the quest for the perfect bag

The bare bones evolution has been as close as I've found to perfect for a day bag. Light, weather resistant, long strap with good pad and holds my two m4's with lenses and an extra lens or two. Not fond of the velcro though. Wish they'd do a stealth version again.
 
Jan Pedersen said:
No love for Ona bags anymore?
I use the small bowery for my M246 with lens mounted and 3 additional lenses, two stacked.
The bag form nicely to the body.
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I'd second this. Have been using a Bowery for over two years now. It's traveled the world with me and I love it. Tried the Filson Field Camera bag for a trip to Fiji and it was quite big and hugged the body, but too floppy, offered too little protection, and it folded it on itself making it difficult to get things in/out of the bag. Have a Hadley Pro and it can hold a massive amount of gear, but is also on the stiffer side. The Domke FXA and FXB bags I own are nice and simple, but the velcro is annoying as hell.

My go-to travel bag will continue to be the Ona Bowery.
DSCF0558-vi.jpg


Not pictured - external battery pack and batteries for the Fuji which fit next to the film case in the center, ND/Orange filters which fit in the front pocket, and an iPad Air which can fit in the rear slot. For such a small bag, it can fit a lot of stuff when you need it to.
 
I still think the Domke 803 satchel bags are the best overall. Mine is in nylon and shows almost no wear after 13 years of use.

One posters commented "the metal clasps take too long to open if you are in a rush" When traveling in very crowed places such as busses
or the subway in eastern Europe I have appreciated the clasp system.
It is much easier for the person carrying the bag to open it than someone who is not carrying it. Try it yourself sometime. I can open mine in a instant when I need to.

That said I would like something a little lighter and am considering the BBB bag but will add the Domke like clasp underneath the flap.
 
tlwalker53 said:
The bare bones evolution has been as close as I've found to perfect for a day bag. Light, weather resistant, long strap with good pad and holds my two m4's with lenses and an extra lens or two. Not fond of the velcro though. Wish they'd do a stealth version again.
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+1 own a couple BBBs, wish sometimes for just a bit more padding, but overall like them a lot.
 
3 perfect bags

3 perfect bags

I have 3 perfect bags. !- small soft insulated lunch bag; 2- $10 messenger style bag from a box hobby store; 3-Flambeau a12 tackle bag 12x6x6. With these I can carry anything from 1 body 2 lens 2 body 3 lens to a pentax 645 with 2 inserts and 3 lens. All for under $60 and none scream steal me.😀
 
agoglanian said:
I have to be honest, the Filson Harvey Messenger may be worth a look for you. It might be a little bigger than you want but it pretty much checks all the other boxes of your requirements. My only complaint with the bag (ok I have two) is that the strap is just ever so slightly not long enough to wear comfortably across my chest (I'm also 6'3" so anyone shorter than me would have no problem). I still wear it across my chest but I wish it sat a little lower.

The other "boo-hoo" about the bag is the insert, it's removable, but the divider is in a fixed position, it's either in, or it's out. I would have liked a little more flexibility. That being said, the size of the insert is great and because it doesn't fill the width of the bag, it allows the bag to hug my body perfectly (first camera bag I've owned to have done this).

Edit: As an additional note: This bag is tough. Seriously tough. Filson's slogan of "Unfailing Goods" is no joke, I put this bag through pretty awful conditions over the last few months and it hardly looks worse for the wear (Including Snow, Heavy rain, Mud, Aggressive sand, and Some really mean bushes). It kept my equipment safe and dry through all of this.
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Re Filson reliability - true for their products made prior to their recent ownership and management changes, but not now. I have 30 year old filson gear that's still serviceable. I have one of Filson's tin cloth brief cases (a recent gift from my family) whose side seams pulled out after 2 years of light use. Been in for repair for over 4 weeks with no ETA from filson service. Bought a tin cloth coat last year that had to be returned because its snaps didn't, well, snap. Filson replaced it, wouldn't refund the price due to my several weeks of use, but the snaps on the replacement are only marginally better, which I put up with. If you're measuring quality over a few months, fine. Just about any cordura bag will hold up against rain, snow, and mud for a a few months. My BBB's have for several years, for example. Filson's rep however is based on decades of serviceability. We'll see how my recent purchases hold up over the long haul, but it's not looking good.

