Camera bag for camping

[EOS rebel]

Hi everyone,

I'm planning on going camping at the end of August and I'm starting to look at camera bags that would fit the bill. So I'd like to hear about your recommendations and experiences with camping and photography.

Requirements:
- max budget $300 CAD
- holds a tripod
- straps for sleeping pad/bag
- holds a APS-C camera with space for 10-22mm, 100mm L macro, 70-300mm L, and 430EX II flash
- compartment for other camping stuff (e.g. jacket and food)
- chest and/or waist straps

Bonus but not necessary:
- straps for tent
- rain cover
- pocket for hydration reservoir
- easy access to camera without taking off the bag completely (I like the idea of the Lowepro Flipside Sport but it doesn't work for camping)
- able to be used as airline carry-on

Stuff I've looked at so far: Lowepro Rover Pro and Vanguard Kinray

Thanks in advance for your advice.

[stefsan]

You might want to have a look at F-Stop packs like the Tilopa BC (http://shop.fstopgear.com/us/products/mountain/backpacks/tilopa-bc.html#.U8d29VY_Hoo). They don't come cheap (about 130$ over your budget) but they really deliver in terms of quality and versatility. I use them for skiing and mountaineering, trekking and for camping.

[stefsan]

One possible solution for not having to take off the backpack to get to your camera is a clip like Peak Design's Capture Pro (https://peakdesignltd.com/store/?c=clips). Works great if the weather is good 

[ahsanford]

In general:

This may be a bit above your price range, but this Gura Gear bag is designed expressly for mixed cargo:
http://www.guragear.com/uinta/

The F-stop Mountain series is similar in its configurability and chambering of different types of items:
http://shop.fstopgear.com/us/products/mountain.html

It seems a small distinction to have separate compartments, but it lets the nasty dirty campy stuff stay in a separate chamber. 

But in specifics, the type of camping you are doing defines your answer.  Car camping is not backcountry camping...

- A

[stefsan]

In general:

This may be a bit above your price range, but this Gura Gear bag is designed expressly for mixed cargo:
http://www.guragear.com/uinta/

The F-stop Mountain series is similar in its configurability and chambering of different types of items:
http://shop.fstopgear.com/us/products/mountain.html

It seems a small distinction to have separate compartments, but it lets the nasty dirty campy stuff stay in a separate chamber. 

But in specifics, the type of camping you are doing defines your answer.  Car camping is not backcountry camping...

- A

The Uinta looks good too but if you want to strap half a ton of additional gear to your pack and still be quite comfortable, I think there is nothing better than the F-Stop packs out there.

[degies]

I have a few , but only use the Rover Pro from LowePro for camping

http://degies.wordpress.com/2014/05/14/protecting-your-gear/
http://www.lowepro.com/rover-pro-aw

I updated my comment on this blog specifically for the Rover Pro. Just note the Rover pro is not really ideal for camping or hiking trips, but as photographer if you need to go for a longer hike or tramp for a few days it is a serious contender. It will take a small tent and a sleeping bag as well as your camera and tripod.
Just my 2c

[Logan]

you are much better off using a proper backpack and putting your camera gear in it. or strap a small camera back to your backpack. you will not have a good time trying to pack weight in a camera bag. i just put my lenses in their soft cases in the lid of my gregory pack, and hang my camera in a dry-sack (brooks bag) off a shoulder strap, or on a capture clip if its dry out.

you arent going to get a hiking backpack on as carryon

[can0nfan2379]

You might want to have a look at F-Stop packs like the Tilopa BC (http://shop.fstopgear.com/us/products/mountain/backpacks/tilopa-bc.html#.U8d29VY_Hoo). They don't come cheap (about 130$ over your budget) but they really deliver in terms of quality and versatility. I use them for skiing and mountaineering, trekking and for camping.

+1 I too have a Tilopa BC -- awesome bag!!! Most camera backpacks have lousy harnesses.  The Tilopa has a great harness and wait for it......load lifter straps -- which pretty much every other camera back pack doesn't....

[LarryC]

you are much better off using a proper backpack and putting your camera gear in it. or strap a small camera back to your backpack. you will not have a good time trying to pack weight in a camera bag. i just put my lenses in their soft cases in the lid of my gregory pack, and hang my camera in a dry-sack (brooks bag) off a shoulder strap, or on a capture clip if its dry out.

you arent going to get a hiking backpack on as carryon

+1   If you're car camping or day hiking it really doesn't matter.  If your backpacking, neoprene lens bags for storage in your pack is the way to go.  I will often also strap a lowepro lens bag and a top loader to either waist strap of my Osprey, or put the top loader on my pack's chest harness.  Tripod goes on the outside. 

