Picture This! wrote:
Gregory targhee 32 is a VERY nice pack. The medium ICU is a perfect fit in the 32M and the large ICU fits great in the 32L. Fantastic pack and I prefer it to the kamber 32 for camera gear.
Can you elaborate why you prefer it to the Kamber 32?
RobDMB wrote:
Can you elaborate why you prefer it to the Kamber 32?
Certainly. I own both (Osprey kamber 32 and Gregory Targhee 32).
The osprey kamber 32L does not fit a medium f-stop icu unit. I guess the sloped icu fits per a post above but you cannot get a medium icu into the Kamber. On the gregory it fits perfectly and does not move. Just a perfect fit.
I find the shoulder straps on the gregory more comfortable/ergonomic.
Both bags distribute weight so well and carry great. But I find the gregory to have a slight edge because of the better shoulder straps.
GroovyGeek wrote:
I disagree. An ICU fits in there effortlessly - both an F-stop medium PRO sloped, as well as a Pacsafe medium. The S is a thing of beauty, nudges the weight into the seat of your lower back and reduces the opportunity of the pack to slip and transfer the weight to the shoulder straps. I find it easier to keep the pack in place and don't have to tighten the waist strap as much.
I agree with Todd and feel the same about the S shaped back. The Kamber 32 does not fit a f-stop medium icu (non sloped). This to me is a deal breaker.
sorry for the bad pics - but hopefully you get an idea. Here are some more of the pack, and one of what my PacSafe ICUs look like with my gear. I don't have a ton of gear, as I shoot landscapes. To give you an idea of what i carry:
Other stuff
Giottos blower
3 polarizers
4 batteries
lens hood
cable releases
lens wipes
tools for head/tripod/L bracket
I have carried 3 bodies with the set up pictured, which I will only be doing film once in a while now, as it really is overwhelming to shoot with so many cameras; let me tell you
It is crazy how much this stuff weighs. With my backpacking gear, I am at 17 lbs, and my arcteryx pack weighs 5 lbs.
I add my camera gear, and I am almost at 30 lbs.
The PacSafe is a REALLY nice product, imo. I was surprised they made these, as I didn't know until I was searching B&H site for ICUs in March. They have a 5 year warranty I think.
I have no experience with F-stop. Groovy Greek has them, and he likes them.
Here are some photos of the PacSafes. They are made with anti-rip material. They have a metal mesh (for lack of better official term) in them, as with all their products. So they cannot be cut and taken. You can see that in the material, as well as on the image of the inside pocket.
Also, the zippers are made to be locked together with a TSA lock. Again, probably overkill, but that is what this brand is all about. I think this is the Small size, but will have to double check my receipt.
I believe both you can from the top. I know you can on the Kamber. It also has a "brain" (or lid), that I took off, so it isn't in the images I posted.
RobDMB wrote:
On the Kamber/Targhee - can you access the main compartment from the top/front as well? Or is the only access to the big compartment from the rear?
Gregory targhee 32 - yes
Kamber 32 - no (yes on the bigger Kamber Dustin has)
Picture This! wrote:
Certainly. I own both (Osprey kamber 32 and Gregory Targhee 32).
The osprey kamber 32L does not fit a medium f-stop icu unit. I guess the sloped icu fits per a post above but you cannot get a medium icu into the Kamber. On the gregory it fits perfectly and does not move. Just a perfect fit.
I find the shoulder straps on the gregory more comfortable/ergonomic.
Both bags distribute weight so well and carry great. But I find the gregory to have a slight edge because of the better shoulder straps.
How does the tripod attach on the Targhee 32? Based upon pictures it doesn't look like the strap on the top back goes all the way across like on the Kamber. Would the only option to attach the Tripod be on the sides?
There are straps in the front for ski gear so you can use that. I personally find attaching a tripod to the front od the pack kills my back and prefer to fasten it to the side. The both are amazing packs. I use the kamber 32 as my day and work backpack. The gregory suits my needa better for photography.
