Photography backpack, for skiing and mountain biking?

[Muddy Beast]

X-post from Ridemonkey...

So I'm in the market for a backpack for my camera gear. I want something that can hold a fair amount of extra stuff *not just camera gear* and be water proof in the camera section. A tripod holder would be nice as well. I like the Dakine (bigger, ski type) style backpacks and I wouldnt mind being able to use a hydration pack in it as I would be riding my bike and skiing with this packpack alot.

Heres what I have:
Canon XTi body
Canon 70-200mm F/4 "L"
Tamron 28-75mm F/2.8
Canon 50mm F/1.8
Canon 430EX II speedlite
Compact, light weight tripod

Heres what I want:
Water-proof camera department (that can be in snow for 8 hours)
Ski/mountain bike style backpack (agressive, I suppose)
Hydration compartment is a plus
Room for 1 camera body, and 3 extra lenses plus a flash. (Oviously my 70-200mm lens in that equation)
Tripod holder

I have a tamrac holster that fits my Canon XTi with 28-75 lens, and I have a Lowepro slingshot 100 that holds my Canon with 28-75mm, 50mm and 430 flash.

I've been looking at the Lowepro DryZone Rover Backpack. It seems to fit the bill pretty well, but for over $200 bucks I want to get other opinions before buying. Anyone have any complaints or experience with this backpack?

Also someone on ridemonkey suggested the Dakine Sequence, it looks good, but I'm not sure how much room it has or how waterproof it would be. Although, the plus side to it is how great it is for skiing so I can carry my shovel easily (one way or another I'll find a way to carry a shovel on any backpack)

Thanks.

P.S. Although I would use this to mountain bike and ski, it wont be JUST for that. I want the pack to carry around my gear in-general, as I dont have a bag currently big enough for what I have. So this will be used on vacations as well, and I wouldnt mind being able to carry my gear around in a good 'ol Washington rain storm and not worry. (Eventually it will be replaced with a propper bag though, so it needs to be good for the action later down the road)



Lowepro Dryzone rover


Dakine Sequence

[jorgemonkey]

I can tell you that you won't want to carry that much gear while out riding. I fit a D2h, 70-200, 12-24. 28-70, flash, pocketwizards, and a small light stand in my Camelbak hawg, but I only go short distances because of the weight of everything.

The bag looks like it would be great though as a camera bag.

I can't help too much on the waterproof/snow department since I'd much rather be at the beach, than in the snow

[Muddy Beast]

Yeah thanks...but I can assure you, I will be bringing my 28-75mm and 70-200mm lenses and a 15mm fish eye when I purchase one...of course, with my flash.

But this would only be for skiing and walking around places.

For mountain biking I would just bring my 28-75mm, and flash. I just want a better pack for it then my camelback with a holster.

[Photo-John]

Scott-
I've got that Lowepro backpack. It's responsible for a lot of great backcountry photos. I can ride with a camera, 70-200 f/2.8, 28-75 f/2.8, a wide angle zoom, flash, and radio slaves. And I can carry bike tools and a 50 oz bladder of water. I did a 28 mile ride with that backpack last fall. It fits great and carries a lot of gear really well.

However...

I really, really hate that waterproof zipper. It is the most offensive a worthless POS I've ever had to deal with. I would go so far as to call it dangerous. I hate it more every time I use it. It just flat doesn't work. Someone needs to make a video of me trying to use it. Except it would be rated X because of the language. On my way back from Interbike a couple of weeks ago, I was riding at Gooseberry and tried to zip it for about 10 minutes with no success. Imagine if you were way out there at sunset and that happened. Not good. Fortunately, there's also a buckle. It makes me nervous to use only the buckle. But it's either that or throw the backpack off a cliff. It's the best thing going out there for serious riding. But I hate it. I may see if someone can replace the zipper for me.

