I got the Osprey Raptor 14 hydration pack: https://www.osprey.com/us/en/product/raptor-14-RAPTOR14S19.html
currently on sale. Instead of going the full backpack route with an insert, I just put my lenses in individual pouches. I managed to carry my Gitzo GT0545T, A7Riv and some lenses, with new capture clip. Not to mention hydration, on a recent hike. i do have to take it off to change lenses though. If I put the capture clip on the opposite side of the tripod, it balances better.
Living in Arizona, though, hydration is an essential feature for me.
I'm heading to REI later in the week. We don't have one in the Prescott area though I hear rumors we will get one. One rumor told to me by several REI employees in Flag and Phoenix. I'll be looking at backpacks from Gregory and Osprey for my little bit of photo gear I have. I've tried too many photo backpacks and they don't feel right on my back.
As for hydration. Something visitors just can't seem to grasp. Even in my area in Prescott. A friend and I did Daisy Mountain last Thursday. It was cool, humid, well humid for AZ, and storms were threatening. After just a mile or so I started getting thirsty. And I had something to drink before we started out. It's a desert thing!
I'm heading to REI later in the week. We don't have one in the Prescott area though I hear rumors we will get one. One rumor told to me by several REI employees in Flag and Phoenix. I'll be looking at backpacks from Gregory and Osprey for my little bit of photo gear I have. I've tried too many photo backpacks and they don't feel right on my back.
As for hydration. Something visitors just can't seem to grasp. Even in my area in Prescott. A friend and I did Daisy Mountain last Thursday. It was cool, humid, well humid for AZ, and storms were threatening. After just a mile or so I started getting thirsty. And I had something to drink before we started out. It's a desert thing! ...Show more →
I bought mine at the Hike Shack in Prescott. They are on sale from Osprey. (website)
hiepphotog wrote:
Among the ones I bought and tried, the Mammut Trion Spine is by far the most comfortable at moderate load (20-30 lbs or so). Adding two additional hip bags on the hip belts I can comfortably up the load to 40lbs with quick gear access. I also have a Mystery Ranch with the Futura yoke, and while it can also comfortably haul up to 40 lbs, its ventilation is much poorer.
Which Mammut Trion do you have? (35 or 50?) I don't have experience with hiking packs so the 50 looks good however all measurements I see seem to be when fully packed. If you have the 50, could you measure the height from the bottom to topmost area that does not compress? If I plan to travel would like to be able to use as carry on while of course not packing to the brim and minding weight.
Which Mammut Trion do you have? (35 or 50?) I don't have experience with hiking packs so the 50 looks good however all measurements I see seem to be when fully packed. If you have the 50, could you measure the height from the bottom to topmost area that does not compress? If I plan to travel would like to be able to use as carry on while of course not packing to the brim and minding weight.
hiepphotog wrote:
I have a Trion Spine (which is different than the Trion) 35. Its already the tallest among my 30ish daypack.
Thank you! Do you happen to know what the height is for yours from the very bottom to topmost that can't compress? Looked at videos but it's still somewhat difficult to discern. Have been looking at several packs but seems like the height listed are for filled packs. Below are some I've been looking at.
Thank you! Do you happen to know what the height is for yours from the very bottom to topmost that can't compress? Looked at videos but it's still somewhat difficult to discern. Have been looking at several packs but seems like the height listed are for filled packs. Below are some I've been looking at.
hiepphotog wrote:
Osprey just had a big 40% off sale and I missed. Would totally get another Unltd.
I was able to get a Radial during the sale which is great. A Tenba BYOB 10 in there could work for a body and 1-3 lens setup. Peak Design medium cube “Fits” but it’s not really viable unless if you plan to take and leave the cube out.
So after 9 days trip with my new Osprey UNLTD 32l with a lot of location changes and 8 flights and 4 airports in total - I get conclusion... This type of backpack does not work for me. Way to slow to get to the equipment you need. Too much risk of damage something when you need to find anything on the bottom of your ICU.
