"carry-on" gear bags, travel choices, etc.

[SWPhotoImaging]

I have a large backpack-type camera bag, that is unsuitable fro a carry-on due to the oversized dimensions.

I will be traveling to Italy in May, and want to bring along my Canon 10D, 24-70L, 70-200L, 100-400L, Sigma 15-30 and 14mm prime lenses, and my EX550, batteries, charger, memory cards, digital photobank, etc.
I am looking for a recommendation on a bag that is airline friendly ( 9x14x21 or less), that I can cram all of this into, and preferably one that has a provision for sliding down over a rolling luggage handle on the back (slot, sleeve, strap, etc.)

Any suggestions?

If you had to leave any of these lenses at home, which would you do without?
I am guessing the 100-400 will get the least use and would be my first choice to leave behind, but I know there will be times I wish I had it. The 24-70 and 14mm prime are gotta haves, and I think the 15-30 will get a work out as well for architecture shots.

Any feedback is appreciated.

Steve

[mdr]

You'll find that it's not just size, but weight as well. Tried to board a plane with my Lowepro mini trekker last year. Size was not a problem, but it was over 5kg. They forced me to walk on the plane with my two EOS 3's with the two heaviest lenses attached round my neck and the remaining lenses, etc. in the mini trekker. Once boarded, I could put the cameras back in the rucksack :(.

I wonder how pro's board with their 500mm and 600mm lenses ;).

[SWPhotoImaging]

Ture, and Alitalia has a 11# limit as well, for the "carry on" bag. But you can also have a "personal item" which cam be a camera, as well as a bag or briefcase which can also be 11#, so I'll put enough gear in my "lunch box" bag to get under 11#, and then do like you say and put it back in the main camera bag bag once on board. I plan to pack along the lowepro small "lunchbox" bag anyway, for daily treks around towns with minimal hardware.

[mdr]

Maybe combat trousers would be a good choice. You can stuff the 100-400mm in one leg pocket and the heavy ex550 with all batteries in the other.

[kawter2]

me love me some PELICAN cases

http://www.casesbypelican.com/1510-airplane-carry-on-C.gif

http://www.casesbypelican.com/1514-carry-on.htm

[ssim]

I have a Lowepro AW Trekker bag. In this I fit two bodies, 24-70, 16-35, 100 macro, 100-400, 70-200, 550 flash, an assortment of odds and ends. It is darned heavy and I have yet to be challenged on the weight at any airline. The trick is to keep your carryon hardly visible to the checkin agents.

I have some large glass, 500 f4, 400 DO. You just can't carry it all on. I am in the process of getting a Pelican type case that you put these into. These are great also for adding your miscellaneous items, like chargers and such. These can be locked as you can ask the TSA agents for an inperson inspection. They will allow you to unlock the case, do the inspection and then off it goes, locked once again.

Now here comes the airline employee in me. The carryon rules are designed for a purpose. If every passenger put a 30 lb case in the overhead it has the potential for creating undue stress on the overhead compartments. Consider hitting turbulence with all this weight above you. If your gear is insured get a hard case and ship some of it as baggage. I have been working in the airline industry for 30+ years and have yet to lose a piece of baggage. Delayed yes, lose no.

[steven]

I have used both a Lowepro Mini-Trekker as well as the nature Trekker.

Only time they came close to telling me I could not take it on board I pointed out that there was very expensive camera equipment inside and they said no problem go right ahead.

so I've never had them actually weigh my carry on. What airline did that?

Rules for carry on vary depending on airline as well as enfrocement varies on who is at the gate and are they having a good day or bad.

[Europa]

get a hard case and ship some of it as baggage
But you aren't allowed to lock this "Baggage" so it could be stolen out of the bag.

[ssim]

But you aren't allowed to lock this "Baggage" so it could be stolen out of the bag.

Who told you that it couldn't be locked. I have verified for in Canada, United States and Britian that you can lock this and ask for an "in-person" inspection which means that you unlock it, they go through it, you lock it again and away it goes. There may be countries where this won't work then you have to find a workaround. Hence my earlier comment that make sure your stuff is insured as the airlines have a very low maximum liablity which might cover the tripod collar on some of the new lenses that are out there.

[mdr]

Can't remeber for sure, think it was either a Thomson or Air 2000 charter.

[chris.bailey]

I only once got challenged on the weight of carry on and fortunately in front were two rather large gentlemen. I suggested to the check in chick that my camera bag weight paled into insignificance against that guys butt cheeks and she let it go.

You should not ship it as baggage as unless live animals are being carried, the hold may well not be heated and it can get very very cold down there, cold enough for ice to form. Not a good idea.

[musthavemuzk]

i read this last week.
might be of some use/interest
http://www.luminous-landscape.com/essays/bangladesh-bags.shtml

Monty

[KBMphotography.com]

I use the LowePro CompuTrekker.

As said though, weight is an issue. Last week I was long haul and had only 7kgs to play with - so carried:

1 x EOS1D mkII
1 x 17-40L
1 x 28-80L
1 x 70-200 L IS
1 x 420EX and batts
Spare camera battery
A few cables

NO room for laptop and chargers. Stuffing heavey bits into big overcoats/trouser pockets helps...!

