Hiking Bag Suggestions

Hey everyone,

President's Day weekend I will be going hiking on the island of Maui, Hawaii at Waianapanapa Valley. It won't be hardcore backpacking, but more along the lines of day hiking. So what I'm looking for is a bag that will allow me quick access to my camera and lenses along with storage space to hold clothes, food, some equipement along with a 3 Liter CamelBak.

I was looking at the LowePro DryZone Rover AW but I'm not so sure about it...I want something with at least 1000 cu/in of space.

My camera equipment as of now:
20D w/ Grip
17-40L
24-105L
70-200L
420EX

Other Gear i wil be taking:
Garmin Legend GPSr
CamelBak (3L/100oz.)
Princeton Tec APEX headlamp
Clothes for at least overnight
Clothes for Hiking
Rain gear
Towel
Sleeping Bag (might be stored seperately in another bag or somthing)


Any reccomendations would greatly be appriciated

The Rover is OK for day hiking, but for any kind of overnight hiking I would use a backpack designed for hiking, and just pack your camera gear in that backpack. My 3L platapus doesn't fit too well into the Rover, although it can be made to work. I can fit lunch, and a sweatshirt into the Rover, but not the gear that I would take on an overnight, and certainly not a sleeping bag.

For weekend backpacking trips, I love my granit gear vapor trail, which easily fits my sleeping bag, pad, tent, clothes, rain gear, water filter, food, etc. In that bag I usually throw my 70-200 and a flash (if needed) or a 100-400. I usually carry my 20D with either the 10-22 or 17-55 in a chest rig so I can take it out easily while on the trail.

(First posting in a couple of years!)

I'm with dontblink; I use a LowePro Toploader AW70 with its optional chest harness. It keeps about 4-6 lbs of weight on my chest and my camera within near-immediate access, while leaving my back free for my backpack (Osprey Atmos 50, best suspension/backpanel I've ever used, accomodates up to 4L reservoir). Photo backpacks either make you keep your camera out a lot or make it a hassle to get to when a scene or moment arrives.This way you pack your essentials without compromise and keep your camera ready but protected. I sometimes tuck the Toploader's normal shoulder strap in my big pack, in case I take a short side hike and just want to take my camera and some accessories.

The Toploader is usually toting other stuff besides the camera (300D Digital Rebel with 17-40 f/4 L or 5D with 24-70 f/2.8 L): 580EX flash, lumiquest mini softbox, circular polarizing filter, 500D closeup filter, batteries, cleaning materials. The Toploader can accept lens cases on each side but I try not to tote more than is comfortable. I limit myself to one lens if I am planning on landscapes or flora, bringing longer lenses only when the odds of seeing compelling wildlife are extremely high. But you could theoretically bring one body and three lenses with the appropriate addon cases.

Hope this helps,
-Atomick

I do something similar to Atmonick.

With a full pack I oo use a Lowepro Toploader Zoom I, It will hold a lens up to the 24-105 on my 20D. I rigged up straps to hang it from the shoulder straps of my pack. You need to strap down the bottom too so it will not bounce. The rest of my gear is packed inside, sometimes in my Rover II AW, or if going a big distance and needing to drop weight I pack a couple extra lenses in padded cases only. I use this setup when dayhiking as well with either my Rover or Burton Zoom Pack. I carry a pack skiing but am hesitant to carry a camera in front though I might give that a try too.

I am thinking of going with a larger toploader, might look into the AW70 or others at the local shop. It would be nice to have a larger lens on, carry a couple extra items, or even keep my hood on my 24-105 which I can't with the Zoom I.

I also prefer to use a good back pack with a hip belt that takes most or all of the weight. I take two camera bags. A small Tamrac that holds my 10-22 and 17-55 with 20D mounted and a toploader that holds the 7-200, with the 20D mounted if I want to use that camera. I leave the shoulder straps at home and both bags are rigged so they can be clipped to the front of the shoulder straps on my pack near the sternum strap. That mean I have a choice of using either the 10-22 and 17-55 or the 70-200 without taking off my pack. The other bag is stowed in the top of the pack where I can get it out relatively quickly. I make sure there is enough room in the back pack to stow both bags inside in case of heavy rain or rough terrain.

Thanks Everyone...