Material is amazing... but
Comfort what surprised me the most was not much better than my F-Stop Loka UL ( but for sure much better for hot weather of Atacama Desert )
I have not idea what I do next ( I may buy f- Stop Kashmir UL - but material is not as good as Osprey )
I may try Atlas Athlete - but it cost a lot of money and I don't like that ICU is not removable )
One thing for sure ... I prefer less comfort but very easy access like we have in photography backpacks
I may still use Osprey for some trips
I would give a different perspective on using hiking packs to carry cameras and accessories. These bags aren't designed to have quick access to the main compartment like a camera bag would. From my experience, these hiking packs should be paired with two other smaller squarish camera bags that can be slotted onto the hip belts for quick access on location. This solution also offers a better load balance. Some people use the mesh side pockets to store lenses/accessories but that does not work for me.
Now for the Osprey Unltd 32. I just got it. My initial impression is that the bag hugs my body better than any other hiking bag I have had. I did not have to tighten the hip belt as much and it does move well with my movement. Some gimmicks are nice: Autolift, 3D lumbar cushion, mesh pocket's bottle bottom access, etc. However, the top loader is not ideal to access the main compartment. The back length adjustment is the subpar discrete ladder system. I do rank comfort above all else since I figured out ways to make these hiking bags work for me. And for comfort alone, I might just keep this Osprey. Will update when I have more field experience with it.
hiepphotog wrote:
From my experience, these hiking packs should be paired with two other smaller squarish camera bags that can be slotted onto the hip belts for quick access on location. This solution also offers a better load balance. Some people use the mesh side pockets to store lenses/accessories but that does not work for me.
do you have any specific examples of the hip packs that you like?
I think some backpack makers have a lumbar section of the bag that can swing around to the front. Can’t remember where I saw that. Though, I wonder if separate actual belt bags would be better anyway.
I too have become a bag whore lol. For local day trips I will run with the ProTactic 450. For international travel, I really love PM's 35L bag by Nomatic. For UW photo trips, it has held my Nauticam housing, ports and dome, my A1 camera, lens, laptop, my GoPro Hero10 plus batteries, external SSD drives, etc. I took it to Kenya, filled it with 3 camera bodies, a 400mm, 70-200mm, and a 24-70mm lens, GoPro, Hero 10, laptop, batteries, 4 external SSDs, all the cables and cords, oh and a change of clothes. The only drawback on it is that it is heavy, but that just is the added padding and protection for your gear.
goo0h wrote:
do you have any specific examples of the hip packs that you like?
I think some backpack makers have a lumbar section of the bag that can swing around to the front. Can’t remember where I saw that. Though, I wonder if separate actual belt bags would be better anyway.
It’s Mindshift, their first bag featured the lumbar bag integrated into a traditional bag. I had the biggest model. It wasn’t as good of an idea in practice. I had to constantly adjust the hip belt to get a good load transfer. If the lumbar bag is loaded too much, the darn thing would sag uncomfortably to work it smoothly. Bad ventilation, heavy and expensive.
I am currently using two cheap Decathlon camera bags. They are designed to be slipped onto the hip belt as well. They are small enough to prevent overloading. You can check out this thread to see more recommendations: https://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/65723583
hiepphotog wrote:
It’s Mindshift, their first bag featured the lumbar bag integrated into a traditional bag. I had the biggest model. It wasn’t as good of an idea in practice. I had to constantly adjust the hip belt to get a good load transfer. If the lumbar bag is loaded too much, the darn thing would sag uncomfortably to work it smoothly. Bad ventilation, heavy and expensive.
I am currently using two cheap Decathlon camera bags. They are designed to be slip onto the hip belt as well. They are small enough to prevent overloading. You can check out this thread to see more recommendations: https://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/65723583...Show more →
It is a neat thread, I made something similar with kydex, the malleable material used with gun holster’s
Along with a gun belt and I don’t actually own any guns, but do often look at how guns are held in various ways. They use much cleaner rivet screws that are flat and less bulky.
hiepphotog wrote:
I would give a different perspective on using hiking packs to carry cameras and accessories. These bags aren't designed to have quick access to the main compartment like a camera bag would. From my experience, these hiking packs should be paired with two other smaller squarish camera bags that can be slotted onto the hip belts for quick access on location. This solution also offers a better load balance. Some people use the mesh side pockets to store lenses/accessories but that does not work for me.
