Heavy duty Camera backpacks

[Gaz-W]

Hi, I've got a canon eos350d along with four lenses and a tripod and would like a camera backpack that will carry all this as well as waterbottle/packed lunch/book/maps/waterproof jacket and such. does anyone have this sort of thing and which would you recomend I should get. I don't really want to spend a vast amount but want something that will last.

I've been looking on line and so far the Tamrac adventure 9 looks pretty good but I couldn't really tell how big it was or if there are straps for tripods. I also looked at the Tamrac expedition 8 and the Lowepro Dryzone Rover (which looks a bit too expensive). Are any of these any good or do you know of something better.

Cheers.

[HowlinWolf]

Hi Gaz-W,

I use the Lowepro Nature Trekker AW II. This bag will take a pro SLR and a 300mm f/2.8 lens attached (hood reversed), as well as several other lenses etc. It has the All Weather cover that stores in the base of the pack, and comes with the Lowepro Daypack, which can be attached to the rear of the pack, or used as a seperate entity. The bag also has a tripod pocket and straps, as well as loops to attach Street and Field Slip-Lock cases should you wish to carry more gear. Although it's a fairly big bag, it is comfortable to wear, distributing the weight well.
At the moment, Lowepro has a 20% cashback deal which runs until 31 August 2007.

HW

[WestLothian]

I now have a Lowepro too - the "Dryzone100" which keeps the scottish weather out, and a SLR with 300mm fitted and half a dozen smaller lenses inside. There is a hidden tripod carry pouch on the back and other compartments both in the dry and outer zones. The 20% off puts this at just under £100.

[geordie1970]

Originally Posted by WestLothian

I now have a Lowepro too - the "Dryzone100" which keeps the scottish weather out, and a SLR with 300mm fitted and half a dozen smaller lenses inside. There is a hidden tripod carry pouch on the back and other compartments both in the dry and outer zones. The 20% off puts this at just under £100.

.Have to agree about the Scottish weather It can hold a dslr with a bigma attached and several other lenses.

[Gaz-W]

Cheers for your advice I looked at both but decided to go for the Dryzone 100 purely because it claims to be waterproof. My Kodak C743 ceased to function correctly last week due to a bit of moisture and I'd hate the same thing to happen to my canon.

So while looking online for the best price I inadvertently stumbled on a Dryzone 200 fon offer at £100, I'd seen it elsewhere priced between £180-£300 so thought it was too much of a bargain to turn down.

Cheers for you advice, I wouldn't have found this with out it. I'll let you know what I think of it once it arrives.

[tee]

Hi

Last week I was doing a bag search, hubby n I are both into our photography and as an anniversary pressie I had said I would buy him a bag to take all the kit (yeah some of the quicker of you out there will have noticed the ploy here........ I can use it too!!!) anyway I have to admit we traveled about an hour to a shop that we knew stocked just about everything - lowepro, tamrac to name but a few... we spent an hour in the shop trying on everything from backpacks to belt systems and ended up coming out with a tamrac expedition 9 - the same as one of our walking / camera buddies - its a great bag - loads o storage.... 2 bodies at least 6 lenses etc.... a nice big pocket to the front which we didn't find until we got it home... and loads o little pockets.... the bottom pocket is deliberately designed for tripod feet (its waterproof and has a drain hole!!!) and then there are straps on the front to hold it on..... my camera buddie also manages to strap, stool, been bag and camo jacket to his when we're off out on an evening deer hunt....
I will admit that once loaded it is heavy but the waist strap helps alot, and I have to admit I would happliy take it for a days shooting (I'm only a little girly!) though I'm not sure I'd want to do a days hiking with it..... for that no-one will part me from my lowpro aw100 slingshot!
hope this all helps!

[WestLothian]

That sounds like a great price on the Dryzone 200. Which site was the offer on?

The waterproof claim looks justified; the inner shell has a waterproof patent zip that you need to seal and lubricate with silicone grease. Apparently it even floats when full of camera and lenses (If you take the extra time to do up the zip before dropping it in a river ).

[Interpreter]

The Dryzone 200 sounds good and the price is right. Will it go as hold baggage on an aircraft and how much does it weigh? My Peli is the maximum size for cabbin baggage but weighs 15lbs empty, which is the carry on allowance.

The cheapest way is for a man to pack his kit into M & S carrier bags. Then his wife will carry them for ever!

[Gaz-W]

Originally Posted by WestLothian

That sounds like a great price on the Dryzone 200. Which site was the offer on?

Found it on ebay, it was apparently an unwanted gift someone was selling. Couldn't resist the bargain, hopefully it'll be in virtually new condition as the seller claimed.

Originally Posted by Interpreter

The Dryzone 200 sounds good and the price is right. Will it go as hold baggage on an aircraft and how much does it weigh?

Not sure how much it ways but I've been told it's too big to use as hand luggage on a plane. But as I hope not to need to fly again it doesn't really matter.

[Gaz-W]

Got the bag & been using it for a couple of weeks now. Initially I wasn't impressed as the zip kept splitting. Had a look online though and it turns out you have to keep the zip lubricated for it to work and this one had been left to dry. Ordered a couple of tubes of lubricant and gave it a go and it's been excellent since.

Fits all my kit easily, the only downside being there is nowhere really to keep a water bottle while I am out and about, other than the main bag alongside my camera. Which probably wouldn't be a good idea.