Can You Fit All Your Gear Into One Bag?

[SuzyView]

I just realized that I will most likely not be able to fit all my gear into two of my bags. I have 3 bodies, 7 lenses, 2 flashes and assorted great stuff. I will be going on vacation this summer and shooting my niece's wedding. How do you travel with your gear?

[gmen]

You might need one of these:

http://www.thinktankphoto.com/pdfs/AirportSecurity.pdf

I have one winging its way to me at this very moment. I will post a full review when it arrives.

---- Gavin

[Ronald S. Jr.]

I'd kill to see one of those on Suzy's back. :lol: It's probably almost as tall as she is! ;-)

Those are all fairly small lenses...with the exception of the 24-70L, I don't think there's one over 4-5" long, is there? I should think a Computrekker Plus or Supertrekker would do you just fine. At one time, I comfortably fit in the Computrekker Plus AW:

2 20D's
50 1.4
24-70L
70-200L IS- just this lens will take up the same amount of space as your 50, 85, and 28-135.
100-400L IS
2 580's
Flashtrax
cleaning equipment
filter kits
17" laptop
and other assorted personal stuff.

If it can't fit in one of those, you may consider a Tamrac Expedition.

[SuzyView]

That thinktankphoto bag is $350. Wow! That's an investment! I'd love to see how you set it up, Gavin. I don't think I can afford that after my recent purchases. :) But the bag looks just like a regular carry on. That's fantastic. I actually prefer not to have bags that have "Canon" or "Steal Me" written all over it. :)

[RandyMN]

I fit all my gear in the pack but last trip to NY the airport would not allow me to take it on the plane as carry on so they took it from me at loading and TOSSED it into the cargo area.

I think next time I fly I will only take part of my gear in a smaller bag.

I have the big Lowpro Trekker that competes in size with my backpack that is meant for two week hiking trips.

[Ronald S. Jr.]

If they insisted on checking my gear, I'd cancel the flight. No way I'm having that go past a bunch of guys to look in, and then thrown in with luggage. Not a chance in hell.

[RandyMN]

And BTW, it seems about the same size as the one shown above, and it fit in the above space luggage area with no problem as I carried it the first half, but the second half of the trip they refused to let me carry it on.

[RandyMN]

And Ronald, if I recall correctly, you have the same pack!

[SuzyView]

That is my biggest fear. I already have so much to carry with 2 boys and their stuff. I think I will have to have my 18 year old take one smaller bag and I have the main one. Maybe I should let my 8 year old hold my holster bag with 10D? ;)

[cdifoto]

My stuff barely fits but the bag I have now is definitely bursting at the seams. If I ditch my kit lens I might be able to squeeze the 50mm f/1.4 and the 85 f/1.8 in there with a little rearrangement. Definitely no more L's....and I already have to keep one body and lens out.

[Ronald S. Jr.]

I have the computrekker Plus AW, but it seems smaller than that one looks. That thing looks monstrous. She'd definitely fit her stuff in that one, though. Nice price, though. If you're sure it's the same size as the Computrekker, give or take, then I'd suggest that one, as it's like $130 less, and would fit the same amount, just without wheels and a water cover.

[RandyMN]

I have the Lowepro Super Trekker AW II. I carried the bag without any pockets attached but still was turned down at the airport because of size. Not the first time, but I felt safe for the second and had my bag taken away to the cargo area.

[Yola]

Suzie I hate too say this however seeing my husband with a 450dollar bag filled with equiptment weighing just about what I weigh was an experience . He got pulled over at security because his bag was filled with so many lenses each in their own bags and compartments they thought he may have a granade or bomb . REALLY ! They opened everything !! I mean EVERYTHING ...
#2 the bag was so huge that an average person would only be able too walk about 4 blocks with themselves .
#3 If you are spending at least a month at your photo - shot then go for it otherwise pick what lens will surfice and all other equipment and travel .LITE
# 4Otherwise .. DRIVE .. pack everything in a huge truck .

Literally the airlines are serious .. I had too strip and I had camera gear also and amougst other things they ripped me apart .. too the side . Recent trip less then 6 weeks ago .

Be carefulll SUZY .

