anyone with a Dakine Sequence pack (or similar)...

[mdwsta4]

i recently picked up a dakine sequence to replace my lowepro slingshot and my lowepro-like topzoom. i can fit all my equipment in there snug, although i might try and move the main dividers an inch to one side since the tripod ring of my 70-200 lens and the lens hood for my 17-40 doesn't really fit (need to take them off and put on the side). other than that, i love the protection, feeling, and room of the bag, but i really don't like the waist belt. i was hoping it could be slid out/slipped off, but it appears to be sewn on.
my question is, has anyone modified their bag and removed it? or found a way to get it out of the way? i'd rather not destroy the strap in case i were to go hiking/backpacking, but for day to day usage and flying, it only gets in the way.
any suggestions?

cheers,
matt

[lungdoc]

I have the pack and know what you mean, though by the time I have enough gear that I want to use the pack I usually want the strap! It isn't removable, have you tried fastening it to itself backwards around the rear side of the bag, maybe using some of the other straps to hold it out of the way?

[mdwsta4]

with it bunched up (kind of folded over itself) it feels weird on my lower back. i haven't tried clipping it to anything else (maybe extend the buckles and clip it to itself around the front of the back so it's essentially on backwards?). i'll give that a try tonight.
because there's that padded part on the bag portion of the waist belt, i was thinking of maybe cutting the stitches so it can slide in/out.

[BearLeeAlive]

I tried out the DaKine Sequence and the Burton Zoom Pack and though both were great, I did end up with the Burton mostly because I liked the way it fit me. The primary intent of both these backs in skiing, thus the rear opening design.

What purpose did you buy the pack for? I pretty much only use mine for was skiing and sometimes hiking, though I have a Lowepro Rover AW II Backpack that I usually use hiking as it holds more. I would never, ever consider removing the waist belt, it is what carries the weight of the load, not the shoulder straps. You would be better to get a different pack if the use is to be general toting of your gear and keep the Sequence for when you go hiking.

I typically carry my 5D, 17-40, 24-105, 70-200, 580EX flash and a couple bit 'n bobs. Unless I have a tripod with me, I take the mounting rings off because the do make arranging tough, taking up lots of space for their wee size.

The biggest problem with any pack or case, is that there is not 'one' that will cover every situation, thus the reason most photographers have a fvw of them and are still looking at others. ;)

[AJ711]

I love my Dakine, mainly as it is my only gear bag available now, but I still enjoy it a lot. It holds my gear well, fits me nicely and I don't feel tired after walking around all day with it on and all my stuff inside it.

For the waist belt, I just keep it unclipped and along my sides. I'll use it when hiking with gear and my snowboard and for descents as well, but otherwise it stays unclipped. I don't notice it or mind it sitting along my sides, either.

As lungdoc mentioned, try folding the belt back around the bag and securing it on the "front" of the backpack instead of sitting between the bag and your lower back. It'll keep the strap out of the way and won't make things feel uncomfortable to you, either.

Otherwise I'm at a loss on what to do. :confused:

[mdwsta4]

i ended up clipping it backwards so it's strapped around the front of the bag and that works out fine. nice advice.

as far as why i bought the bag, i wanted a 'carry-all' bag that i can store all my gear in. this does it. if i want to use one lens and a prime, i have a smaller bag that i can take with me. i just don't want my gear all over the place when i'm not using it (which i guess isn't often, but still). there aren't many places to go hiking around chicago, but when i do travel back to portland or go wherever, it's nice to have all my stuff just in case.

[mdwsta4]

and fwiw, here are a couple of snapshots taken with my camera phone of my gear inside.

the removable camera block with nothing in it
http://images22.fotki.com/v837/photos/5/51621/4246907/bagemptyopen1-vi.jpg

the top pouch w/ multiple pockets. holding chargers, extra batteries, business cards, memory card readers, filters, etc.
http://images102.fotki.com/v392/photos/5/51621/4246907/bagtopflap-vi.jpg
bag w/ gear and camera w/ 17-40 on
http://images22.fotki.com/v761/photos/5/51621/4246907/bag17cam1-vi.jpg
bag w/ gear and camera w/ 70-200
http://images23.fotki.com/v828/photos/5/51621/4246907/bag70cam-vi.jpg

[tgreathead]

I just got the Ridge and have also owned some other DaKine bags where the waistbelt did slip out so I'm pretty sure its possible. I felt around in there and I'm pretty confident that its a completely separate strap that's just been sewn in so I plan to break the vertical stitching so it will be removable. I'll let everyone know how it goes :D

[tgreathead]

It worked on my Ridge :D

I just cut the threads attaching the waist belt to the pack and it came right off. The only other modification was I had to undo the threading on the straps that adjust the fit of the strap (not the buckle, the ones that are sewn in). They were triple folded so I had to undo them just to get them out but I will have a shoe repair place sew them into a double fold so they'll slid in and out easier.

I really like the ability to take the waist belt out now, makes the pack even more versatile and a little more inconspicuous. I'm almost positive this would also work on the Sequence too since they are almost identical.

[mdwsta4]

nice work. the strap really doesn't bother me now that i've actually been using the pack, but i may still consider doing exactly what you did.

[rodal126]

Can you take a pic of the dakine ridge after the removal? I'm very interested to see it.

[tgreathead]

Can you take a pic of the dakine ridge after the removal? I'm very interested to see it.
Sure, will do when I get home. You can envision how it would work; slip the belt through the hole on the pack, thread the straps through the fasteners on both sides and you're done. The only downfall is the pack will slide ever so slightly side to side if its not buckled on snug. I have a Jansport bag that does the same exact thing and once its packed up and cinched down I've never noticed a difference. One thing I've thought about is having someone sew in a strip of velco on the belt & inside of the hole, that way it would never move at all.

