The Perfect Backpack?

[nathan_spratt]

<p>First off, I'd like to say that I'm not really a huge fan of backpacks for shooting, but I recognize their advantages for carrying equipment to and from locations. For me, I am attending a photography school in September, and I need a good backpack to carrying my equipment to and from the school (about 45 min walking and busing time one way). Here are my needs for a backpack</p>

<p><strong>Camera Equipment:</strong><br>

2 pro sized bodies (Think D300/D700 + MB-D10s)<br>

70-200mm f/2.8<br>

24-70mm f/2.8<br>

14-24 f/2.8<br>

50mm f/1.8<br>

1.7x TCE 17 II<br>

Manfrotto 055XPROB tripod + head (medium sized pod)<br>

2 speedlites<br>

2 Pocketwizard transceivers<br>

Extra batteries / stuff (remote release, light meter, filters, etc..)</p>

<p><strong>Computer Equipment:</strong><br>

17"<strong> </strong> Laptop<br>

2.5" External HDD<br>

Mouse<br>

Watcom tablet (14"x10")<br>

Card Reader</p>

<p><strong>Other Stuff:</strong><br>

2" Standard binder<br>

Small lunch bag<br>

Pencils and pens<br>

Pelican 1200 Case<br>

Nalgene water bottle</p>

<p>There are so many backpacks out there I really have no idea where to start. Can help me with the right direction towards the right backpack for my needs?</p>

<p>Thank you very much!</p>

[bruce_margolis]

<p>I use a MiniTrekker backpack but it wouldn't be large enough for what you want to carry around. I would suggest checking out the sites for Lowepro and ThinkTank for some backpack options. Both offer bags that are large enough.</p>

 

[jautey]

<p>I think you're looking for a pack mule. <br>

I not aware of any backpack, aside from large hiking backpacks (and most of them don't have nifty little dividers for lens/cameras/etc.), that will fit your needs. You need to discriminate some. Or get a rolling bag and a backpack if you really can't stand to be parted (even if its just for the day) from any of the items on your list.</p>

<p> </p>

[nathan_spratt]

<p>Yes, It's true I won't always be carrying all of that all at once, I guess one bag can't do everything. I would also be of need for a pelican box or rolling case for travel (I was hoping to use the bag for carrying my gear for travel as well). The Lowepro SR 550 AW Fits most of my needs, accept for the non camera gear I've will need to take. I hope this helps give you an idea of what I need. I don't ever plan on shooting from the bag, I use a Think Tank belt system for shooting from.</p>

[podstawek]

<p>Don't carry all the things you listed, because that's a straight road to severe spine disorders. 45-min walk with that baggage is enough to make you suffer when you're older.</p>

<p>I carry 2 cameras + 2 lenses in a LowePro CompuTrekker AW. Plus light accessories. Plus a heavy tripod, which I usually carry on my shoulder, the way you would carry skis. The backpack has a laptop compartment, too, but I never take a laptop for shooting, only when traveling.</p>

<p>So, I have less equpiment than you do, and it is still too heavy. I'm considering cutting on the hardware I have with me.</p>

<p>Of course, when going for street shooting, I only take the lightest thing I have -- a film rangefinder.</p><div></div>

[Ed_Ingold]

<p>There is no perfect bag. You will end up with several depending on your needs at the moment. If you carry all this gear at once, it's going to be heavy, so at times you will strip down and use a lighter bag.</p>

<p>The LowePro Computrekker AW Plus is my personal choice for a two body kit. Look up the dimensions at <a href="http://www.lowepro.com">www.lowepro.com</a> and lay your stuff out on a table to see how it fits. Another source of very good backpacks is <a href="http://www.thinktankphoto.com">www.thinktankphoto.com</a>. IMO, the Think Tank bags are more efficient because of their rectangular layout. This much gear is going to weigh over 30 pounds, which is a lot to carry any length of time.</p>

<p>You can squeeze a 17" laptop into the Computrekker Plus, but a 15" is the biggest I suggest. For schlepping, the smaller the laptop, the better. When traveling, I carry the computer in its own case, and rarely in the backpack.</p>

<p>The Computrekker has a particularly good tripod mount, which keeps the center of gravity of the tripod low so that it doesn't swing around much. It's a PITA to get at a tripod strapped to a backpack, so you're best to carry it some other way when you expect to use it.</p>

[maury_cohen]

<p>Dear Nathan,<br>

Before reading down to Adam and Edward's responses I was also thinking that the CompuTrekker Plus AW would be our most suitable pack for your needs. The others bring up good points about trying to keep the load reasonable.<br>

Maury Cohen, Product Specialist - Lowepro US</p>

[py-photography]

<p>Nathan,<br>

A site that might help you out..<br>

www.cambags.com.<br>

But too me sounds like you need a car to carry all of that around everyday. not a back pack... lolo<br>

:)</p>

 

[eric_arnold]

<p>that's a heavy load. i'd maybe look at one of the larger kata bags with an insertrolley option, or rig up a large pack yourself with a luggage cart, but for all that stuff, you're probably looking at a rolling hardcase and a separate shoot bag.</p>

[erik_christensen3]

<p>Nathan what was your final decision and how is it working?<br>

I have the following<br>

<strong>Camera Equipment:<br /></strong>2 pro sized bodies (Think D300/D700 + MB-D10s)<br />70-200mm f/2.8<br />24-70mm f/2.8<br />50mm f/1.41.7x TCE 17 II<br />Manfrotto 055XPROB tripod + head (medium sized pod)<br />1 speedlites<br />Extra batteries / stuff (remote release, light meter, filters, etc..)<br>

and find that the LowePro Computrekker AW is becoming a little small.<br>

Unfortunately, there is only LowePro available occasionally !</p>