[Mike K]

I have one winging its way to me at this very moment. I will post a full review when it arrives.
--- Gavin
Gavin,
I have an Think Tank Airport Addicted, and I think you will be pleased with the Security. The AA is actually a bit more spacious on the inside, as the Security has the extending handle where the laptop case is in the AA, and there are two supporting members that run down the deeper part of the Security to attach the handle to the wheels. Both the TT AA and AS have a light but very stiff back plate of a corrigated plastic that acts as the stiffener to hold the shape of the bag into a suitcase appearance. If you are trying to carry a 500 f4 (400 f2.8 or 600 f4) this may cause some problems as the hood of the 500 is very large in diameter and the modest space taken by the two support beams decrease the depth a bit. As you can see in the TT website the bag will really hold a lot, but the wheels of the security make it very manageable. The wheels are fairly small, about 3" in diameter, but look strong. The bottom 1/3 of the bag is about 8.5" deep and will swallow up a 70-200 or 100-400 in endwise with no problem. Basically this is the largest legal carry-on bag, the Airport Security (with wheels) and the Airport Addicted (as a backpack).
http://www.thinktankphoto.com/pdfs/AirportSecurity.pdf
http://www.thinktankphoto.com/pdfs/ThinkTank-AirportAddicted.pdf
Mike K

[SuzyView]

Yes, I understand this very well. I have never taken more than my 10D and 2 lenses with me on any trip. Now I am shooting a wedding and I need everything. So, I may have to borrow some equipment from my husband's niece. I hope she has a 17-40L :)

[Ronald S. Jr.]

My first wedding (I didn't charge anything) was with an XT, 580, and kit lens. Went surprisingly well! I couldn't imagine needing anything more than a 24-70L, a 50 1.4, my bodies, and a couple of speedlites. Oh, and my Custom. More than that, and I'd say you're overloading.

[Mike K]

My first wedding (I didn't charge anything) was with an XT, 580, and kit lens. Went surprisingly well! I couldn't imagine needing anything more than a 24-70L, a 50 1.4, my bodies, and a couple of speedlites. Oh, and my Custom. More than that, and I'd say you're overloading.
Depends upon one's photographic expectations. Your expectations were based in part upon your not charging anything! Some wedding photographers use large format for all of their posed shots, as they expect orders for large prints for these. Many will use an assistant so that there will be a variety of long & wide shots of the ceremony from various angles. Thus then you will need at least 3 cameras, several focal length lenses and several different capability of flash grips/setups.

[subtle_spectre]

Tamrac Expedition 8 is a very large and spacious backpack.

[SuzyView]

But it will be too heavy for me. That's why I have to split the gear into two bags.

[Ronald S. Jr.]

Have you looked at the Computrekker? I swear your stuff will fit. It's not anywhere NEAR the size of the Tamrac 8.

[JBillings]

Suzie.

I'm getting ready to head to Yellowstone in a week.

My Airport Addicted is what the doctor ordered. The bag weighs 40# loaded. But is surprisingly easy on my back. This is one bag that WILL hold all of my equipement.

Thought you might find it interesting.

[CyberDyneSystems]

Yes.

But the bag in question is.. rather large...
http://www.oceannomad.com/Gallery/Saudi%20Arabia/Out%20in%20the%20desert/Watercarrier1.JPG



... ... it's amazing what you find when you google "huge bag"

[JBillings]

Yes.

... ... it's amazing what you find when you google "huge bag"

Now that's a big bag:)

[Lord_Malone]

Can You Fit All Your Gear Into One Bag? (http://www.photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?p=1172856#post1172856)

Barely.

[gmen]

I'd kill to see one of those on Suzy's back. :lol: It's probably almost as tall as she is! ;-):lol:

It does have wheels on ;)

---- Gavin

[tim]

I can fit all the gear I need for a wedding into one large bag, some LowePro thingy with wheels, a handle, and backpack straps. Two bodies 5 or 6 lenses (including 70-200 IS), two flashes, flash meter, carrying the flash bracket. I have another bag with tripod and monopod, another with studio light stands, and bags for each of my lights.

Nice bag CDS :)

[Maureen Souza]

I am going to Europe for 3 weeks in May and I have the same concerns. I have taken my current camera bag as a carry-on without any problem but it no longer holds all my gear.
I'll be looking for a bag with wheels that will fit in my needs, yet be do-able for carrying if need be.

[nation]

You might need one of these:

http://www.thinktankphoto.com/pdfs/AirportSecurity.pdf

I have one winging its way to me at this very moment. I will post a full review when it arrives.

---- Gavin

Let us know how get on with the think tank Gavin. I've been looking at the rolling bags from Lowepro:

http://www.lowepro.com/Products/Rolling_Cases/classic/

The Pro Roller 2 fits for carry on for the majority of airlines and planes. With the Lowepro you can lift out the camera carrying compartment so the bag can be used as a regular rolling bag but it has no shoulder straps so lacks a bit of versatility.