Waterproof? Who cares? I've had all kinds of backpacks in all kinds of conditions and I don't need waterproof. Snow is dry as long as it's frozen. You don't need waterproof in the snow unless it's really wet snow.

I have also had a couple of Deuter backpacks that were great. They didn't hold as much or carry the gear as well as the Lowepro. But the zippers worked - until I blew them out from overloading the packs. I might buy another larger one. The Transalp model is looking good. Then you buy a smalle camera bag to fit. It's a little slower to get to your gear. But you won't want to punt it off a cliff, either.

I wish Lowepro would make this same backpack without the stupid waterproof zipper. I think hydration is critical if you're riding. I wouldn't recommend it as-is. I would look at large hydration backpacks that you can pupt a camera bag in. Until someone makes a really good hydration camera backpack, I think that's the way to go. And it's a rotten shame because other than the zipper, the pack is great. But I guarantee the zipper will drive you crazy. And you don't need it.

[Muddy Beast]

Scott-
...I really, really hate that waterproof zipper...

Thanks John for the reply! I always know I can come to you for any photography help!

Anyhow, for the zipper, did you put the grease on it as directed with the instructions?

If so...it sounds like the Dakine is my best bet. I really wish the lowepro was cheaper and had a better zipper (as it sounds) because that hydration feature seems really nice...its a major draw back to not have water on a ride.

[Photo-John]

Thanks John for the reply! I always know I can come to you for any photography help!

Anyhow, for the zipper, did you put the grease on it as directed with the instructions?

If so...it sounds like the Dakine is my best bet. I really wish the lowepro was cheaper and had a better zipper (as it sounds) because that hydration feature seems really nice...its a major draw back to not have water on a ride.

Yeah, I use the lube. It helps. But it doesn't solve the problem.

I would say the Dakine is not the answer. If hydration is important, take care of that first. I've carried an SLR, 70-200, and all my other crap in the Deuter - with 70 oz of water. I never ride with a camera backpack. The water comes first. If you want to take more stuff, make your friends carry some. They're getting pictures, right? Tell them to pay up by carrying your flash.

[Muddy Beast]

well thats true water is important...but I figure I could rig up some sort of hydration system...

http://www.wigglesworld.klebos.com/s...ine/_page2.asp

The review on the dakine there was so good, that I just about bought the backpack when I was done reading it.

Problem is not many companies want to put hydration, and camera in the same sentance for their backpack description...it leaves people like you and I screwed.

What sort of deurter were you/are you using that your happy with? I can get camelbacks cheap since my shop sells them, but I cant think of a way to configure camera gear that I would be happy with...since I have 2 camelbacks and can do anything I would like to get out of the bag.

[Muddy Beast]

Anyone else out there have any ideas?

[Jimmy B]

Scott I have used my lowepro compu trekker plus AW to take stuff into SST to shoot.
I would go with the big camelbak and pack the stuff real good.
Jimmy

[mattbikeboy]

When I'm riding I carry my DSLR in a CamelBack Hawg. The cameras can go in the main compartment with the 70-300mm mounted and the 18-70 below/next-to. I pad everything with a clean t-shirt underneath so I can set it down. I can still carry 90oz of water, mtb tools, extra tubes (work as padding) and snackages. I don't normally carry more than my 18-70 when out riding since most of the stuff I like to shoot is up close or scenic. I do find that I ride a little more sanely when packing $1600 of camera equipment on my back. I also only pack my little Canon Elph when I'm tired (like the late on the second day of epic riding) and more prone to crashing.

mbb

[berrywise]

I've thought about adding two more buckles to my Rover just so I don't have to worry about only using one buckle. I only really try and zip up the zipper when I riding for a good distance before stopping or doing something like canoeing. I figure the waterproof part is gonna be okay for just shielding the gear below in case of a slow leak in the bladder or a pop or something.

But yeah the zipper blows and I find it rides up a bit high on me when riding and gets in the way with my helmet which can cause neck strain.