I have a backpack for extended trip backpacking. I use the NorthFace Crestone 75. But for my hiking trip we're going to Wainapanapa Valley on Maui. So what the plan for that is we'll be staying in the Cabins there and hiking trails for the duration of the day. Only returning around the night time. Currently i have been using my CamelBak Backpack in conjunction with the LowePro PhotoRunner...but i am looking for something that doesnt expose the camera too much...more so keeping in the backpack. I have the Tenba PB 15C for my general everyday use, but i need a bag for Hiking.

Like i mentioned, the sleeping bag and probably the overnight clothes along with toiletries will be kept in another bag in the cabin. The photos i'll be taking will probably be more along the lines of landscapes as well as candid shots with the group of people i will be hiking with. I think i might just have to bring my Canon SD630 with me just in case...


I'll think about it.

Again, thanks for the replies.

I'm kind of in the same boat as this guy, but I want a pack that meets all the requirements he has but can hold a tripod. What would you suggest?

I go hiking all the time with my camera gear. I just came back from Kauai where we hiked about 30 miles in a week. My recommendation is the Lowepro Dryzone 200

http://www.canogacamer​a.com/detail.aspx?ID=9​212

I was able to pack a 1DsMII with 24-105L attached, a 580EX flash, a 16-35L, a 15 fisheye, extra 1D batteries, flashlights, waterbottles (on the outside pockets), tri-pod attached and a rain jacket. It has the room for a 1D and 70-200 attached as well. This bag holds alot of gear.

The dryzone part of it really protects the bag, its 100% waterproof when zipped all up. Really handy on the wet side of the Islands, its never nice to get caught in a downpour and unsure how secure your gear is

And as a bonus, it fits the carry on regulations on planes

calicokat wrote in post #2590312
I go hiking all the time with my camera gear. I just came back from Kauai where we hiked about 30 miles in a week.

Isn't 30 miles a day hike?

BearLeeAlive wrote in post #2590612
Isn't 30 miles a day hike?

Maybe for some, but not me

calicokat wrote in post #2590312
I go hiking all the time with my camera gear. I just came back from Kauai where we hiked about 30 miles in a week. My recommendation is the Lowepro Dryzone 200

http://www.canogacamer​a.com/detail.aspx?ID=9​212

I was able to pack a 1DsMII with 24-105L attached, a 580EX flash, a 16-35L, a 15 fisheye, extra 1D batteries, flashlights, waterbottles (on the outside pockets), tri-pod attached and a rain jacket. It has the room for a 1D and 70-200 attached as well. This bag holds alot of gear.

The dryzone part of it really protects the bag, its 100% waterproof when zipped all up. Really handy on the wet side of the Islands, its never nice to get caught in a downpour and unsure how secure your gear is

And as a bonus, it fits the carry on regulations on planes

That's a nice bag. I'm looking to fit a CamelBak bladder too though.

On a side note where did you go hiking? What trails? Do you geocache?

motion_projekt wrote in post #2590823
That's a nice bag. I'm looking to fit a CamelBak bladder too though.

On a side note where did you go hiking? What trails? Do you geocache?

A camel pack will attach to the back of the dryzone. We hiked out to the NaPali bluffs on Nuhalolo trail to Cliff Trail to Awa'awa puhi. That one was awesome, something like 14 miles. We also hiked to a number of waterfalls and did the swamp hike up in Waimea. Other than that, it was easy going

calicokat wrote in post #2590821
Maybe for some, but not me

It is not as easy for me now that I edge next to 50 years old. We typicaly look for up to 20 miles for day hikes (and we have hordes within an hour). I did a 25 mile day hike last summer that included over 5000 ft of vertical gain, it took my body ages to get over that. Heck, I didn't even get a chance to shoot many photos I we were going so hard.

I've been recommending the Dryzone Rover for day hikes like you describe for quite a while now. The photo equipment compartment of this bag will easily handle all of your photo gear - in fact I've stuffed way more than that into the space it provides. Plus if you get caught in the rain you are able to zip up the waterproof zipper and not worry about your gear getting wet. The upper compartment might not be quite big enough for two full changes of clothes and a sleeping bag as you had put in your list of items, but it has a spot for a Camelbak and would easily handle most of what you want to get in the pack. Aside from its usefullness as a day-hike bag, I've given a full explanation in "The Trekker's Backpack" thread on why I think this bag is a great choice when considering versatility. Hope this info helps you out.

If you would like I would be happy to come along and hold your camera! If you don't do Geocaching i would recommend you look into it. It might sound crazy to Non-Cachers but it will take you places that are "picture perfect". thanks for this link, i have been wondering about packs myself and now have some great ideas.