[Sherpa]

My carry on got weighed last week on a flight with Emirates. It wasn't weighed coming back with the same carrier and we could tell the difference on the plane - all the lockers filled with small suitcases by the time half the plane had boarded!

[Andy D]

This is interesting reading! We are planning a 3 - 4 week trip to California to see family and do a bit of travelling. My kit resides in a Lowepro Photo Trekker AWII (See my Signature for list) I will want to take as much of my kit as I can (you never know when the 100-400 will be needed) am I going to struggle, not with the weight (shoulders are broad!!) but getting it on board an airplane as carry on?

[gramps]

Pelican makes a "soft"version of the 1550. It should be plenty small enough to carry on and the end pockets are "expandable. It has handles, a shoulder strap or can be carried as a back pak.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=228224&is=REG

[chris.bailey]

This is interesting reading! We are planning a 3 - 4 week trip to California to see family and do a bit of travelling. My kit resides in a Lowepro Photo Trekker AWII (See my Signature for list) I will want to take as much of my kit as I can (you never know when the 100-400 will be needed) am I going to struggle, not with the weight (shoulders are broad!!) but getting it on board an airplane as carry on?

Andy, I have taken the Lowepro AWII on as carry on and it was just about uncarryable mind we do have two kids and find that gives some leeway as to the kit you carry with you.

[CPA676]

I did this trip last year going to Italy, Austria and Czech Republic. I used the Lowepro Computrekker and had ample room for my 10D, 17-40 lens and 70-200 lens, small collapsible tripod, and other small misc. plus a jacket in the computer compartment. Airports were a breeze but had to open and show all equipment. Otherwise was a very easy trip.

[Longwatcher]

Please take into account this only applies within US and Jamaica. I have travelled with both Tamrac Pro 612 and Lowepro mini trekker with no problems other then the occasional TSA search (follwed once by, "please don't turn that sideways before opening, one or more $1500 lens might fall out")

I only take the Tamrac on distance flights (like to Calif. from Virginia), but have had no problem with Lowepro backpack.
For Jamaica, I took both. The Tamrac went onboard with me and the Lowepro with my 100-400, second flash, spare everything went into luggage. While I figured there was a chance of them pilfering the stuff, I had it in the lowepro to minimize the damage from handling.

My normal kit when traveling:
Tamrac Pro 612:
1DsMkII w/28-70L mounted
70-200/2.8L IS, 100-400, 50/1.4, 16-35L, angle finder C, two 550EX flash, 1.4x, 2x extenders, battery charger, picture pad and misc smaller stuff, like CF cards, batteries and filters.

Lowepro mini trekker:
1DsMkII w/70-200/2.8L IS mounted
28-70, 16-35, 50/1.4 (or both extenders), one 550EX flash, picture pad, and misc smaller stuff.

Has worked for me so far with one exception where I had to plane check my Tamrac for the first leg of the trip. Must avoid Dash-8s way too small an overhead. Even my Lowepro is a tight fit.

The vast majority of my flying is done on US Airways with occasional others.

Just my experience,

[mtndew]

I use a canon G2 & 10d with 28-135mm, & 75-300mm with 550 flash, batteries & etc in a Beseler Backpack as my carry-on. I also use a beseler sling style pack(because of weight) that in my suitcase along with my tripod. I would suggest one thing thats an international power adapter.

[CyberDyneSystems]

I did no run into any weight issues on my last venture,. and well I guess I should have!

Tamrac Cyberpack 8 with two bodies including a 1D MkII, 500mm f/4.5 prime, 100-400mm IS, 70-200mm f/2.8 IS, 28-70 f/2.8 17-40 f/4 lots of abtteries and two x-drives.

there was one puddle jumper involved where no carry on was allowed,. but you loaded your stuff directy into the cargo bay.. no actuall "check"

Anyway.. it HAD to be beyond the weight requirements if there was one...

[Andy D]

Andy, I have taken the Lowepro AWII on as carry on and it was just about uncarryable mind we do have two kids and find that gives some leeway as to the kit you carry with you.


Thanks Chris, we too have 2 "Darlings" that will be coming with us!
;)

AndyD

[chris.bailey]

Andy

I am now deciding what to take on a two week trip to the Maldives. I am pretty tempted by one of these -
http://www.lowepro.com/Products/Backpacks/rolling/Rolling_Mini_Trekker_AW.aspx

but have got one of these

http://www.lowepro.com/Products/Toploading/allWeather/Topload_Zoom_AW.aspx that will take the 1dMkII and 100-400 and the 17-40 in a side mounted lens bag.

though I took the trekkar last year a couple of times (New York and Dubai), I found it particularly and the top loader is bound to be a bit easier.

[AcuraFan]

for all you folks packing it up...how do you manage to also stuff your lens hoods? or do you just not bring it.

i've already managed to crack my 50mm hood stuffing it into a backpack :(

[CyberDyneSystems]

I stack all my hoods like a stack of papaer cups,. wrap it in my clothes,. and ship them (as well as a few other non theft worthy but large accesories) in with my checked luggage.