[NancyP]

The problem with most camera-specific packs is the suspension. Suspension is poorly designed, or if well designed, is "one size fits all". F-Stop is a very well designed pack IF your body fits it. F-Stop bags are made for torso length 18" or so - sized for an average build man. They do not fit short-torsoed people even if you fiddle with the load lifters. The F-stop bags have the flexibility needed for carrying variable proportions of camera gear and camping gear. I mail-ordered the 62 liter Satori, and there's no question that the bag can accommodate a DSLR kit plus a long weekend of gear and food/water. I am an inexperienced pack camper, am short-torsoed, approximately 15" - 16", and didn't know about proper suspensions. I used the Satori on a camping trip, found it rode very well on the hips with a 35# load, but my shoulders hurt because the pack straps didn't distribute the load close enough to my upper back despite using the very ample range of adjustments on the pack. I have devised a home-made 2.5 " thick accessory shoulder pad for the Satori to hopefully solve this problem, and will test it under load soon. I hope it works. The access on the F-Stop packs is superb, with a U-shaped giant zipper panel on the foam back panel (actual frame is a wire skeleton instead of a framesheet). You put your pack down on its base or front, unzip back panel to expose the camera unit, unzip camera unit to get at the lenses etc.

There is one commercial (tiny business) photopack from www.photobackpacker.com that has adjustable torso, adjustable straps, a technical-style pack suspension system based on Granite Gear packs (excellent technical pack company), and it was made originally for ..... VIEW CAMERAS. There is now an insert for DSLRs. The foam padded camera and lens holders attach to a board so that the weight rides against the suspension board, and the front panel of the pack has wide zipper access. If I weren't trying to save my investment in the F-Stop pack, I would have bought this - I found out about this from large format users after I had bought the F-Stop pack. The owner is very responsive, and if you had a special need, he might be able to customize extra D rings, etc.  Workmanship is excellent. Owner is a retired engineer and large format photographer.

The other option is to shop around for technical packs that have a way to easily access your camera gear. Most technical packs are top loaders, without significant access to the main compartment from side or front. A few packs have both top and front/side access. If I can't jury rig my existing F-Stop pack for long-hike heavy -load comfort, I may look at the few dual access packs out there and see if my F-Stop camera inserts work in them. Deuter and Granite Gear and possibly Gregory have some pack models of interest.

The

[dcm]

I use Gregory packs on the trail with my camera equipment (z30, z55) depending on amount of gear I'm carrying.  It's much more comfortable, especially with the additional gear for a long day hike or overnight.  Camera gear goes in appropriate hard/soft cases.  Some packs have both top and side load.  Placement depends on weight, heavier usually goes lower in the pack.  There are good attachment points for carrying a camera on the front.

Pack suspensions vary depending on size/weight they are intended to carry.  It's much better to use a larger pack that can handle the load than overloading a small pack and attaching things on the outside. 

[EOS rebel]

In general:

This may be a bit above your price range, but this Gura Gear bag is designed expressly for mixed cargo:
http://www.guragear.com/uinta/

The F-stop Mountain series is similar in its configurability and chambering of different types of items:
http://shop.fstopgear.com/us/products/mountain.html

It seems a small distinction to have separate compartments, but it lets the nasty dirty campy stuff stay in a separate chamber. 

But in specifics, the type of camping you are doing defines your answer.  Car camping is not backcountry camping...

- A

Thanks for the suggestions. I want something that would be usable for backcountry camping and portaging in the future.

The F-stop bags look very nice, but with a large price tag too...

you are much better off using a proper backpack and putting your camera gear in it. or strap a small camera back to your backpack. you will not have a good time trying to pack weight in a camera bag. i just put my lenses in their soft cases in the lid of my gregory pack, and hang my camera in a dry-sack (brooks bag) off a shoulder strap, or on a capture clip if its dry out.

you arent going to get a hiking backpack on as carryon

I already have a bag that I use for air travel, so not being able to use the bag as a carry-on is alright by me.

[NancyP]

I forgot one thing - there are all sorts of foam inserts for conversion of ordinary large purses into camera bags. I am rooting around in my closet looking for a suitable purse to convert. Look on Amazon or eBay. These would serve well as a way to corral all the lenses together. Also, a fishing reel case may work, I found one at Cabela's, but it is the same size as my F/Stop Medium camera storage unit. However, it is one third the price of the F/Stop insert.

[Eagle Eye]

I've found that camera bags just don't do backpacking very well. I settled on a Mountainsmith Kit Cube bag, available from B+H. It fits into small backpacks or full backcountry bags and will hold a camera and three lenses (one attached). It is independently water resistant and well padded (not overly padded). My advice is to get the Kit Cube and buy bags that are designed for your outdoor sport.

[NancyP]

Thanks for the tip concerning Mountainsmith inserts. They have a nice small insert that would be just right for me.