Another perfect bag quest

[semi-ambivalent]

I'm looking for a combination flight bag and camera walk around bag

Knapsacks - good for flights, hard to access or fall off the shoulder when walking ( using one strap)

Bare bones bag - great for a single camera - too small for flight bag

Messenger bag - good size, mine is really heavy empty - little or no dividers inside
Hard to open and take things out when wearing it cause the flap is big and you basically need to fold it all the way over to fish for stuff

In unpadded bags - I wrap my delicate stuff ( lenses and camera) which makes it good for travel but had to access while shooting

Padded bags tend to be bulky

I'm looking for "miracle bag" easy to use, small on the outside, large on the inside, light weight

Help me out

The money you've spent on this search would have bought you the services of an experienced seamstress with the machine to sew heavy canvas. Collect your thoughts about the bags you've owned and find this person. It's time for you to go a la carte.

s-a

 

[semi-ambivalent]

The money you've spent on this search would have bought you the services of an experienced seamstress with the machine to sew heavy canvas. Collect your thoughts about the bags you've owned and find this person. It's time for you to go a la carte.

s-a

marcr1230,

What a doofus I was. This was your post and I responded as if it was from back alley, so epic are his posts about his search for the perfect bag. Apologies all around for that.

That said, my next bag will take my own advice by scavenging several old "almost there" Domkes. Until then an F6 is holding its own.

Good luck, you'll likely need it 🙂,
s-a

 

[Ben Z]

I pack everything for my trip in a Rick Steves convertible backpack including my camera bag. Whatever doesn't fit doesn't get brought. I have lightweight clothes for traveling, and shirts, socks and underwear that wash in the hotel sink and dry overnight so I don't need as many. I no longer check bags. No more worries about airlines losing bags, no more standing in line at the carousel.

Normally I leave that bag in the hotel or a locker at the train station and carry a featherweight microfiber daypack (which I pack things in in the main backpack) with my windbreaker, water, and other sundries. But when it isn't possible to stash the backpack, once the camera bag is out and strapped across my body I put the (now much lighter) backpack on.

 

[marcr1230]

So - I'm back

I ended up just going with a roll-on samsonite for carry on ( best thing I've done in a while, with 4 wheels so you don't wrench your arm pulling it)
for the camera - I just took my messenger bag, which was great for the plane, but admittedly big to carry around on the ground.

the coninually re-enforced take-away from the trip: Light travel is the way to go, you can get by with very little and it makes travel so so so much easier.

I took the X100T and a fuji instax SP-1 printer, this trip was only 3 days and I didn't spend almost any time taking pictures, but had fun with the equipment I brought.

so the quest continues, at least until the next trip in April

 

[mdwsta4]

When I travel with only the x100t and SP-1, I usually pack them in the Ona Bowery canvas bag. It's small, adequately padded, water resistant, and looks good. I added a second divider so it's separated into threes and can also put extra batteries, cables, filters, etc.

If I want to travel even lighter than that I bring the Manfrotto Nano VII. This isn't really a bag, more like a slightly padded pouch. It can fit the x100 plus a few batteries, or the SP-1, extra film, batteries, and cable. Then I simply carry the x100 over my shoulder.

I took the X100T and a fuji instax SP-1 printer, this trip was only 3 days and I didn't spend almost any time taking pictures, but had fun with the equipment I brought.

so the quest continues, at least until the next trip in April

 

[giganova]

I usually travel with my Thinktank Retrospective bag, but I found another bag that costs way less and is fantastic:

Check out the JCrew Carson Laptop bag. It's only $50.- and made of high quality materials (canvas and leather). Flap over the zipper, so rain won't do any damage to your cameras, it's super roomy, fits cameras +laptop, and a Domke insert fits great. The entire bottom of the bag is made of leather. Comes in green and tan. It's basically a Filson bag at 1/7th the price! 😀

 

[back alley]

I usually travel with my Thinktank Retrospective bag, but I found another bag that costs way less and is fantastic:

Check out the JCrew Carson Laptop bag. It's only $50.- and made of high quality materials (canvas and leather). Flap over the zipper, so rain won't do any damage to your cameras, it's super roomy, fits cameras +laptop, and a Domke insert fits great. The entire bottom of the bag is made of leather. Comes in green and tan. It's basically a Filson bag at 1/7th the price! 😀

nice...when i look at this bag i think 'casual international travel'...

 

[FrozenInTime]

It's only $50.- ... It's basically a Filson bag at 1/7th the price! 😀

Blatant design theft seems wrong to me

 

[Jamie Pillers]

The Patagonia Mini Messenger 12L with a Domke FA-203 insert works quite well for me. Lightweight, lots of exterior pockets, and easily holds my Fuji X-T1 with 18-55mm lens mounted, along with the 55-200 lens.

 

[rolfe]

Wotancraft or Filson...

 

[ellisson]

The Think Tank Retrospective 5 is the most versatile small bag I've come across. It has a nice wide strap and a handle, lots of pockets (some zippered), configurable compartments with dividers that can remain fully up or folded down to make two levels. And an adjustable velcro main flap that can be "quieted" by using built-in blocking straps. I easily carry a Leica m9 and four lenses, viewfinders, batteries etc. Could also carry two cameras with lenses. Not cheap, but the features make it well worth it to me.