Airport Travel Backpacks

[TNewell]

I have searched this forum for recommendations, reviews and comments but I have not found an answer yet. I have a trip comming up in July to Bozeman, MT. It is a business trip and I have three days of presentions to do and I must take my computer. I am looking for a backpack that can hold all my photo gear for a week in Yellowswtone and Grand Teton as well as my computer . I am taking my 50D, a 300D, 100mm macro, 100-400 L, 24-105, 18-55, 590 EX II, MR-14EX, filters, chargers (camera, and computer), etc. I will take this as a carry on item which will include a CRJ-200 or similar size regional jet so I have to stay within carry on limits. I also forgot to mention a Manfrotto 190X wilderness tripod, with 488RC2 head and a monopod. Does anybody have a suggestion. I have been considering a Lowepro Vertex 300 or Computrekker AW PLus ot Tamrac Cyberpack 8 photo/computer backpack. I am afraid the Vertex may be to large for the regional jet and I am not going to valet planeside check my photo bag.

Thanks for your suggestions.

[ed rader]

I have searched this forum for recommendations, reviews and comments but I have not found an answer yet. I have a trip comming up in July to Bozeman, MT. It is a business trip and I have three days of presentions to do and I must take my computer. I am looking for a backpack that can hold all my photo gear for a week in Yellowswtone and Grand Teton as well as my computer . I am taking my 50D, a 300D, 100mm macro, 100-400 L, 24-105, 18-55, 590 EX II, MR-14EX, filters, chargers (camera, and computer), etc. I will take this as a carry on item which will include a CRJ-200 or similar size regional jet so I have to stay within carry on limits. I also forgot to mention a Manfrotto 190X wilderness tripod, with 488RC2 head and a monopod. Does anybody have a suggestion. I have been considering a Lowepro Vertex 300 or Computrekker AW PLus ot Tamrac Cyberpack 8 photo/computer backpack. I am afraid the Vertex may be to large for the regional jet and I am not going to valet planeside check my photo bag.

Thanks for your suggestions.


do a search on think tank antidote. we did this one to death recently and several of us bought the antidote :D.

ed rader

[randaddy]

I know the Think Tank Streetwalker Hard Drive backpack is carry-on sized...it should be large enough for what you're packing and it can hold a tripod as well.

[Kasrielle]

I have the TT Antidote and fly lots on tiny regional jets. It fits with no problems - if the plane is really small you take the laptop out of the front pocket (It has it's own great case that fits in the front pocket.) With the laptop it's only aobut 8" deep, without it it's ony 7". And it holds a TON of gear.

[Nick5]

The Lowepro CompuTrekker Plus should be fine.

[Familiaphoto]

I've been using a Kata R-103 with no concerns or issues.

[tvphotog]

Check the Tamrac Expedition series as well. The bag sizes basically get longer and slightly wider as the overall content size increases, but the depth changes less so. So they should fit overhead. My 5X slide in without a problem.

I think the Expedition line is one of the best made of this variery of packs, very well padded shoulder straps, and wide waist belts on the larger models.

[Josh101]

i have a tamrac cyberpack8 and took it out to california with me last summer, it fit in the overhead compartment. if you are flying on a smaller plane, it might not work so well. if you look with the airlines that you are using they will tell you the dimensions it needs to be, and you can look from there

[n2_space]

Check the Tamrac Expedition series as well. The bag sizes basically get longer and slightly wider as the overall content size increases, but the depth changes less so. So they should fit overhead. My 5X slide in without a problem.

I think the Expedition line is one of the best made of this variery of packs, very well padded shoulder straps, and wide waist belts on the larger models.
I'll second that. I jsut got back from a 9 day trip to CO with my 6x. Not a single problem :)

[Kevin W]

To give you my latest experience. I bought the TT Airport Acceleration...took it back because I thought it was too big. I then bought the Airport Antidote. The straps on the Antidode do not tuck in nicely as they do on the Acceleration, so I kind of regreted it...until my last flight. It was a smaller aircraft and normal carry on luggage had to be checked. That means my bag would have been tossed onto a slide....chucked into the campartment of the plane with everyone elses stuff....then chucked back up at the end of the flight. Fortunately, when I simply removed my laptop, it fit nicely into the overhead compartment, and I didn't have to deal with the anguish of watching my gear get thrown around.

[maresp5]

I've been using a Kata R-103 with no concerns or issues.

+1 for the R-103.

[boubou]

I have a 15'' computer, can it fit in the R 103?

[Canajun]

Check the Tamrac Expedition series as well. The bag sizes basically get longer and slightly wider as the overall content size increases, but the depth changes less so. So they should fit overhead. My 5X slide in without a problem.

I think the Expedition line is one of the best made of this variery of packs, very well padded shoulder straps, and wide waist belts on the larger models.

I'll second that. I jsut got back from a 9 day trip to CO with my 6x. Not a single problem :)

As much as it's encouraging to hear for both 5x and 6x, I doubt if my 7x will pass. It is a nice pack but the depth may be too deep to pass when fully loaded. The TT harddrive was my first choice but the Tamrac was cheaper at the time.