[gmen]

Let us know how get on with the think tank Gavin.As soon as I have it and it's loaded up, I'll post a review with some piccies...

----Gavin

[::John::]

I have this one (http://www.lowepro.com/Products/Shoulder_Bags/allWeather/Nova_4_AW.aspx) in black. It fitted under the airline seat and still gave me reasonable leg room. It currently holds:

XT with grip
24mm
50mm
85mm
kit lens
75-300mm
430ex
card reader
2 x 512Mb and 1 x 1Gb CF cards
4 x filters (58mm)
manuals for XT and 430EX
remote
small flashlite
reading glasses (spare pair)

and there is still some room in there - it 'could' be optimised quite a lot.

I checked it against the standard airport bag measurer (that wire frame they have at airport checkins) and it just fits.

I have a very large suitcase I use for battery chargers, cables and tripod (and clothes).

[SuzyView]

I have this one in black. It fitted under the airline seat and still gave me reasonable leg room. It currently holds:

I have a similar bag and that is the one I usually fit everything in. But now that I have 2 bodies and I will be taking 4 lenses, 1 flash and assorted gear, it just doesn't fit it all. I think I will end up with my Velocity 9 and this bag. Maybe I'll make my poor "assistant" (hubby) take it on as one of his bags. Poor guy always ends up taking something for me or the boys. :)

[blacksmurf]

I just realized that I will most likely not be able to fit all my gear into two of my bags. I have 3 bodies, 7 lenses, 2 flashes and assorted great stuff. I will be going on vacation this summer and shooting my niece's wedding. How do you travel with your gear?

Tamrac Velocity 7,

indoor/low-light configuration:
XT (plus BG-E3 if necessary) + 28F1.8 + 50F1.4
(can add also 17-85 IS)

outdoor configuration:
XT (plus BG-E3 if necessary) + 17-85 IS + 70-300 IS
+ 28F1.8 *OR* 50F1.4

CF cards: 1Gb or 2Gb or 2Gb+1Gb or 2Gb+2Gb
batteries: 1 up to 4

waiting for the Manfrotto 728B tripod. thinking to Tamrac Velocity 9.

[Jon]

I think my trusty Domke F1x would do it, and a small folding luggage cart (I picked up one that folds down to not much biggerr than the core of a roll of paper towels) for moving it around. I used to carry 2x F1 (with winders) and a T90 with a battery of lenses, and it fits under the seat OK. Heavy, but glass is high density.

[SuzyView]

Did you have a hard time in security with all that gear, Jon? I can't believe you got through without a search. I think a family with 3 kids flying to UT won't be a red light to security, but you never know. :)

[Jon]

They usually look it over and run the swab across for explosives detection, but that's about it.

[SuzyView]

My husband travels in the corporate jet sometimes, he prefers it because he doesn't have to go through security. When we travel together and there are 4 adults, 2 little boys, it's really a trick. My older boys are helpful, but with all the bags, it's a mess. If we don't forget something, it's a major miracle. :)

[nation]

Speaking of carry on lugguage. My parents took an international flight with Qantas from sydney a few weeks back. At check in the first thing they were asked was to see the size and to weigh their carry on lugguage. Surprising as this first time I've ever heard that happening to anyone anywhere. The only time my carry on has received scrutiny is when I have severly overloaded my check in and another time when I appeared to be struggling with its weight at boarding. I had 38kg checked in from Heathrow to HK a few days back. Although they commented on the check in weight they didn't even bother asking about my 3 carry on bags which in total weighed in excess of 25 kg. Just a luck of the draw I guess.

[Mills]

I'm afraid not for long.:confused:

[mbze430]

I need an army to get my gears moved around.... little along with a bag

[SuzyView]

I need an army to get my gears moved around.... little along with a bag
__________________
Canon EOS 1v HS (On Auction) & Canon EOS 1D MKII & Canon EOS 1Ds MKII
15mm f/2.8 Fisheye, 16-35mm f/2.8 L, 24mm TS-E f/3.5 L, 24-70mm f/2.8 L, 24-105mm f/4 IS L(Testing), 35mm f/1.4 L, 50mm f/1.4, 70-200mm IS f/2.8 L, 85mm f/1.2 L, 135mm f/2 L, 180mm f/3.5 L

1.4x II + 2x II Teleconverter
12mm II + 25mm II Extension Tube
ST-E2 w/ 4x 580EX


Yeah, with that load. How do you leave your house? :)

[René Damkot]

Take a look at the billingham 555 or 550. It might fit everything. I have the 445 filled with 1D2; 20/1.8; 28/1.8; 50/1.4; 100/2.0; 80-200/2.8L; lensbaby; 550EX; 580EX; spare batteries, iPod and various misc stuff. Too heavy to carry around for more then an hour though. I would *seriously* consider trimming down the equipment, or at least spreading it across a few bags and bringing an assistant to haul it.

