What do you fill your bean bag with???

[stephen p]

Hey Everyone,

I have a bean bag which is great but i find it's just heavy to carry around.
It is filled with rice, which is the reason i think it's heavy.

Im not sure on what to fill it with that will work great but not be to heavy?

Would be good to know what you use.

Cheers,

Stephen

[forevergreen]

I dont use a beanbag but maybe you should try using those small polystirene balls you usually find in beanbags and things. I think you can get them from some super markets or maybe homebase or british homestores im not sure but i think they would be lighter than rice wouldnt they?

[John D]

You'll find polystyrene balls don't really give the firm bedding that is required for holding a camera and long lens. Better with rice, barley, peas or beans etc. Yes this will make the bag heavier but much better for the purpose it is used for. Keeping the camera etc as rock steady as possible.
The alternative in some cases can be a monopod.
John D

[stephen p]

Cheers guys, i've been thinking about polystyrene but like you said john it doesnt really give much support. Im thinking lentils would be good??

I use a monopod almost all the time but sometimes a bean bag is very handy.

Cheers,

Stephen

[Brocker]

I found the best filling for a bean bag is 'blind baking beads'. You can get these from good homeware suppliers. They are around the size of a pea and are a kind of sandstone. They are porous which makes them even lighter but they form a very steady support. The other option is washed and dried cherry pips. They are similar in weight.

[PMG]

I have rice in mine at the min but I'm going to swap it for a mix of wild bird food!! Kill two and all that!! Things like the Snow Buntings in Norfolk - a bag of bird food is needed to get them to come to you but why carry a seperate heavy bag and a bean bag and a tripod and ........ when you could pinch a bit of bird seed out of the 'bean bag' - just remember to refill it regularly

Pauline

[Blackbrook Eye]

Originally Posted by PMG

I have rice in mine at the min but I'm going to swap it for a mix of wild bird food!! Kill two and all that!! Things like the Snow Buntings in Norfolk - a bag of bird food is needed to get them to come to you but why carry a seperate heavy bag and a bean bag and a tripod and ........ when you could pinch a bit of bird seed out of the 'bean bag' - just remember to refill it regularly

Pauline

I have mine filled with sunflower kernels for the same reason, they are lightweight, solid enough to support your kit, and handy for ' pulling the birds ' but then again I always was a cheapscate

[GerryNick2]

Whilst a more expensive option a popular fill is to use plastic 'Hama Beads' which can be purchased from Childrens toy shops and craft stores. Amazon do a bucket of 10,000 for £10. I pinched mine from the kids which they had when they were younger.
They perform very well for supporting heavier kit, are light weight and no problems if they get wet unlike rice and lentils etc.

Gerry

[rlchew]

I fill my beanbag with rice (not my best quality risotto rice but the cheap, value horrible stuff ) and it is not heavy in itself but when you are also carrying a tripod, camera body, lenses, telescope, binoculars, something to eat, something to drink, mobile phone, notebook ....

Richard

[MalcolmX]

beans