Good daypack/camera back pack combo?

[Just Be]

I use a mini treker and love it. I don't need a bigger pack for camera gear..

I need a backpack for my current gear PLUS room for a water bottle,
sandwich and snacks.

Is there a camera bag that has waterproof compartments so you can pack water, snacks and photo gear?

[MindGame]

If you want a waterproof daypack/camera backpack, check out the Lowerpro Dryzone Rover

http://www.lowepro.com/Products/Backpacks/waterproof/DryZone_Rover.aspx

[JohnJ80]

I use a mini treker and love it. I don't need a bigger pack for camera gear..

I need a backpack for my current gear PLUS room for a water bottle,
sandwich and snacks.

Is there a camera bag that has waterproof compartments so you can pack water, snacks and photo gear?

Two options:

First: See http://www.rotation360.com.

Second : and what I do is the following:

I take a Kinesis jouneyman backpack and set it up with some TTP modules. This allows me to carry my camera gear PLUS food, water, an extra layer, rain gear etc... This is one of the only set ups that I know that gives me the ability to easily carry the gear I need for the day and the support stuff that I need for the hike.

Additionally, this has attachment points on the harness for camera straps so the load is carried by the straps and one does not need straps around the neck.

Ok - it is like this:

1. Get the Journeyman pack from Kinesis: (http://www.kgear.com/p/P450.html).

2. Get the B503 adaptor for the waist belt
http://www.kgear.com/images/B503stavesbig.jpg

This wraps around the belt and allows the packs staves to attach. This is all then velcro'ed up between the back panel (that goes to your back) and the outside of the backpack. like this:

http://www.kgear.com/images/P450B107stavesBig.jpg



This adaptor will also work with the standard TTP belt.

3. Buy 2 of the P111 elevator adaptor (wierd name).

http://www.kgear.com/images/P111big.jpg


These attach in side of the pack along a daisy chain inside and velcro in place. These are the "hard points" to which you can mount the Kinesis (or in our case, the TTP modules).

4. Buy several sets of these straps - B590 straps

http://www.kgear.com/images/B590big.jpg



These are used to attach non Kinesis stuff to the belt or any of their hard points. The long one will mount a TTP Digital Holster (I use either the DH20 or DH40) just fine. The single width one will mount a lens changer lens case from TTP.

I have two of these in my pack and I have a DH40 fully extended to hold my 5D+ grip+300mm f/4L, with a lens case along side it. On the lower one, I have mounted two lens cases. This gives me Camera plus three lenses - two big teles (300mm, 70-200 f/4L IS and a 24-105).

It all ends up looking sort of like this:


http://www.kgear.com/images/P450C500D636big.jpg



Only with TTP instead of Kinesis stuff. The TTP stuff is thinner and more trim and actually fits better.

To the outside of this I strap my 2540 monopod or my 3540LS tripod and head for the airport. In the pack, I can also carry my 15" Mac PBP laptop, an extra layer and all the other photo and travel incidentals I might need. I also carry my wheelie for clothes. I'm 100% good for carryon and have no problems.

When I get to where I'm going, I can dissassemble the belt from the pack (takes seconds) and put together a belt system and I'm good to go.

Set up this way, this pack actually works better (IMO) with TTP modules than it does with the Kinesis ones.

The pack is reasonably waterproof, but I carry a full pack rain cover just in case inside (about the size of a baseball). The zippers are weatherproof.

The benefit of all of this is the aluminum staves that provide the best ability to carry the weight on your hips of any camera backpack I have ever used. You have the most flexibility with this rig of any I have used either. The problem with most camera backpacks is that they are ONLY for camera gear. When I'm traveling I have a need to carry much more and a more diverse load out than that. I need food, additional layers etc... The camera only backpack doesn't do it for me.

[cp-Mike]

I have been trying to find something to do just this for a while now. It seems like most people who buy camera backpacks don't actually go hiking or whatever, because the bags they buy only carry lenses and bodies, not water, food, jacket, AND lenses and bodies.

