For the bikers.

[bitflogger]

What packs are you using to carry a SLR and gear?

I can get my XT w/17-85 IS and 430EX flash in my older CamelBak Blowfish, and I use a non-bike pack when I carry more stuff. The CamelBak really only works best camera only if it's a long ride or if I can't get somebody else to carry some of my stuff (tubes, food etc...)

I am looking at camera-specific products, but it seems their makers have not considered how much water a person consumes trail riding. I may still get a new backpack that's camera-specific just to be able to carry more stuff in general and for storage.

Comments appreciated 'cause this is about the only place I've seen people who bike and carry more than a point and shoot.

Thanks.

[jorgemonkey]

When I ride and shoot I plan on myself riding carefully and not doing anything stupid while I have my camera gear in my backpack. Of course as soon as the backpack coems off its all fair game. Right now I carry my D70 or D1h, flash, and a lens or two in my camelback hawg. It all fits really well and the pack cinches down enough that my gear does flop around.

I too am in the process of looking for a camera specific backpack for lugging my gear around on normal days as well as while I'm riding.

[Photo-John]

I have huge Tamrac backpack for my normal camera bag. I would never consider riding with it. For riding, I have a Deuter Superbike hydration pack. It's the most comfortable hydration pack I've ever had and I can fit my EOS 10D with 28-135 or 28-75mm lens, a fisheye, and a 550EX flash inside. I put the camera and lenses in a small Tamrac waist bag that I put inside the Deuter. It rides well, the camera is safe, and I have a pretty flexible camera kit to ride long distances with. I've ridden with this on all the trails at Whistler, Bootleg Canyon, long XC rides - I can do anything with it.

If I need more gear, I just hike and take the big Tamrac. I would never consider riding with a real camera backpack. None of them fit well enough and I insist on having a hydration bladder. I've talked to the camera bag makers about what I do but so far no one has stepped up with anything that works. I think the market is pretty small so it's probably not worth the investment. Plus, the Deuter works so well that I don't really care anymore. Lately I've been thinking of buying a second Deuter so that I can have two - one for me and one for whoever I'm riding with. That would seriously increase the amount of equipment I can ride with.

[fumehood]

This same subject is currently being discussed at CameraCourage.com. From everything I have read on forums, nobody is really satisfied w/ what is available currently on the market. Basically, there is not a hydration/camera pack on the market…LowePro just came out w/ one, but I don’t like it one bit. I say, lets all figure out what we want and see if we can get someone to build it. So, go over to CameraCourage.com and check out what I am looking for and add your 2 cents.

We may not be a huge market, but Burton and Dakine are making photo backpacks for snowboarders, so maybe we cold at least get them to modify their packs to meet our needs too. Anyone have any contacts w/ any of the pack manufactures?

[Photo-John]

I don't like the Dakine stuff at all. I think it's more about style than function. I have contacts at all the camera bag manufacturers and have been bugging all of them for years. The message I always get is that "it's a nice idea, but..." I agree that it's because we don't represent a very large market. On the other hand, I do think that if someone built a good one, people would buy it. How many cyclists thought they needed a hydration pack when they first came out?

There is a new company that has expressed interest. That's Think Tank Photo, a company that came out of LowePro and caters to pro sports photographers and photojournalists.

The thing is, I love my Deuter because of the fit. So I'd rather stick with it and a camera bag inside. I don't think any of the camera bag manufacturers make a pack that fits and rides right. I don't think they're really capable. It would be better to go to a company like Deuter, who make great-fitting hydration packs, and have them build a camera insert. What do you think of that?

[brianc]

I use a Deuter TransAlp. As John said, very comfy. and nice and large. I tuck my Tamerac bag with the strap removed. I can carry my 10D body with either a 17-40mm or a 70-200mm, and my 550ex. I still have plenty of room for all my normal MTB gear, 3L of H2O, and could probibly fit more camera gear if I wanted to. One of the best features is the pack has a built in rain fly. it's saved me more than a few times.

[fumehood]

It would be better to go to a company like Deuter, who make great-fitting hydration packs, and have them build a camera insert. What do you think of that?

That is pretty much what I envisioned. Instead of getting a company to make a totally new bag, try to get them to enhance a current pack to meet our needs. That way they are not trying to sell a new product, a new product that they are unsure of the market for.

Why do you guys like the Deuter so much compared to other packs you have tried? Unfortunaly, I have never tried a Deuter. What other features would you like to change in the Trans Alpine to make it a better photo pack (besides a camera insert)? As far a access to a camera inset, it looks like the current Deuter pack are not the best design. It looks like you would have to unzip the pack dig through the stuff on top of the inset, pull out the insert, open the insert and finally you have your camera; then you have to put it all back. I want to unzip the pack and have access to the gear, no diging, no removing, just shooting the camera.

Is the Dakine Camera Block any good?

[mtbbrian]

A CamelBak HAWG works OK enough.
I have done rides with an F100 body with the MB15 attached and two lenes.
Brian

[Photo-John]

The reason I like the Deuters so much is the fit. I can ride my singlespeed or my big bike in any kind of terrain with my full ride kit in the Deuter. By the way, that's a Deuter Superbike, and I'm on my second one. Just got a brand new one. Back to the subject - riding. When I say I can ride - that means I can hit jumps, drops, and ride any kind of technical terrain, comfortably, with the backpack on. I've never worn a dedicated camera backpack that I'd want to ride with. They all fit just sloppy enough that I'd worry about them slipping. They're also not made to help keep a low center of gravity. Actually - that's one area where the Deuter could be better. But the bottom line is - the fit is key.

If I could have exactly what I want, I think I'd make an insert to fit in the Deuter. It would sit on top of extra clothes and be fitted perfectly to the backpack. It would be padded and have a velcro flap on top so that I could just tear it open, but it would still protect the top of the camera case. The outside of the backpack should have attachments so that you could add large lens cases and other accessories.

One thing I like about having a backpack that's not too big is that I don't take too much stuff. I'm not XC superstar. I'm slow - especially uphill. And at altitude. So the more I take, the slower it's going to be. I like having to choose my gear carefully. If there's a shot that's really important, I'll figure out how to get it with less gear, I'll hike, or I'll distribute the equipment.