This inquiry is a real shot in the dark, but here it goes. I am looking for a serious photography back pack, one that would allow me to do several nights backcountry backpacking. It would need to accommodate all the camping a photography gear.
I was at PMA in Vegas this last march, and found it, well the company who was planning on making it. They had a prototype at the show, it was exactly what I was looking for. I got there contact info at the time and have since lost it!
It was planned for release this summer. For anyone who attended PMA there booth was right next to Lowepro. I have looked at the PMA floor plans and exhibitors, but no luck.
So anyone else who may have stumbled across this pack or knows of another manufacturer who makes something similar, I would love to hear about it.
I don't know the backpack you're looking for in particular, but I have had much better luck with high quality backpacking packs. Photo backpacks never measure up in comfort or weight distribution(so far). I pack my camera gear in 2 small photo bags and then pack them on top of all my other camping gear. I figure if it's worth photographing, it's worth taking my pack off and taking the 1 minute to get set up. Now that I have my G9 I also have a snap shot cam I keep out on hikes for grab shots.
My current pack is an Osprey Atmos 80 or 85. Wonderful pack for overnight, or multi-day trips.
I'd agree with Zack on this one. Although a custom made backpacking/photographic rucksack sounds good, I personally don't believe it can beat a purpose trekking bag. For a start look at the weight issue. A photorucksack is invariably heavier than a conventional rucksack. If this is for extended hiking trips (4 nights and more), the rucksack itself is going to be heavy (My Karrimor comes out somewhere between 1.5-2kgs). As Zack says, if it's good enough to be photographed it's good enough to take your pack off for. You also have the downside that you cannot go anywhere without the whole kit and kaboodle. Zack's solution allows you to drop your pack and carry only the photo gear to that odd to reach spot.
That said I've found the lightest, cheapest solution to be customising your own pack. Depending on the gear I carry (usually an additional 4kg of metal and glass and usually an added 1-2kg of tripod, on top the requisite 16kg+ of tent, clothing, food, stove etc), I mix and match with a couple of strap on bags like the lens bags that Lowepro make. Usually I have cards and batteries in a tiny pack around my waste, or attached to the harness somewhere. Mounted on the side of the rucksack I then have a lowepro bag for a bulky lens like my Tokina 12-24. On the other side of the pack I have a larger bag (it also doubles up as a seperate camera bag for quick forays away from the path) containing flash, additional smaller lenses, filters etc. The camera itself hangs from the D loops on the harness. That way I have it at hand all the time.
If you still want a full on pack for everything, consider possibly the National Geographic series large photo rucksack.
Along those lines, some things I've learned about backpacking and photography after 20+ years of the former and 4-5 years with the latter added in.
Backpack fit is your primary concern. The pack needs to fit your torso length and it needs to conform well to your shape. I think McHale custom packs are the ultimate packs in this regard, but I haven't needed to go that route.
The second thing I've learned is that the camera gear will usually put you out of reach of ultralight packs. Its not impossible to pack a 35 pound pack if you're just carrying the things you need to camp. But when you add a professional camera and tripod, you've just dumped at least an extra 10 pounds on that load. Get a pack that can truly haul the load you plan to carry. My packs both have frames and suspensions capable of carrying 65 pounds and I've loaded them to that weight or more on several occasions. They're kinda heavy in their own right, but they are comfortable.
Finally, backpacks are usually well made. They'll likely last 10 years or more and you might find you need a couple sizes. So buy right the first time. This means buy the right pack, not the most expensive one.
As for my own multi-day pack, its a Gregory Palisade from a year ago. It is replacing an even larger mountainsmith frostfire that I've owned for 15 years. So far, the new pack seems pretty good, though I'm still waiting for the trails to open to really get some miles with it. http://gregorypacks.com/?option=com_gregorypacks&act=product&task=overview&cid=23
Posted by Kari Post on January 14, 2009 at 1:00 AM
I couldn't agree more. Backpacking packs are much much much better designed than photo backpacks. They are more comfortable and distribute weight much better. I'll never go back.
I agree with the above - get a good well-fitting "real" backpack, then figure out how to fit your camera gear into it. You can use padded wraps or pouches for lenses and bodies, and you can also find inserts similar to the interior of photo packs that can be inserted into larger packs. You can also try a chest pack or strapping smaller packs to a larger backpack.
