Backpack recommendations requested

[david.elliott]

I'm looking for a backpack that can hold my om-d plus lenses and/or a rangefinder setup. Rain cover for it would be nice and I think many provide that option.

I like the backpack setups that have about half the backpack for photography equipment and half as a general pouch in which I could put water, hiking supplies, etc.

The problem seems to be that almost every backpack out there is designed for a dslr and dslr size lenses. I'm concerned that my rangefinder, omd, and the small lenses that they each have will just flop around a lot in the huge pockets that the majority of these backpacks have. Ideally, I could also easily reconfigure the photography compartment to hold a medium format camera and lenses.

I haven't yet come across a backpack in which I can attach dividers anywhere I please. They all appear to have limited attachment points. Are there any out there which I can configure any way I want as the entire photography compartment is velcro-friendly? 🙂

Edit -- standard style dual strap backpack is what I am after. Not looking for a sling style setup. Also, carry-on size is a must.

Backpack recommendations would be greatly appreciated! Thanks.

 

[Laviolette]

I am very pleased with this backpack :

http://products.lowepro.com/product/Photo-Hatchback-22L-AW,2301,14.htm

It's very comfortable, has a rain cover and two pockets for water bottles. You can also remove the camera compartment if you want a full size backpack. The only downside that I see is no way to attach a tripod.

As you see, the dividers are made for DSLR-size lenses and there aren't that many configurations available. I work around that by putting two lenses in the same divider, with the least used lens in a cheap neoprene pouch I purchased on the auction site. This way, I am able to put two Minolta XD-11 bodies and at least 4 lenses in the camera compartment.

That's a short term solution though, since I want to ask someone for making me some extra dividers and put more velcros in the compartment.

 

[Al Patterson]

There was a similar thread about a week ago, but I will again suggest you look at the Think Tank photo backpacks.

 

[Canuk]

The Tamrac backpac have dividers that can be moved around and adjusted. I have one that I used to use with my DSLR, that worked quite well.
The Tamrac Expedition 6, might be something that would work well for you.

 

[Sejanus.Aelianus]

I use a Swiss made Mammut Daypack, pushing a Chinese no-name camera insert into the bottom. It is very comfortable for a whole day's walking and carries a couple of bodies, four lenses and all the other stuff you want for a day out.

I looked at a lot of camera backpacks and none come close in the comfort stakes. I chose the Mammut because I was in an Austrian store and it was on special offer. There are many, many alternatives and the prices are much better than for the specialised camera bags.

There are dozens of cheap inserts available on eBay and, from my experience, they do the job well.

 

[Rob-F]

Check out the Lowepro AW200--or is it 200AW? It has what you want. There is a small camera area under a side entrance. It has a drawstring to snug up against the camera gear. There's a roomy top compartment for lunch and other stuff, with a deeper space on one side that could store a little more gear in a Domke wrap or Calumet wrap. It has two zippered pouches for small stuff like a memory card, film, Pemmican bar, etc. Two stuff pockets on the outside. A hydration pack/Camelback compartment. And a rain cover. The "AW" in the name is for "all-weather." And it's a small pack that isn't too much for a day hike.

 

[david.elliott]

Thanks guys. Looking through all the recommendations now.

 

[kshapero]

If you want an sports action backpack for One body 2 lens then look no further.

Very cool. I got black.

 

[D&A]

Hi David,

Sent you a PM while you were on-line that I was going to post my recommendations, but just missed you. I was in the same situation as you were with regards to a very small packpack who's divider system is ideal for rangefinder sized bodies and lenses, just the way they are. Most packpacks from all the major manufacturers have simply too large a divider system and spacing except for the two I've listed below. One unfortunately doesn't have a rain cover and then other does, which is not built in but comes with the bag and is simply in a pouch.

1. Lowepro Micro Treker 100 . This is the one without the rain cover but does have a built in waste belt which I like a lot as a feature, since these small backpacks can sway around easily. Of course the waste belt comes up pretty high since these are very very small backpacks.

The lowepro has been discontinued for about a year or so but I bet some can be found around. It looks like your stard Lowepro camera backpack except in minature size. Same front seperate accessory pockes for a ipad mini and camera accessories etc.

2. The second minature packapack is the Naneu "u30" packapack. I don't know if they make this model anymore. As mentioned it does come with a seperate rain cover in a pouch but many of these packapacks are often missing the raincover, so carefully check that they have it. Similar in designed to the Lowepro, I like the heavier denier fabric they use as well as the additional pockets and side one for carrying a small water bottle on the outside. It's slightly more versitile than the Lowepro with an additonal fronnt zippered pocket (I think there were two of them as opposed to the one on the Lowepro.

The big minus on the Naneu packpack was no waist strap. with such a tiny size I felt it wasn't quite as stable on the back when moving/bending over as the Lowepro with it's waste strap. Too bad, cause I think I like most all else with the Naneu over the Lowepro.

Hope you're able to find one or the other. If you're able to "mate" the Lowepro with the Naneu, you'd have offspring of tiny backpacks, ideal for rangefinder sized bodies and lenses. 🙂

Dave (D&A)

 

[Carterofmars]

Lowe pro.

http://www.adorama.com/LPPR300AWGR.html?gclid=CKu7t6qwh7YCFdFT4Aod71sAzQ

 

[D&A]

If you want an sports action backpack for One body 2 lens then look no further.

