Pro body Chest Packs & Tripod attachments for bags

Now that im getting back into hiking again i am looking at taking the camera gear out more often for day hikes. Looking at using a chest pack and a 2 or 3 lens insert with my range of existing bags rather than using a dedicated camera bag.

So im after a chest pack which will fit a pro body & L-plate with a 24-105L or the 16-35L on it. I quite commonly like the ThinkTank gear, but it seems that their DigitalHolsters have the attachment points in the middle of the bag, not at the edge, which makes it a bit painful.

Clik on the other hand have them at the edge, but are more expensive as they only come with the harness, and the clips are annoying (more versatile with D-rings).

Any other chest packs out there?

Also, rather than starting a new thread, how are people attaching their tripods to bags which dont have dedicated straps? Ive thought about using the walking/ski pole attachment loops, but not sure if they would be strong enough.

My LowePro Toploader (see sig) is big enough for my 1D3 with 70-200 f/2.8 on it. I ski with it as a chest pack, and it's great for that. I'm pretty sure there's room in there for an L-bracket too. It's worth bringing your rig to a shop to find out. I'm well balanced with it, and have no problems skiing backwards and pulling it out on the move to shoot my kids. Same with hikes.

For tripods, on occasion, I just strap it to the bag with the compression straps on the side. I have two lens cases on the other side of the bag (also hanging on compression strap).

I was also going to suggest the LowePro TopLoader. I have the 75 AW.

Interesting, the 75AW does look good. Im currently away from the big smoke for the summer, and at my parents place (in Canberra) which doesnt really have any decent camera stores.

The one i tried claimed that LowePro didnt make anything that fit a full sized body...

Might wait until we head to Adelaide to look more there.

On the tripod attachment, do you find it drags the top of the pack down when having it in the compression straps?

Yes, it unbalances everything. Headless monopod isn't too bad.

Of course, I ski with a backpack too (carrying all the wife and kids extra gear), so if that's your setup, you could put the tripod back there. I think I might be part Sherpa.

I wouldn't worry too much about fit/size. I'm 6'4", though pretty lean, the pack does just fine over my ski clothes, and I think there's plenty of strap left to go. Besides, you can always just have a seamstress sew in some longer webbing for you.

Yeah, i thought it might. Thinkign of trying to attach a pouch to the base of the bag to put the bottom of the legs into. That way at least the weight is being supported by the hips more.

On the fit bit i meant fitting a pro body, rather than me personally. The only LowePro toploaders they had were to fit non-gripped/non-pro bodies.

Looks like that Toploader 75AW has the attachment straps on the edge of the case, rather than on the middle, is that right?

Yep, on or near the corners of the bag. It's really stable when on the front.

I have the original model of the Lowepro 75. Not sure if it's changed any, but I'm sure it has. I used it on a waist belt and it indeed holds a 1 Series with 70-200 f2.8 attached. Great bag.

I did find that even with the Lowepro belt it wasn't positioned well through the rear flap for the belt. I had a leather shop shoot rivets through the bag onto the belt in a much better angle and height.