Ona Brixton?

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ktmrider

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I will be leaving for a six to twelve month round the world trip at the end of September. I am trying to travel with a minimum of luggage so one checked bag and one carry on.

I need a bag that will hold two Leica M bodies, three or four small M lenses, my 13" MacBook Pro and miscellaneous items like chargers, film, a paperback etc. I have a messenger bag I use for motorcycling but it does not have any dividers so am thinking the canvas Ona Brixton but am open to other suggestions. Most of my camera bags are Domke and will not carry my laptop.

So, open to suggestions.
 
i find that on the flights its best to use a backpack with thick padding. then have a small messenger bag throwing in your check in lugguage and once you are in location use that. you prob dont want to lug around a laptop back when shooting but only need for transportation between locations and a backpack offers much better protection against vibration and hitting other things.
i stream down my travel kit to one back pack one check in bag and a small messager bag stuffed inside the check in. works well for me. in the airports/bus stops i have my camera outside hanging with me to ready to snap photos but everything else is in the backpack.
 
ktmrider said:
I will be leaving for a six to twelve month round the world trip at the end of September. I am trying to travel with a minimum of luggage so one checked bag and one carry on.
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I just came back from a trip where I bought a laptop backpack to be my carry on. Then I put my Bare Bones Evolution inside the backpack with my cameras in it. That way I could use the Bare Bones bag walking around town without having to use a larger bag. Plus the backpack could also fit a rain slicker, some books and a water bottle. This worked well for me.

-Thomas
 
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I have a smaller Ona (Bowery) and love it! The Brixton should easily fit all that stuff. I would also suggest a Hadley Pro only because the insert is removable so you'd be able to use the bag as an actual messenger bag if need be. The Brixton's insert is built in.

You could always buy a separate insert for your current messenger bag which would be far cheaper than any of the other options.
 
My main bag is a backpack thus looking for a shoulder bag for carry on. However, in Europe I used a minimalist backpack for daily use including photography and it held my tablet fine. A few months ago, I used a bigger shoulder bag as a carry on with the laptop and a BBB holding M2 and X100 inside. That may be my fall back.

I would want to carry Macbook Pro, M2 and M9 onboard and not check any of them. Perhaps, minimalist backpack to hold laptop with BBB holding cameras inside it. Perhaps leave one of the M's at home.
 
I have an Ona Berlin I (slightly smaller than the Brixton IIRC). The quality is OK, not oustanding like Wotancraft, but the design is not very well thought out (like the side pockets that are too tight to hold anything, but add a lot of weight and waste space). I'd look at Crumpler or Think Tank if I were you.
 
The brixton is a nice, heavy bag. For the price I do think that it comes down largely to a matter of taste, as you can get perfectly functional bags for half as much. I own a Bowery and it's great for light trips. I also use it as an insert for larger bags.

At the weights levels, are you sure you wouldn't rather have a backpack? I wouldn't use a shoulder bag for much more than 2-3 lenses and a single digital body...but maybe this is just me.
 
ktmrider said:
I will be leaving for a six to twelve month round the world trip at the end of September. I am trying to travel with a minimum of luggage so one checked bag and one carry on.

I need a bag that will hold two Leica M bodies, three or four small M lenses, my 13" MacBook Pro and miscellaneous items like chargers, film, a paperback etc. I have a messenger bag I use for motorcycling but it does not have any dividers so am thinking the canvas Ona Brixton but am open to other suggestions. Most of my camera bags are Domke and will not carry my laptop.

So, open to suggestions.
Click to expand...

Tenba Messenger Mini is what I'd pick. More durable, more protective, much lighter, and mostly very usable space. It'll hold more than 13" laptop, two Leica M bodies, and a set of four lenses, but at the same time it is not horrendously oversized. It's also very light weight for its size and capacity, and very protective. You can use it as a transit bag or shoot out of it.. a versatile piece.

http://www.tenba.com/.../Messenger Mini (black)

G
 
My choice for a recent trip to Amsterdam was my Hadley Original, removed insert and BBBe inside. The Hadley is always my carry on bag as it fits under the seat easily.
 
I just ordered a Tenba Messenger Mini. They are on sale from B&H for $49.95 with free shipping. Can't beat that and if my MacBook Pro does not fit I can send it back.
 
Since you already own and like Domke bags, have you taken a look at their new "Next Generation Metro Messenger Camera Bag"?
It says it holds a 15" Laptop as well as camera and lenses.
Cheaper than the Ona and made in the USA.
 
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