In need of the ultimate bag

I travel with my gear, and I have to take the tripod, the gear, the computer and personal stuff alone most of the time. I find the best way to take the tripod is actually with my Bazooka. I can always wear it with the strap across the chest or on the shoulder. As for the books and laptop and gear, there are great backpacks out there including some new ones from TT and Lowepro. Would you consider a roller bag that can be a backpack or shoulder bag as well?

Hope this comment helps...
Bags range from shooters bags to steamer trunks.
The shooter bag -- camera is always available. (Domke; perhaps, but not sure...Think Tank Retro series.)
Steamer trunk--i keep buying these! They keep the camera and your gear protected no matter what. You have to unpack them to get your gear out. (My Father was Navy--his trunk went around the world during WWII and the Korean War. All his gear survived.)

My last bag purchase was well thought out. It's a Think Tank Urban Disguise 40. It's great until I load it. Darn it's heavy! If I were rich I would replace it with a Retro 10 by Think Tank. But that won't carry your tripod.

Backpack?

Best,

I have the UD40. It's my travel bag on planes. Fits the laptop and a few books with the camera and 2 lenses and a flash. No tripod, though.

Vanguard Uprise or TT Street walker!

SuzyV--how do you fit a laptop in the UD40? I don't have one, but would wonder how it would fit??

Does the strap need to break in somehow? I haven't had it long, and it doesn't feel all that comfortable or seems to slide off my winter coat...

SuzyView wrote in post #11618991
I have the UD40. It's my travel bag on planes. Fits the laptop and a few books with the camera and 2 lenses and a flash. No tripod, though.

The new Urban Disguse V2.0 bags have a number of optional accessories which make them, in my opinion at least, some of the most functional bags on the market. Among these accessories are tripod straps which you can use to lash a tripod to the bottom of the bag to carry it around. Also available is an attachable shoulder harness so you can carry your bag like a backpack if it's heavy and you don't need to work out of it. I just ordered a UD50V2.0 and hopefully it will be here soon!

Sorry, I thought it was the 40, but I have the 50. And that fits a 15.6 inch laptop. Thanks for the correction. It's just a little larger than the 40.

I'm in the same situaiton, need a camera bag that also holds my school notebook, calculator, netbook, etc. I tried the Urban Design 50 first, but it was smaller than I hoped. Anyhoo, the Think Tank Retrospective 30 is wider at the bottom, and holds what I need. Note, I don't carry a ton of school stuff, just a spiral or two, and sometimes a small composition book for lab. Anyway, here's my review with photos.

Thanks for the help guys! I decided on the Retro 30! I'm excited

i know you have already decided but just in case anyone else is looking for a bag. if anyone want something a little smaller then you can look into the Timbuk2 bag as well.

http://www.timbuk2.com …ra/snoop-camera-messenger