Best back pack for petite woman

I've been to several camera stores and tried on countless back packs, all of which are too broad in the shoulders. I'm only 5 feet tall with narrow shoulders and they all slip off. What are you smaller folks using?

I absolutley must have a back pack over a shoulder bag due to a bum shoulder. I have a 20D and need room for about three lenses at a time, say a 28-75mm, a 100mm f/2.8 macro and an 85mm f/1.8 along with a flash (580ex). Any extra space for sunglasses, lipstick and a wallet is a bonus but I'm trying to keep this small.

Any recommendations?
Thanks.

Have you checkout the Tamrac 5371???

How about a Tamrac Expedition 3 backpack? #5273. They sell for about $35 to $40 + $5 to $10 s&h.

I'm not a backpack user - as I'm a wheelchair user, I chest carry my setup using Lowepro products.

The kind of setup you describe, Ellen, is relatively compact. It's almost certainly smaller and lighter than my setup (EOS 20D, BG-E2 grip, EF 24-70mm f/2.8L, EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS and, when it turns up in the mail today, Speedlite 580EX), especially if you're not carrying lens hoods. Most backpacks will be on the large side for your equipment, and that will just exacerbate the problem of getting something to fit when you're relatively short and slight.


One thought that comes to mind is what I'm considering for my setup. At the moment, I'm using a Toploader 75AW, carried on the included chest harness, which isn't great. The other bits are sliplocked to the Toploader.

I'm considering moving the whole lot onto a Lowepro shoulder harness and deluxe waistbelt - more musings about this setup can be found in the dialogue in this thread. I nearly ordered the Lowepro harness and belt this time round, but I've spent up for this month and I may need the flash next weekend.

In that thread, you can see cjtinkle's Lowepro vest harness and deluxe waistbelt setup - though you may find the shoulder harness a better bet, as it's available in four different sizes. You have various options for what you put on the harness and waistbelt - you have the flexibility to use different lens cases and so on, or you may prefer to stick your whole setup in a Lowepro bag that's compatible with the harness.


A Lowepro Specialist 85AW may be ideal - that bag includes a waistbelt, so you just need to add the shoulder harness if you want the harness. Several of the pictures on the Lowepro page linked show the bag with a shoulder harness on it.

This isn't going to be the cheapest option, but it should be flexible and adjustable.

David

My vote is for the Tamrac Expediton 3 also.

Thank you all for the replies. I'm not sure if I've ever tried on the Expedition 3 before, I will check out my local store. I have tried many Tamrac's in the past and it's not the size of the actual pack that's been the problem but the shoulder straps are set too wide and slip off my shoulders.

If you find a backpack that is the right size for you, but the shoulder straps are set too wide, then you can adjust that by adding a sternum strap. That is a front strap that connects across from one shoulder strap to another, typically with a fastex buckle on it.

---Bob Gross---

The Tamrac Expedition backpacks are quite good, and most have a sternum strap as Bob suggests. The Expedition 4 has a little more room and is pretty small still.

Lots of ordinary backpackers use sternum straps. I, for one, have an ordinary backpack that is a super large size, yet I am not a super large size person. So, the shoulder straps tend to be too widely set for me. I put a sternum strap in front with a quick release buckle, so that works.

However, when I am carrying only 10-15 pounds worth of camera gear, I tend to carry it in a simple one-shoulder carry bag (pick the correct shoulder!). Since it hangs against one hip, it is a lot faster for deploying the camera.

---Bob Gross---

http://www.lowepro.com …ver/SlingShot_2​00_AW.aspx

I just got a 20D myself, and purchased a Lowepro Slingshot 200. Light, small profile, can get at your gear without having to take the bag off, and yet you can secure it easily for walking through crowds. I initially wanted the Slingshot 100, but the 200 has more room inside, for lenses, etc, yet is only 1/2" bigger per dimension. The link will show you all the views. It ran me $90 Canadian but you can likely do better if you look on eBay. Once nice feature, the camera is protected by a microfibre cloth over the back of the screen, so the flap of the bag doesn't scratch it.

The Slingshot does indeed seem like a great bag. Unfortunately I need to have the weight distributed evenly across both shoulders (due to an injury and under physical therapist orders).

I think I may order the Tamrac Expedition 3 for my casual walk around bag. I'm considering a roller/trolley bag for when I need to bring all my gear.

I would love a Crumpler but they all seem to large and hard to come by.


Thanks for all the ideas.

I recommend the Lowepro Micro Trekker 100.

I just bought a Kata R-103 GDC Rucksack. Extremely well made and quite streamlined. It hugs your body much better than any other pack I have ever used.

I bought a tripod from B&H yesterday and a Delsey Gopix 85 medium backpack comes with it as a free gift with purchase. I think it's a bit bigger than I was looking for but hell, it's free. Anyone have experience with the Delsey?

If a camera pack is too large, then that is OK. You just have to go out and purchase more stuff to fill it up.

Otherwise, if it gets too heavy, then you need to purchase some helium inserts for it. You don't want to get too many in there, though. You would not want your pack to float off away from you.

---Bob Gross---