Anyone use a normal backpack?

Traveling OS soon and need to cart all my gear. Thinking of using a normal backpack because

a) they cost a fraction of camera specific packs
b) they don't draw so much attention to the fact I have a bag full of $$$ camera gear
c) they have plenty of campartments

Thoughts?

Depend,

A single DSLR with a black lens, any bag will do.

But there will be lots problem to pack 2 cameras bodies, 2-3 black lenses, one or two more white lenses; also a PC, all chargers etc into a 'normal' backpack easily.

I've always used just a normal walking backpack to carry a couple of lenses, camera and a cheap tripod around. Never had any issues or reason to by a proper camera bag as the backpack does me just fine!

x_tan wrote in post #16263606
Depend,

A single DSLR with a black lens, any bag will do.

But there will be lots problem to pack 2 cameras bodies, 2-3 black lenses, one or two more white lenses; also a PC, all chargers etc into a 'normal' backpack easily.

Fair point, I won't have that much gear though-1 body and three lenses. Worst case I could always buy some Kata type ICUs etc to fashion my own compartments. What I had in mind was the body with 1 lense attached in one compartment and the other two lenses wrapped in towl/foam/heck even a t shirt in another compartment? I'd still be a fair amount of $$ in front, the price of camera specific bag is just rediculous!! I mean how much can some dam foam dividers cost lol?

Regardless what backpack you may get, just don't get those curing fix shape "Crumpler Karachi" style backpack - very very difficulty to use most the available space! I have two of them, totally wast money; and they NEVER left home at all

http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …arachi_Outpost_​Large.html

http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …rachi_Outpost_M​edium.html

A "normal" backpack, ie one that is not designed around carrying photo kit, has a major problem. Its not designed around cameras, lenses, flashes, filters etc.

Any backpack left unattended will attract attention. The trick is not to leave it unattended - ever! If you do that, it makes no difference whether it says Canon, Nikon, Lowepro or whatever on it.

Lowner wrote in post #16263666
A "normal" backpack, ie one that is not designed around carrying photo kit, has a major problem. Its not designed around cameras, lenses, flashes, filters etc.

Any backpack left unattended will attract attention. The trick is not to leave it unattended - ever! If you do that, it makes no difference whether it says Canon, Nikon, Lowepro or whatever on it.

What major problems? And the idea of having a non descript pack is mainly to avoid muggings/pick pockets. Camera bags basically scream 'hey everyone I've got $5k plus right here' where as normal packs scream 'meh I might have a jumper, a half eaten sandwich, a newspaper, maybe a wallet' etc IMHO Leaving ANYTHING unnatended u might as well just give it to the nearest crook..

Blogs--I have many photo specific packs, but when I am flying I use a Deuter ACT trail 32 which is a nice medium-sized daypack but it is both top and front load. With this, I use an F-stop Medium shallow insert, as it fits in the pack perfectly. I still have room for a laptop, and ipod, and stuff you would want on a plane ride with this setup. Here are links:

http://www.amazon.com …words=deuter+ac​t+trail+32

http://fstopgear.com …allow/medium#.U​iXnidIo6Ac

I find this pack very comfortable to carry with up to about 25-30 lbs of gear. It had room for a bladder when hiking, and my tripod straps easily to the outside.

I used a normal backpack for traveling, and worked fine.

1 insert
1 5D mk 2
1 24-70VC
1 50L
1 580EX
1 travel tripod
1 15" laptop
1 7" tablet

the backpack ONLY served to transport gear, had another bag for day to day shooting (used the same insert for the stealth bag).

I don't know of any specific brand, but I have seen "normal" looking backpacks out there that are specifically designed to lug your camera gear around and not create a "look and come steal all of my stuff!"