Camera bags for backpacking?

For those of you who go backpacking in the wilderness, what do you use to bring your DSLR along on these trips?

I'm trying to figure out a good option for taking my 5DII with 24-105 and gitzo tripod along with me. Is there an option for holding this in the front so that it's easily accessible? The backpack would be loaded up with food, tent, etc and I wouldn't really want to take it off to take a quick shot. Of course for the tripod I would need to keep that on the backpack but I wouldn't use that all the time.

What do people use for this? Hiring an assistant is not an option for me.

-K

Optech makes attachment straps that will fit your camera and hook on the backpack straps in front of you. It ends up hanging on your chest. Best options I've found... I'll look up the link at some point today and post it for you. They're available from B&H.

Don't know if this is exactly what you're looking for, but maybe look into LowePro Primus or CompuPrimus? They have a quite large compartment for random crap but also fit alittle kit. There's a tripod loop as well.. I'm not quite sure where you could have the tent! But it has a quick-draw pocket on the side like the slingshot though!

Dakine Mission as well maybe, but it might be too small.. it has snowboard-carrying straps that you can use to strap your tent with, and I'm quite sure if has some place for a tripod. But I'm very unsure about the total space in it for things like clothes or food.

LowePro Fastpack 350 might also do, like the Primus it has a camera compartment and a random stuff compartment. It also has a tripod mount, and the front compartment has two straps to close it with which you can, theoretically, extend and have hold your tent. But it's gotta be a pretty small tent though..=)

Yeah I pretty much figure most "camera bag" backpacks are not going to work at all. I've never seen one that had enough space for proper backpacking gear. So, what I'm thinking is of something small that can be strapped on to my chest maybe to provide quick access.

The kind of thing that will be strapped to my back will be a proper backcountry backpack - probably 60 liter-ish.

I'm curious as to what any backpackers here might use, regardless of where they put the camera. If you go backpacking with your camera gear, how do you store it? Can anyone chime in?

-K

My way is probably not the best method but it works for me.

What little bag is that? What do you take with you?

kurt765 wrote in post #9666527
Yeah I pretty much figure most "camera bag" backpacks are not going to work at all. I've never seen one that had enough space for proper backpacking gear. So, what I'm thinking is of something small that can be strapped on to my chest maybe to provide quick access.

The kind of thing that will be strapped to my back will be a proper backcountry backpack - probably 60 liter-ish.

I'm curious as to what any backpackers here might use, regardless of where they put the camera. If you go backpacking with your camera gear, how do you store it? Can anyone chime in?

-K

I tend to carry a lot of gear with me, and I'll wrap it and place it in my main pack (95 liter). While walking however, I use the straps I mentioned above for hanging it from my shoulder straps. It takes the place of a neck strap you might say. Going to get you that link now:

http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …rter_Backpack_S​et_of.html

kurt765 wrote in post #9666622
What little bag is that? What do you take with you?

It's a Lowpro Rezo TLZ20 I think. I usually just carry a 17-40L with me. If need more lens it's inside my backpack. The bag is getting pretty trashed (big surprise) so I might replace it with a bigger one so the 24-70L isn't such a tight fit.

I've seen this topic a few times. What others have done is use a properly sized Lowepro Toploader AW and the Op/tech straps (or a DIY). You could also slip the sternum strap through the toploader's belt loop though that might have it ride too high.

kurt765 wrote in post #9666527
Yeah I pretty much figure most "camera bag" backpacks are not going to work at all. I've never seen one that had enough space for proper backpacking gear. So, what I'm thinking is of something small that can be strapped on to my chest maybe to provide quick access.

The kind of thing that will be strapped to my back will be a proper backcountry backpack - probably 60 liter-ish.

I'm curious as to what any backpackers here might use, regardless of where they put the camera. If you go backpacking with your camera gear, how do you store it? Can anyone chime in?

-K

Hi Kurt, I have slightly biased opinion (as I work for F-Stop) but for any thing like you have described above I use an F-Stop Gear Tilopa pack. If I want something up front I'll use the Navin around my shoulder while strapped in to my belt.

This works with most brands top loader style bags.

Wow I have searched every possible online retailer I can find to see if I could locate a chest harness for the LowePro toploader series. It is NOWHERE to be found. Hrm. I need to figure out a solution by this coming friday. Hrm....

Mr. Fstop - is that Navin bag waterproof?

Thanks.
-K

Clik Elite SLR ChestPack series seems interesting although no one seems to address the weatherproofing of this bag in either the description or the reviews I've found, which leads me to believe it's not.

kurt765 wrote in post #9696238
Mr. Fstop - is that Navin bag waterproof?

Thanks.
-K

Hi no the Navin is not waterproof. it would fall under water resistant.

Regards

I'm surprise no one recommend Lowepro Toploader Pro
http://www.lowepro.com​/toploaderpro

it probably fit the bill....I recently just got one and already use on backpacking trip in California High Sierra.

Also the F-stop is really nice backpack but for backpacking stand point, probably not the best choice, but as day pack is great backpack.....

it's kind of an old thread, but if you're still trying to figure things out...why even look at camera backpacks?

you probably already have a backpack you use and like. you only have a camera and one lens that you want to take with you. why not just get a camera holster. you can draw the camera pretty quickly from one of those. like the suggestion above, when you want it out, you could use the Op/Tech system where the straps hook on to your backpack shoulder straps. then when you want to take off your backpack, you could disconnect it and connect the optech loops to a regular neck strap. The Cotton Carrier looks pretty good if you don't mind having your equipment exposed.