From the author of Bag Quest IV: The Search for Schlock comes the latest in the Bag Quest Series. Hopefully you all can point me in the right direction.
Need help finding a multi-use photo backpack for travel/vacation use with the following design requirements:
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Need help finding a multi-use photo backpack for travel/vacation use with the following design requirements:
- Multi-use: The backpack should be roughly half-dedicated to my 5D3 + 2-3 stout but not huge lenses like the 16-35 f/4L IS or 24-70 f/4L IS and half dedicated to personal items like food/jacket/book/ipad/sunglasses/etc.
- Size: Must fit under a airplane seat in US coach / be roughly the size of a regular high-school backpack or perhaps a shade bigger.
- Style: Cannot clearly and obviously be a camera bag: No black foam cubey coffins on my back.
- It would be nice if the photo part of the bag can be completely removed for more space on days that I am not shooting.
- Must come with a rain cover or have a solid waterproof material and waterproof zippers.
- Breathable/padded straps and back rest are a near must as I'm based out of California and sun is a real menace. A hip strap / pad / belt is not needed for this payload.
- Would like to have a separate hatch to get the camera out without putting the bag on the ground or rummaging to the bottom of a large single-chambered rucksack.
- No bougie Billingham safari-style nonsense or Ona / Belstaff / Holdfast $500 fashion pieces. The mantra is to avoid looking like a tourist and avoid looking like I own a yacht.
- Tripod straps are not a must but I wouldn't say no to them.
- Zero need for using this while hiking. No need for a camel-back compatibility or anything like that.
- Quick / simple access to everything is what I want -- I'm not in love with tented flaps, rolltops you need to uncoil, and buckles are annoying when you try to open a bag that's under an airplane seat. Keep it simple.
- Zero need for a laptop compartment. I usually just travel with the iPad (the mini Retina one).
- Budget: $200-300-ish, but if it's perfect... I'm listening. I want something well built.
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