RobDMB wrote:
Would an ICU fit in the smaller Kamber backpacks - for example, the Kamber 22+10 or the Kamber 32? Not sure I need the bigger size.
Trekpack did make a camera insert specifically for the Kamber 32. However Pelican have taken over Trekpack and I can't see the insert on their website.
Picture This! wrote:
Certainly. I own both (Osprey kamber 32 and Gregory Targhee 32).
The osprey kamber 32L does not fit a medium f-stop icu unit. I guess the sloped icu fits per a post above but you cannot get a medium icu into the Kamber. On the gregory it fits perfectly and does not move. Just a perfect fit.
I find the shoulder straps on the gregory more comfortable/ergonomic.
Both bags distribute weight so well and carry great. But I find the gregory to have a slight edge because of the better shoulder straps.
Interesting comment on the shoulder straps.
A potential issues I can see with the Kamber is the lack of any form of moisture wicking. They are snow packs and as such have very smooth solid backs and straps and waist-belt to enable snow to slide off, however with zero aeration or airflow - not ideal for warmer conditions when you are going to create a lot of heat between your back and the pack. Comments on this anyone ?
I hiked in the Grand Staircase Escalante NM for about 10+ miles with this pack, and as long as you have quick wicking clothing on, you shouldn't have an issue. I run HOT all the time, and I didn't feel uncomfortable. The temperatures out in the desert were probably mid 80s or so.
burzum16 wrote:
Does anyone uses Targhee 45S Small for carrying their camera setup? Could you please refer an ICU for it?
Thanks
I have the Targhee 45, Kamber 42, and a F-stop Tilopa. All will fit a Pacsafe medium ICU or a F-stop PRO medium sloped ICU. I never need to carry anything more than a medium.
In terms of ease of ICU fit, I would rate them Tilopa > Kamber > Targhee. The Targee narrows at the base somewhat, and while the medium ICU fits, it requires a bit of finagling to work the zippers.
In terms of ease of utility as a purely photography oriented pack my rating is still Tilopa > Kamber > Targhee. Being designed as a photo pack, the Tilopa has a few more pockets and features to help get you organized.
In terms of tripod carrying system the rating is Tilopa ~ Kamber >> Targhee, The provided straps on the Targhee are simply too flimsy to reliably carry a tripod. I had devised a workaround with a Mindshift gear strap on top and a TT tripod pocket on the bottom that worked well enough.
In terms of weight distribution and comfort on longer hikes the rating is Kamber ~ Tilopa >>> Tilopa. The Tilopa simply is not very good as a pure backpack. If most of your photography is 1-2 miles from the trail that is not a big deal. If you need to haul your gear for 4-5 hrs the difference is night and day. Disclosure; I have not been out with the Kamber of a real hike yet, but the shape of the straps and the overall feel in short tests around the house are similar/better than the Kamber.
It terms of overall quality of construction it is Kamber > Tilopa > Targhee, Both the fabric and the straps of the Targhee have this ever so slightly flimsy feel to them. The Kamber has the Osprey "God almighty no questions asked" warranty. If you manage to break it they will fix it.
It terms of customer service, it is Osprey > Gregory >>>>>> F-stop. I don't think words can express how pathetically lousy the F-stop customer experience used to be. I hear that maybe things are changing but over the past 6 years they have managed to piss me off enough that they are never getting any money from me.
GroovyGeek wrote:
In terms of weight distribution and comfort on longer hikes the rating is Kamber ~ Tilopa >>> Tilopa. The Tilopa simply is not very good as a pure backpack. If most of your photography is 1-2 miles from the trail that is not a big deal. If you need to haul your gear for 4-5 hrs the difference is night and day. Disclosure; I have not been out with the Kamber of a real hike yet, but the shape of the straps and the overall feel in short tests around the house are similar/better than the Kamber.
Is there a typo in this sentence? Did you mean to say the Kamber is better than either the Tilopa or Targhee?