I decided to go far to the non-photo end of the spectrum, and I bought a CamelBak Octane 14+. It's an attractive, comfortable bag that can be expanded from like 950 cu in to somewhere around 1400 cu in by unzipping a zipper on the back of the pack. Plus of course it has the 100oz reservoir that makes re-hydrating a breeze. It's a lot larger in person than what it looks like online. I had my local REI order one so I could look at it first-hand before I bought.

http://images.rei.com/media/923724.jpg->http://media.rei.com/media/923721.jpg

I plan on keeping my lenses in their bags inside this pack, and if that doesn't prove to be sufficient, I can always get one of those Domke inserts to hold the lenses. When this bag is closed (not expanded) and the reservoir is full, it can easily fit two larger lenses next to each other at the bottom of the bag. Then on top of those you'd still have room for another row of lenses and a body, or your lunch, jacket, and other goodies. When you unzip the expansion, you can fit a pro-series body lying down at the bottom of the bag, and the amount of horizontal space stays the same as you move up the bag. So there's tons of room for a lot of gear, plus lunch etc, and of course the full CamelBak reservoir. The bag would be big enough for a 300 2.8 and still have plenty of room around it for other things.

The only thing I wish this bag had was a larger pocket with organizers for the small accessories, but I can deal with the small pockets it has. The CamelBak hydration system, good looks, versatility, and quality are too good to make me keen on looking for a different bag.

[Logan7]

Hey JohnJ80, do you have that post saved somewhere and just paste it, because I swear you gave me the same advice with the same pics just yesterday ;) That does look like a sweet setup, but man does it seem huge for a day hike. Personally, I'd just have a friend come along and he or she can carry the non-photo supplies, but that's just me. I usually don't go hiking very far by myself because I get bored w/o anyone to talk to.

[JohnJ80]

Hi Logan -

Yes, I get asked about this so much that I just cut and paste.

It isn't that big of a bag plus it has compression straps that can pull the thickness down to just what is in it. That said, camera gear is heavy and this has terrific suspension (al staves).

J

[rklepper]

I use a Kata R-102 and a W-92 attached to the bottom. The W-92 has 2 water bottle bags attached and a center area to store other items like food, etc... It is a great setup.

[Citizensmith]

Water bottle is easy. Get a LowePro LC-2 lens case. Just the right size for a water bottle and will attach to the side of your mini trekker for good accessibility. Then just keep all the camera stuff in the main part of the bag and food in the zip up bit on the outside of the lid.

Its a cheap solution, works great, and is exactly what I did. :)

[argyle]

I'd recommend either the Lowepro Rover AW II or the Lowepro Dryzone Rover. Both have two compartments, a lower for camera gear and an upper for necessities, along with a built-in tripod carrier.

The gear compartment on the Dryzone Rover is completely waterproof, and the upper compartment holds a bladder/drinking tube that is furnished with the pack. The bladder holds 1.5 liters, IIRC. You can always swap out the bladder for a larger Camelbak type if the need arises for more water. There's still plenty of room in the upper compartment for stowage of additional items, such as fleece layer, food/snacks, etc.

The Rover AW II does not have a bladder. Instead, it has two elasticized pockets on the exterior that will each easily a 1-quart Nalgene bottle of water. I usually split them up...one for water and the other for an energy drink. The gear compartment on this model is not waterproof, but the outside is water-resistant and the pack also includes an all-weather cover.

Check out post #6 in the below link...this will give you an idea as to what you can comfortably store in the upper compartment. I also had two bodies in the gear compartment, each with an L-bracket, plus a variety of lenses.

Rover and Dryzone Rover (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=786987)

[eelnoraa]

I use lowepro primus. It is good for camera + lens attached + one more lens or flash. There are another separate compartment for other items. It is very convininet for a day trip. However, if you have more gears to bring, it will not fit.