Are there ANY good backpacks out there?

I'm looking for one and so far have been disappointed. I want to keep the price below $200 and there are many choices, but I really want the pack to fit right. It must have a waist belt (padded preferred) that actually sits on your waist and the shoulder straps should connect to the pack a bit below the top of the shoulders.

In other words, the pack needs to be 20" tall (or so) or the waist belt will be a belly belt.

Help! I have only a day or 2 get one ordered for my trip to CO.

what packs have you tried already??

I have the Calumet BP1500 and it replaced my Lowepro Computrekker Plus.

For the money, you won't find a better pack. Most of the bags this size are well over $200, I actually got mine for $150 on sale in store.

I just measured mine, and it's 20" top to bottom.

http://www.calumetphot​o.com/item/RM2184/

What are your requirements (for equipment)? I've got a Tamrac Adventure 9, which is a great pack IMO (and is about $125). My only complaint is that the waist strap isn't padded.

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I want the pack to be able to carry a 1D with 70-200 f/2.8 attached plus 24-105L, 135L, 85 F/1.8. I've tried the LowePro Flipside 300 (too short) and I have the Tenba Shootout Small. I don't like the Tenba. It has a great waist belt but the pack is far too short to use it effectively. It is NOT comfortable and is too heavy.

In contrast, my hiking backpacks feel great and fit great.

I'm considering the Flipside 400 and the Think Tank Streetwalker Pro.

I'll use the pack to carry gear to various sporting events I photograph and will wear it the whole time. It will also get used to carry my point & shoot (5D - 24-105L - 430 EX) for day hikes. It is overkill for that but I have bad shoulder & neck muscles so I want the weight to be on my hips, not on my shoulders.

check out Mountainsmith bags - they have some gnarly waist belts!

I just picked up an REI Lookout 40 and ordered some Domke inserts.

If I can get it working right, it will fit great, hold all of my gear, and not look like a camera bag to boot!

I'll let you know how it works out, but good luck!

Checkout the Lowepro Primus series. Awesome bags that would be perfect for day hikes:
http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …t&Go.x=0&Go.y=0​&Go=submit

No....

look at the lowepro nature trekker...you can customize the straps, has a big padded waist-belt, and will hold all of that stuff you named and then some

TheBurningCrown wrote in post #8176031
I just picked up an REI Lookout 40 and ordered some Domke inserts.

If I can get it working right, it will fit great, hold all of my gear, and not look like a camera bag to boot!

I'll let you know how it works out, but good luck!

+1

most flexible solution...real backpacks made for backpacking work real well camera equipment...check for easy access to contents in various areas of the pack to avoid unpacking to get to stuff on the bottom, etc..

Thanks guys. I'm all but out of time so I ordered 2 packs - Streetwalker Pro and the Flipside 400. I may go to an outdoor store tomorrow and see what I can find there as well. By this time next week, I'll have my decision one way or another!

n1as wrote in post #8175661
I'm looking for one and so far have been disappointed. I want to keep the price below $200 and there are many choices, but I really want the pack to fit right. It must have a waist belt (padded preferred) that actually sits on your waist and the shoulder straps should connect to the pack a bit below the top of the shoulders.

In other words, the pack needs to be 20" tall (or so) or the waist belt will be a belly belt.

Help! I have only a day or 2 get one ordered for my trip to CO.

Nice opening post, really tells us what you're looking for. Perhaps you should take a breather from being a beeatch and tell everyone what you want to put in the bag. You covered everything else like where you want the straps to sit so camera(s) + lens(es) should help thanks.

FWIW my favored backpack is a Lowepro Primus AW. Doesn't carry much but I don't need it to.

scot079 wrote in post #8181603
Nice opening post, really tells us what you're looking for. Perhaps you should take a breather from being a beeatch and tell everyone what you want to put in the bag. You covered everything else like where you want the straps to sit so camera(s) + lens(es) should help thanks.

FWIW my favored backpack is a Lowepro Primus AW. Doesn't carry much but I don't need it to.

Haha! You could try reading the rest of the thread..

Let us know how you get on with the Flipside 400, as i'm thinking of getting one.. Like you, i've been having trouble finding a pack that does the job.

beano wrote in post #8181632
Haha! You could try reading the rest of the thread..

Let us know how you get on with the Flipside 400, as i'm thinking of getting one.. Like you, i've been having trouble finding a pack that does the job.

I'm referring to the first post. I hear sobs when I read it. BTW don't ever tell me what "I could try"