[n2_space]

As much as it's encouraging to hear for both 5x and 6x, I doubt if my 7x will pass. It is a nice pack but the depth may be too deep to pass when fully loaded. The TT harddrive was my first choice but the Tamrac was cheaper at the time.
Depends on the plane, the one I was on I could have easily gotten a 7 or 8x on.

[mrmarklin]

I have searched this forum for recommendations, reviews and comments but I have not found an answer yet. I have a trip comming up in July to Bozeman, MT. It is a business trip and I have three days of presentions to do and I must take my computer. I am looking for a backpack that can hold all my photo gear for a week in Yellowswtone and Grand Teton as well as my computer . I am taking my 50D, a 300D, 100mm macro, 100-400 L, 24-105, 18-55, 590 EX II, MR-14EX, filters, chargers (camera, and computer), etc. I will take this as a carry on item which will include a CRJ-200 or similar size regional jet so I have to stay within carry on limits. I also forgot to mention a Manfrotto 190X wilderness tripod, with 488RC2 head and a monopod. Does anybody have a suggestion. I have been considering a Lowepro Vertex 300 or Computrekker AW PLus ot Tamrac Cyberpack 8 photo/computer backpack. I am afraid the Vertex may be to large for the regional jet and I am not going to valet planeside check my photo bag.

Thanks for your suggestions.

Don't get anything more than 8" wide. They won't fit into the ovehead bins of the puddle jumper airplanes that go to Bozeman. Even then, they usually take the carryon as you board the airplane.

[Prssinglecut]

+1 Think Tank Antidote

Phil

[Kevin W]

Here's another suggestion.....find out the dimensions of the overhead bin size for the plane (s) you will be on. Then take the gear you will be taking, go down to your camera shop and see if it will all fit. Keep in mind, if you purchase something like the Airport Antidote, and it's just slightly too thick, you simply take your laptop out...and there you go. It certainly beats the anguish you will feel by having to check your gear in and watching (knowing) it being tossed around.

[blackzzz]

Here's another suggestion.....find out the dimensions of the overhead bin size for the plane (s) you will be on. Then take the gear you will be taking, go down to your camera shop and see if it will all fit. Keep in mind, if you purchase something like the Airport Antidote, and it's just slightly too thick, you simply take your laptop out...and there you go. It certainly beats the anguish you will feel by having to check your gear in and watching (knowing) it being tossed around.

How do you find out what the size of the overhead bins are?

[ToyTrains]

This site has info for major US carriers: http://www.bagking.com/airlines/airlines.html

Generally 9x14x22 (45 total) and 40# is the max size but each airline is different.

[MikeV99]

This site has info for major US carriers: http://www.bagking.com/airlines/airlines.html

Generally 9x14x22 (45 total) and 40# is the max size but each airline is different.
This site gives standard sizes. I am flying United Airline on a CRJ-200 which has a smaller bin and seat area. I have searched and called and have not been able to find anyone that can give me a definitive set of dimensions for that aircraft.

Anyone have a source for the CRJ-200?

[ToyTrains]

Anyone have a source for the CRJ-200?

I'm not sure how reliable this site is:
http://www.seatguru.com/airlines/United_Airlines/United_Airlines_Canadair_CRJ.php (http://www.seatguru.com/airlines/United_Airlines/United_Airlines_Canadair_CRJ.php)

It indicates that the overhead can hold up to 18Lx14Wx7D.

[MikeV99]

To give you my latest experience. I bought the TT Airport Acceleration...took it back because I thought it was too big. I then bought the Airport Antidote. The straps on the Antidode do not tuck in nicely as they do on the Acceleration, so I kind of regreted it...until my last flight. It was a smaller aircraft and normal carry on luggage had to be checked. That means my bag would have been tossed onto a slide....chucked into the campartment of the plane with everyone elses stuff....then chucked back up at the end of the flight. Fortunately, when I simply removed my laptop, it fit nicely into the overhead compartment, and I didn't have to deal with the anguish of watching my gear get thrown around.
Which aircraft was it?

I am seriously considering the Acceleration. It's external dimensions (without the laptop case) are 18.5L x 13W x 7D. In contrast the Antidote are 17L x 11.75W x 7D. The real difference is the 13W versus 11.75 which will determine how far into the bin the bag will go. The internal dimensions are somewhat different, 17.75L x 12.375W x 6.75D versus 15.75L x 11W x 6.5D.

I wish I knew the exact dimensions of the bin on a CRJ-200 (which is what I be flying on). I am pretty sure the Acceleration will fit under an aisle seat?

The TT site Features list for the Antidote V2.0 says, "The shoulder straps can be tucked away behind the back pad when not in use." It also says, "Our waistbelt is removable via a metal buckle located on the pad." Do you have the V2.0? If you do, it would mean the specs listed by TT are incorrect?

Thanks,

Mike