Re the insert in the harvey bag, you might try martilena over at etsy - her made-to-order inserts are good stuff. Undersize it, like you suggest. I have a martilena insert in a filson messenger bag (same as the harvey without the association or filson insert, got off ebay at a good discount). Happy with it so far, maybe a little too well padded, but it functions and carries well.
 
mdwsta4 said:
I'd second this. Have been using a Bowery for over two years now. It's traveled the world with me and I love it. Tried the Filson Field Camera bag for a trip to Fiji and it was quite big and hugged the body, but too floppy, offered too little protection, and it folded it on itself making it difficult to get things in/out of the bag. Have a Hadley Pro and it can hold a massive amount of gear, but is also on the stiffer side. The Domke FXA and FXB bags I own are nice and simple, but the velcro is annoying as hell.

My go-to travel bag will continue to be the Ona Bowery.
DSCF0558-vi.jpg


Not pictured - external battery pack and batteries for the Fuji which fit next to the film case in the center, ND/Orange filters which fit in the front pocket, and an iPad Air which can fit in the rear slot. For such a small bag, it can fit a lot of stuff when you need it to.
Click to expand...

Sweet rig - I need to look at the Bowery. How long is the strap, if you don't mind measuring?
 
on my quest to find the perfect travel bag, i bought 3 bags to try out and see which one I liked best.
Lowepro Terraclime 100
Dollice DR-610 (replica of Domke F5XB)
Think Tank Retrospective 5

If the 3, my favorite has to be the Lowepro Terraclime, the lightest of them all and wraps on my body nicely.
Downside is because of the material used and design, it doesn't offer much protection, also whoever designed the hook for closing it needs to be shot.

Next favorite bag is the Think Tank 5, this thing can carry a lot of stuff for its size.
I like how I can attach pouches on the sides for extra space, then take them off once in the hotel. I'm thinking of using this bag for our euro trip and in it right now is my M240 w/ 50 collapsible, Hexar RF, 35mm cron, CV 21mm, batteries, rolls of film and other miscellaneous stuff.

Least favorite is the Domke F5XB, I just found it too small and the zipper can be frightening to close/open all the time in fear of scratching your gear. also the front-pocket is a joke.
 
There is no perfect bag, because there are many different circumstances and no single bag can suit all of them.

Day-to-day I mostly use a Domke F8, which replaced an old Lowepro camera pouch of similar (small!) size but somewhat less usefulness. When on a more specific camera outing I mostly carry a Domke F3X, occasionally supplemented by a Lowepro 'snoot' type bag if I also want an SLR with long lens.

For carrying a comprehensive SLR kit I've often used a Lowepro Slingshot-type bag. Or a Domke F2, depending on circumstances.

When travelling by car I have a big old Billingham 445 that I put a bunch of stuff in but hardly carry anywhere except from the car to a motel or hotel room.

When travelling by air I've often used a Tamrac roller-bag - occasionally for camera gear (when travelling with checked baggage) but mostly as handy airline-legal luggage for clothes, laptops, chargers, cords'n'cables etc. - with cameras usually carried in a Billingham Hadley Pro.

By my count, that's at least seven camera bags that I use all the time. And not one can really replace the others, in the circumstance they're used. And I have more(!) bags - some of which I even use. Occasionally.

...Mike
 
mdwsta4 said:
I'd second this. Have been using a Bowery for over two years now. It's traveled the world with me and I love it. Tried the Filson Field Camera bag for a trip to Fiji and it was quite big and hugged the body, but too floppy, offered too little protection, and it folded it on itself making it difficult to get things in/out of the bag. Have a Hadley Pro and it can hold a massive amount of gear, but is also on the stiffer side. The Domke FXA and FXB bags I own are nice and simple, but the velcro is annoying as hell.

My go-to travel bag will continue to be the Ona Bowery.
DSCF0558-vi.jpg


Not pictured - external battery pack and batteries for the Fuji which fit next to the film case in the center, ND/Orange filters which fit in the front pocket, and an iPad Air which can fit in the rear slot. For such a small bag, it can fit a lot of stuff when you need it to.
Click to expand...

How many dividers does the Bowery come with? The Ona website shows it with just one. In this photo it has two. I think I may have seen another photo with three dividers.
 
taemo said:
Least favorite is the Domke F5XB, I just found it too small and the zipper can be frightening to close/open all the time in fear of scratching your gear. also the front-pocket is a joke.
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Yes! And the strap length is too d@mn short for large, unsightly types (me).

