New big(ger) backpack…

[Travelfot]

I am in the market for a new camera backpack and I would appreciate some opinions from any who knows.

Until now, I have been using a Lowepro “Mini Trekker Classic”, but after the addition of some more lenses, I will need a bigger bag.
I have done a quick search, and it seems like the Lowepro “Photo Trekker AW II” OR the Lowepro “Nature Trekker AW II” can fit my use. However, I don’t know the difference between those two.

Additionally, I am thinking about the “Pro Trekker AW II”, but not sure if it’s too big or not.

And finally – how about Tamrac or others? I am not really familiar with Tamrac, but have seen images of their model "Expedition 7" that seems interesting. Maybe cheaper than Lowepro…or not?

Not to say I would fill it up on every occasion, but the bag should be able to hold my current gear of 2 bodies, EF 24-105mm f/4, EF70-200mm f/2.8, EF100-400mm, a macro lens, flash ++ and preferably a few things more like a drinking bottle, jacket, sweater, a food pack, first aid kit and so on.
Additionally maybe a laptop now and then as well. In fact the laptop would be for travel only, and I usually put it on top (the middle room in the lid) in my current Mini Trekker adding some padding around it, and this works great. Therefore this shouldn’t be any problem with any bigger models either I believe.

I guess, basically I’m asking “can i.e. the Lowepro “Photo Trekker AW” cope with this or must I jump up to the “Pro” series?
Subjective of course, but I would be happy with the smallest backpack covering my needs.

Thanks for any input,


Cheers
Travelfot

[JDArt]

I've been through what you're going through. My conclusion: if you really want to carry that backpack, make your gear fit the Mini Trekker. The other "trekkers" are all significantly larger and more cumbersome and never get carried like the Mini.

Start separating your equipment by task. You can't take it all.

Hopefully you'll get other opinions and can pick and choose.

[Travelfot]

Thanks there – that’s probably not a bad solution as well...


Travelfot

[Slea_]

Originally Posted by JDArt

Start separating your equipment by task. You can't take it all.

Thats also my experience I have a backpack so that I can keep most of my kit together but NEVER carry it, I just take from that what I want and put the items into another smaller backpack and carry that instead as its much lighter than carrying everything. If I am doing landscapes I just take landscape gear and if I am doing wildlife I will take just the wildlife gear although I might chuck in a wideangle just in case

Slea

[rsprouse]

If you do want to go to a big backpack, I would suggest that you look at the Kata HB-207 pack. It holds most of my kit, including the big Nikon 200-400 VR lens, D2Xs body, and several other medium to large lenses.

One REALLY cool feature is that you can add the "InserTrolley" which is a set of wheels that turns it into a roller bag. I have found that in 90%+ of all situations, you don't need to carry the bag at all!

Kata makes a whole range of bags ranging from "holsters" to huge bags. They also make body armor for the military, so their stuff is very rugged.

Usual disclaimers.

-- Russ

[Blacklynx]

stick with lowepro in my opinion why not consider the computrekker AW or Stealth Aw these are trully excellent and for what you describe sound perfect. I do agree with the others here seperate your gear according to task.

[JDArt]

I've never actually seen anyone carry one of the larger Trekkers. I'm sure those folks who carry them are out there--or perhaps hanging around in chiropractors' offices.

[brian.austin]

Originally Posted by JDArt

I've never actually seen anyone carry one of the larger Trekkers. I'm sure those folks who carry them are out there--or perhaps hanging around in chiropractors' offices.

Or we work out at the gym regularly.

I'm one of the fools that has a Nature Trekker AW II and carries everything in it, including a 20D, 10-22, 70-200/2.8 IS, 100-400, Sigma 105 Macro, Tamron 28-75/2.8, Sekonics L558R, 580EX flash, extra batteries, chargers, small reflector kit, and odds & ends. My tripod gets strapped to the outside.

It's a heavy beast...but built like a brick outhouse. I've climbed rocks in Sedona with it, banged it up, traveled across the country and it's never let me down. No issues with a light rain without the cover and a heavy downpour never got through the cover (I was soaking wet, though).

There is not a lot of room leftover for water/food, etc., if it's packed. A very small (12-13") laptop might fit in it but my 15 & 17" laptops won't. I tried both of them. I usually carry one or two bottles of water in the pack, two on a beltpack and food/first aid in the beltpack. I don't overnight with this thing.

I tend to take everything because I'm never sure what I want to shoot when I get there (if I knew what it looked like, I probably wouldn't be going!). When I get to the top of a mesa that took two hours worth of climbing, I don't want to rummage through the bag and say "if I only had my .... lens for that shot". I also like to play games when I get to some places. Pick a spot, change lenses as much as needed but I must take X number of shots (usually 10-20) without moving from the place I'm standing. Kinda kicks in the creative juices.

I don't mind the weight but I run regularly, hike often and make grunting noises at the gym 4-5 times a week.

[Jon]

I know I'm chiming in super late on this one, but have a look at Tamrac's Pro-9. I have one and love it when I need to take the full "road kit" (I'm kinda like Brian on this in some respects)...D2H, S2, 70-200 f/2.8, 24-70 f/2.8, 300 f/2.8, 2x TC, two flashes, a Sony DCR-TRV series camcorder and a couple of tapes, cards, batteries for all three cameras and both flashes, cleaning kit, 12" iBook. It has provisions to hang more stuff off the side of it (but I don't).

[asysin2leads]

I've bought several things from www.ebags.com not pertaining to cameras. So I checked and they have a nice selection of camera bags. Here's the link. [urlhttp://www.ebags.com/travel_accessories/camera_video_bags/category_search/index.cfm?N=4001+2007551[/url]

Kevin