Am I overdoing it?

[mep42]

Hi all, I am in the market for a new bag for my trip. I have been looking at the lowepro flipside 400 AW because I like the extra pocket in the back and the ability to hold a lot of gear. I know you are now looking at my signature thinking well what the heck is guy going out and buying a 400 for. Well I plan on getting a 50 1.8 and kenko tubes before I leave for my trip in the spring. I also plan on getting a linger zoom something like a sigma 100-300, 150-500 or a 70-200 2.8. So does anyone have any advice or suggestions. Thanks for all your help!

[tvphotog]

I would look at the Tamrac Expedition Series. I have the Expedition 5, which is think is the minimum for a couple lenses and one body. It has much better padding and is better made IMO than the equivalent Lowepro series, and I compared them in person at B&H. The AW has the advantage of a built-in rain cover, but the Tamrac has a rain cover as an attachable pouch.

Has ability to attach small pockets and lens carriers, etc., along the two sides and the shoulder straps. Center compartment for a small laptop. Very well-thought out. Very happy with the Tamrac. Below is the 5. Check the reviews of the Lowepro and the Tamrac in the sticky above.

Photo courtesy Tamrac

[mep42]

Thanks for your reply, I am sorry that I forgot to mention that I would like to only have one carry on for the airplane. That is one of the main things I am looking for in a bag is the ability to carry other stuff like a jacket, ipod, etc. other than the camera gear. Thanks for your help.

[tvphotog]

Thanks for your reply, I am sorry that I forgot to mention that I would like to only have one carry on for the airplane. That is one of the main things I am looking for in a bag is the ability to carry other stuff like a jacket, ipod, etc. other than the camera gear. Thanks for your help.

Then take a look at their Adventure series. Same camera compartment with clothes and computer storage above.

Photo courtesy B&H Photo

[brit84]

adventure 9 is great, space for afull body/gripped and a lens like the 24-70L or 24-105 attached, extra compartemtns for a 70-200 2.8, flashes, other lenses, memory cards, etc

[jdizzle]

I have the Expedition 5 and 8. Both have been reliable bags for any trip. I even passed checking it in at the airport without issues.

[S.Horton]

Then take a look at their Adventure series. Same camera compartment with clothes and computer storage above.

Photo courtesy B&H Photo

+1; I own the bag at left [in the photo from B&H above] and it travels quite well. Pack it with thought, and you can get quite a bit in it.

[mep42]

So would this be a no go on the lowepro, sorry for the rhyming:D

[perfarny]

The 400AW is a nice bag, and not overkill for what you plan on having.
On another note, I love the Fastpack 350: fits my 40D, 50/1.4, 24-105L, 70-200 2.8 IS, 580 EXII. I can have any one lens mounted to the body while the others still fit in the main compartment. Plus, laptop compartment should you ever need it (or put a couple of books in there instead). I highly recommend it (airline friendly, too).

[mep42]

The 400AW is a nice bag, and not overkill for what you plan on having.
On another note, I love the Fastpack 350: fits my 40D, 50/1.4, 24-105L, 70-200 2.8 IS, 580 EXII. I can have any one lens mounted to the body while the others still fit in the main compartment. Plus, laptop compartment should you ever need it (or put a couple of books in there instead). I highly recommend it (airline friendly, too).


One of the things that I like about the flipside is that it opens from the back and I don't really like how you get the camera out of the side of the fastpack, but that's just a personal preference.

[tvphotog]

Is there a photo shop where you can look at these packs in person? Another option is to check out the B&H webstie, which gives a good breakdown of all these packs with photos, and then order a Lowepro and a Tamrac of the right size. You have 15 days to evaluate them, and just send the one you don't like back for credit. Or if you're not sure of which size, order both sizes from each manufacturer, and return the three you don't want.

For the $8 in UPS postage, you'll have them in your hands. The retuns will show up on your credit card before you have to pay the monthly bill. B&H and Adorma do this all the time.

[canonnoob]

I have the expedtiton 7x from tamrac and I love mine... take a look into it and it has alot of room for gear!

[gregpphoto]

Is there a photo shop where you can look at these packs in person?

Well, you're from NY right? Go to B&H, 34th and 9th.

[tvphotog]

Well, you're from NY right? Go to B&H, 34th and 9th.


My question was not clear. I was asking mep42 if there was any place he could go to to see the bags. I'm at B&H and Adorama all the time. He's in NC.

[Jannie]

What kind of trip, how long will you be traveling, is this the only bag you are taking?

Try adding up by looking at the specs on each piece of equipment including the bag and add up their weight, then take some kind of bag and put that much weight in it and carry it around for a half hour and see how it feels. This will tell you a lot about what you will be willing to carry.

[argyle]

I have the expedtiton 7x from tamrac and I love mine... take a look into it and it has alot of room for gear!

The OP also wants to carry some light clothing and extras...the Tamrac Expeditions are pretty much gear only.

OP: Have a look at the Lowepro Rover AW II...plenty of room for gear in lower compartment, plus a pretty good sized upper compartment for plenty of extras. Not a problem with carry-on either.

[canonnoob]

depeding on what he wants to take you can put an extra pair of clothes in the laptop area.... thats what i do,...,

[jdizzle]

The OP also wants to carry some light clothing and extras...the Tamrac Expeditions are pretty much gear only.

