Photo Bag needed

My neck and shoulder nearlywent numb carrying a sling bag for 6 miles in Yosemite last month. The Think Tank Streetwalker may be myfirstback-packing camera bag. I am hoping this will fare better on an upcoming trip to the Southwest Desert next month. If anyone has had experience with this product, would you mind sharing your opinions? thanks gang.


here's what i carry:


Canon 7D


70-200 f/4 IS


24-70 f/2.8


135 f/2 (although this one most likely wont make the trip)


benro carbon fiber tripod, 4 leg sections


sony Tx5 point and shoot


various polarizer filters, the typical odds and ends (but no flash)

I can't help you with the Streetwalker, but I will tell you to compare it to a similar Crumpler backpack (Keystone or Whickey&Cox). They're unique, sturdy backpacks that are comfortable and disguised.


Good Luck!

Like Brendan, I have no experience with theThink Tank Streetwalker. But, I find my LowePro Flipside 400AW to be very comfortable even loaded up (gripped 7D, two white zooms and several black lenses). For your amount of gear, the Flipside 300 would be a good choice.


The thing I like about the Flipside series is that they open from the 'front' (the side that rests against your back). That means you can access your gear by twisting the pack to the front of your body (slipping off the shoulder straps and leaving it attached with the hip belt), and that way you can get to your gear, change lenses, etc., without setting the pack on the ground. I like that feature a lot when hiking.


I disagree with Brendan's use of the word "disguised" for the Crumpler bag, or any camera bag for that matter - anyone planning to steal camera gear is going to be on the lookout for the Crumpler logo, the LowePro logo, theThink Tank logo, etc. The only way to have a disguised camera bag is to deface it yourself (cut off the logos), or put your gear in small cases (i.e. individual lens cases) and put them in an old Jansport backpack or canvas duffel.


But, theft deterrence is another reason I like the LowePro Flipside series -that 'front' opening (against your back) means a would-be thief who recognizes the logo cannot simply yank an exposed zipper-pull and grab some gear.


Have a great trip!


--John

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Originally Posted by neuroanatomist

I disagree with Brendan's use of the word "disguised" for the Crumpler bag, or any camera bag for that matter - anyone planning to steal camera gear is going to be on the lookout for the Crumpler logo, the LowePro logo, theThink Tank logo, etc. The only way to have a disguised camera bag is to deface it yourself (cut off the logos), or put your gear in small cases (i.e. individual lens cases) and put them in an old Jansport backpack or canvas duffel.

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I'll exlplain. The crumpler backpack (that I have, at least) doesn't have the word, "Crumpler" written anywhere on the outside of the pack and I seriously doubt thieves can recognize its logo. On the flipside series and many other lowepros the word "lowepro" is written in orange. Lowepro is SO well known and they don't try to disguise their bags."Lowepro" means "Camera gear inside" in some african language.Well, almost [:P]


One simple fact that makes Crumpler packs better is that they are not black. If there are "thieves" who hunt for camera bags, a black pack that has "lowepro" written in orange is a pretty easy identification. Not only this, but Crumpler backpacks open from the spine rather than the front and are better built IMO.


As I said, it isn't a theft-proof system, but I'd rather leave my camera gear unguarded with a Crumpler more than anything else. That is debatable, though.


brendan

check out this thread:


http://community.the-digital-picture.com/forums/p/1063/7336.aspx#7336

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Originally Posted by neuroanatomist

I find my LowePro Flipside 400AW to be very comfortable even loaded up (gripped 7D, two white zooms and several black lenses). For your amount of gear, the Flipside 300 would be a good choice.

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I second John's opinion on the LowePro Flipside 400AW. I am a somewhat petite woman & even when I have this bag packed to the tilt with my tripod on top, I've never felt any aches or numbness during or after a hike. With all I pack in it, you'd think I would have busted a zipper or tore a seam by now but the durability is as amazing as the comfort level it provides. I have John to thank for recommending it to me a few months ago! It's an awesome bag!

Denise

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Originally Posted by neuroanatomist

I find my LowePro Flipside 400AW to be very comfortable even loaded up (gripped 7D, two white zooms and several black lenses). For your amount of gear, the Flipside 300 would be a good choice.

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I'm going to triple this, I use the flipside 400AW while I'm on my mtb and I don't notice it, not even if it's fully packed nor when I'm putting lots of fuel in biking. So while hiking it should even be better. It's a little miracle bag!

Sorry, Brendan, but we're not going to agree on this one. Watch thieves can tell a fake rolex form a real one at 5 paces. Any thief who routinely steals camera gear is going to recognize a Crumpler logo on a bag, as easily as LowePro. Think about it - for that sort of individual, it's how they earn their 'living', they are going to know what they're doing. Photography is a hobby for me, but I certainly have no problem recognizing a Crumpler logo from a distance (and wondering what sort of camera the wearer has...).


But there's a whole other breed of thief, a much more common type - the casual/opportunistic thief. That sort doesn't care what logo is on the bag, they'll walk behind you on a street and zip it open to reach in and grab whatever happens to be inside, hoping to get lucky. About the only logo that might deter that sort of theft is one like Gerber (someone in the other thread you linked mentioned using a diaper bag) - a thief who recognized that logo might not want to risk grabbing a dirty diaper. (When I carried it, I used to be a little reluctant to reach into my ownBabyBjorn backpack! [;)])


But really, I don't think a logo or lack thereof matters that much for an opportunistic thief. Color of bag doesn't matter either (and in fact, my LowePro bag is a nice pine green). That's where the physical design of the bag matters - the lack of an exposed zipper for the main compartment is a deterrent to casual theft, much more so than logo or color. The LowePro Flipside has that, as does the CrumplerWhickey & Cox that you recommended, but not the Crumpler Keystone (nor do other LowePro models). Erno, note that theWhickey & Coxalso holds a 15" laptop, and if you're not taking that on the hike (or you have a 17" laptop as I do), that's just wasted space.


