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p.1 #13 · p.1 #13 · Best outdoors backpack with backpanel access for hiking/outdoors photography | |
TravelinBriNY wrote:
I have long given up on dedicated photobacks for trekking - as they don't have high quality frames - and am looking for the perfect outdoors pack that I can combine with an ICU. I tried the Osprey snowboarding pack and didn't like how the suspension fit me (and I usually love Osprey packs); and now have the Deuter Freescape 40 and Big Agnes Prosepctor 50 waiting for me, I will keep one or none. In a perfect world this would be closer to a 65 liter pack.
If none work for me - especially as none of these have the best suspensions in terms of ventilation - I will probably give up and move to a front panel access backpack, as these have become more and more common (I believe both the new Gregory Baltoro and Osprey Aether and Atmos units have them). I prefer the back panel as it makes more sense to lay the backpack down on its top and unpack your gear - and its also better in terms of controlling theft in crowds - but I can work around these if I absolutely need to.
What are others using?...Show more →
I posted a thread here a while back on the Lowe-Alpine Cerro Torre 65+20 (now owned by, or in cooperation with, Rab it seems).
https:// copy/paste & delete this spacing rab.equipment/us/lowe-alpine-cerro-torre-65-85
It's not a light pack at 2.9kgs but it carries beautifully and has the right access modes for a photographer carrying a lot of gear (camping/hiking/photography). Check out the text in the post here but note that as I no longer use Smugmug, having developed my own website at thedragonsfather (add the usual .com), then the linked images are no longer visible : https://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/1660431/0
Although the Cerro Torre has a U shaped front opening it is well protected having a pocket situated over the opening (where I stuff my rain jacket and pants).
I don't have this review on my website (maybe I should add it) but there is one on the Boreas Lost Coast 45L & 60L packs in the Blog where I do mention the Lowe-Alpine. If you are looking for a larger pack (as you mentioned) then 40-50L packs simply won't do. The Boreas Coast (60L) is worth a look (model no longer available - maybe they have a new version) as a lighter alternative that also carries very well and is super adaptable for quick access to a camera w. lens attached (even though not having any side/back/front access) via the amazing exterior stretchy pockets.
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This was my final post in the thread above on the Cerro Torre 65+20
FINAL UPDATE : Lowe-Alpine Cerro Torre 65+20.
What a great/lucky decision it was to go with this bag ! It carried the 20-23kgs (depending on amount of food/water) superbly. Of course I felt the weight but over 21 days, and certainly, at the very least, over 200 kms, of mountain hiking, I didn't feel any pain at all (a massive difference to the Deuter Futura TMP pack I tried).
Huge Pros
1. The Front Access panel letting me access my camera gear quickly whilst keeping it safe worked very well indeed. the pocket in the Front Access panel is where I kept my rain jacket which added padding to protect the contents of the bag (camera gear right beneath it) as well as the iPad that I slipped in behind the rain jacket.
2. The detachable lid, which converts quickly and easily (3 clips) by reversing into a 15L day pack, was invaluable on rest days in camp sites when I either wanted a small bag for camera gear (using a fleece for padding) or to carry around town for shopping.
3. Carry and padding were superb. No pain, ever. If I was ever uncomfortable then a couple of quick adjustments to redistribute the weight was all that was required.
4. Even with 23kgs of gear the pack was never close to full. The 65L would fill up but the extra 20L of the top sleeve always made packing easy.
5. The 3 sections (bottom section - tent, pad, stove, groundsheet & quilt ; middle section - 100-400G in a small bag, food, cameras & lenses in a small, cheap (€12), light & soft Chinese ICU ; top section - clothes, electronics and everything else) worked like a dream. I always knew where everything was and never once had to root around in a large bag looking for something.
6. The tripod packed very securely, alongside my hiking poles in their dedicated loops, on the side.
7. Cost (€190 - the most expensive pack I ordered/tried however compared to dedicated camera packs a veritable bargain) !
CONS - The weight of the bag at 2.9 kgs.
When I get home I'll be selling my largest pack I have, the Gregory Baltoro 75L, and keeping this one.
N.B.
The camera gear I took is in the photo in an earlier post above however to recap:
Sony 100-400G
A7r2 (most used)
A9
Loxia 21mm
Voigtlander Ultron 35/1.7
Benro 100mm filter holder (with polariser, 6 & 10 stop filters) & metal adapter rings.
Injue Travel Tripod & Leofoto Ballhead.
I frequently used every bit of this kit.
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