Which back pack??

[rob_rielly]

My Tamrac backpack bag has been of some use, but I find it a bit clumsy and I am thinking of getting a new one. I know Tamrac, Lowepro and others all make better looking models. I need to carry my 4 x 5 wood camera, 4 -5 mounted lenses, spot meter, film holders and some miscellaneous stuff(filters). Ideally, it needs a secure fastner/mount for my tripod. Any one have any favorites they can suggest. I am also looking for a second, smaller unit that could carry my Pentax 67 outfit that my wife would carry. Anyone have any favorites they might suggest? Thanks, Rob Rielly

[nathan_congdon]

The Lowepro packs are better made, but the f64 are better designed

from the standpoint of accomadating a LF camera outfit including film-

holders. I have a Lowepro Trim Trekker for my 4 X 5 (a Linhof Tech)

and an f64 BPX for a wooden 8 X 10. Neither have a specific strap

for the tripod, but both can be made to fit a tripod without too much

trouble. I like them both.

 

<p>

 

Nathan

[daniel_taylor1]

Rob,

 

<p>

 

I bought the large OutPack by Domke for 35mm hiking, but was

pleasantly surprised to find it works very well with my Linhof

Technikardan 4x5. enough room for camera and lens (lens stays

mounted), spare lens, focus cloth, lightmeter, loupe, 10 film

holders, various filters and miscellaneous.

 

<p>

 

there is a Tenba that comes highly rated for LF, as does the f64. I

am afraid with one more lens purchase, I will be looking for

something a bit larger. keep us informed.

[brian_ellis2]

Many people seem to think that the photo-specific backpacks aren't as

comfortable or spacious as the packs geared to hikers and campers,

such as the Kelty. I use the Domke Outpack myself. It's o.k. but I've

never been thrilled with having to open (unsip) one compartment to

get at the camera, a second to get at the film holders, a third to

get at the lenses, and a fourth to get at the accessories. I'd prefer

one where you simply unzipped the back and everything was right there

in front of you.

s

[neil_poulsen1]

After much consideration, I bought a Tenba Photo Backpack. (I got the

large.) Nice thing about these packs is that they have two additional

pouches on the back that could house one or two meters and quite a few

accessories. See WWW.TENBA.COM; look under "Product Index by Name."

[bill_glickman]

I use the Super Treker by Lowepro, it is their biggest (and

heaviest pack) The empty pack weighs 12lbs! I would say it is well

designed and very flexible with its velcro system, however, I am in

the market for a better pack which may help my back and shouders on

on long hikes. My pack weight when full is 60lbs,and at first it

does not seem to heavy, but after a few hours, I am aching! I never

used hiker packs, but am certainly looking into it now! Maybe they

are not any better? The certainly are very much cheaper! The super

Treker is about $400 while hiker packs that have a larger cargo

holding area cost about $160. So save some bucks and check out the

hiker packs first and see if any meet your needs, if not, then move

to the photo packs... good luck...

[robert_a._zeichner]

Which specific model of Tamrac backpack bag do you currently have?

[masayoshi_hayashi]

Rob, I think it depends on what kind of backpacking you're going to

do. It sounds like you just

need to carry photo gears only so a photo pack might be ok. Having

experiences with Tamrac and

Lowepro's, your choice is probably Lowepro pro trekker AW. I don't

recommend photo trekker

AW. The harness, suspension system and shoulder pads of pro trekker

is much better made and

comfortable than that of photo trekker. I think it's worth extra

money.<p>

 

As Bill points out, you want to consider the weight of the pack. Photo

packs tend to be much

heavier (2x-3x) than non photo counterparts due to the compartment

pads. Look into some

non-photo packs. However, trying to figure out how to protect and

organize photo gears can be a

headache.<p>

 

There is a static site for backpacks at this forum. You might want to

see <a

href="http://www.greenspun.com/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg.tcl?msg_id=0027ct">my

thread</a>, with which I linked some related topics.

[glenn_kroeger]

I use a Lowepro Photo Trekker AW. While the Pro does have a more

sophisticated harness, the PhotoTrekkerAW is the largest Lowepro that

will fit throught the new airline templates. I use this bag because

it can travel by plane, protect my gear, and still be reasonable for

a backpack. I agree with above that Lowepro quality is excellent, but

the dividers aren't well suited to large format storage.

 

<p>

 

I have used Tenba PBLs in the past. They can be good bags, but make

sure you check it out personally. In my experience, Tenba's quality

control has been poor, and I have had to send two bags back for

repairs. Silly things that should have been caught before they were

shipped, like straps sewn on upside down!

 

<p>

 

If you don't plan to use the pack to travel by air, then condsider a

non-photo pack to save weight like the Kelty's.

[burke_griggs]

If you plan hiking more than a mile with them, the central issue with

LF photo backpacks is this: how well does it carry a tripod, the

heaviest and most awkward piece of your gear? The backpacking principle

of "heavy, hard, high" applies here: ideally, you want the heaviest

gear at the top of the pack, namely, the tripod. But most manufacturers

totally ignore this, except for Tenba, which makes a pack that fits on

a Kelty frame, which would be ideal, since it allows you to lash the

tripod horizontally at the top of the pack's frame; but this pack is

very large. I bought a Tamrac 767, which was beautifully made, but

inadequate for carrying a tripod; I returned it. The Tamrac 777 had the

same tripod carrying system, which is designed for a very small tripod

indeed. I settled on the Tenba 264 PBL, which has the best non-frame

tripod setup of all the companies (Lowe Pro, Domke, Tamrac). It cost

$225 from B & H. It carries a Ries backpacker tripod well-- high

enough, and close enough to your back, without torquing your back. All

the makers seem to make good packs, but only Tenba thought through the

mechanics of backpacking with a tripod. And don't be fooled by John

Fielder's endorsements of Lowe Pro-- he uses a Llama!