Now for the Osprey Unltd 32. I just got it. My initial impression is that the bag hugs my body better than any other hiking bag I have had. I did not have to tighten the hip belt as much and it does move well with my movement. Some gimmicks are nice: Autolift, 3D lumbar cushion, mesh pocket's bottle bottom access, etc. However, the top loader is not ideal to access the main compartment. The back length adjustment is the subpar discrete ladder system. I do rank comfort above all else since I figured out ways to make these hiking bags work for me. And for comfort alone, I might just keep this Osprey. Will update when I have more field experience with it....Show more →
Hmm I think a lot depends on how and what you are using it for. A day hike? It depends on what you're taking - camera bags simply can't carry anywhere near as well as dedicated hiking packs (even the best hiking packs costing hundreds of $ less than most of camera bags people suggest). For long hikes or overnighters (or longer) then there's no question a dedicated hiking pack is the best answer because not only is the carry better but so is the volume (depending on the trip 60L up to 100L, a 60L is not much heavier, just a few grammes, than a 35 - 40L, costs almost the same nut gives you a lot more volume that can be easily be cinched down when not in use) and organisation (tents, sleeping bags, cooking equipment etc,).
For example (first pack that Google showed me) : Osprey Exos 38L is around 1.282 kgs and the Exos 58L is 1.334 kgs - just 52g difference (or a mouthful of water) !
Personally I've stopped buying anything under 60L (I can get 20 kgs into that - Gossamer Gear Mariposa (ca. 1 kg). Firstly a 60L is designed to carry more weight so even if you aren't maxing it out (or over!) it will still carry the weight of a full 40L better than the smaller 40L pack.
Secondly the extra capacity is easy to cinch down, and easy to pack, so you don't even know the excess pack size is there (especially with roll-tops or where the extra space is in the neck).
And thirdly there is only a very small price differential (in the above example on US Amazon 38L is US$100 and 58L is US$120 mrp. So a 52% increase in space for a 20% price increase and a 4% increase in pack weight. Plus sometimes larger packs have added features that are not available in the smaller packs.
As for access - well I do use the outside stretchy pockets (not all hiking packs have good stretchy pockets so you need to check and confirm this) and access is safe, simple and 'quicker' (!) than putting a camera bag down to open it (or using a side access pocket). I love using them and the carry is the same as if the gear were inside the backpack. I've done this for many years with the added benefit of a very comfortable carry. I used to have a Nikon D800e with a Tamron 15-30 mounted, it was safe and easy to get in and out. Now using Sony it's even easier.
Another option is a hiking pack with a J or L zip with the camera gear kept in a simple cheap EBay ICU. Access is no slower than a camera pack : put pack down, unzip, take out camera from the ICU (which is protected both front and back).
As for even quicker access? You can always clip on the PD Capture Clip (or equivalent - there are many) however I prefer to use a small bag that clips onto the shoulder straps and is positioned on my chest (see below - though there are many in varying sizes) and can have other uses too. This works for long or overnight hikes though can be a little sweaty in very hot weather (30-40C). But access is virtually instantaneous (10 secs). In many ways this helps balance the weight - similar to the NZ company Aarnpacks' dedicated front/back packs.
This tried and tested set-up (hiking pack and chest pack) is what I'll be using on an upcoming 6 weeks hiking/camping trip to Iceland.
