Mountain Biking - Lowepro Slingshot or Flipside?

Thinking of combining my two hobbies, want a small lightweight backpack for biking. I do overnight biking trips in the mountains quite often. I like the slingshot but not sure if the single strap is adequate for biking; may end up with the flipside as the result. Need just enough room for 40D with 2 lenses (probably 28-80mm and 70-200mm), no flash and just a table top tripod (hehe, actually dont own a quality tripod yet). Any bikers out there used a slingshot (100AW or 200AW), are you happy with it?

Any recommendations for a quality yet light/portable tripod would be greatly appreicated as well.

Hi, I would say biking with a sling would be a nightmare after a while. What size bag are you looking for? You suggest overnight capable but small and lightweight? Not sure that exists

With a mid-large size mtb day pack I've put a camera ICU or a Top loader inside a specific MTB bag.

... I have done more than a few overnighters on the bike and always needed 30-40ish Liter packs to pull it off.

I use a Flipside 200 for downhill. Been perfect so far.

Since the sling bag has only one strap going over your back, the pack tends to shift as you move. This may be an issue for you when you are biking. I have the LowePro Slingshot 200, and to counter this it has a deployable strap that connects the bottom left corner of the bag to the sling on your shoulder. I've found this effectively counters the shifting. Not sure if this strap is on the 100 model though.

I would think you would want something that is easy to put on and stable as you bike. A sling bag may not be the best choice.

Fstop-Ian wrote in post #10042412
Hi, I would say biking with a sling would be a nightmare after a while. What size bag are you looking for? You suggest overnight capable but small and lightweight? Not sure that exists

With a mid-large size mtb day pack I've put a camera ICU or a Top loader inside a specific MTB bag.

... I have done more than a few overnighters on the bike and always needed 30-40ish Liter packs to pull it off.

Sorry if my post is confusing, I do overnight trips (10 nights in the rockies was the longest I did) but my overnight bike (grinding bike as I call it) has two racks (front and back), 4 paniers (about 120L combined), straps for sleeping bag + tent over the racks, capacity for 3-5 water bottles depending on set-up - definitely not built for speed. The front rack is my concious decision to 1. balance the weight out front and back (makes it a bit sluggish over obstacles but definitely handles much better going up) and 2. eliminate the NEED to carry a backpack/handle bar bag.

A suggestions for the bikers out there, practice a little with loads on your front wheel before hitting the trails. I wiped a couple times the first time I had it because I misjudege the jump necessary to get the front over certain obstacles.

If I have anything at all, it is a camelback alone on my back but I think I will be switch that for a camera bag and put an extra one or two water bottle on the handle bar. As noted just need it big enough for a single body, 2 lenses and a table top tipod with spare batteries/SD cards. I actually think the slingshot 100AW would be big enough; but I seriously question whether the single strap would be acceptable over time... quite comfortable walking around in the store and I really like the side loading; but day 3 of a 7 day ride may be a little different. Our typical trip is 3 days in, rest a day with light day rides, then 3 days out.

A good handle bar bag may work too but I don't know any maker with a sturdy bag designed to fit over a bike's handle bar. Also, the bumps which the handlebar/front suspension takes may be unbearable even for a good bag - without me, the human suspension.

I would look at something with 2 straps as opposed to one. if the slingbag slides, it will through your balance off.

Also consider something with hydration pack compatibility.
You can fit a domke insert into the larger Camelback packs.

Osprey backpacks have hydraption pack pockets and can fit inserts to seperate things.

Dakine Sequence is my bag of choice for MTB. The mission is pretty sweet too! Bonus is it looks like a normal pack so thieves wont target you as much outdoors.

Thanks, not a huge fan of Camelbaks. I used one when I raced a little but I don't race anymore and I prefer the old fashion waterbottles which I doctor with my own blend of drink mixes. I will definitely go two straps though so the slingshot is definitely out. The Dakine bags look really good, the smaller Mission is probably the one for me, havnt seen one at the store but can get through Amazon. How "sturdy" are they? I played with the Lowepro bag a bit, looks like they can take a wipe or two without damaging the gears, are the Dakine bags equally tough (if not tougher?).