrekker AW. I've used it for 3 4+ week trips so far and am taking it again with me when to South Asia next week. It holds my 12" laptop (will hold up to a 15" I think), D200 + 17-55 attached, d70s + 70-200vr attached, sigma 150 macro, 10-20, a 50 1.8 and a 1.7x tc, I also have a Slik 813cf tripod with a 488rc2 head.

 

As you can imagine it weights quite a bit, but the straps are pretty well padded and I've gotten used to it. If you take the tripod off it will fit in an overhead bin on a plane, so it's no problem as a carry on.

 

The built in rain cover is also nice, although I never really used it

 

I highly recommend it

http://www.lowepro.com/Products/Backpacks/allWeather/CompuTrekker_AW.aspx

 

They also make a "plus" version which is a big bigger

For a backpack I use a Thinktank Photo Rotation 360 ( http://www.thinktankphoto.com and http://www.rotation360.com )plus one or two of their lens changer bags on the side of the pack. The big items I'm carry in mine for the next month or so are a Nikon D3, D300, 12-24mm f/4 Nikkor, 14-24mm f/2.8 Nikkor, 24-70mm f/2.8 nikkor , Canon 1D mark 3 + 17-40mm f/4l (why so much and why Nikon and Canon? I'm reviewing and testing the Nikon gear...) + levels, additional flash cards, WhiBal card, etc.

 

For carrying the laptop (A 17" Apple MBP + backup drive, chargers (computer and cameras), card reader, cables, etc. ) along with the cameras and lenses I use a Thinktank Photo Urban Disguise 60. this is a shoulder bag.

 

Both fit in an overhead bin in a commercial jet.

Marc, I travel a lot so here's what I do......

 

First, my laptop is in a separate carry-on bag. I have no use for it when I am out and about so no need to carry the extra weight with my camera gear.

 

If I am carrying a tripod, I usually take the MiniTrekker. If I dont have a tripod with me *and* I don't bring my 80-400, I use a SlingShot 200. BTW, both of these bags fit under an airplane seat. No need to put them in the overhead compartment.

 

Based on what you plan to carry, you need a bigger bag. Most of them will fit in an overhead compartment *BUT* the bigger the bag, the less likely it will fit, even worse if you are one of the last people to board. Also, big bags have to be checked if you end up on a smaller plane.

 

Check out Lowepro. They will tell you which qualify as carry-on size....

 

http://www.lowepro.com/Products/

I've used a Lowepro phototrekker for 15 years.I wont tell you what its been through,mostly in Asia(Mongolia, Tibet, China, horseback,walking,trucks etc)and my main concern has nothing to do with jets, but that things dont get crushed,and bad travellers sitting next to me dont throw up on it.Thats why I always put a grotty nylon cover over it.Makes me look like a Salvation Army client,which suits me.That not withstanding,its easy to cart around,and just as solid as its price.If you really travel in Asia,like you know sit on a bus for 3 days not being able to move, you're gonna be doing a lot of walking as well, so its gotta be a backpack.Just as a matter of interest, why do you all take so much gear?Was there life before laptops?

I really don't like backpacks at all, since I feel they make the cameras harder to get at and act to inhibit photography since you have to take the bag off your back every time. Further in cities they are a real pain in crowded places - for you and others- and I feel that they'd be easier to steal from.

 

As far as I'm concerned the answer is to separate the tasks of getting the equipment to a location and carrying the equipment at a location. The former can be achieved with a Pelicase or decent size backpack. When photographing I rarely need all the two MF systems and 8 lenses I often bring away, so I select that subset approprite for what I'm doing and carry that in a shoulder bag.

 

No two trips are the same from the viewpoint of what I take and how I carry it- if you intend to travel frequently there's no substitute for assessing wat sort of photography/medium you're going to do; whether you're going to have anywhere (hotel room/car) where you can leave certain parts of your gear when using the rest; whether or not you're going to do any climbing/scrambling that requires you to have both hands free; how much walking you expect to do; and what airline/country regulations you're going to have to live with. I don't mind carrying a 20lb bag and a tripod if I'm in essence working out of a car with short walks. If I'm walking round NYC all day I won't want to do that.

 

I've seen people who insist on taking every item they bring with them- cameras, laptops the lot, with them every time they leave the hotel room or car, even to a restaurant or bar. That isn't my way and I'm sure I travel faster and photograph more because of it. If its your way I suggest taking less gear and carrying cards/a small hard drive not a laptop.

After 37 years of international travel to 40+ countries (I got back from India last night; I'll take a different bag next time) and with a garage full of camera bags, I am still looking for the rights answer. Haven't found it yet :-) My wife tells me there is no such thing as a perfect bag.

John, David, John H. Bruce, Ellis, Phillip, and JDM...

 

Thanks for the thoughts and ideas. I guess there isn't a perfect way of traveling. I really like to travel light. I know you wouldn't think that considering the gear I take. However, I make up for it by packing really lightweight travel clothing. I figure I'd reather have the gear than all the clothing.

 

From all of your answers perhaps I need to rethink the question. I travel with those lenses because I really like to not have to worry about changing lenses. I find myself using a wide angle lense quite a bit. It's just what I like to shoot. However, I also like to take closeups of people I meet on the street. Hence, another body with a different lens. I'd consider a small hard drive. However, I find I do a lot of writing on the plane and the hotel room. Therefore a laptop is a necessity for me. Fortunately, it's 13 inch MacBook and is really pretty light.

 

Perhaps the tripod ought to go. I rarely use it.

 

Again, thanks for the reponses. I'll mull it over and think not only in terms of bags, but of shedding gear I don't need.

 

And JMD....glad to hear you don't need surgery :>)

 

 

Marc S

Monopod,lots of uses for it(walking stick, weapon, fishing rod...).Voice recorder,dont have to bother writing your thoughts and experiences.

Marc, the funny thing was that I do really like the bag, it's great when you do need the kitchen sink. I had thrown a light canvas bag of British origins into my suitcase, so had something to carry extra lenses around--and I did have two bodies, camera bodies that is.

I second the Think Tank/Urban Disguise stuff.

http://www.thinktankphoto.com/ttp_product_UrbnDsgs.php

What seems to work well is to travel with two bags.

 

I use a backpack for transport - going from airport to airport. As long as your backpack does not exceed 45 linear inches, you should be okay with MOST commercial flights. Check with your airlines; also, if you take puddle jumpers, then it's a different ballgame.

 

I also stuff an empty shoulder/messenger bag inside my checked luggage.

 

When I get to my destination, I load my equipment into the messenger bag, and use that for general shooting.