Full disclosure: Because we've used their bags for a long time and have met them at photo trade shows, etc., we've made some friends at LowePro and visited their HQ, etc. However, we are not sponsored by them, have never received or used free product, and provide no paid commercial endorsements to LowePro or anybody else.
We've used LowePro bags since 2002.
Steph used the DryZone 100 for our year overseas on the motorcycle.
I used a MiniTrekker AW for that travel.
We've both been using CompuTrekker AW bags since early 2007.
http://products.lowepro.com/product/CompuTrekker-AW,1924.htm
All of these bags are the same basic size. CompuTrekker AW will easily fit a 14" screen laptop.
My normal load (all gear Canon):
- 1D MkIII
- 28-300L
- 16-35L
- 24-70L
- 580 strobe
- 16 AA
- timer remote
- either a set of extension tubes and a macro viewfinder or a 1.4x extender
- circular polarizer 77mm (fits all lenses)
- Lots of memory cards (CF and SD)
- Lens cleaning fluid & brush
- Couple of micro fiber cloths
- Other stuff I never use so can't remember
Optional loads:
- 70-200L IS in external lens tube or in place of 28-300L
- 100-400L in external lens tube or in palce of 28-300L
- 100 2.8 macro
- macro ring light in external lens tube
- Manfrotto 055XProB tripod on bag rigging pocket & straps
- Water bottle in external sleeve
Upsides:
- Outside pocket with pen slots, business card pockets, key clip, etc.
- Good underside of lid pocket design for carrying memory, accessories, etc.
- Airline carry-on legal size
- Easily adaptable for different needs with accessories (lens tubes, water bottle bags, etc.)
- Tripod rigging straps/pocket
- Design, materials and construction capable of very heavy loads. My normal kit is ~32 lbs. / 14.5 kilos. With two lens tubes and two long L lenses, it is quite a load.
- Integrated weatherproof cover.
- Great compromise size between what you'd like to drag along and what you really need.
- Has a waist strap so you can properly distribute the weight.
- Fit perfectly into a large volume motorcycle pannier box.
- Small enough to be manageable in the "mind the baby" role that a camera bag on the road overseas becomes.
- Standard backpack design yields a stable, hands free load that does not shift around on your body during movement, climbing, etc.
Downsides:
- I always add two clips and a piece of webbing to the lower attachment points for the shoulder straps on my LowePro bags. That allows you to quickly unclip and re-clip those straps after slipping a shopping bag or anything else onto the straps. Very handy in real life shooting/overlanding, especially overseas.
- Limited size for a multi-week dedicated shooting trip, especially for long-reach wildlife (meaning you will need multiple long, fast lenses).
- Weather cover is good for brief hard showers or light all day rain but you need to get under cover for monsoonal rains. The surface between your back and the bag is not protected.
- You'll need the CompuTrekker Plus AW for bigger screen laptops. LowePro says it still meets the carry-on size requirement.
http://products.lowepro.com/product/CompuTrekker-Plus AW,1925.htm
- You need to take the pack off to change gear or access supplies. Steph has mitigated this somewhat by putting one of LowePro's small pouches on her shoulder strap. Great spot for memory cards, batteries, etc.
Overlanding photo bags lessons learned:
We are both bag whores. We've probably owned more than 40 bags between us. We currently still own at least 15 bags, and that is after giving away essentially all of our worldly goods. You get insight into people when you roll up the door on their "this is all we're keeping" storage unit. You'd expect to see some family heirlooms and tax records. And with us, you would. And you'd also see a whoooole bunch of camera bags.
- Whatever you get, make sure it's got a weatherproof cover.
- Unless you are a dedicated water sports person or water sports / snow shooter, the dry bags are probably not worth the extra weight. If you can only afford one bag, I wouldn't get a dry bag.
- Anything bigger than airline carry-on very much restricts your real-world travel shooting options.
- Hard cases are great if you've got the room. Essential for major gear loads on assignment. I know people who mounted them in the tail bag position on their motorcycles. They are a non-starter once you leave the vehicle, which you will do a lot. A bag you can carry with you makes a lot more sense out here.
- If you are planning to travel overseas it is important to know that your camera bag becomes your 24x7x365 companion. It becomes your infant, always at your side, in your sight and under your monitoring eye. Bring something manageable.
- If you are traveling in a "hotel to hotel" or "occasional hotel" mode, always bring a pacsafe locking mesh wrap for your camera bag.
http://www.pacsafe.com/www/index.php?_room=3&_action=detail&id=48
- A bag that looks more like a backpack and less like a camera bag helps a lot in crowds and for general "just another tourist" movement.
- Always keep your bag locked with TSA locks when in transit. I don't use them once we're out here, but I try to always use them in airports, bus stations, etc. I have used them while shooting in known pickpocket/thief environments. I recommend combination locks; keys get lost.
- An external, easily accessible pocket with pen slots, business card pockets, etc. is essential. This is a deal-breaker if it is not part of the design.
- In today's world, an integrated laptop slot makes travel so much easier, it is almost a requirement. It keeps all the stuff you need to monitor closely in one bag while making air transit stages. Highly recommended.
- No matter what the design, do not store your camera bag under the sink the night before a once-in-a-lifetime wildlife shoot in Africa.
Fortunately, the body booted up after I poured out the water and dried it off. The lenses were fine. The strobe ended up with some corrosion, but I was able to resurrect it.
