Yet Another Backpack Thread...

I know, I know. It seems like there is a backpack thread here at lest once a week. I have read through them, gleaned what I could, but I'm still left with questions.

I currently have a Lowepro Nova 200 AW shoulder bag and I LOVE it. It was like it was made for me. I wear it across my body. My tripod sits on top with one leg through the handle to secure it. It's so simple to change lenses or filters when you knee deep in a river or other precarious situation just by swinging it around and opening the flap. It even acts like a little table. BUT, I'm having some issues with it.

As my Nova gets heavier, it's beginning to wear on me. Wearing it on one shoulder for 5-10 mile hike is becoming painful. Plus, I can't carry some non-photography essentials such as water and first aid. I've had some close calls lately... So, I would like a backpack to evenly distribute the weight and allow me to carry more gear. This is where you guys come in.

Here's what I need:

1) Budget is around $200. I don't mind going to around $300-350 if it's an incredible pack, but I'm not a label whore. I buy quality, not status symbols.

2) It must have some space for non-photography essentials such as light snack, water (either in a bladder or canteen), small first aid kit, trekking poles, etc. I don't need room for camping supplies; just the basics.

3) I don't carry a lot of camera gear. I carry a 50D, 70-200mm F/4L, 17-40mm F/4L, and a mess of accessories (filters, lenspen, CF cards, etc). I would like to have a little room to expand in the future. For instance, I plan to purchase another lens (macro), teleconverter, and possibly a Speedlite. I always take a tripod. It's a Manfrotto 190CX3 w/ Manfrotto 498RC4 head. Not a monster, but not exactly compact, either. I would consider selling it and purchasing a fancy, compact travel tripod if it's going to be difficult to find a bag that will work with it.

4) I'm 6'7" 330lbs. I need a bag that is comfortable for a big man. I saw a guy on a trail last week with something from Lowepro that looked like a Hello Kitty bag. It barely covered his shoulder blades. That's not going to work for me. Besides looking ridiculous, I imagine it would be very uncomfortable. I'm not use to wearing backpacks, anyway. Comfort is important and I'm not afraid of a large pack.

Thank you in advance for your help.

Thinktank photo makes some great bags. Also a hiking style bag subdivided foam that can be bought cheaply works too as they are much better at load bearing activities.

Anyone else? I just tried a Lowepro Rover AW II and while comfortable, it didn't even begin to have enough space for my gear.

Have you looked at some of the larger Lowepros? The design doesn't work for me for the gear I carry with me and the fact that body #1 stays on the black rapid the whole time so the side access for camera bodies is useless, but the top half has a bunch of room for the extras.

I was looking for a do everything pack a few weeks ago, and I could find great photobags and great hiking bags, but nothing to do both without making access a pain or being too small. I ended up going with a back to cover everything but hiking and laptop days (and I don't shoot tethered that often, and if I want to get something web posted in a hurry I keep the laptop close enough in the car). My 7D lives with a grip on it, so I needed something to fit pro-size bodies which limited me. I ended up going with the ThinkTank StreeWalker Pro; and of course day #2 of having it, I took it hiking, I had enough room for a small first aid and a small Gatorade bottle in the side pockets, and could still clip the GPS to the shoulder strap. It's exterior pockets Are a bit thin, so that's where the size limitation comes in, and it carries the tripod externally, so the limit there is what you're willing to lug around.

I'd take a look at (and will be again once spring rolls around and focus for me shifts to hiking as a primary weekend activity), the Tamarac Expedition and Evolution Series packs; but again geared more toward photo than hiking, but perhaps using the supplied dividers you'll have more room for stuff with less gear in tow. I'm also looking at belt/harness systems designed to work in concert with a backpack, where the camera gear would be readily accessible, and the pack would be able to carry more of the trail/hiking/camping necessities.

Here's a photo with my current Streetwalker load out so you get an Idea of what it's holding, it's a little deeper than the other packs I've found, but the others have more height and width to them, and perhaps a little more volume. http://www.flickr.com …s/7824064@N04/8​031553260/ and http://www.flickr.com …s/7824064@N04/8​031553506/

Check into F-Stop Gear's Loka or Tilopa BC. They're going to reach into your 'extended' price range, but they are WELL worth the price.

You can pick up different sized camera 'boxes' that fit in the bottom of the bag, and then allow you to pack whatever else you want in/around that.

Without retyping a ton, here's my review that I wrote up a while back on my Tilopa. I love that bag more today than I did when I wrote it; F-Stop's the only company I've found that satisfactorily makes a hiking/camera pack. All the stuff I found from the other manufacturers were camera bags that only had storage for camera stuff; these are a great hybrid.

The other option, that I know some folks have worked out, would be to simply buy one of F-Stop's ICUs (the camera storage part) and just put it at the bottom of a dedicated hiking pack.

I've got a Kata 3n1 22 that will fit everything you need and have some room to grow. There is a slot in the back that is suppose to be for a laptop or ipad but i use it for all my filter stuff. And the spot on the top is perfect for a lunch and snacks and even a small light jacket. Plus it's only like $100 bucks, plus an extra 20 for the tripod accesssory. Also there is a bigger size as well that would might be interested in but I didn't need the extra room, the 33 is the bigger one. http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …1_22_D_3N1_22_3​_in_1.html

F-stop kenti!
Clik elite has also provided lots of choices!