Camera/Hiking bag

[CanadianRocky]

I have yet to find a camera bag that works for hiking. They just dont have the support in the back or the hip belt to carry any amount of weight for any length of time.

I took a different approach. I found a hiking bag that would handle the chores of both camera bag and hiking gear.

I just got back from Jasper National Park and did 6 long day hikes ( 6 to 10 hours each). When I was in Jasper I went to a high end hiking/climbing gear shop and poked and prodded at every bag they had there. I decided on the Deuter Futura 32 (32 ltrs in capacity).

I was very cautious as it has a "Aircomfort System" which means that the pack is separated from the backs by a mesh a support system. My experience with this system has never been satisfactory as once it gets loaded they tend to lose support.

The bag weights 3 lbs 10 ozs, carries 25 lbs and is rated as a day/overnight bag. It is not my intention to use it as an overnight bag as I already have that covered by another bag.

I gutted the foam dividers out of my camera bag to give the camera some protection.

What I liked about it.

CAMERA RELATED

*As in the photo's you can see that I modyfied the bottom zipped compartment for my camera/lens's (a200 11 to 18 mm) and one lens (18 to 70 mm). At the bottom of this compartment there was enough room for my compact flash wallet, spare batteries and camera cleaning equipment. This gave me very quick access to the camera when I was not carrying it if I was hand over hand scrambling or using my poles to ascend or descend steep grades, and did not want the camera swinging in the way.

*The centre zipped pocket is large enough for my 75 - 300 zoom, giving me a total of 11 to 300 mm.

*This gave me a range of 11 to 300 millimetres

*There is a zippered compartment on the top which is good for other camera related equipment that you may want to have easy access to. It is also good for maps.

*As the bag is equipped for ice axes it is easy to attach a lightweight tripod if you want.

*There is a built in rain cover on the bottom, so you have rain protection for your gear if the weather turns.

HIKING RELATED

*A hip belt that works!!! Not all are created equal, and if you dont have a good one, then you will pay the price. It also has the kind of belt that you tighten by pulling. If you have ever used the other kind, you will know how much better this system is.

*Comfortable shoulder straps. Very important.

*There is enough room in the top compartment for a rain jacket, windproof jacket, down vest, gloves and toque. Also enough for food for the day and a sleeve for a hydration unit so you can sip water as you go along as opposed to digging for a water bottle.

*Loops for trecking poles. Also, if you in terain where you need the poles for sometime and not others but dont want to carry them, you can collapse the poles and slip them between your back and the pack as the pack sits away from your back by a few inches. This might have been the best part of the Aircomfort system.

*Compression straps so you can tighten up the load so it does not flip and flop around.

*side compartments on both sides so you can get easy access to gear, but these could also be used for lenses.

*Two side mesh pockets where you can put gloves or another water bottle. I always carry a water bottle even while using the hydration system. With a hydration system you don't really know how much water you have left until you run out. I never drink from the water bottle until I have drained the hydration bladder. This way, I always know when I have one litre of water left. I can easily go through 5 litres of water in a 10 hour day.

*Inside pocket on the lid for first aid kit.

*A small pocket on the hip belt that is nice for a pocket knife and compass

OVERALL

*It carried great. Stayed close to the body and even after a long day it did not "feel" heavy". I dont like the camera weight that low, but it did not seem to effect the feel of the pack.

*Not once did it interfere with scrambling as it did not move around interfering with my centre of balance.

*My binoculars folder over the chest strap giving me easy access to them.

This is a great compromise between the two activities. I would still like to have a hiking/camera bag designed for that purpose but this one works.

DISLIKES

*Its Green . They make a blue one, but the shop did not have it and I wanted it right away.

*The weight is to low, but it is not to noticeable. I would prefer to have the camera in the centre of the back pack, with light gear above and below.

----------------------------

WEIGHT AS TESTED - 23 LBS

This may seem like a lot for a day bag. It is. The key is that the weight is carried well and it will not effect you ability to get out for a very long day, at high altitude, where you may end up spending the night in a snow storm. Every time I hike the high country, I plan on NOT getting home that night and that I will have to take care of myself for at least 48 hrs until they find me.

This list is just an idea of what works for me. Your requirements may be very different for your hike.

IN THE PACK

• Camera and three lenses - 11 to 300 mm
• Lens cleaner, in pack and cloth in pocket
• 4 compact flash discs - There to take pictures, right?
• 2 extra batteries - There to take pictures, right?
• Rain jacket
• Rain Pants
• Windproof/breathable jacket
• Gloves
• Toque- all the above because it can snow above 5000 ft any day of the year.
• 3000 calories of energy food - all prepackaged easy to eat. Nothing that smells like food, just in case you have to dig in for the night. 2000 for the hike, 1000 in case you dig in for the night.
• 5 ltrs of water, 4 in bladder, 1 in water bottle - Dont drink water from a stream, only from a spring, and never count on finding water.
• Topo Map and compass - so you know where you are, and they are fun to play with during lunch and tea
• First aid kit, including duct tape, IB profun, blister pack
• Emergency overnight survival shelter, matches, firestarter (if you have to dig in for the night, it keeps the animals away and will keep you warm
• Trekking poles (also can be used for survival shelter)
• Small stove (for tea, we must be civilized, musn't we?)
• Binoculars
• Lightweight headlamp - again, in case you have to dig in, or the light goes before you get back. This happens more often than you might think.

