Which Camera Backpack?
 

Hi,

I usually carry my a6000 in my tankbag, but it will be too small for multiple lenses & I also don't like riding offroad with a tankbag.

Can anyone recommend a backpack for cam, 2-3 lenses and some additional space (daypack funtionality)?
Breast / hip belts are mandatory, I'd also prefer native waterproofness over one of these additional rain covers...

Curious about your experiences, thanks in advance :)

Tankbag:

I normally don't like to use a tankbag when offroading. I bought a wolfman enduro tankbag just before leaving for Africa and I'm very happy that I did. The tankbag was just small enough to not bother me offroad riding and fitted my Olympus OMD-E mark II with 14-150mm lens perfectly.

I bought the enduro model because it breathes better and I wanted to keep my electronics cooler. It is not waterproof but I did not care for that for Africa. They do have a waterproof model.


Backpack:

I like to have a backpack when travelling. I find it very usefull on and off the bike. If the backpack sits on your hips and have many adjustable straps, you don't feel the weight. My main criteria when selecting one is that it has compression strap on it to limit its thickness. When sitting far behind on the seat, I want to minimize contact with my rear luggage.

I did use a Deuter Winter Freerider 26 model and really liked it (it was not the latest model). They are heavy duty since they are made to carry heavy load (skis, snowboard, shovel). The top zip pocket was really nice to store items you need quickly.

The Deuter Freerider model backpack is not waterproof but you can buy really light dry bags and fit them inside the backpack. I do not like waterproof covers.

I would think twice about carrying a camera in a backpack for regular usage. It will be quickly annoying to take the backpack off everytime you want to take a picture. Also, you need to think about the damage to it and to you when crashing offroad.

If you just want to carry your camera since yours is small, you may want to look at fisherman packs. They have all sorts of pack. Some mount on the chest.

Patrick

Hi Patrick,

thanks for sharing your thoughts about the pros and cons.

I also use a rather small tankbag (Enduristan Sandstorm 4s), but I still feel annoyed by it when in the pegs. It might as well be too small for the Sony with lens & 2 additional lenses. Also, I never really liked the idea of having my camera shaking around that much when doing offroad.

Yes, taking the backpack of anytime when taking a photo might become annoying. But currently I have to fight with the zipper of the Sandstorm, take the cam pouch out, open the pouch & vice versa when done. Not a smooth workflow either :/ I use the pouch for extra padding & carrying the cam when off-bike, so I wouldn't want to leave it home.

Therefor I thought, a backpack might be the perfect solution. Enough space for cam & lenses & maybe some shopping, all in one place no matter if on or off the bike.
But you are right about the risk of getting hurt when crashing - on the other hand, this risk is there any time you carry a backpack when biking :(


I had a look around, the Lowepro Flipside Trek series might be a candidate. Unfortunately it has a raincover, but everything else looks good to me...


Lars

Lars,

Your tank bag would be too big for me:

- endurista sandstorm 4s: 30cm x 20cm
- wolfman enduro: 23cmx14cm

I tried a giant loop Fandango and found it too big.

Regarding the camera shaking, I did not have any problem after offroading a lot in Africa. I rode plenty of corrogation dirt roads at good speed to the point of breaking my frame in half. I added some padding at the bottom of the tank bag. Then the camera was in an open ziplock bag. To take a picture, All I had to do was unzip the tankbag and take the camera out. An open ziplock bag was enough since the camera and its lens are weatherproof.


I did look at some Lowepro backpack but I was put off by the zippers locations. They do allow quick access to electronics but I did not like the idea that when off the bike and walking, someone can also quickly open the bag. Also the strap at the waist did not look confortable for extended usage. Maybe the newer models are better.

Patrick

Patrick, have a look at the Flipside Trek series I mentioned. This models have the camera compartment on the body side :) I like this idea a lot, first because of the theft-risk you mentioned, second no hassle with the rain cover (when in use). Straps look good. 3 different sizes.
I think I'm gonna give them a try & report back :)

Anyway, any other suggestion / recommendations highly appreciated :)
Using a cam backpack seems a little unusual? How do you people handle multiple lenses or maybe even cams on ADV trips?

I usually use some regular nondescript backpack. I pack a DSLR, a flash and 1-4 lenses with that. I also pack a raincoat, several packs of handkerchiefs, various cloth bags etc which is both useful and serves as a padding for my gear.

If I really want to carry a lot of photographic gear, I switch to a Lowepro Flipside 400 aw instead.

Have a look at the bags by F-Stop. They are very good. A bit expensive, but if you have all your camera gear in there it probably pays to have a good bag. A few shops around Australia stock their stuff

Their website - https://fstopgear.com/

I have dragged mine all around the world and it never let me down. Best thing is they don’t look like camera bags.

The bag I have just started using for a motorcycle trip from Sydney to London is made by an American company called Atlas Packs. And I rate it on par with the F-stop bags, if not better! Again, on the pricey side, but I have over $7k worth of gear in there, so don’t mind spending a bit more. Their bags might be a little too big for what you are looking for.

Their website - https://atlaspacks.com/

Both bags don’t look like camera bags... that’s one of the main reasons I went for these bags





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Dakine Sequence
 

Dakine Sequence

I have many, many, many miles on one in a Downhill Mountain bike scenario as well as Skiing, traveling etc. I was a professional action sports photographer. There are a number of upsides.

The camera block fits internally but is removable, making it easy to pull the block out and just use the backpack, or if you're in town, carrying the block by hand as a stand-alone bag.

The design is excellent for athletic movement. External pockets compression straps + Tie Downs.

Great waist strap as well as chest. Good ventilation on the back panel.

The BIGGEST and MOST WORTHY item to mention...The bag opens from the back (Ie where your back sits in the pack). This is AMAZING for a few reasons. First, if you are in mud or dirt and it gets slung up onto the pack from the rear wheel of the moto or bicycle, it stays away from where you are handling your camera gear and doesn't drop into the camera block and contaminate your gear. THIS IS A BIG DEAL.

Second, when you put the bag down to access the gear, it stays on the already dirty side of the pack. It sucks when you are in the dirt and you have to put the strap side down into the muck to get to your gear, only to put the pack back on and cover your back with dirt and mud..

Third, because the zippers for entry into the camera gear are between your back and the pack, water tends to stay out better as well.

check it out here:
https://www.dakine.com/en-us/bags/ba...-33l-backpack/