Camera Backpacks and Camping Gear

[Jimd]

After a hiking trip to the White Mountains in the snow, I have a few questions. Do you put your camera and lenses and filters in with your other gear you use in hiking and camping? Most camera backpacks I look at do not have much space for the "other gear" like food and water.

What backpack would you recommend that can hold all this?

Secondly when you need camera gear from your backpack, you have to remove your pack and set it on the ground, in the snow, or mud.

What do you place your camera on when changing lenses or filters from the backpack?

Thanks for your help.

[MCS]

I have been considering a Lowepro Flipside 400. The 400 is the largest version of this series, but it is not too big and heavy. I am not sure how much food and water you carry, but this bag is big enough to carry two camera bodies, several lenses, and lots of accessories including a tripod attached to the outside. Water bottles go in pockets on the outside, and you can attach add-on pouches for energy bars, etc., if they don't fit inside.

A neat feature is that the bag opens from the side that is against your back. That allows you to slip out of the shoulder straps, slide the bag to the front using the waist belt, and open it like a work platform without setting it down in the snow or dirt. The 400 version has a large, reinforced belt to hold it firmly in that position. You can change lenses and filters without exposing it to the snow or dirt. Also, when you take it off and set it down, the back opens without letting in snow or dirt on any side.

See one at: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/5 ... ml#reviews

The Lowepro website has similar info. The video is cool, showing all the features. See the reviews as well.

[mumbleyjoe]

I've been using a Tamrac Adventure 10 backpack recently, and I'm pretty happy with it. I similarly had trouble finding a bag that had room for both photography gear, and also for some basic hiking gear (food, water, navigational and safety stuff, clothes, etc). I also wanted to be able to carry a combination of dSLR gear and Large Format photography gear at the same time (yes, this is a ridiculous amount to be carrying around).

The Adventure 10 has a fairly large compartment for camera gear, but also a large compartment for other gear. It has a laptop compartment (which bugs me, because it's a potential waste of space for me) which I at least found useful for holding a 1 gallon hydration bladder - it's not perfect, but it certainly worked well enough.

I don't mind setting it down in the sand/snow/grass either. I figure it's meant to get dirty, as is my jacket when I put it back on - so be it!

The other thing I've done is to carry a small camera bag along with my backpack... just a small one to keep another lens/filters etc readily at hand. That way I don't have to take my backpack off all the time and I can keep a couple things handy while I hike & shoot.

[moT]

I have been more than pleased with my backpack from Photo Backpacker. Bruce Laughton takes a real Kelty backpack and turns it into a backpack for photographers with some modifications and individual cases for each piece of equipment. You end up with an excellent technical backpack that holds your camera gear secure and safe while being comfortable to wear. I bought an extra backer board and cases for mine so that I can carry either my 5x7 or my medium format gear. With my medium format gear there is still room for some basic stuff like water, food, and some clothes. The other benefit is that you are not lugging around a bunch of padding. The only padding is around your camera gear and that saves a bit of weight.

http://www.photobackpacker.com/home.asp

Tom

[Hellmasterdeadman]

For years I did use the dakine camera block inside an OPSEC 4 from blackhawk for 2 days photographic trips.

No,I've received my Sony NEX-VG10e camcorder that I want to bring along with my sony A350 and it's f2.8, 70-200 tamron lens. this means I needed a bigger pack to bring with my gear.

I've ordered the Lowepro nova 200 to put both inside and what I'm currently testing is to strap that nova to my huge alpine backpack (very cold weather in the alps in winter, lot of bulky gear, food, thanks god water is provided by the snow).

The nova is a bit bulky but for now it's not too bad to walk with poles and it balances the backpack pretty well.

I'll keep you updated if that doesn't work as I want to.

CH-eers from Switzerland