I need a backpack/bag recommendation

I use a backpack as little as possible. But it's a necessity sometimes. I try and travel as light as possible but sometimes I need to take a lot of gear.

My 6MDH is my main bag right now. My lowepro sligshot is secondary.

I shoot concerts and events and am trying to find a bag to fit the following:

2 bodies - 1 gripped
3 zooms including the 70- 200 2.8
at least 1 prime
flash
trigger and receiver
batteries and filters, etc

I don't need a slot for a laptop. I sometimes carry my netbook but that usually fits in a larg pocket.

This is not for hiking

I know I can also go with a roller but that screams "expensive stuff inside" and I am sometimes walking the streets of NYC by myself late night.

B&h was recommending a lowepro bag. I liked it enough but wanted to see other options.

I just spent a week with a Lowepro Fastpack 350 and I was pretty impressed. I fit a 5d2 with grip and 24-70l attached, a 70-200 f/2.8IS M2 and a 17-40L plus 580ex2 and 2x teleconverter in the camera compartment. My reflector kit in the laptop compartment (and sometime the laptop) with all my lens hoods in a leather lens pouch in the top. You could easily fit another body in the top ( I carried a camcorder and a water bottle). That still leaves two more compartments for other sundries plus an external mesh pocket. Just my personal experience but I went with someones recommendations and was quite happy with it.

Lowepro's are great backpacks. I got the 250 for $69.99 on ebay. It has come in very handy on my three week trip.

Lowepro trekker or computrekker would fit the bill nicely.

I borrowed a fastpack once and I didn't like it. I could see how some people would though. I didn't like the compartment opening from the back instead of the front. The flap had to be held open and I felt like I was competing with it to stay open. I also found it to be quite stiff.

I forget the lowepro I looked at at B&H. I can try and find which it was. It was slightly larger than my Canon one and built much better. It was around $170 IIRC.

The lowepro model thats slightly larger than your canon is the mini trekker. Thats my every day bag, and you should be able to beat that price. The full trekker or computrekker is a lot bigger but honestly it doesnt carry much bigger. I picked one up recently for times when I want to haul the whole kit and it really doesnt feel that much bigger when you strap it on. I agree with you on the fastpack, I bought one off of craigslist on an impulse. I need to list it here as it just never thrilled me, too much bulk for too little capacity.

can you fit 2 bodies? i read conflicting reviews. people say its much smaller than advertised.

CosmoKid wrote in post #10295877
can you fit 2 bodies? i read conflicting reviews. people say its much smaller than advertised.

which?

what about the Pro Runner 300?

Pro Runner

5Dc gripped and a 40d.

it would probably never be a 1D since i hate the size.

CosmoKid wrote in post #10295927
5Dc gripped and a 40d.

it would probably never be a 1D since i hate the size.

I meant which bag are you asking about. Couldnt do it with the mini trekker, but could with the trekker or computrekker.

CosmoKid wrote in post #10295918
what about the Pro Runner 300?

Pro Runner

+1. I have the Pro Runner 300 and it takes my gripped 50D/17-55/70-200 2.8 IS/10-22 and Bigmos plus 580EX II. For anything that doesn't fit I have a SlipLock Case 60 hung on the side and a Lens Case 1N for my Sigma 2X TC.

CosmoKid wrote in post #10295248
I borrowed a fastpack once and I didn't like it. I could see how some people would though. I didn't like the compartment opening from the back instead of the front. The flap had to be held open and I felt like I was competing with it to stay open. I also found it to be quite stiff.

I forget the lowepro I looked at at B&H. I can try and find which it was. It was slightly larger than my Canon one and built much better. It was around $170 IIRC.

The bag opening from the bag is actually better. You don't want to walk down the street and someone trying to steal your gear by unzipping it. Or worse, it gets opened and you see a trail of camera equipment behind you. But I do agree about the lowepro being hard to stay open. I have a flipside 300 and I also have to fight to keep it open. Plus the lens near the hing of the flap is really hard to get to. I'm actually looking into the Crumpler Karachi outpost, which is another bag that opens from the rear, yet is easier to keep open.

would a bigma fit in the slingpro 300/350? it's half an inch longer than the 70-200L, and for some reason, I can't find one bigger than the 250 'in stock' around here, otherwise I would just go test it...

ecub wrote in post #10301300
The bag opening from the bag is actually better. You don't want to walk down the street and someone trying to steal your gear by unzipping it. Or worse, it gets opened and you see a trail of camera equipment behind you. But I do agree about the lowepro being hard to stay open. I have a flipside 300 and I also have to fight to keep it open. Plus the lens near the hing of the flap is really hard to get to. I'm actually looking into the Crumpler Karachi outpost, which is another bag that opens from the rear, yet is easier to keep open.

For my purposes I am not really worried about theft and such. I need this to get to and from gigs. I won't be shooting on the streets with it. I'll use it to tak on a plane as well or any trip where I am taking a bunch of gear.