35 bags later, still can't find the right one

I always get bags that match my shoes.

Tapeman wrote in post #16343387
I always get bags that match my shoes.

most of my shoes are black
most of my bags are black

I guess I do too....

Lowepro Flipside 400 AW?

Stop looking for the perfect bag, they don't exist. Find a bag for a specific need and get that and another as needed. If you spend days shopping and no time using the gear, you are spinning your wheels.

Maybe you could enrich your list with what you were missing from the bags you researched. After I finally coughed up the money for an f-stop Loka with three ICUs I stopped going to my weekly baggaholics meetings.

I alternate now between the Fstop Loka, Lowepro micro trekker 200 and a plain case that just covers the 6D and 24-105.

Depending on what else has to go on the trip, I pick and choose the bag.

I don't do any serious hiking so I don't use a backpack, though I do own a very uncomfortable camera specific backpack.

Jon, the moderator, has been a proponent for Domke bags for a long time here on POTN. I decided to take his advice and give one a try for my walk around bag. I bought a used F-2 and liked it a lot. I ended up adding a F-1X to hold everything I own, along with the Domke US Postal shoulder pad. The shoulder pad is amazing. It is a wedge as well as a comfort pad and keeps the strap securely on one's shoulder, so no fighting it slipping off. I don't try to hook my monopod or tripod to it. I just carry the tripod slung over my shoulder or hold the monopod like a walking stick.

Oh, I also replaced the included insert with the Domke 720-230 FA-230 3 Compartment Insert at Jon's suggestion. That gives me enough room to lay my gripped 60D on its side when I have the 70-300L attached.

Is the F-1X perfect? I don't really know but I have carried it slung over my shoulders for hours (you know, strolls around botanical gardens where you spend most of the day there, walk arounds in cities like Las Vegas, etc.) and it's quite manageable. I wouldn't use it for trail hikes that last for hours but as I said, I don't seem to be doing those these days. I'm 60 years old and in decent but not spectacular shape so your mileage may vary.

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com …/63703811@N02/9​151984324/

Hogloff wrote in post #16339128
Yes, things can fall down between the ICU and the bag...making it a pain at times. I also struggle closing the front of the bag as the ICU ( large ) is a tight fit and makes access in and out at times a chore.

I really wish Fstop had totally separate compartments so things would not fall down to the bottom of the bag.

Even though Fstop is well built, I find they are not as comfortable to carry for long hikes...not as comfortable as a trekking pack with an ICU. I'd go to a recreational shop ( REI, Mountain Equipment ) and try some of their packs on. Sliding an ICU into these packs is very easy. They have a much better shoulder harness system than Fstop and their belts are much more supportive.

Just my two cents from someone that has used Fstop and Lowepro hiking packs extensively and this past year switched to a trekking pack.

I found that extremely helpful as I've been thinking of Fstop bags for a while. Thank you.

P51Mstg wrote in post #16341910
The BAGMAN and JRMY both said it well.....

There is NO ONE perfect bag... Thats why we all have lots of bags....

Shoulder bags... Got 3 small, medium and large...

Other bags, many combos.

Have Lowepro Trekker for big lenses (3 of those), Also thinktank glass taxi and limo... Have several TT belts too, TT pouches, Harnesses....

Pelican cases... 2 1500 series and one 1600 series...

Have vests

Have Black Rapid double straps, Have the " UPSTRAPS" too...

Got all kinds of things... Just like one body and lens doesn't work for everything, one bag doesn't work for everything....

Best wishes

Mark H

As for this comment, it fits my situation well. I too own many of the items you mention. My problem is deciding which to take for a given situation though I am getting better at choosing.

I noticed that you haven't checked out any Tenba bags. Maybe this one:

http://www.tenba.com …ackpack-Medium-Black.aspx

I have that backpack, i.e., the Tenba Shootout Medium. The quality is excellent and I love the way it can be organized. All my stuff fits in there but because I'm 6'1", it just isn't comfortable out in the field. I really hoped it would be the bag for me.

In addition to the other Click backpacks on your list, I would take a look at the new Cloudscape.

Clik Elite Cloudscape Photo Backpack (Black)

The camera pouch is attached up high in the pack which is great but, it may not be roomy enough for all of your camera gear. Another issue is that it looks like it won't be available until November. Although, the old version is on Amazon, it's just ugly IMO.