[SuzyView]

Yeah. Your back will kill you after 10 minutes!

[chtgrubbs]

I can't fit all my gear in one van!:)

[SuzyView]

How much do you have? :)

[Jon]

When I went out today (Winter Storm in DC (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=137327)), I had the 20D/24-70, D60/70-200 IS, the 100-400 (but no hood), Tamron 90, and Sigma 15-30 along with 2 batteries, the card cases for both cameras and a set of filters, including grads in the Adorama Slinger Pro. Also a water bottle. Needs a Domke Postman's Shoulder Pad with all that stuff in it, but it all fit. Probably could have fit one of the flashes in as well, and Adorama sells strap-on pouches for more lenses, etc. And, aside from the weight on one shoulder, it wasn't in the way while Xx-c skiing.

[SuzyView]

Now that would have been a sight, Jon. Maybe you should let your wife take a shot of you with all that gear. I'm sure you got some interesting stares today. I know when I go out with all my gear in a dress and heals, people wonder if I'm foreign. :)

[Todd Jacobsen]

I just realized that I will most likely not be able to fit all my gear into two of my bags. I have 3 bodies, 7 lenses, 2 flashes and assorted great stuff. I will be going on vacation this summer and shooting my niece's wedding. How do you travel with your gear?

I use a Tamarac Big Wheel 698, Lowepro Magnum AW, and Lowepro Nova 4 AW. They come close but STILL do not fit all of my gear. My bigger lenses (70-200, 100-400, 180 Macro) have to go external to the bags.

The ThinkTank isn't any bigger than the Tamarac Big Wheel or the Lowepro Road Runner, otherwise, you wouldn't be able to carry it on.

Based on your gear, I would definitely look into a roller bag. Both the Big Wheel and the Road Runner are backpacks w/wheels. Nice thing with wheel bags is you can stack additional bags on them to pull along.

So, I'd look into the Tamara or Lowepro Backpack/rollers and an additional bag for the accessories (cables, flashes, extra batteries etc).

[SuzyView]

I'm not ready for the wheels quite yet. This wedding will be in UT where my husband's niece has a photography studio and uses all Canon equipment. I hope to borrow some of her studio gear and maybe a lens or two. She shoots with a 10D, so I think my 20D will be fine and I will borrow what I need from her. When I go out to UT this summer, though, we may end up at Arches and I would want all my gear for the canyon shots. I may have to consider wheels then. I have been to 3 national parks in UT, never with good gear. Now I have the gear, it would be a crime to not have it all. :)

[SuzyView]

Oh, and I haven't even started asking about what to do when I have a laptop.

[ddelallata]

Suzy, I've been reading your posts and have to admit that you are my kind of gal :) Do you have a younger sister in her mid 20s?? :lol:

[SuzyView]

Nope. Youngest of 7 girls and I have 4 boys. But I do have a niece that's 27. She's still finding herself, but she's very nice. Too bad she's in UT. I don't think she knows anything about camera equipment, though. Sorry. :(

[Lord_Malone]

I'm currently using the Quataray Pro (by Naneu Pro) bag to carry my gear in. Not a bad little back pack, but I need a small shoulder bag that will accomodate only my 20D w/ BG-E2 and 80-200L w/ TC. Any recommendations?

[Elton Balch]

Oh, and I haven't even started asking about what to do when I have a laptop.

I tend to research things to death because while I love to SPEND $$$ I hate to WASTE $$$. I bought a Tamrac 613 Super Pro to go with the Velocity 9. It will hold a laptop as well as two bodies with lenses attached and several additional lenses, two flashes and lots of other junk. It has a pass through so you can slide it over the pull out handle of a rolling carry on bag (piggy back). Every bag is a compromise to some degree. For me this one was the "just right" size I was looking for without being so big that I couldn't lift it when it was full. A salesperson at my local Camera store has one filled with all his stuff; I was really impressed seeing it in person and loaded with his gear and his laptop. Well made, too--Amazon has it for $249.

