In most cases I'd agree with the premise of a proper hiking pack over a dedicated camera pack. However since it seems this isn't for hiking but days in cities or maybe for planes, and you are taking a very small kit, I'd suggest the bag I'm using now having put aside my Tenba messenger (uncomfortable when used for hours and difficult difficult to carry a tripod) and my Mindshift Rotation 35L (too big and awkward to get at the gear when not in your back).
The Lowepro Flipside Trek BP 350 AW I bought is the middle size of three and perfect for around town or a small kit, with space for a tripod and elasticated side pockets for drinks plus interior storage space for snacks, iPad and a jacket. It takes up to 4/5 lenses + camera and the separator to the storage space can fold down allowing me to four the 100-400 with camera attached (6-7 kgs max for me0. Most people though would use it with 3-4 smallish lenses and 1-2 cameras (total weight ca. 4-5 kgs).
It's light, relatively small (if not small enough for you take the smallest size) and its 'work from the waist like a shelf ' is perfect in towns or short day hikes. I have been looking for a long time for a bag to fill the above criteria (day trips, small, easy to change lenses).
Good pics & review here. His cons are not really cons for me (no tripod over 2kgs and the ipad is covered by the waterproof cover when it's required plus the shoulder straps and waist belt have been just fine in use and with heavier loads than it was probably designed for). https://www.laurencebaker.org/review-lowepro-flipside-trek-350-bp-aw/
I've been utilizing a Lowepro 400 AW for a couple of years now and extremely like it. Beginning to closely resemble an old match of agreeable pants. The tripod mounts in the middle which I discover perfect for dispersing the weight and not stumbling to the other side while climbing. I pack a huge amount of stuff into this little pack. I can fit two Golf Iron Guide bodies (one with focal point mounted) another "scene" focal point and my 100-400II with 1.4x tele connected. With a lot of space for a full pano rail and swivel base, channels, intervalometer, little cleaning supplies, additional batteries, additional front and back focal point tops, rain cover for camera/focal point, additional SD cards and god comprehends what else I have covered in there. At that point in the outside pockets I have a headlamp, electric lamp, bug splash, a couple of plastic shopping sacks and some other poop.Golf Iron Guide
hanay78 wrote:
Did anybody tried the lowepro protactic 250 or the flipside 200?
Regards
Not sure about the flipside 200 but I have had the 500 for quite a few years. I use it as my BIG bag when I want to carry everything (not very often). It is built well and I really like the flipside design. The smaller Peak Design bags I have meet my needs a little better.
f-stop Guru, a great little 28L bag. Get the durable Mountaineer version not the UL version. I think f-stop no longer makes the Mountaineer version but if you google Guru m131-65 you'll get v.2 of the Mountaineer which is an improvement over the first version. You should be able to find one for about $120 or so as they're currently on clearance.
Maybe a silly question but if you use hiking backpacks like the Ospreys, how do you make sure the camera and extra lens don't bounce around too much inside? I am having a hard time finding a small backpack that I can carry all day. The camera backpacks are so bulky and uncomfortable. I have quite a few hiking backpacks from Deuter and they are infinitely more comfortable for all day wear.
hiking backpacks with camera insert is so much more comfortable and much less expensive if you wait for sales. for instance i just got mammut trio pro 50+7 fairly large pack, that fits a large pacsafe icu perfectly. you can always carry an icu of the desired size and compress the rest of the pack. Mine cost less than $200 on sale for both the 50L pack and large icu.
As mentioned, you can use the properly sized F-Stop ICU. However, I find those too expensive so went with a much cheaper knockoff version suggested by other users on here. Go to eBay and search A-Mode. They have different sizes. To separate gear inside the A-Mode, I use divider panels that seem to come with all my Pelican cases and camera backpacks. A-Mode might supply you with a few but I have plenty so never an issue with me.
alice_FM wrote:
Maybe a silly question but if you use hiking backpacks like the Ospreys, how do you make sure the camera and extra lens don't bounce around too much inside? I am having a hard time finding a small backpack that I can carry all day. The camera backpacks are so bulky and uncomfortable. I have quite a few hiking backpacks from Deuter and they are infinitely more comfortable for all day wear.
With all my shoulder bags regardless of their size I always add a waist strap. This keeps the bag from bouncing around and it can help to support the weight of the bag.
For backpacks, in general I have found that the smaller the backpack in size the less padding there will be from the shoulder straps and usually the waist belt is a strap that does not help support the load at all.
My small backpack is a Gura Gear 18L and it is OK for short hikes. Next step up and a big improvement in carrying a load is my Gura Gear 26L (their 22L is also excellent).
For non air travel situations the Tamrac Anvil series would work sell. They are too fat and the straps too bulky for air travel which I could see after I bought their 17 model which I quickly returned.
