Looking for the perfect back pack for me, Ideas?

I'm looking for a backpack mainly for travel and airport use. Needs to accommodate a 15.5" laptop as well. I currently have the tamrac adventure 9 for this and I just think the upper section is a waste of space for a photo backpack. I use the lowepro flipside for short day hikes but it is hard to carry 2 packs just for photography when you're travelling as well as another for clothes and such, so it would be ideal to be able to take on a hike and not destroy your back and shoulders on a 10 mile trek! Wondering what everyone recommends. I need something I can grow in as well....I just went to full frame so I'm still adding lenses Here's some that I'm interested in as of right now....

1. Probably the main contender is the Clik Elite Pro Express. Watch the video in the bottom right as the guy goes through the pack, really cool! Also, about 2 lbs lighter than some of the others
http://www.clikelite.c​om/products/pro-express/


2. Tenba Shootout Backpack Here's the item on BH Photo. You can click "item demo" and it has a video breakdown of the pack.......quality looks amazing!
http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …k_Medium_Black_​Olive.html

3. Tamrac Expedition 7X Big fan of the overall quality of a tamrac as noticed in my adventure 9 pack that I own. This one looks nice. Also check out the "item demo" for a video on this one.....
http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …pedition_7x_Bac​kpack.html

4. LowePro Pro Runner 350
http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …EU_Pro_Runner_3​50_AW.html

I'm open to any suggestions and there's some that are just hard to find to find info on like pelican products and think tank. Knowledge is power when buying anything online! Thanks for all of your help

no one?

I'm in the same position with the same dilemmas. I didn't know about the Clik Elite Pro Express. thx. I was leaning toward the Tamrac Expedition 7x... but the Clik seems like a viable, lighter option. I need something larger since I'm going to be buying more lenses over the next months.

I am considering an FStop ICU, without one of their backpacks. They are just a bit too expensive and would take too much away from my lens budget. I would then find a regular hiking backpack that would fit.

Phoenixkh wrote in post #14452133
I'm in the same position with the same dilemmas. I didn't know about the Clik Elite Pro Express. thx. I was leaning toward the Tamrac Expedition 7x... but the Clik seems like a viable, lighter option. I need something larger since I'm going to be buying more lenses over the next months.

I am considering an FStop ICU, without one of their backpacks. They are just a bit too expensive and would take too much away from my lens budget. I would then find a regular hiking backpack that would fit.

It's hard to balance them all and even though I'm in a huge city, I can't find anywhere that has all of these bags to look through.....I can look through the entire think tank and tamrac line-up pretty much at one place here, but that's about it. Tamrac has great overall quality and nothing has ever gone wrong with the pack of theirs I have. The ClikElite just looks to have a really cool design, appears to fit a lot of gear and a laptop, and I like the rain cover. The hydration system looks cool too!

I have a similar setup and am very close to getting the Lowepro Pro runner 350.

Saw the bag in the shop and it looks good - plan to take my gear to the shop and see if he will allow me to setup everything in it and try it.

Let me know what you finally go with.....

I have the Tenba, and it is a great back pack. It fits great, and I have hiked with it for some long hikes. I really have nothing bad to say about this back pack and I have had it for 3 years. I holds alot of gear, and is built very good.

SteveJa wrote in post #14454358
I have the Tenba, and it is a great back pack. It fits great, and I have hiked with it for some long hikes. I really have nothing bad to say about this back pack and I have had it for 3 years. I holds alot of gear, and is built very good.

I'm stuck right now between the temba and the click elite. The clik elite has a couple more features and judging by the measurements, is about 2 inches thinner than the temba and almost 2lbs lighter. They both look well thought out and If I was to go by looks online, I like the appearance of the Temba a little more. My guess is the temba is probably built a little better and most likely can hold more gear, but 2 lbs and a 2" thinner profile is really attractive when I know that will fit all of my gear with ease. Might have to flip a coin

For quality and build, best costumer service and warranty in the biz Think Tank products.
http://www.thinktankph​oto.com …r-harddrive-backpack.aspx

kram wrote in post #14454165
I have a similar setup and am very close to getting the Lowepro Pro runner 350.