Very cool. I got black.

I have those backpacks and they are good for a body and two lenses and the upper portion for a daypack. They are though not as convient nor roomy for carrying a rangefinder body, lenses, xtra batteries, and whatnot for a rangefinder day/weekend out, where access is like a traditional packback, Thats just my take between the two. for hicking and sports related activitiy, then thats a different story...where one is engaged in other activities and stops ocasionally to take out a body and lens. Thats what I found these Lowepro sports packs good for. Simply different uses.

Dave (D&A)

 

[david.elliott]

If you want an sports action backpack for One body 2 lens then look no further.

Very cool. I got black.

Looks quite good to me. They don't seem to be carry-on size when filled up though, regrettably.

 

[david.elliott]

Lowe pro.

http://www.adorama.com/LPPR300AWGR.html?gclid=CKu7t6qwh7YCFdFT4Aod71sAzQ

Thank you. It looks good, but I'm looking for backpacks that have two compartments -- one for camera gear and one for other stuff (e.g. lots of water and granola bars).

 

[david.elliott]

Hi David,

Sent you a PM while you were on-line that I was going to post my recommendations, but just missed you. I was in the same situation as you were with regards to a very small packpack who's divider system is ideal for rangefinder sized bodies and lenses, just the way they are. Most packpacks from all the major manufacturers have simply too large a divider system and spacing except for the two I've listed below. One unfortunately doesn't have a rain cover and then other does, which is not built in but comes with the bag and is simply in a pouch.

1. Lowepro Micro Treker 100 . This is the one without the rain cover but does have a built in waste belt which I like a lot as a feature, since these small backpacks can sway around easily. Of course the waste belt comes up pretty high since these are very very small backpacks.

The lowepro has been discontinued for about a year or so but I bet some can be found around. It looks like your stard Lowepro camera backpack except in minature size. Same front seperate accessory pockes for a ipad mini and camera accessories etc.

2. The second minature packapack is the Naneu "u30" packapack. I don't know if they make this model anymore. As mentioned it does come with a seperate rain cover in a pouch but many of these packapacks are often missing the raincover, so carefully check that they have it. Similar in designed to the Lowepro, I like the heavier denier fabric they use as well as the additional pockets and side one for carrying a small water bottle on the outside. It's slightly more versitile than the Lowepro with an additonal fronnt zippered pocket (I think there were two of them as opposed to the one on the Lowepro.

The big minus on the Naneu packpack was no waist strap. with such a tiny size I felt it wasn't quite as stable on the back when moving/bending over as the Lowepro with it's waste strap. Too bad, cause I think I like most all else with the Naneu over the Lowepro.

Hope you're able to find one or the other. If you're able to "mate" the Lowepro with the Naneu, you'd have offspring of tiny backpacks, ideal for rangefinder sized bodies and lenses. 🙂

Dave (D&A)

Thank you for the pm and detailed recommendations. Going to check them out now.

 

[david.elliott]

Does anybody have experience with the kata 3n1 line? It seems rather ideal. Two main compartments, one for photography gear and one for whatever. Carry-on size. Not too expensive. It looks like the dividers can mostly be configured however I want. It seems as if only parts of them do not have fuzziness for velcro attachment. See here http://www.kata-bags.us/3n1-20-for-dslr-w-mid-range-zoom-lens-3-4-lenses-flash (fig. 7 is the divider photo).

Starting to wonder if I can just buy full fuzzy dividers somewhere and substitute them into a backpack like the one above... Don't suppose any of you have done that before?

 

[Frontman]

Personally, I hate camera-specific backpacks. They tend to have compartments which seldom fit the particular camera I am carrying, and they are usually not comfortable to carry for a long time.

I like to use a regular backpack designed for hiking. A good pack allows you to carry the weight on your hips, and not your shoulders. As a former infantryman, I know what a difference it makes to carry a properly set-up backpack.

I have a few backpacks which I use; a middle-sized Dieter, a Montbell, and a Klattermusen. I like packs which have pockets on the sides, these pockets on my packs are large enough to hold a Leica M or Olympus OM body with lenses attached. I can carry a camera in each pocket, or lenses. The Klattermusen accepts accessory pockets which can be attached anywhere one likes.

For carrying cameras inside a bag with no dividers, I simply put the cameras and lenses in padded pouches. My typical load is a Rolleiflex, my X-Pro, and one or two 35mm film cameras, film, etc. I also carry an iPad, phone, lunch, raincoat, and whatever else I might need. Most hiking packs nowadays include a rain cover. The Klattermusen packs don't need a cover, they are quite weatherproof.

 

[kshapero]

Looks quite good to me. They don't seem to be carry-on size when filled up though, regrettably.

oh contrare, I had mine packed to the gills. Fit easily in the overhead.

 

[D&A]

Looks quite good to me. They don't seem to be carry-on size when filled up though, regrettably.

Thats surprising...their actually fairly compact and thin. Guess depends on what kind of plane and country you're in.

Dave (D&A)

 

[david.elliott]

Oops, you are correct. I was looking at the wrong backpack's dimensions. Too many windows open. 🙂