A Bag question for Hikers...

[Nuttcraker]

Hi! I've a problem :confused:. I normally hike with my full setup (350D+BGE3 + 70-200 2.8L + 17-40 4L + 50 1.8) and until now i have not found a carring system on witch i can carry a backpack (food, extra cloth, rain cover etc...) plus my setup. Normaly i use Lowepro Toploader zoom 75Aw + Lens case 4 + Pouch 60AW with the chest warness. The problem is that the chest does not do the job, in other words it puts to much weight in my front, i can't see my feet and gets worse when the camera is of the bag.
Any Suggestions? do you think lowe deluxe belt will help me? backpack suggestion?

PS: i do long hikes (40km or more...)

Thanks

[purelithium]

National Geographic Medium Backpack. can fit all your camera gear plus a decently sized top compartment for food and such. if you're really worried about space, get the Large. As for raincover, a garbage bag does wonders;)

Look at the thread here in A&S, lots of opinions and pictures.

[freaking102]

For a 40+ km hike I only take the camera and max 2 lenses. Figure out what you need, and take only what you need. I put camera in normal pack with minimal padding. Why spoil a hike by carrying too much weight and bulk?

[BearLeeAlive]

I use a Toploader Zoom 1. It holds a 20D with the 17-85 easily and the 24-105 with a tight squeeze. I only carry a couple other little things in the pack, everything else is inside the main pack in padded cases. Even this smaller Toploader does get in the way a bit, but it is great having it so handy. I made the straps that hang in from the pack shoulder straps and also hold the bottom tight to my body. I use this setup with one of my 2 camera packs for day hikes. If the going gets into serious hands on I will put the Toploader in my full pack.

I would like to get one just a wee bit longer and am looking at one of these.
Thinktank Digital Holster (http://www.thinktankphoto.com/ttp_product_DgtlHlstr.php)

[calicokat]

I hike alot with my gear, I love my Tamrac Expedition 5 for shorter trips, and the perfect bag for long hikes (IMO) is the Lowepro Photo Trekker

[motion_projekt]

if anything, when i go hiking, i usually put my 20D with my 17-40L attached, and i throw my spare EF 70-300mm III USM in the bag...oh btw the bag i use is the LowePro Photo Runner.

outside of that i use CamelBak's Alpine Explorer or DaKIne's Rige for all of my other stuff. Food, water, clothes, etc.

[BottomBracket]

Take a look at Mountainsmith's lineup of camera backpacks. They have a strong outdoor heritage, thus their bag's designs are geared towards being carried for long distances with comfort.

[jacobsen1]

get yourself some of these domke inserts:
http://www.pbase.com/benjacobsen/image/76618916.jpg
they will go into any bag you own and pad your gear nicely. Make sure you also get a bottom pad as the inserts don't have any padding on the bottom... I'd do that with some lens cases on your hip strap of you normal backpacking backpack. Then keep the camera around your neck on a nice padded strap if you use it a lot so you don't have to take the backpack off.

Ben

[steve535]

how about a thinktank belt system? you can set it up under your backpack.the speed freak
http://www.thinktankphoto.com/ttp_product_SpdFrk.php
plus the lens changer 35 will fit everything you want.i have a modular set and love it.

[sjafari]

i have a lowepro dryzone rover, and take the bottom (waterproof) compartment that has all the padding and drop it into any large backpack you hike with. I put it inside my Lowe Contour iv overnight pack, and it works great. as a bonus, its totally waterproof, and the padding is removable from the rubber lining, so you can put that inside of any other bag as well. Its a little pricey at $200 or so, but the versatility of the removable waterproof compartment is well worth it (not to mention that it works really well for a photo daypack). ill pack everything in my signature into the photo compartment.

[rklepper]

In 35+ years of shooting the best pack I have ever used is the Kata R-102. It is so comfirtable that you hardly know it is there. You can carry it all day.