Clik Elite CE612BU Cloudscape - Blue

Trying to design the right bag is even harder, Probably because there is no such thing. People's preferences/ circumstances change which in term dictates the type of bag one may require to meet their new circumstances and to accommodate for the change in lifestyle, equipment style of shooting etc.

This and other threads on the forum proved to be good research material.

MWxPhoto wrote in post #16339170
SMP_Homer, I didn't want to spam everyone with all the bags I've looked at. I could though, since I'm making a comprehensive list on my own anyways. Maybe I'll post it when it is more organized; it may help others too.
You're right that the bag I'm looking for right now won't fit for specific scenarios, like long hikes that last several days. It is definitely an overkill for just a few hours in the park. For those situations I'll look for different bags, but that's offtopic.

I will rule out Fstop mainly because the top compartment and ICU aren't separate and there is no laptop padding.

personally i wouldn't put too much emphasis on the separation of compartment and icu. yes, it would help and prevent small things from falling down. but in practice you don't put small things in that compartment anyway--it has a top compartment for that stuff. i've hiked with my loka loaded up with 40lbs of stuff (i weighed it) and small/large non-camera stuff. nothing fell down. and it was surprisingly comfortable. my friend's stick of a gf (she must weigh ~80-90lbs) insisted to wear my backpack on the 5mi hike back UPHILL. she carried the thing back easily. 40lbs is HEAVY. so, that says something. to give you some perspective, the backpack straps (shoulder and hip) were all tightened all the way on her, and it was still a little loose. that's how small this girl was.

but no, it does not have a separate compartment for a laptop. however, i think if you use fstop's shallow icu's you can fit a laptop in back of the icu. never tried though.

i just bought the fstop satori exp. it is a little larger than the loka (i wish it were tons larger, but oh well). it does have a laptop compartment. it pretty much fits most of your requirements except quick access.

btw, as for water, most of the fstop bags have a compartment for water bladders. so, perhaps you don't need that requirement for space for a bottle if you use the bladder.

if you do not need side holders for a bottle, you can look at the kenti. i have that too. no side pockets, but again, it fits all your needs except for the laptop part. even has 2 quick access pockets.

Phoenixkh wrote in post #16345166
I don't do any serious hiking so I don't use a backpack, though I do own a very uncomfortable camera specific backpack.

Jon, the moderator, has been a proponent for Domke bags for a long time here on POTN. I decided to take his advice and give one a try for my walk around bag. I bought a used F-2 and liked it a lot. I ended up adding a F-1X to hold everything I own, along with the Domke US Postal shoulder pad. The shoulder pad is amazing. It is a wedge as well as a comfort pad and keeps the strap securely on one's shoulder, so no fighting it slipping off. I don't try to hook my monopod or tripod to it. I just carry the tripod slung over my shoulder or hold the monopod like a walking stick.

Oh, I also replaced the included insert with the Domke 720-230 FA-230 3 Compartment Insert at Jon's suggestion. That gives me enough room to lay my gripped 60D on its side when I have the 70-300L attached.

Is the F-1X perfect? I don't really know but I have carried it slung over my shoulders for hours (you know, strolls around botanical gardens where you spend most of the day there, walk arounds in cities like Las Vegas, etc.) and it's quite manageable. I wouldn't use it for trail hikes that last for hours but as I said, I don't seem to be doing those these days. I'm 60 years old and in decent but not spectacular shape so your mileage may vary.

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com …/63703811@N02/9​151984324/
Domke F-1X by Phoenixkh, on Flickr

A note: I ditched the rubber hoods. I was using them only when I was shooting with a circular polarizing lens attached. They caused some vignetting when shooting at the wide end of my 15-85 in particular. Ed Rader suggesting I just ditch them when using a CPL... just got sans hood in those instances. Sounded like good advice. A side benefit: The rubber hoods are always rolling around in my bag so that annoyance is gone.

Also TT makes a harness strap so you can use it as a back pack.. Per Jon

I use three bags. A "long bag" with 1D4, 70-200, 500, and extenders. A "short bag" with 5D2, 16-35, 24-105, filters, and flash. A bag just for my 5D2 & 24-105 when that is all I carry.

I couldn't manage with only one bag to carry what I want for a shoot.

The "long bag" (backpack) has room for some misc. stuff and a tripod on the outside.