Good backpack for overnight hiking?

[namtot]

Can anyone recommend any good camera backpacks for extended hikes? I would like to carry along lightweight backpacking gear such as sleeping bag, tent, rain jacket, water, food, etc. as well as a 5d2, 2 or 3 lenses and grad filters. Am I better off buying a backpack for hiking and modifying it to hold the camera gear or is there a bag out there that is suited for this? I have looked at the Lowepro photo sport but Im not sure its the best option.

[centrarchidae]

I would start with a bag that's comfortable for hiking under load, and then worry about fitting it to camera gear.

Unfortunately, a good fit is a very individual thing.

I'm six feet and 200-220 depending, and I go back and forth between a Kelty Redwing (a glorified internal-frame daypack - overnight is pushing it) and a REI Traverse Newstar that I've had forever.

[rick_reno]

i use an old (bought it around 1970) North Face bag, I don't know if their gear is still made well, but this one has lasted all that time and is still great.

[Cali_PH]

You may want to look into F-Stop backpacks. They're photography backpacks made for outdoors/adventure use. I've been using a Loka for a couple of years and love it. It's probably a bit small for overnight use, but I typically carry 1 or 2 bodies, 3 lenses, accessories (batteries, memory cards, shutter release, filters, etc.), a tripod, and water and snacks in it, with room to spare for a jacket or other stuff. Perfect for me because it also just fits airline carry on requirements. They make larger ones that may work for you. The only part I'm not sure about on your list would be a tent, since I don't know how big it would be and how you'd carry it. They have sections for water bladders, external straps for gear, waist belts, etc.

They also have a clever removable, padded case for the camera gear (ICU's), comes in multiple sizes so you can choose what's good for you, freeing up more space for other necessities.

Some of their packs are equipped with MOLLE strips, allowing you to add on other pouches. Either stuff they make, other manufactures, even military pouches.

http://fstopgear.com/en/product/mountain

You can google reviews for F-Stop bags; here's a few that I found for the larger ones:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WtFpJqNwxZI

http://photocinenews.com/2010/11/18/...a-field-packs/

http://www.nwpphotoforum.com/ubbthre...t&Number=35898

http://darwinwiggett.wordpress.com/2...op-bag-review/

[Sirrith]

Yes, something from F stop would be my recommendation.

[harv3589]

I would suggest a good back pack that is meant for packing, not one built specifically for photography. Then try to fit an f-stop ICU into it. Thats what I have done with my Mystery Ranch pack and it works great.

[MNUplander]

Originally Posted by harv3589

I would suggest a good back pack that is meant for packing, not one built specifically for photography. Then try to fit an f-stop ICU into it. Thats what I have done with my Mystery Ranch pack and it works great.

This. The camera specific packs are bulky, heavy and expensive for what they give. I like GoLite stuff...check out their 90L pack, super light, great quality and bargain priced. If you're really serious I'd even skip the ICU and just protect your camera stuff with items you already have to carry to save on weight. Clothing layers, sleeping bags, etc protect camera equipment very well and you already have to carry them.

You'll get some he-men in here that say they don't care about weight but thats kind of the opposite of what backpacking is supposed to be about.

[Cali_PH]

Originally Posted by MNUplander

This. The camera specific packs are bulky, heavy and expensive for what they give.

Well, most photography bags I've used are heavy and bulky, but personally I think the f-stop Loka is nice and light (and I'm no he-man type . It's specifically designed to be light and for outdoors activities. They're not completely made out of padding like many photo backpacks. But yes, it's definitely expensive, so if that's something you'd have to factor in.

[Sirrith]

I recommended f stop bags precisely because they are designed as bags first and camera bags second.

[gremlin75]

F-stop and clik eilite both make good backpacking camera packs.

[Phrasikleia]

It's not at all clear to me what you really gain from an f-stop backpack. It looks as though you still have to pack away the camera and lenses in the main compartment, just as you would with any other trekking backpack, so you still have to take off the backpack to access your gear. If they have a model that features a quick-access side compartment or something (like some LowePro bags have), then I'm not finding it on their website. It seems to me that the benefit you gain from these very expensive f-stop bags is pretty minimal, but maybe I'm missing something.

I just returned from a backpacking trip in the Dolomites. My husband and I are both photographers, and we had a lot of gear to schlepp between the two of us, in addition to all of the survival necessities for a three-day trip. We had him outfitted with a very large but comfortable trekking pack (probably about 75L capacity) and used a modular storage system of separate LowePro lens cases and pouches inside the backpack. Our tripods were in his bag too, each inside its own padded bag so that getting them in and out was relatively easy (when we slid them out, the bags stayed inside and held their space for them). I carried my usual camera backpack, which contained even more equipment. We had a great time and were both very comfortable with what we were carrying. I'm sure it helped a lot that the big trekking bag was a perfect fit, with great balance: I think that ought to be the starting point for purchasing any trekking backpack.

[Sirrith]

Originally Posted by Phrasikleia

It's not at all clear to me what you really gain from an f-stop backpack. It looks as though you still have to pack away the camera and lenses in the main compartment, just as you would with any other trekking backpack, so you still have to take off the backpack to access your gear. If they have a model that features a quick-access side compartment or something (like some LowePro bags have), then I'm not finding it on their website. It seems to me that the benefit you gain from these very expensive f-stop bags is pretty minimal, but maybe I'm missing something.

You still have to take it off to access your gear, yes, but the flap at the back allows you to access your gear without having to take stuff out of the bag first. Also, while it is designed as a backpack first, it is still designed as a photo bag second, so has various pockets and pouches which fit the many bits and bobs us photographers tend to drag around such as spare batteries, chargers, memory cards etc...

To me these advantages add up and make an f stop bag worth it over buying a hiking backpack and then fitting it with an ICU or something similar.

[AZGeorge]

You might want to check Kata bags. The larger models get a tad pricey but I'm impressed by their design and quality.

[scottda]

You're not going to get a tent, sleeping bag, and all of your camping necessities into a photo backpack. Just to carry a camera body and a couple of lenses you don't need anything special. Go to an outdoor shop (REI, etc.) and get a good backpack that fits your camping needs. You should be able to fit your spare lens and camera in there if you want. You can use Tenba Wraps (http://www.amazon.com/s/?ie=UTF8&key...l_61v1tianf2_e ) to protect it or just wrap some clothing around it. Otherwise get a lens case to strap to the hip belt for easy access and carry the camera on the neck strap (or, I use a Cottoncarrier system). If you bring a tripod, that will attach easily to the outside of any good backpack.

Keep it simple and light.

Happy Hiking,
Scott