I use a Deuter Futura Zero 40 (as mentioned in several other threads and now hitting three years). Often I'll load it with about 30-35 pounds of gear for a day hike. My camera is a 4X5 field camera, which with lenses, film, filters, darkcloth, meter, tips the scales at 20 pounds. Then I add a backcountry first aid kit, map for the area I'm hiking, 2 liters of water, lunch and a snack and at least a goretex jacket. I carry this pack ALOT for dayhikes typically between 6 and 10 miles (pretty much every other weekend from April to October). The downside to a top load rucksack is getting to your gear. The plus side is that the bag is very light and durable with no zippers to break. My wife has the Osprey Stratos 24 and while I like the zip body, I find the Deuter frame a little more comfortable.

If I'm hiking with 35mm gear, I use those Thinktank Camera Support Straps. Best accessory ever.

Typical hike - upper Ice Lake Basin - Silverton, CO - started at the distant meadow seen in this shot. 7mi RT, 2400 ft vertical.


Pack Harness


Pack Body


For backpacking, my setup is a Gregory Palisade like so.

Cabela's currently has Kelty Redwing 3100s for sale in their "Bargain Cave" for $40. I heard great things about this bag so I ordered one from ebags earlier in the week (for around $90) before I saw the deal at Cabela's.

Don't feel bad about missing the 'deal' at Cabela's. Most that you see in bargain coves are an older model, not the current model. Generally not a big deal, but for me I specifically wanted the current model because of the zippered pockets that it has. The 2008 just had flaps. Probably not a big deal to most folks though.

I actually bought both

That holster looks like a huge waste. It must weigh at least a pound. Just wear the camera around your neck, and have a strap so it doesn't bang around. Simpler is better.

"This just seems awkward though, and if I bail down a rocky hill I'm going to impale myself on my camera."

Don't fall.

greeneggs wrote:
That holster looks like a huge waste. It must weigh at least a pound. Just wear the camera around your neck, and have a strap so it doesn't bang around. Simpler is better.

"This just seems awkward though, and if I bail down a rocky hill I'm going to impale myself on my camera."

Don't fall.

Don't fall? That's crazy advice.

I use a toploader, attached to a Lowepro belt & also velcro'ed around my thigh. I keep my 5D and 300/4 in it, ready to go in case an animal or bird happens by. I've fallen quite a few times. Without that holster my gear would be toast.

Also, my rig is very comfortable there. I didn't like it strapped to my chest, where it feels hot & heavy. I'd love to see greeneggs actually hike 10 miles in the summer, with his rig around his neck & strapped-down. I doubt he's actually tried it. - Unless he's just an animal!


BTW- I keep most of my other gear in a small camera-backpack, and THAT goes into my main (Gregory Palisade) pack. I used to keep a few smaller lenses on my chest (in lowepro cases) but found it to be hot, plus I didn't really need them there. It's only the 300mm that I need to get to fast. Once I make camp, I wear the small pack as I fish / explore, so I still have all my lenses.

that's another idea, to wear the holster on my belt, which in my case will be just a normal leather belt. i'm giong to get the holster (think tank 20 or m-rock probably) and the think tank straps and try both configurations (strapped to the pack on the chest and worn on my belt) to see which i prefer. i'm going to keep the heavy camera stuff in the pack, which may not be ideal for wildlife but i don't think i can take the weight down low. we'll see. this is not so easy to get right!

if you are wearing the toploader on your belt it becomes just like a 'real' holster...but instead of gun slinging you are canon toting!!

Just keep it off to the side, and DEFINITELY strap it around your thigh.

Cableaddict wrote:
Also, my rig is very comfortable there. I didn't like it strapped to my chest, where it feels hot & heavy. I'd love to see greeneggs actually hike 10 miles in the summer, with his rig around his neck & strapped-down. I doubt he's actually tried it. - Unless he's just an animal!

Of course I have tried it, and much more than 10 miles. If you are climbing and you fall, you are pretty much dead. And if you are only hurt, then how will you get out. I think don't fall is great advice, and packing light is probably helpful for it.

greeneggs wrote:
Cableaddict wrote:
Also, my rig is very comfortable there. I didn't like it strapped to my chest, where it feels hot & heavy. I'd love to see greeneggs actually hike 10 miles in the summer, with his rig around his neck & strapped-down. I doubt he's actually tried it. - Unless he's just an animal!

