Need Camera Bag Recommendations

[BretEdge]

I just set up a long term test of four different photography specific backpacks: the f-stop gear Tilopa BC, Clik Elite Contrejour 35, Mountainsmith Borealis AT and Lowepro Rover Pro 35AW. For the next three months I'll be using all four packs extensively here in Moab, down in Arizona and throughout southern Utah. At the end of the test I'll post a comparison and review on my blog at http://blog.bretedge.com. I'm not going to pick a "winner". Rather, I'll share what I liked and didn't like about each pack so that you might decide which one has potential to work for you. Look for the review to go live in early May. I'll post updates along the way on my Facebook page and on twitter, too.

 

[ETAV8R]

This is a great thread. Quite a few companies I've never heard of. My first camera bag (1981) which I still have is a Tamrac. The other bag I have is the Adventure 9 also from Tamrac. It fits my gear but would be quite a bit to haul the way I have it loaded. Plus for most of what I do the kit isn't necessary. It gets thrown in the truck and stays there for the most part. On hikes I take my SLR or PnS or both and sling them. For the most part it has worked out well. I like all the options here though.

 

[john101477]

I do not believe any one bag is the answer to all tasks. I use two different bags and to be honest neither one is perfect. I have a lowepro fastpack which is good for walking around the city for the day while my clik elite hiker is great for day hikes. What about multi day hikes? I have yet to find a great solution to multi day hikes when you need food, tent, sleeping bag, and lots of water! With todays current top performers you still have to have someone willing to carry part of your hiking vear so you can haul your camera gear. I can usually get away with 2 lenses and a telecon but still that takes room

 

[BretEdge]

I do not believe any one bag is the answer to all tasks. I use two different bags and to be honest neither one is perfect. I have a lowepro fastpack which is good for walking around the city for the day while my clik elite hiker is great for day hikes. What about multi day hikes? I have yet to find a great solution to multi day hikes when you need food, tent, sleeping bag, and lots of water! With todays current top performers you still have to have someone willing to carry part of your hiking vear so you can haul your camera gear. I can usually get away with 2 lenses and a telecon but still that takes room

For backpacking and dayhiking I carry my camera w/ one lens attached (either 16-35 or 24-105) in a Clik Elite chest pack and a Works at Mystery Ranch backpack with an F-Stop Gear Internal Camera Unit (ICU) inside that holds my extra camera gear. The ICU is padded and keeps the gear safe. I place it in an easy to access location inside the pack so I've got quick access to it when needed. Lowepro, Mountainsmith and Clik Elite also make products similar to the F-Stop Gear ICU. I've done this for a decade and it works well.