But in this case, I just realized, this whole discussion is mostly irrelevant. Erno indicated that he'll be carrying a tripod - regardless of what brand/type the backpack is, having a tripod attached to the outside of it means the whole world will know there's a camera in there... [:P]


I still really recommend the LowePro Flipside 400AW as a very useful and comfortable bag to carry a substantial amount of gear on a long hike. The design to berotated around the body and opened without removing it is really nice feature. Although I haven't needed it yet, the All-Weather cover on the Flipside 400AW (but not on the Flipside 300) is reassuring - especially on trips where rain can come up suddenly (as it can in certain seasons in the desert).

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Originally Posted by neuroanatomist

But in this case, I just realized, this whole discussion is mostly irrelevant. Erno indicated that he'll be carrying a tripod - regardless of what brand/type the backpack is, having a tripod attached to the outside of it means the whole world will know there's a camera in there... [img]/emoticons/emotion-4.gif[/img]

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Very true, John. I stand corrected.

I will just say that I have been very happy with my LowePro Flipside 300, but due in part to my fondness for my current bag and in part to John's enthusiastic support of the Flipside 400AW, that will be my next bag, when the 300 is no longer big enough.

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Originally Posted by HiFiGuy1

I will just say that I have been very happy with my LowePro Flipside 300, but due in part to my fondness for my current bag and in part to John's enthusiastic support of the Flipside 400AW, that will be my next bag, when the 300 is no longer big enough.

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Conversely, I'm actually considering the Flipside 300 for a smaller travel pack. I'd be planning on a just taking gripped 7D,EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS,EF 70-200mm f/2.8<span>LIS II, and a Speedlite 430EX II, along with 2 battery chargers. I was hoping for something as small as a Flipside 200, but I'm pretty sure it won't take a gripped 7D based on the height.


HiFiGuy1, if you don't mind my asking, what do you fit in your Flipside 300?

John,


In the top of the bag there is a separate case, and in it is a battery charger and a couple of batteries. This doesn't even come close to filling the separate case. The main compartment holds the Nikon D100 with attached L-bracket and Sigma 400mm f/5.6 APO TeleMacro lens with the hood slid back. It is snug, but in a good way. the compartments down both sides don't have anything in them, but I think could hold a small lens or two, a flash, plus tissues, filters, caps, etc.


I will definitely be keeping the 300 after getting the 400AW, so that when I get a second body, I will have two separate bags in which to carry them.





*** My Nikon gear is on eBay right now if anyone is interested! ***

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Originally Posted by neuroanatomist

... I was hoping for something as small as a Flipside 200, but I'm pretty sure it won't take a gripped 7D based on the height.
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I also was interested in the design of bags with the opening on the front of the bag. I finally decided on a Mountainsmith Parallax bag






http://www.mountainsmith.com/products.asp?productId=276&amp;categoryId=13&amp;s ubCategoryId=14&amp;subCategory2Id=0





because it was deep enough to hold a gripped 50D with two white zooms, a couple black lenses. In addition it had a sleeve for a laptop on those rare occasions where every thing has to go along. So far, I've been pleased. It's a bit bigger than the Low Flipside 400...





Hope this helps,





Geoff

thanks for all of the input gang. yeah, the nice thing about this upcoming trip is that it'll be at state and national parks in utah and arizona, so strapping a tripod doesn't have me as concerned as if i were travelling to the deep alleyways of a large city. when i was at Yosemite, i was blown away at the number of Nikons and Canon shooters with tripods dangling from various backpacks. I'll check out the Lowepro lineup and other brands mentioned above.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Geoff

I finally decided on a Mountainsmith Parallax bag ...because it was deep enough to hold a gripped 50D with two white zooms, a couple black lenses. In addition it had a sleeve for a laptop on those rare occasions where every thing has to go along. So far, I've been pleased. It's a bit bigger than the Low Flipside 400...

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Nice looking bag! It does look quite a bit bigger than the Flipside 400 (18x11x15" vs. 18x10x12"). Personally, I explicitly didn't want a laptop pocket, since I don't ever plan to carry one along with most of my gear and I wouldn't want the extra bulk every day as a trade-off against the slim chance of needing to carry a laptop, too.


Incidentally, in my Flipside 400, I carry a gripped 7D (which is a bit taller than a gripped 50D), two white zooms (100-400mm, 70-200mm f/2.8 IS MkII) and 4 black lenses (10-22mm, 17-55mm f/2.8, 85mm f/1.8, 100mm L Macro) all with hoods, plus a 1.4x Extender II and a 430EX II. The various filters (CPL, NDs), cleaning supplies, etc., go in the front pocket. I also like that it comes in something other than boring black.

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Originally Posted by erno james

I'll check out the Lowepro lineup and other brands mentioned above.

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Erno, if you have a local camera shop nearby, bring your gear and try a couple of bags in person. Finding one that fits comfortably is the most important consideration if you'll be hiking with it. Above, I recommended the Flipside 300 based on your amount of gear. But in the Lowepro lineup you might want to also look at the Flipside 400, or the Rover AW II or Primus AW backpacks. All three of those have well-padded, frame-pack-style supportive hip belts (the Flipside 300 does not have much padding or support). The Flipside packs are intended only for camera gear, the Rover and Primus are two-compartment bags with one compartment for camera gear, the other for whatever else you need to carry (food, outerwear, etc.) and may be a better choice for a day hike.


Good luck with your choice!


--John