[SuzyView]

Thanks, Elton, I appreciate that advice and I will look at it today. I am also one who researches out everything I need to death, but I have no problem returning if the item is wrong. I just hate doing it. I am not planning to take my laptop this time for the May wedding because my 22 year old is in UT already and he has a laptop that I can download my data to a CD without worrying about it too much. Thanks to everyone who's given me opinions and models of bags. I am definitely getting a bigger bag to accommodate all the great stuff I have. :)

[jacobsen1]

My bag with all my stuff in it:
http://www.pbase.com/benjacobsen/image/54458791.jpg

[SuzyView]

I was wondering if anyone actually tries to take all their gear with them at any time? I know I can't because I personally can't carry it all. That's why I think I'll have to consider wheels. Seeing some of the signatures in the Forum, I assume no one actually takes all their gear with them.

[Jon]

Now that would have been a sight, Jon. Maybe you should let your wife take a shot of you with all that gear. I'm sure you got some interesting stares today. I know when I go out with all my gear in a dress and heals, people wonder if I'm foreign. :)
No, that all (except the water bottle) fit inside the Slinger Pro. I made the mistake of weighing it when I stowed it away at the end of the day - 22 lb. So nothing in particular to look at.

For all intents and purposes, everything I own does fit in the Domke F1x (35 lb, last I looked). The only bits and bobs that aren't usually there are the 2xTC, 50 f/1.8, and 75-300 IS. Oh, and the ZR-70. Separate bag for the laptop and its peripherals, though.

[SuzyView]

I don't think anyone with as much gear as you, Jon, could possibly fit it in one bag. ;) I had to completely reconfigure my Velocity 9 today as I got my lens and it's really huge, just like you said. That wasn't, by chance, the lens you had on your camera at the aquarium, was it? I can't believe how large the hood is. People are really going to stare at me now. I try so hard to be in the shadows. Oh well. Got to love the great stuff. :)

[Mike K]

I was wondering if anyone actually tries to take all their gear with them at any time? I know I can't because I personally can't carry it all. That's why I think I'll have to consider wheels. Seeing some of the signatures in the Forum, I assume no one actually takes all their gear with them.

I only take one tripod at a time, but otherwise I haul everything around on my back. I consider it good exercise (and I'm not young)! I just weighed it, the pack is 40 lb without the laptop and I have space for 5-6 more lenses. On long, tough hikes I use the smaller Lowepro Nature Trekker and I would take water/food.
The Airport Addicted was designed for use with a luggage carrier (small frame with handle and wheels) and comes with a strap to hold them on. see pg 8 of this document
http://www.thinktankphoto.com/pdfs/ThinkTank-AirportAddicted.pdf
I don't see why this luggage carrier strategy couldn't be used with any carry on suitcase style camera bag. The wheels don't have to be built in. However if you want them built in consider the Airport Security (same Think Tank Photo web site).
Mike K

[gmen]

Just added a review of the Think Tank Airport Security bag here, might be of interest in the context of this thread:

http://www.photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=137973

---- Gavin

[Jon]

I don't think anyone with as much gear as you, Jon, could possibly fit it in one bag. ;) I had to completely reconfigure my Velocity 9 today as I got my lens and it's really huge, just like you said. That wasn't, by chance, the lens you had on your camera at the aquarium, was it? I can't believe how large the hood is. People are really going to stare at me now. I try so hard to be in the shadows. Oh well. Got to love the great stuff. :)Well, a tripod or monopod doesn't fit inside, but the F1x really does hold a lot. This is pre-70-200; it's up on camerabags.com, too.
2819 The bag's absolutely loaded with room.

[SuzyView]

Jon, I was watching the news last night and saw a man on skis and a backpack going full speed. I thought about you yesterday getting to a place to take pictures. You weren't the only one. ;)

[I Simonius]

I was wondering if anyone actually tries to take all their gear with them at any time? I know I can't because I personally can't carry it all. That's why I think I'll have to consider wheels. Seeing some of the signatures in the Forum, I assume no one actually takes all their gear with them.

I have never taken it all in one go but pack what I fancy for the day I have currently a lowepro Rover AW for walking out and about, a billingham 225 which AFAICS holds as much as the 335 and which I use for portrait outings, and I have a lowepro slingshot 100 for wandering round town, although as often as not (AOAN?;) ) I take the camera with one lens , say 35f1.4 and another one lens like the 135L or 85 on my waist belt in an lowepro 25AW

However I feel the need for one bag to hold the lot so as long as I don't need to carry it anyy distance I have the lot if I need it