I have used Billingham bags for the last 45 years or so and I still find them to to be the best. Simple efficient design that lasts forever and after a few years use they loose that look that shouts "camera bag". I still have 550 model that is too big now for my daily use but have converted to a carry bag on the back of my motorbike!! The Hadley Pro or Hadley small are my everyday carry bags for cameras or whatever
Frogfish wrote:
Hmm I think a lot depends on how and what you are using it for. A day hike? It depends on what you're taking - camera bags simply can't carry anywhere near as well as dedicated hiking packs (even the best hiking packs costing hundreds of $ less than most of camera bags people suggest). For long hikes or overnighters (or longer) then there's no question a dedicated hiking pack is the best answer because not only is the carry better but so is the volume (depending on the trip 60L up to 100L, a 60L is not much heavier, just a few grammes, than a 35 - 40L, costs almost the same nut gives you a lot more volume that can be easily be cinched down when not in use) and organisation (tents, sleeping bags, cooking equipment etc,).
For example (first pack that Google showed me) : Osprey Exos 38L is around 1.282 kgs and the Exos 58L is 1.334 kgs - just 52g difference (or a mouthful of water) !
Personally I've stopped buying anything under 60L (I can get 20 kgs into that - Gossamer Gear Mariposa (ca. 1 kg). Firstly a 60L is designed to carry more weight so even if you aren't maxing it out (or over!) it will still carry the weight of a full 40L better than the smaller 40L pack.
Secondly the extra capacity is easy to cinch down, and easy to pack, so you don't even know the excess pack size is there (especially with roll-tops or where the extra space is in the neck).
And thirdly there is only a very small price differential (in the above example on US Amazon 38L is US$100 and 58L is US$120 mrp. So a 52% increase in space for a 20% price increase and a 4% increase in pack weight. Plus sometimes larger packs have added features that are not available in the smaller packs.
As for access - well I do use the outside stretchy pockets (not all hiking packs have good stretchy pockets so you need to check and confirm this) and access is safe, simple and 'quicker' (!) than putting a camera bag down to open it (or using a side access pocket). I love using them and the carry is the same as if the gear were inside the backpack. I've done this for many years with the added benefit of a very comfortable carry. I used to have a Nikon D800e with a Tamron 15-30 mounted, it was safe and easy to get in and out. Now using Sony it's even easier.
Another option is a hiking pack with a J or L zip with the camera gear kept in a simple cheap EBay ICU. Access is no slower than a camera pack : put pack down, unzip, take out camera from the ICU (which is protected both front and back).
As for even quicker access? You can always clip on the PD Capture Clip (or equivalent - there are many) however I prefer to use a small bag that clips onto the shoulder straps and is positioned on my chest (see below - though there are many in varying sizes) and can have other uses too. This works for long or overnight hikes though can be a little sweaty in very hot weather (30-40C). But access is virtually instantaneous (10 secs). In many ways this helps balance the weight - similar to the NZ company Aarnpacks' dedicated front/back packs.
This tried and tested set-up (hiking pack and chest pack) is what I'll be using on an upcoming 6 weeks hiking/camping trip to Iceland.
Thank you for sharing. How do you manage to take your 60+ L bags as carry-ons, especially with the small sizes in some European airlines? The bigger bags do have bigger frames that you can't cinch down in terms of height.
hiepphotog wrote:
Thank you for sharing. How do you manage to take your 60+ L bags as carry-ons, especially with the small sizes in some European airlines? The bigger bags do have bigger frames that you can't cinch down in terms of height.
Although the 60L packs could easily be used as carry ons (you'd likely get away with it as is, if it was under the weight limit, however with all my packs there are removable back inserts, making them very compressible, if that were required.
The issue is the 15-20 kgs I usually have in them! So I remove the ICU (containing my cameras and lenses) and chest pack and check in the bag (wrapped in plastic and secured with duct tape - that can be discarded on arrival).
I always ignored OneMo bags, but finally gave in and bought a OneMo Lite 22L bag (18x13x10).
I am utterly shocked. Price to quality ratio is through the roof.
Here's my setup - PD Tripod, 50GM, 16 Sigma, 70-200 GM II, A7R5 with grip, F60RM2 Flash, 2x tele, Rode VideoMic Go II, Dust Blower all inside the bag, Yes the tripod fits perfectly inside with plenty of room to spare.
