Bag- Arthritis in my back

and a host of other medical problems are making it very hard to pick out a good camera bag. The should bags don't balance out. I've tried three backpacks that have hurt more then helped. I'm not sure what to do. I want it to be light and somewhat small. But I'll need it to carry lenses I don't have yet, but will have by years end.

here's my list of dream lenses
70-200 f/4IS
17-40
400 5.6
and some small prime like the 50 1.4 or so

I won't need all of them out at the same time, unless I'm going on vacation, but I will need to be able to do that if needed. I do lots of garden tours so my main "daily" needs will be the camera and obvious junk that goes with like (cards, charger, blower etc...) and the 17-40 and 70-200. I'm thinking of getting two bags, one for everything and one for day trips, but I think my husband will really question why I need two more bags. Of course when it comes to his guitar stuff, well that's a whole other story!

So any suggestions? And yes when my back gets tired, my husband is very nice and carries everything but the camera around my neck. He's a sweetie!

Check out the Crumpler backpacks, very comfortable, well padded and do not look like camera bags. Some like the Whickey and Cox and it's big brother the Karachi Outpost have waist and chest straps which will take the weight off of your back and put it on your hips. They are expensive, but worth it in my opinion. I have the Karachi Outpost and can load it up with almost all of the gear in my sig except for one of the 2 flashes.

http://www.crumplerbag​s.com/Cart/index.php?c​atId=22

Which 3 backpacks have you tried?

Have you considered a photo vest?

Look into the Lowepro padded belts. You can attach as many or as few Lowepro Lens Cases as you need, to attahment points all around the belt. And if you need to support a greater amount of weight, there are harnesses that work with the belts. I used the Street & Field Light Belt myself.

http://products.lowepr​o.com …og/Belts-Harnesses,10.htm

or maybe their Beltpaks.

Hi,

I had a compression fracture of the lower spine and a cracked coyxx which will never heal. I have a Lowepro Nature Trekker and once i get it on it is as if i am not wearing it when adjusted properly.

I also have back pain. Have carried my gear with Lowerpro computrekker Plus AW backpack for a vacation in Bangkok. Went back suffer back pain for few days

Sorry to hijack your thread but I'm thinking we're in the same boat asking for other to recommend a better bag to solve these backpain issue

Anyone can recommend a better support bag?

Back pain sucks.
I did a burst fracture of my L2 while skiing last year, and now carry some extra titanium at all times. I use a Lowepro microtrekker 200 with no problems. The waist belt puts weight on the hips and takes it off the shoulders. It might be too small to carry everything at once but for day trips it works great. I can carry my 30D with 70-200 or 100-400 mounted with room for a wide angle and flash. The front pocket holds a goodly amount of accessories.

I have back problems also and can't stand anything that puts pressure on my lower back. I have Lowepro Mini Trekker Classic that when I first tried to use it caused severe pain in my lower back. I have since done some adjusting and found that if I carry it high on my back it doesn't hit the sensative area. It also has a waist belt and chest strap to help stabilize the load. You may have to try on several backpacks to find one that irritates your back the least.

I carry the 28-135 kit lens on the camera along with a 100-400 and a 10-22 plus a
580EX2, a card reader, extra batteries and charger, extra cards, a ball head, rocket blower, and manuals. The total weight is 15 lbs. However, if I strap my tripod on the bottom the weight will go up to about 19 lbs.

gardengirl13 wrote in post #4681716
and a host of other medical problems are making it very hard to pick out a good camera bag. The should bags don't balance out. I've tried three backpacks that have hurt more then helped. I'm not sure what to do. I want it to be light and somewhat small. But I'll need it to carry lenses I don't have yet, but will have by years end.

here's my list of dream lenses
70-200 f/4IS
17-40
400 5.6
and some small prime like the 50 1.4 or so

I won't need all of them out at the same time, unless I'm going on vacation, but I will need to be able to do that if needed. I do lots of garden tours so my main "daily" needs will be the camera and obvious junk that goes with like (cards, charger, blower etc...) and the 17-40 and 70-200. I'm thinking of getting two bags, one for everything and one for day trips, but I think my husband will really question why I need two more bags. Of course when it comes to his guitar stuff, well that's a whole other story!

So any suggestions? And yes when my back gets tired, my husband is very nice and carries everything but the camera around my neck. He's a sweetie!

I have an old back injury (musculature type that left me unable to stand for about 3 weeks) and have to be careful. Shoulder bags are a killer, forget them. I am good with slingshots and backpacks.

I mostly use the slingshot 300. The key thing is to make sure the bag/pack has a belt so most of the load is diverted to the hips; this is why I like the Slingshot 300, it has the belt but is quick to get to equipment.

With backpacks I find a killer can be if they are back heavy so they pull me back either damaging my back or forcing me to lean forward which is uncomfortable and tiring.

Everyone's, problems are individual but hopefully these thoughts will give you something to work on.

The Lowepro belts work as only belts, or as belt on harness, or as belt thru many Lowepro shoulder bags. Quite versatile. I often have carried my Lowepro Stealth Reporter bag with some weight on the shoulder strap but most of the weight on my hips via the belt. Or I offload weight from the bag to the external lens cases on the belt attachments.

Hi Wilt, about 20 years ago I used to use a belt bag, but I had a waste then, now it will just slide down pulling my trousers with it!

I use a Newswear chest vest as I was in the beginning stages of back troubles, and I have not felt it since. And I shoot, and carry tons of gear, almost daily. Well worth the investment.

Lester Wareham wrote in post #4687980
Hi Wilt, about 20 years ago I used to use a belt bag, but I had a waste then, now it will just slide down pulling my trousers with it!

I guess you need to work on increasing the size of your butt!

Wilt wrote in post #4688149
I guess you need to work on increasing the size of your butt!

That seems to be happening on auto, so perhaps the problem is self solving.

Have you checked out a vest? I don't have one yet but it seems like it might a solution.