Saw the bag in the shop and it looks good - plan to take my gear to the shop and see if he will allow me to setup everything in it and try it.

Let me know what you finally go with.....

That one looks really nice too.....has a few less features, but I have a lowepro flipside that I'm actually going to use this morning for a hike and lowepro makes good stuff. My lowepro bag actually got caught in a freak wave in Kauai and kept my gear safe through it!

I have the tenba and it's top notch ...just to big for my needs as I am learning to travel lighter when I hike. It is tough and provides great protection for gear. I have had it several years and use it now for transporting extra gear when I travel.

For travelling, I like the Thinktank shapeshifter, thinner profile makes it less obvious it's a camera bag

I have that Lowepro and love it.

Great bag. I've had no problem carrying it fully loaded on US Domestic and International.

Tough, sturdy, looks pretty good, can be complimented with all sorts of Lowepro's modular bags, too.

Canon_Shoe wrote in post #14449019
I'm looking for a backpack mainly for travel and airport use. Needs to accommodate a 15.5" laptop as well. I currently have the tamrac adventure 9 for this and I just think the upper section is a waste of space for a photo backpack. I use the lowepro flipside for short day hikes but it is hard to carry 2 packs just for photography when you're travelling as well as another for clothes and such, so it would be ideal to be able to take on a hike and not destroy your back and shoulders on a 10 mile trek! Wondering what everyone recommends. I need something I can grow in as well....I just went to full frame so I'm still adding lenses Here's some that I'm interested in as of right now....


4. LowePro Pro Runner 350

I'm open to any suggestions and there's some that are just hard to find to find info on like pelican products and think tank. Knowledge is power when buying anything online! Thanks for all of your help

I would vote for the Lowepro Pro Runner 350. I have the 350 and 450 (Computrekker Plus) and those bags feel so light on my back even fully loaded with gear. I shot events in Europe where I had to cover events all over the city. Time was short and I always get lost so I always had to walk around the cities for hours! Im sure youve done all the research and comparison with all the bags you have listed but a few things set the Lowepro bag apart.

They all pretty much have the same storage space both in the main compartment and in the front pockets and of course all can fit a 15" laptop/iPad. But with the Lowepro, you have additional loops on the sides to add extra Lowepro Lens Case which is great for loose items that you want quick access to like a water bottle, point and shoot camera, gps or bug spray! I love the AW cover bc it completely covers your bag from rain or even short dust spurts which happens quite often while walking. The dust builds up in all the nooks and crannies of the bag. Also sometimes I during lost rest periods I put the cover on and lay on the ground so the bag wont get dirty from the ground.

_Glenn

for the best travel backpacks look at Gura Gear www.guragear.com

Thats Fresh wrote in post #14460589
I would vote for the Lowepro Pro Runner 350. I have the 350 and 450 (Computrekker Plus) and those bags feel so light on my back even fully loaded with gear. I shot events in Europe where I had to cover events all over the city. Time was short and I always get lost so I always had to walk around the cities for hours! Im sure youve done all the research and comparison with all the bags you have listed but a few things set the Lowepro bag apart.

They all pretty much have the same storage space both in the main compartment and in the front pockets and of course all can fit a 15" laptop/iPad. But with the Lowepro, you have additional loops on the sides to add extra Lowepro Lens Case which is great for loose items that you want quick access to like a water bottle, point and shoot camera, gps or bug spray! I love the AW cover bc it completely covers your bag from rain or even short dust spurts which happens quite often while walking. The dust builds up in all the nooks and crannies of the bag. Also sometimes I during lost rest periods I put the cover on and lay on the ground so the bag wont get dirty from the ground.

_Glenn

I just ordered the ClikElite today and they guy told me they have a 30 day, no questions asked return policy.....I've seen the Lowepro, so once it gets here, I'll see which one I like better