In search of a compact day hike backpack

I've been using a Click Elite Probody Sport backpack for the last several years with a lot of success. It's small, comfortable, versitile, and held my Canon 70D with Canon 17-55 and Canon 70-300L - either attached.

In addition to being able to carry a body with lens attached, I liked the quick access with the side zip. This made being able to take out and put in my camera easy, as well as easy changing of lenses on the fly.

It was a touch on the small side being difficult to add food and a jacket and waterbottle, but it still worked. Easy to travel with too, fit nicely under airplane seats.

I recently added a Canon 10-22 to my arsenal and decided I can't comfortably add it to this bag while maintaining the useability. It fits but is now too tight to use a water bottle, a real deal breaker for a "out and about" bag. Additionally, everything only fits with the 17-55 attached, I lost the flexibility I previously enjoyed.

So now I'm on the hunt for a similar style bag that is slightly larger. I think these are my *must haves* for a new bag:

-Comfortable shoulder straps, waist strap, and chest strap
-Water bottle holder of some kind - internal pocket is ok (not crazy about hydration bladders)
-15 or 17 liter sized (more is fine if this is unreasonably small)
- Able to hold my 70D, 10-22, 17-55, and 70-300L with one of the lenses attached
- General storage pocket to hold a light jacket and lunch/snacks
- Some form of light weatherproofing

Like to haves:
- Built in rain fly
- Some form of quick access to put in/take out camera
- Not look like a big bulky camera bag
- Additional small dividers for batteries, filters, cell phone, etc.
- Able to hold a tablet

Any input would be grately appreciated!

Mindshift gear just released an 18L version of their backlight backpack which looks like it might be exactly what you’re looking for.

https://www.mindshiftg​ear.com/products/backl​ight-18l

I use the backlight 26L and love it. Think Tank quality (Mindshift is Think Tanks sister company) with a more outdoor focus

Thanks for the reply. The bag looks really well designed but it doesn't really seem like there is any room for general daypack type items (jacket, lunch, etc.).

You might go to the Lowepro "bagfinder" and build a bag and see what works in the Lowepro line.

https://www.lowepro.co​m/bagfinder

Thanks, I was actually looking at the Fastpack BP 150 AW II. It looks like it has all the same features I like about my Clik Elite but I'm trying to find some reviews on if I could actually fit my kit in there or if I would need to up-size to the BP 250 AW II.

Smitty2k1 wrote in post #18609039
Thanks, I was actually looking at the Fastpack BP 150 AW II. It looks like it has all the same features I like about my Clik Elite but I'm trying to find some reviews on if I could actually fit my kit in there or if I would need to up-size to the BP 250 AW II.

If you "build" the bag for your gear I would recommend going one size larger for your extras. In my experience the Lowepro bagfinder has things, as built, relatively snug. I prefer it that way so equipment isn't flopping around in the bag. I see your problem being the other stuff, lunch and water for instance. You might have to attach a separate method of carrying that to the external clip points on the bag. Personally I would never carry water in my bag, preferring it outside the bag. I have had a few bottles develop a crack and leak.

Thanks, I definitely prefer a more snug fit so things are not rattling around while walking. With my Clik Elite I was able to use the external water bottle holder until I recently added a 10-22 lens to my kit. Now the bag is filled enough that the water bottle holder on the outside is too snug from everything on the inside and no longer can fit a water bottle! Additionally, the top 'carry' compartment is a little too small for lunch and a jacket to fit inside.

I just purchased the Fastback BP 150 AW II from Amazon for the astoundingly low price of $70. I hope to fit my 70D with a 17-55, 10-22, or 70-300L attached (as well as the other two lenses detached), continue to have use of the water bottle holder, fit a light jacket and lunch in the main compartment, and be comfortable, easily transported, etc. My only concern is that the Fastback seems less weather resistant than a lot of photo backpacks.

I'll report back with results

I have Clik Elite Contrejour, and love it for the same reason you liked yours. It's more of a light expedition pack and not at all "compact", but would more than suffice for the gear you carry. Unfortunately a bad back has stopped my adventure photo hikes so its been unused for some time.

Mindshift Gear and f-stop are the two I'm aware of that can handle gear and supplies for a hike. I'm not a fan of the Mindshift packs and while f-stop is not as comfortable as the Clik pack it suffices for my needs. However it's not a cheap solution.

You may want to consider Peak Design Capture Clip, which when attached to one of your pack shoulder straps provides immediate access to your camera. It's the solution I adopted after giving up on the side pack in the Clik, and it works great. Also versatile, I sometimes attach it to a Lowepro Street & Field (or whatever it's called) belt, sometimes to a cheap monopod for a rigged arca-swiss mount.

