Travel Gear - How to choose a light secure bag?

zoossh · 14th December 2005

I've got a Lowepro Backpack Minitrekker AW, but find it very uncomfortable to use as the strap is rough without cushion and lacks the flexibility of sliding the shoulder straps to appropriate length. I previously use a camelbak backpack that has good shoulder straps that slide and lock with simple tugs and pulls. And it is only 0.745kg as compared to the minitrekker that is about 1.5kg plus. but of cos this big and spacious and light camelbak is just a trekking backpack that does not have much cushion meant for camera.

While looking around, there have been gd guides on tripods, i dun find gd guides on various bag system for cameras. i wonder if anyone have come across gd guides that i can read more.

on the other hand, i'm now considering getting very light gear that consist of the below
1. a harness to hold my nikon D50 kit in front of me (weight: body 560g, kit lens 260g)
2. a waist belt to hold two or even 3 extra lens (weight: estimate 550g x 2)
3. a tripod strap to strap the tripod behind on my back (weight: tripod estimate 0.75kg, ballhead 0.3kg)

so that it meet my purpose of keeping everything light and handy.
i wonder if anyone have any advices on fellow travel photographers.

* some items i estimated the weight becos i'm still in the process of looking for expansion of lenses, likely a wide angle and a macro, and also a new tripod likely a gitzo G1058 mountaineer weekend series.

zoossh · 14th December 2005

an alternative i'm looking at is nature trekker AW II. but it looks quite heavy duty. i probably dun have that many lens and just wanted something small for my current holding.

http://www.lowepro.com/Products/Back...ker_AW_II.aspx

JediForce4ever · 14th December 2005

www.cambags.com
can go to the webby and check.

zoossh · 15th December 2005

Originally Posted by JediForce4ever

www.cambags.com
can go to the webby and check.

pretty new forum without any participation yet. but just register waiting to seed my question there.

laforge · 19th December 2005

Originally Posted by zoossh

an alternative i'm looking at is nature trekker AW II. but it looks quite heavy duty. i probably dun have that many lens and just wanted something small for my current holding.

http://www.lowepro.com/Products/Back...ker_AW_II.aspx

Heavy duty...spot on... Have you tested it out? It is not exactly small in size.I did at CP and all i can say is it is bloody heavy without any lens/camera....

maybe it is only me feeling that way.

zoossh · 20th December 2005

Originally Posted by laforge

Heavy duty...spot on... Have you tested it out? It is not exactly small in size.I did at CP and all i can say is it is bloody heavy without any lens/camera.... maybe it is only me feeling that way.

i just got a lowepro S&F shoulder harness and with the belt, the whole thing weighs about 625g. but from a viewpoint as a backpacker, i dun think lowepro makes gd bags in terms of padding, ease of adjustment straps & weight etc.

why dun deuter and some other brands come into the market? then i won't be so limited in choice, which is hardly the case for many other consumer products.

tingchiyen · 23rd December 2005

i used to buy up camera bags on the premise that i'd need something big, hardy and carry-all to fit all my equipment, and have gone through maybe 4-5 different styles, ie. trekker, top-loader, harness systems etc, and even right now, i've got a crumpler backpack which i don't seem to use often. Right about now, i've sold practically all those bags after realising that all i really need is the simple Nova II: it'll fit the body i use all the time, plus 2 lenses (1 attached, 1 spare) + space for films, blower, misc., and best of all, if i sling the nova around my neck, i can rest my SLR on it. Maybe you should think carefully about what your style of shooting is, and whether you need all the excess capacity (+ weight!).

14th December 2005	#1
zoossh Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Singapore Posts: 8,269	Travel Gear - How to choose a light secure bag? I've got a Lowepro Backpack Minitrekker AW, but find it very uncomfortable to use as the strap is rough without cushion and lacks the flexibility of sliding the shoulder straps to appropriate length. I previously use a camelbak backpack that has good shoulder straps that slide and lock with simple tugs and pulls. And it is only 0.745kg as compared to the minitrekker that is about 1.5kg plus. but of cos this big and spacious and light camelbak is just a trekking backpack that does not have much cushion meant for camera. While looking around, there have been gd guides on tripods, i dun find gd guides on various bag system for cameras. i wonder if anyone have come across gd guides that i can read more. on the other hand, i'm now considering getting very light gear that consist of the below 1. a harness to hold my nikon D50 kit in front of me (weight: body 560g, kit lens 260g) 2. a waist belt to hold two or even 3 extra lens (weight: estimate 550g x 2) 3. a tripod strap to strap the tripod behind on my back (weight: tripod estimate 0.75kg, ballhead 0.3kg) so that it meet my purpose of keeping everything light and handy. i wonder if anyone have any advices on fellow travel photographers. * some items i estimated the weight becos i'm still in the process of looking for expansion of lenses, likely a wide angle and a macro, and also a new tripod likely a gitzo G1058 mountaineer weekend series.

14th December 2005	#2
zoossh Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Singapore Posts: 8,269	Re: Travel Gear - How to choose a light secure bag? an alternative i'm looking at is nature trekker AW II. but it looks quite heavy duty. i probably dun have that many lens and just wanted something small for my current holding. http://www.lowepro.com/Products/Back...ker_AW_II.aspx

14th December 2005	#3
JediForce4ever Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Singapore, CanonGraphers.org Posts: 3,163	Re: Travel Gear - How to choose a light secure bag? www.cambags.com can go to the webby and check.

23rd December 2005	#7
tingchiyen Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Central Posts: 295	Re: Travel Gear - How to choose a light secure bag? i used to buy up camera bags on the premise that i'd need something big, hardy and carry-all to fit all my equipment, and have gone through maybe 4-5 different styles, ie. trekker, top-loader, harness systems etc, and even right now, i've got a crumpler backpack which i don't seem to use often. Right about now, i've sold practically all those bags after realising that all i really need is the simple Nova II: it'll fit the body i use all the time, plus 2 lenses (1 attached, 1 spare) + space for films, blower, misc., and best of all, if i sling the nova around my neck, i can rest my SLR on it. Maybe you should think carefully about what your style of shooting is, and whether you need all the excess capacity (+ weight!).