[tgreathead]

Here's the pics (excuse them, shot quickly with my point & shoot camera). You can see the strap detached, the stitching holes from where the thread used to live, and the strap inserted back on the pack. You can see that DaKine chose not to cleanly finish some of the stitching on the strap since it would be hidden...until now ;)
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y213/tgreathead/IMG_1853.jpg
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y213/tgreathead/IMG_1855.jpg
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y213/tgreathead/IMG_1856.jpg

[rodal126]

that looks good. nice work on the waist belt delete. I just might give that a try.

[byronling]

hey thanks for the pics, i assume you guys bought the ridge, and then put the camera block in? does it fit okay? any way a 15" powerbook would fit in with the camera block in as well? i read that the ridge is about 100ccs bigger than the dakine, but that may just be for the hydration pack. if you coudl get some shorts of your ridge all around, i would really appreciate it. thanks

[tgreathead]

hey thanks for the pics, i assume you guys bought the ridge, and then put the camera block in? does it fit okay? any way a 15" powerbook would fit in with the camera block in as well? i read that the ridge is about 100ccs bigger than the dakine, but that may just be for the hydration pack. if you coudl get some shorts of your ridge all around, i would really appreciate it. thanks

That's what I did, waiting on the block to arrive right now. I tested it out when I had the Sequence before I returned it. The Sequence is definitely designed specifically for the block since the rear-access zipper opens all the way down and the camera block flap fits into the rear access flap so opening the Sequence also opens the block. I, however, didn't like that design and wanted them to open separately which is an option in the sequence but the Ridge had the bladder sleeve and IMHO more useful rear pockets. The only gripe some will have is that since the Ridge zipper doesn't open all the way like the Sequence you'll only be able to open the block about 2/3rds of the way before its blocked by the pack. All that's required is to slide it up a little and then it can open all the way. Some see this as a fault since you can't get at your camera gear immediately but I like it that way, I feel its more secure and less accident prone.

The block takes up most of the depth of the cargo area. I think there would be enough room for a powerbook but I can't say that I've tried.

The Ridge is a tad bigger but only because the bottom of the pack is slightly angled instead of the Sequence's flat bottom. I like it since (as stated above) the block can slide down a little lower giving some room above it for a sweatshirt, etc. Its not a ton of room though so a medium-weight sweatshirt or shell is about all you'll fit.

I don't have the block yet so most of the pics will not be as helpful. Block is supposed to arrive Saturday or Monday, I'll take some then.

[byronling]

So in the Ridge, does the camera block's front flap slide into the back panel like the Sequence?

When you say the Ridge's zipper doesnt open the whole way, does that mean that in order to fully open your camera block, you have to take it out of the bag?

Thanks for the prompt response

[tgreathead]

So in the Ridge, does the camera block's front flap slide into the back panel like the Sequence?

When you say the Ridge's zipper doesnt open the whole way, does that mean that in order to fully open your camera block, you have to take it out of the bag?

Thanks for the prompt response
The Ridge wasn't designed specifically for the block so the 2 flaps don't line up perfectly like the Sequence. Also the Sequence has a strip of velcro that holds the block flap in place so the 2 flaps move as one. Think of it like putting the block in any rear-access backpack; you open the pack, then you open the block. One other thing; the Block has velcro strips on the sides and back that mate with strips in the Sequence. The Ridge doesn't have these strips so it *could* fall out if not handled properly but I don't think its an issue. I have even thought about having the velcro added into the Ridge, would cost a couple bucks at a tailor.

You don't need to take the block out of the Ridge to get it fully open, its just that since the bottom is sloped (while the Sequence is flat) the block slips down a bit. This gives you that extra room above the block for a sweatshirt, etc., but all it means is you have to slide the block up a few inches to get it fully open. I like it cause it means if the bag, for any reason, gets moved while its open the block won't just fall out. I'll be sure to take some pics to illustrate that when I get the block.

[tgreathead]

When you say the Ridge's zipper doesnt open the whole way, does that mean that in order to fully open your camera block, you have to take it out of the bag?
Actually if you look at the pics I posted you can see what I mean. The zipper ends where the waistbelt begins so there's a couple inches the block will slouch into, all you have to do is slide the block up those few inches and you have full access. While its slouched down I was still able to get at stuff in the top half of the block with no problem.

[dirt lover]

Does anyone have (or know of any pics on the web) of the Sequence with a tripod? I guess one leg goes between the double sided zipper pocket and the straps go around it? Does it feel unblalanced with it on the side? How well does it go on the back where a board goes?

Does a tripod go in the same way as the older one with the bottle holder?

[lungdoc]

No pictures, but when I used it with my Dynatran CF tripod it worked well with the tripod in the side straps (I think used for skis or ice axes usually) on one side - the weight was not significant. Didn't try on back - would be awkward when laying pack down to get gear out.

[dirt lover]

Okay, thanks!

[dirt lover]

Does the new one actually have a place for a water bottle. I've seen 'deployable water bottle pocket' in descritptions...ie: http://www.ebags.com/dakine/sequence_w_camera_block_w08/product_detail/index.cfm?modelid=98471

[lungdoc]

One of the pockets on the sides opens up to become a water bottle holder.

[dirt lover]

Thanks! I've tried to find an older one it's it seems nearly impossible.