OP: Have a look at the Lowepro Rover AW II...plenty of room for gear in lower compartment, plus a pretty good sized upper compartment for plenty of extras. Not a problem with carry-on either.
Even though they are pretty much gear only type bags, you can definitely fit a wind breaker, some undies :), socks, snack bars, a water bottle, etc. You just have to make it fit. :)

[mep42]

To start off, thanks to everyone for helping. My trip will be in the spring going an a study trip for a week in a half. I will be visiting Shanghai, Nanjing, Xi'an, and Beijing China. I would like to be able to carry a jacket, ipod, headphones (orginal kind not earbuds), book and some other small items along with my camera gear. I want to be able to carry this pack during the day on our days out and about. In addition to whats in my signature I will be purchasing before the trip a 50 1.8, battery grip, and a monopod with ball head(don't know if i will be taking it on the trip) . For long term, if not before the trip I will be purchasing some type of zoom, either a sigma 100-300 or a sigma 150-500. If anyone needs any more info to help their judgment don't hesitate to ask. Again thanks for the help.

[perfarny]

One of the things that I like about the flipside is that it opens from the back and I don't really like how you get the camera out of the side of the fastpack, but that's just a personal preference.

Personal preference is right. Last points for the Fastpack that I'll mention: for me, it's been awesome and incredibly easy to get my 40D out the side of the pack with any lens mounted so I won't miss any shots, while the flap that covers it makes it reasonably secure still since no one can just unzip it and get the gear out. The top compartment is also very spacious.

Best of luck in finding something that suits you, and have a great trip! Last ting: as someone else mentioned, the best thing to do is go to a store to see / try as many as possible. I went through at least 3 'that's the one for me!' moments while looking online and reading every single review I could find only to look at it in store to find out it wasn't quite right.

[canonnoob]

To start off, thanks to everyone for helping. My trip will be in the spring going an a study trip for a week in a half. I will be visiting Shanghai, Nanjing, Xi'an, and Beijing China. I would like to be able to carry a jacket, ipod, headphones (orginal kind not earbuds), book and some other small items along with my camera gear. I want to be able to carry this pack during the day on our days out and about. In addition to whats in my signature I will be purchasing before the trip a 50 1.8, battery grip, and a monopod with ball head(don't know if i will be taking it on the trip) . For long term, if not before the trip I will be purchasing some type of zoom, either a sigma 100-300 or a sigma 150-500. If anyone needs any more info to help their judgment don't hesitate to ask. Again thanks for the help.


seeing what you want to take and all I would definatly take a serious look at the expedition 7x... You will have plenty of room for all of your gear. Also, the mono pod can be attached in the middle of the backpack on the outside for easy access. But that is my nomination and it will stick that way.

[tvphotog]

I would like to be able to carry a jacket, ipod, headphones (orginal kind not earbuds), book and some other small items along with my camera gear. I want to be able to carry this pack during the day on our days out and about. In addition to whats in my signature I will be purchasing before the trip a 50 1.8, battery grip, and a monopod with ball head(don't know if i will be taking it on the trip) . For long term, if not before the trip I will be purchasing some type of zoom, either a sigma 100-300 or a sigma 150-500. If anyone needs any more info to help their judgment don't hesitate to ask. Again thanks for the help.

If you're planning to take just the above items other than bodies and lenses, I would recommend the Expedition line...either the 6, 7 given that you'll want room for at least four lenses. As was mentioned, the monopod straps on between the two kidney shaped pockets on the back. You can put the other stuff in the computer compartment if the jacket is not heavy.

If the jacket is heavier, consider the Adventure line where there is a real clothing-sized compartment above. Of course, check out the equivalents in Lowepro.

[argyle]

Better yet, try the below link...actual user reviews of most make and styles of camera bags, and often with pictures of the gear:

Camera Bag User Reviews (http://www.cambags.com)

FWIW...if you're going to be out and about most of the day, you're going to need accessibility to snacks, bottled water (especially in foreign countries), etc, so you may want to consider a pack that has the ability to conveniently hold water bottles and/or food of some type. The last thing you'll want to do is strap water bottles to the waist strap, hang them from the rear, or stick them inside with your camera gear (electronics and water don't go well together). If it matters to you, look for a pack that has elasticized pockets on the outside for water bottles and such...very easy to reach back and grab a bottle without having to doff the pack every time you're thirsty.

[mep42]

Better yet, try the below link...actual user reviews of most make and styles of camera bags, and often with pictures of the gear:

Camera Bag User Reviews (http://www.cambags.com)

FWIW...if you're going to be out and about most of the day, you're going to need accessibility to snacks, bottled water (especially in foreign countries), etc, so you may want to consider a pack that has the ability to conveniently hold water bottles and/or food of some type. The last thing you'll want to do is strap water bottles to the waist strap, hang them from the rear, or stick them inside with your camera gear (electronics and water don't go well together). If it matters to you, look for a pack that has elasticized pockets on the outside for water bottles and such...very easy to reach back and grab a bottle without having to doff the pack every time you're thirsty.

Thanks, I will check out those reviews!:D

[joepineapple]

I just purchased the Flipside 400 AW and there is a pretty recent review on this bag back a couple of pages. The sole advantage of the flipside is that you don't have to remove the backpack and set it down to access your camera stuff. It is too small for a laptop, the chest strap rides pretty high, and the flipping motion to access your stuff takes practice. Go back and check out the review. All the other bag suggestions seem to work to everyone else's advantage, which is great, but this is the original bag that you asked about.

Joe P