Slightly off topic agreed, but I am hoping you geniuses can give me some help.

I have a 70litre camping rucksack that I am packing for UK photo trips overnight. The objective is to walk 10miles lets say, shoot sunset, spend the night, shoot dawn and walk back. Other than photo gear I will have a lightweight tent, down sleeping bag, down air mattress. Without camera gear this weighs a total of 7kilos including the rucksack.

The biggest problem I am having is camera equipment and weight distrubution. I am taking a 1DsIII, 24mm TS-E, Contax 35-70, 70-200 f4 IS and a 1.4xII. Other than that, I am taking four filters, a 67mm and 82mm polariser and a 6stop and 10stop ND. A lightweight Gitzo 1297 tripod, a Kirk BH1 (because I only have one ball head but I know this is heavy at 1kg) and the RSS Single Row pano kit.

I can fit all the lenses and filters compactly into the removable insert padding you get inside a Lowepro Rover Bag. I have the waterproof version of this photo rucksack and the insert just pulls out. This makes a handy bag to put inside the camping rucksack, but its a boxy weighty lump, almost square in shape.

I have tried walking with it placed in the bottom section of the camping rucksack, where you would normally put a sleeping bag, but the weight on my hips is too great. Placing it in the middle of the bag makes it better, its just awkward to walk with.

There is still no water, no extra clothing, cooking gear (which I am not too worried about) and I am on 13.5kg.

What could I use instead to pack the photo gear into, to stop it being like an iron box? I am not worried about speed of access here, I realise its going to be far slower to get the camera out than a dedicated camera bag. I am thinking weight distribution for walking. I want to get it as flat to my back as I can, but with the Rover insert its not going to happen.

Saving weight - I tried using the 5D instead of the 1DsIII, but its not that very noticeable a difference. Lenses wise I could swap the 24mm TS-E for the 17-40 I own, but I use tilt quite a lot so I feel the kit list is pretty refined as it is.

Any help on this predicament is gratefully accepted, either packing advice, insert ideas or lenses...

David

Wrap the lenses and camera individually and situate them for proper weight distribution.

Put some items in a different/smaller bag ... strap / bungee some of the awkward items (second bag) to the outside ??

mawz wrote:
Wrap the lenses and camera individually and situate them for proper weight distribution.

I guess if I am just transporting them from A-B this is the best idea, but I often take photos when I walk so its important to have have a level of easy access. The lowepro insert means I can just pull the whole thing out of the bag at once and access the camera kit so it doesn have its bonuses, its just cumbersome.

David,

I try to keep my camera gear to less than 6.5kg's and pack weight (with camera gear) to less than 21kg's (this is 1/3rd my body weight) for single & multiple day trips. Sometimes more - with water & food drops. Ten miles one way is quite a distance with a pack. I do a lot of backpacking - my average is about 5-7 miles per day with 2-3,000 feet elevation gain - usually in one fast push and then day hike around the destination without the pack.

In loading your backpack the lighter weight items (sleeping bag, clothes, etc) are low and the heavy items (water, oh yeah - camera gear) high and to the inside towards your back. Individual lens cases (Lowpro type or regular pouches) and a separate butt pack to use at destination. Your Ds3, Gitzo/Kirk and RRS are heavy - real heavy - you might want to hand carry the tripod/head & hang the Ds3 or (5d with 35-70 in a camera pack) off your shoulder/neck. If your route has available water - you might want to carry a filter or treatment tablets and carry less water. Forget cooking gear - none - pre-prepared type food in plastic wrap equals no weight when it's gone. Your backpack will have a load rating - going over that load rating gets unbalanced, very uncomfortable & makes for a lo-ong trip. Eliminate all the extra weight possible & then repeat this last line!

Have a wonderful adventure - post lots of pics!

Mark

First, I would pick up a Markins Q3 ballhead (just 385 grams) and it is a great little ballhead that will easily handle the gear you mention. It costs $265, but your back will be happy you save half a kilo in weight, with no reduction in function. Second, I would take the 5D MKII instead of the 1Ds MKIII, there is a 400 gram difference there and the 5DMKII has such a similar sensor I would think the weight difference is worth it here. Third consider if you really need the 1.4X extender, you could save another 220 grams by leaving it home. Together these three changes would save you 1120 grams--nothing to sneeze at on a long hike and I don't think you would miss anything. I hope this helps.

It all helps, thank you. Its almost like I need a 'flat pack' a theoretical backpack insert that allows you to store your camera body and lenses as flat as possible to my back. Here's the packing theory -

http://www.ospreypacks.com/PackTech/HowtoPackYourPack/

You can see here the red zone is where i want my camera gear,


The Dave Clapp 'Flat=Pack' TM (haha) could then slide into the backpack between the frame and other contents, so it sits against your back. Then you can just open the top of the rucksack and slide the whole thing out, assemble your lens and camera body and then slide it back in between your tent etc when you're done. Not quick to use, but it could keep all the weight against you rather than sitting in some cube shape like it is at the moment.

Imagine this design by Think Tank for camera gear rather than cables, but padded, partitioned and without the clear window of course...

http://www.thinktankphoto.com/ttp_product_CblMngmnt50.php

I thought about a lighter 21mp camera like the 5D2, but its the money again. I think I am best with the one I have, making compromises in other areas first. Yes the ball head is excessive isnt it.

When carrying heavy backpack I find carrying some weight in front of me (reverse fanny pack) helps greatly to balance load. Also distributing weight in backpack so directly over hips, and not too high so pack won't tips me over when I stumble or scramble.

Well I took the weight off the hips and placed the 'block' in the middle centre of my rucksack and wow what a difference. I went on a crazy walk across three tors and down into a valley scrambling over boulders and through gorse bushes. I real tough time, it felt fairly light and responsive, all because of the packing.

I got back to the car after five miles and felt fresher then I do when I use a boxy Lowepro Mini Trekker fully loaded (8kg). The total weight of the backpack was 14kg , unimaginable until today, but it was the walking poles that made all the difference believe me.

Walking poles save your knees, hips and pull you up hills like you wouldnt believe, your probably aware. I really feel I cant live without this approach now, for outdoor photography full stop. I want to use hiking rucksacks with good harness systems when out walking / shooting.

All bags have their place I guess, I would never consider this idea when travelling, but its nice to feel that there is a far better systlem for the outdoors then I ever believed.

Now to manufacture the 'Flat Pack' haha!