Rob-F said:
How many dividers does the Bowery come with? The Ona website shows it with just one. In this photo it has two. I think I may have seen another photo with three dividers.
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Good catch. It kinda looks like the additional divider isn't OEM, and made of a smoother material. I think Ona sells separate add'l dividers too.
 
taemo said:
.. Least favorite is the Domke F5XB, I just found it too small and the zipper can be frightening to close/open all the time in fear of scratching your gear. also the front-pocket is a joke.
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MCTuomey said:
Yes! And the strap length is too d@mn short for large, unsightly types (me). ...
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Hmm. I'm 6', not small, and on my third strap (I wore the first two out, this one is going but I have several spares in stock..). I have to shorten the strap so that the bag doesn't hang too low and get in the way when walking.

Currently mine has a Nikon F6 fitted with 25-50/4, a TC-16A, and a 180/2.8 AF in it, as well as three extra rolls of film and a spare set of batteries. I leave the zipper open when shooting. My phone slides into the front pocket.

This same bag went with me to Europe for a three-week trip in 1998 carrying Nikon FM2n+MD12 with 20, 35, 50, and 80-200mm lenses it it, on sabbatical in 1996 with M6 and 35/50/90 lenses, to Australia in 2001 with the same Leica kit, and the British Isles with Panasonic L1, 11-22 zoom, 25/1.4, and 35 Macro.

Lots of other kits over the years too. The zipper has never scratched anything.

Seems to be fine for what I've used it for. 26 years on and still going... 🙂

G
 
The Bowery only comes with one divider which is disappointing. Thankfully, I have plenty of other camera bags to steal another from! So yes, this one has a second divider from a Dome F5XB.

Rob-F said:
How many dividers does the Bowery come with? The Ona website shows it with just one. In this photo it has two. I think I may have seen another photo with three dividers.
Click to expand...

On the long end it's approximately 55"

MCTuomey said:
Sweet rig - I need to look at the Bowery. How long is the strap, if you don't mind measuring?
Click to expand...
 
Godfrey said:
Hmm. I'm 6', not small, and on my third strap (I wore the first two out, this one is going but I have several spares in stock..). I have to shorten the strap so that the bag doesn't hang too low and get in the way when walking.

Currently mine has a Nikon F6 fitted with 25-50/4, a TC-16A, and a 180/2.8 AF in it, as well as three extra rolls of film and a spare set of batteries. I leave the zipper open when shooting. My phone slides into the front pocket.

This same bag went with me to Europe for a three-week trip in 1998 carrying Nikon FM2n+MD12 with 20, 35, 50, and 80-200mm lenses it it, on sabbatical in 1996 with M6 and 35/50/90 lenses, to Australia in 2001 with the same Leica kit, and the British Isles with Panasonic L1, 11-22 zoom, 25/1.4, and 35 Macro.

Lots of other kits over the years too. The zipper has never scratched anything.

Seems to be fine for what I've used it for. 26 years on and still going... 🙂

G
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don't get me wrong, it is a good bag and I love my Domke F2.
but compared to the Think Tank and Lowepro, for me, I prefer the other 2 more
but maybe I don't like it as much because it's a replica and not a real Domke
 
Godfrey said:
Hmm. I'm 6', not small, and on my third strap (I wore the first two out, this one is going but I have several spares in stock..). I have to shorten the strap so that the bag doesn't hang too low and get in the way when walking.
G
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Fine, for you (not sure what the "hmm" means). I'm 6'3" and 225# and at max extension that strap puts the bag high on my hip, where it impedes my elbow while walking. A no-go. I've got a little used one I'll sell you 😉
 
MCTuomey said:
Fine, for you (not sure what the "hmm" means). I'm 6'3" and 225# and at max extension that strap puts the bag high on my hip, where it impedes my elbow while walking. A no-go. I've got a little used one I'll sell you 😉
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I might take you up on that.

It could be that the replacement Domke shoulder straps are longer than the original. The original of mine wore out so many years ago that I can't remember whether it was shorter or what. But that's one of the best things about the F5XB: the strap is easily changeable compared to many of the bags in this class.

G
 
Godfrey said:
I might take you up on that.

It could be that the replacement Domke shoulder straps are longer than the original. The original of mine wore out so many years ago that I can't remember whether it was shorter or what. But that's one of the best things about the F5XB: the strap is easily changeable compared to many of the bags in this class.

G
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Good point, G. None of my current bags feature replacement straps - when the strap's worn out, the bag's done for. Despite the poor fit for me, Domke materials and construction are first-rate and meant for long-term use.
 
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