Guy
Posted by Brent Murphy on January 23, 2009 at 6:09 PM
I also agree with everyone above. I use an Arc'teryx Bora 80 pack for backpacking. I haven't come up with the perfect solution for my camera gear yet, but on a few trips, I've packed my Lowepro Off Road waistpack into my backpack. When I get to my location, I take the waistpack out, put it on, and I'm ready to head off and go shooting.
Posted by David Senesac on March 9, 2009 at 11:09 PM
Dedicated photo backpacks provide way more foam protection than most of us likely need adding both bulk and weight simply because they need to err on the side of equipment safety at the lowest common denominator ala Don Knots lest they be sued too easily when someone stumbles and crunches their $1000+ camera or lens. For years such gear has not been meant for backcountry use but rather people's backs. Hence a bit of confusion. By now manufacturers have heard the growing chorus of nay sayers and likely see the need to move more towards what "backpack" traditionally meant.
Discussion
7 repliesThis inquiry is a real shot in the dark, but here it goes. I am looking for a serious photography back pack, one that would allow me to do several nights backcountry backpacking. It would need to accommodate all the camping a photography gear.
I was at PMA in Vegas this last march, and found it, well the company who was planning on making it. They had a prototype at the show, it was exactly what I was looking for. I got there contact info at the time and have since lost it!
It was planned for release this summer. For anyone who attended PMA there booth was right next to Lowepro. I have looked at the PMA floor plans and exhibitors, but no luck.
So anyone else who may have stumbled across this pack or knows of another manufacturer who makes something similar, I would love to hear about it.
Thanks, Shane
My current pack is an Osprey Atmos 80 or 85. Wonderful pack for overnight, or multi-day trips.
I'd agree with Zack on this one. Although a custom made backpacking/photographic rucksack sounds good, I personally don't believe it can beat a purpose trekking bag. For a start look at the weight issue. A photorucksack is invariably heavier than a conventional rucksack. If this is for extended hiking trips (4 nights and more), the rucksack itself is going to be heavy (My Karrimor comes out somewhere between 1.5-2kgs). As Zack says, if it's good enough to be photographed it's good enough to take your pack off for. You also have the downside that you cannot go anywhere without the whole kit and kaboodle. Zack's solution allows you to drop your pack and carry only the photo gear to that odd to reach spot.
That said I've found the lightest, cheapest solution to be customising your own pack. Depending on the gear I carry (usually an additional 4kg of metal and glass and usually an added 1-2kg of tripod, on top the requisite 16kg+ of tent, clothing, food, stove etc), I mix and match with a couple of strap on bags like the lens bags that Lowepro make. Usually I have cards and batteries in a tiny pack around my waste, or attached to the harness somewhere. Mounted on the side of the rucksack I then have a lowepro bag for a bulky lens like my Tokina 12-24. On the other side of the pack I have a larger bag (it also doubles up as a seperate camera bag for quick forays away from the path) containing flash, additional smaller lenses, filters etc. The camera itself hangs from the D loops on the harness. That way I have it at hand all the time.
If you still want a full on pack for everything, consider possibly the National Geographic series large photo rucksack.
Backpack fit is your primary concern. The pack needs to fit your torso length and it needs to conform well to your shape. I think McHale custom packs are the ultimate packs in this regard, but I haven't needed to go that route.
The second thing I've learned is that the camera gear will usually put you out of reach of ultralight packs. Its not impossible to pack a 35 pound pack if you're just carrying the things you need to camp. But when you add a professional camera and tripod, you've just dumped at least an extra 10 pounds on that load. Get a pack that can truly haul the load you plan to carry. My packs both have frames and suspensions capable of carrying 65 pounds and I've loaded them to that weight or more on several occasions. They're kinda heavy in their own right, but they are comfortable.
Finally, backpacks are usually well made. They'll likely last 10 years or more and you might find you need a couple sizes. So buy right the first time. This means buy the right pack, not the most expensive one.
As for my own multi-day pack, its a Gregory Palisade from a year ago. It is replacing an even larger mountainsmith frostfire that I've owned for 15 years. So far, the new pack seems pretty good, though I'm still waiting for the trails to open to really get some miles with it.
http://gregorypacks.com/?option=com_gregorypacks&act=product&task=overview&cid=23
Guy
http://www.davidsenesac.com/Backpacking/david_pack_r.jpg
http://www.davidsenesac.com/Backpacking/david_backpacking.html