ON THE BODY

• Hiking pants, shirt, underwear and socks. And NONE of it is cotton. All of my clothes is Mountain Hard Ware, because It works.
• Over the ankle hiking boots, well worn in.
• Watch with altimeter and compass
• Hat
• Sunglasses, with neck strap.
• Handkerchief for the neck if it gets hot, cold, or anything in between.

This will seem like a lot of gear, but dont forget, I spend most of my time above 8,000 feet in the Rocky Mountains where there are very few people and no shelter. A twisted ankle in the late afternoon can turn into an overnight stay in a heartbeat. No one will be looking for you until the next light of day. Water, fire, calories and shelter can make the difference between living and dying where I play. I have seen it turn from brilliant sunshine, to thunder and lightning, to sleet and snow, and back to sun in an hour.

Garbage bags and flip flops don't cut it where I play. And I dont play with those that use them.


Excuse the quality of the photos.

[Mithras]

That is quite the evaluation Rockey. It certainly gives one something to think about if a photographic hiking trip is being planned. Thanks for sharing.

[brian.austin]

Interesting idea and great write up.

Personally, I do just the opposite: I use a Lowe Nature Trekker II AW, stuff things like food in unused areas of that bag, and add a smaller bag that straps to the bottom. The smaller bag is pretty much survival gear. That way I don't have to get into it when accessing camera equipment, the primary purpose of my hikes.

Given the costs involved, though, your route is probably a LOT cheaper. The Nature Trekker isn't a cheap bag. It's taken some nasty falls, including canyon work in Sedona, so I'm willing to pay that price. For the budget minded, however, it would be cheaper to do it your way.

[CanadianRocky]

Originally Posted by brian.austin

Interesting idea and great write up.

Personally, I do just the opposite: I use a Lowe Nature Trekker II AW, stuff things like food in unused areas of that bag, and add a smaller bag that straps to the bottom. The smaller bag is pretty much survival gear. That way I don't have to get into it when accessing camera equipment, the primary purpose of my hikes.

Given the costs involved, though, your route is probably a LOT cheaper. The Nature Trekker isn't a cheap bag. It's taken some nasty falls, including canyon work in Sedona, so I'm willing to pay that price. For the budget minded, however, it would be cheaper to do it your way.

There is only $50 between the two bags in price so I would not agree that it is a lot cheaper and that the budget would be a consideration.

The camera gear as shown is very accessible in the Deuter.

The larger concern for me is the fit. I tried the Nature Treker you mentioned and although the hip belt worked reasonably well, I found the back and shoulder straps to be of not enough support for extended day trips (+ 8 hrs). Also, the added weight of close to 3 lbs was unacceptable to me taking into account that I would be not only be travelling long days, but also scrambling.

When I loaded the Lowe Pro it moved to much on my back when I flexed. That is not acceptable to me for serious scrambling.

Also, I dont remember a hydration bladder on it. To me that is a must for long days.

I would consider buying one, but it would be for shorter trips hauling larger loads, like more lenses.

The Deuter is more for long days, lots of elevation gain and loss, places where water is not readily available and for scrambling, and still enough capability to carry a camera and lenses for serious shooting.

[MartinHickling]

I have a LowePro Slingshot 200. It is very comfortable and easy to use. It is not built for hiking as it lacks the waist strap but I believe the 300 has the strap iand is designed for carrying at further distances.

[BovrilArg]

I have been into photography for about one year. Bought a D300 and a couple of lens. Now all of this seems normal except that I have three camera bags! The reason for the three is that I have yet to find a good one. I travel allot by air and like to take my camera with me. I usually have to take a laptop for work so the first back back I bought had a space for the laptop. It can carry all my stuff BUT it is large and difficult to get to. It is great to get the stuff on the plane but once arrived it is too big.

I do not need a hiking bag but would LOVE a bag that splits into two. So one big backpack and then a smaller one for the day treks out of the hotel. Seriously I do not need nor want to everything with me when hunting for a picture. But I do want everything with me in the hotel (usually in a safe).

If someone would just come up with that kind of bag I would be willing to part with plenty of money. Gear lugging is a big turn off for this hobby but the hiking community have found plenty of ways around it and yet the camera industry does not seem to follow suit.

Any ideas out there?

[Muddy Boots]

If getting to your gear is a high priority check out Think Tank Rotation 360. It's one solution that seems to work well for a lot of folks. It doesn't have a hydration system built in but some can be used with it.

I've been in a lot of places where you just can take your pack off to get to your camera due to steep slopes, rain, snow mud and ect. The Rotation 360 let you keep your pack on and still access most of your gear.

[Normie1]

Originally Posted by MartinHickling

I have a LowePro Slingshot 200. It is very comfortable and easy to use. It is not built for hiking as it lacks the waist strap but I believe the 300 has the strap iand is designed for carrying at further distances.

The 300 has the waist stray, you are correct.