Good luck!

Smitty2k1 wrote in post #18608848
Thanks for the reply. The bag looks really well designed but it doesn't really seem like there is any room for general daypack type items (jacket, lunch, etc.).

5L front pocket isn’t big enough for a jacket and lunch?

The front pocket looks small but expands a ton. On my 26L that’s where I put my jacket (and I wear a 3xl so it’s not a small jacket), my poncho, and lunch/snacks. With that I still have room for a second jacket. But with that said the smaller backlights pocket is not not 5L where mine is 8L so I’d expect not to be able to fit second jacket.

Smitty2k1 wrote in post #18609087
Thanks, I definitely prefer a more snug fit so things are not rattling around while walking. With my Clik Elite I was able to use the external water bottle holder until I recently added a 10-22 lens to my kit. Now the bag is filled enough that the water bottle holder on the outside is too snug from everything on the inside and no longer can fit a water bottle! Additionally, the top 'carry' compartment is a little too small for lunch and a jacket to fit inside.

I just purchased the Fastback BP 150 AW II from Amazon for the astoundingly low price of $70. I hope to fit my 70D with a 17-55, 10-22, or 70-300L attached (as well as the other two lenses detached), continue to have use of the water bottle holder, fit a light jacket and lunch in the main compartment, and be comfortable, easily transported, etc. My only concern is that the Fastback seems less weather resistant than a lot of photo backpacks.

I'll report back with results

Oh interesting... in the product shots the front pocket just looks 'flat' and more like a space for filters, a phone, etc.

Reviews of this bag also didn't highlight the 'general carry' area very well. Good to know that it can hold a jacket and lunch. If the Fastback I got doesn't work out I'll take another look at Mindshift!

Smitty2k1 wrote in post #18609181
Oh interesting... in the product shots the front pocket just looks 'flat' and more like a space for filters, a phone, etc.

Reviews of this bag also didn't highlight the 'general carry' area very well. Good to know that it can hold a jacket and lunch. If the Fastback I got doesn't work out I'll take another look at Mindshift!

I don't know why they don't give more info on the front pocket especially since its geared toward the hiker crowd. Heres a photo of the front pocket of the 18L stuffed from their Facebook post (which means they have a photo of it so no clue why they don't use it on their website)

https://scontent-ort2-1.xx.fbcdn.net …13796938e2766&o​e=5B6DD7AD

As long as the Lowepro fits what you need you should love it. Lowepro makes some great bags as well. I have a Lowepro Photo Hatchback 22L that I use as my "small three prime bag" (Fuji x-t2 with three prime lenses) and it works great. I don't think you can go wrong with either brand, its just a matter of finding which bag fits your needs best

Smitty2k1 wrote in post #18609039
Thanks, I was actually looking at the Fastpack BP 150 AW II. It looks like it has all the same features I like about my Clik Elite but I'm trying to find some reviews on if I could actually fit my kit in there or if I would need to up-size to the BP 250 AW II.

The 250's what I use; carries a 7DII + 100-400 or 70-200 2.8, mounted plus 10-22 and 24-105 in the main comparment plus the laptop/tablet tucked in the back pouch. There's a relatively large pouch for batteries and other small stuff; plus the top compartment can accomodate a light jacket/rain shell and some other minor items. The mesh pouch on the side can easily accomodate a water bottle and tightens down to help hold it in place.

Good to know! The 100-400 is obviously a lot larger than my 70-300 so I'm hoping it all fits in the 150 sized bag

Smitty2k1 wrote in post #18609621
Good to know! The 100-400 is obviously a lot larger than my 70-300 so I'm hoping it all fits in the 150 sized bag

My 'concern' would be whether there's still the extra room for the other two lenses in the 150. Do you have a local shop you can go look at the bag in?

Well the Fastpack 150 arrived and it's... just OK. I'll be returning it to Amazon.

While it fits my body and three lenses, I'm not super thrilled with how they fit in the bag. More importantly, however, I really don't find the bag very comfortable. I do like the size (just a touch larger than the Clik Elite) and most of the design elements and features. The Fastpack has a wider opening and a deeper body than the Clik Elite, but the Clik Elite is slightly wider at the bottom where the camera equipment goes.

The waist strap and chest strap of the Clik Elite fit my body much better, and the fact that it isn't as deep as the Fastback makes the weight sit closer to my back providing an overall better experience. I'll try to snap some photos of the setup before I return the bag.

I'll keep looking at bags and eventually upgrade my Clik to something else, but for now I think I need to just convince myself I don't need to always carry my 10-22, 17-55, and 70-300. Depending on my environment I should be able to get away with my wide angle or my telephoto.