Of course I have tried it, and much more than 10 miles. If you are climbing and you fall, you are pretty much dead. And if you are only hurt, then how will you get out. I think don't fall is great advice, and packing light is probably helpful for it.

That statement alone tells me you have not done much hiking. Personally, I put all my gear into the pack when I hike in dangerous terrain. Going up steep slopes or where there is loose rock is no place to be thinking about photography.

I seriously don't get what is up with the jerks in this forum. Why do you feel the need to challenge what I have said, and then repeated?

You can take photographs when climbing or hiking in exposed terrain if you do it safely and carefully. There are just so many situations where have a blanket rule to put away your camera makes zero sense. Say you going up some class 3+ with plenty of places to stop easily. I think having a camera strapped so it doesn't swing and yet is easily accessible to shoot your friends is fine (depending on your experience). Going up a couloir, watch your stance and the conditions. There are many, many cases where the risk fluctuates as you go along.

I like to keep my camera accessible around my neck because I go on long trips with friends, and time matters. I find that wearing a shirt with the collar turned up protects my neck from rubbing and also blocks more sun.

Here's a nice set up. Everything is in its own bag.
http://www.luxurylite.com/packindex.html

greeneggs wrote:
I seriously don't get what is up with the jerks in this forum. Why do you feel the need to challenge what I have said, and then repeated?

You can take photographs when climbing or hiking in exposed terrain if you do it safely and carefully. There are just so many situations where have a blanket rule to put away your camera makes zero sense. Say you going up some class 3+ with plenty of places to stop easily. I think having a camera strapped so it doesn't swing and yet is easily accessible to shoot your friends is fine (depending on your experience). Going up a couloir, watch your stance and the conditions. There are many, many cases where the risk fluctuates as you go along.

I like to keep my camera accessible around my neck because I go on long trips with friends, and time matters. I find that wearing a shirt with the collar turned up protects my neck from rubbing and also blocks more sun.

I don't think you need to call anyone names.

The truth is, you've made some general and far-fetched statements. Whether you fall, trip or slip, it doesn't mean you will die most of the time. But you can easily damage gear that is not well protected, and that is what he was saying.

And saying "don't fall" is a ridiculous statement. No one intends to fall while hiking or backpacking, but it happens. Some people just don't have a good sense of balance, or aren't in their element in the outdoors.

Its okay to disagree with people.

greeneggs wrote:
Cableaddict wrote:
Also, my rig is very comfortable there. I didn't like it strapped to my chest, where it feels hot & heavy. I'd love to see greeneggs actually hike 10 miles in the summer, with his rig around his neck & strapped-down. I doubt he's actually tried it. - Unless he's just an animal!

Of course I have tried it, and much more than 10 miles. If you are climbing and you fall, you are pretty much dead. And if you are only hurt, then how will you get out. I think don't fall is great advice, and packing light is probably helpful for it.

Wrong kind of hiking. I'm not a climber, and I'm not going to plummet to my doom off a climbing route. I'm much more likely to get a boot wedged under a root going downhill or slip on wet and muddy rocks uphill, for example. Especially if I've been working hard for hours and hours and my attention is starting to drift away. It does happen, and while I'm relatively young and likely won't be hurt doing a faceplant is embarassing. Doing it and landing on a bare camera - even worse, and probably expensive, too.

So yeah - don't label people as jerks. Don't fall is good advice for climbers. Pretty irrelevent for the less vertically inclined.

I'm hoping to go kick the tires on some packs tonight and try out whatever I come up with tomorrow. Will post pictures later this week if I have some success!

Lowepro Micro Trekker is what I use for those long hikes.

Marked

I use a Gregory palisade 80 for the times that I need to carry camer gear + camping gear. It has a great harness on it. It's much better than any photo backpack. I use Somme lens wraps to protect the camera heat I put in there.

Just an update... Both Kelty bags have arrived and I actually find the older style more comfortable... I could probably spend more time trying to adjust the newer bag to my liking but I don't need 2 bags so it is going back to ebags. I'm sticking with the older model that is still available for $40 in Cabela's "bargain cave".

http://www.clikelite.com/shop/new/large-hiker/

i like this bag alot...

Which highlights the other thing I hate about photo packs. That thing is $310? I didn't pay that much for the big red pack I'm wearing at the top of the page and my Deuter was about $110. I can buy alot of foam pads for the remaining $200.