4 season pack recommendations for camera carrying backpacker. Up to 10 day trips.

Your kit (thus far) is pretty light and relatively low volume sans camera gear. I would suggest finishing out your list with the rest of your items and then see how much volume you really need.

Figure out roughly what you'll actually carry (including clothing) for each hiking situation (desert, alpine, winter, summer etc) and how much volume/load capacity is needed before you buy another pack.

That being said, you'll probably be better off with two packs as one that will fit the your winter 10 day kit will be quite a bit different than your summer 2 day kit. The 85 liter will work for winter for ten days, but will be comically over sized for a summer weekend.

You'll get a lot of good suggestions from members with varying opinions here, and I am no expert, but I think something like the Exos 58 would give you a better starting point than the 85L.

Thanks a lot for your insight. I do agree, I will probably need 2 packs. I'm leaning more towards the bigger 85L for the moment as I leave for a Europe trip in 8 weeks (Iceland/Norway/Switzerland/Germany) and I will be using it as my main pack/storage for everything. Unfortunately for such a trip I will need multiple pairs of shoes etc so that takes a lot of space. I also have a 5 night hike in the Enchantments (Washington State) from September 30 so the 85L might come in handy there as I'll need a lot of rain proof gear in case.

I will probably get a 50/60L when I get back to the US afterwards. I was looking at something like the Gossamer Gear Mariposa UL or the ULA circuit.. though I dislike the top loading only.. seems like it would be a pain to keep everything easily accessible?

You want to identify the type of photography that you do and the kind of camera gear that you carry.

Back in the old film days, I carried my camera inside the top of my backpack in order to protect it. I could never get my camera out fast enough to shoot wildlife. Then I noticed that Galen Rowell was carrying his camera in a "kangaroo pouch" (waist pack in front). Some of his most famous works came that way.

I've also been carrying about ten pounds of DSLR camera gear, but I go after wildlife, so I need to be able to whip the camera out and shoot within a matter of seconds with a long lens. For that, I recommend a Lowepro camera holster on a shoulder strap. I've tried Kata and other brands, but I don't like them.

I occasionally shoot scenery. If it is sunset scenery with failing light, then I use a tripod, but it is a dinky little 17-ounce tripod that I carry in the back mesh pocket on the main pack.

–B.G.–

Here's his camera gear

Camera Gear
Weight qty
Camera Nikon D800E 32 oz 1
Lens Nikon 14-24 f2.8 34 oz 1
Lens Nikon 16-35 f4 24 oz 1
Filters Lee grads 5 oz 1
Ball-Head RRS BH-55 30.4 oz 1
Tripod Manfrotto 190XPROB 63.5 oz 1
11.81 lb

You could probably get by with a ULA Ohm 2.0 but a Circuit would probably be a better choice. A Catalyst if you plan on packing bulkier winter items.

That D800E gives me some class 10 camera envy!

Sorry yes, I've now update the OP. Thanks!

Just a couple quick thoughts after looking at your list again:

Going to a ULA circuit will save you 37oz while the Catalyst will save you 28oz.
Switching to a Sawyer Mini will save you about 10oz.
You could easily loose several ozs by switching to a alcohol or Esbit stove and try one pot cooking.
You don't have your packed clothing listed which can weigh well over a pound.

Calculate 2lbs per day for food so 20lbs for a 10 day trip.

Depending on the choices you make, and hopefully you're not filling that 3L reservoir to capacity, your total pack weight is starting to creep towards 40lbs for a 10 day trip. With the photography hardware you're carrying, IMO this isn't bad but the Catalyst is starting to look like a winner over the Circuit.

Also,

Take a look at the Trailpix Tripod paired with their heavy duty ball-head and see if that would work for your purposes. I haven't ordered mine yet so I can't speak from personal experience but this is an area where you could potentially save almost five lbs.

If you don't need your tripod to shoot portrait shots, it might be worth considering.

http://www.trail-pix.com/

Far be it from me to question your need for 10lbs of camera gear
plus the tripod. I wonder if anyone ever told Ansel Adams that
he didn't "really need" that View Camera, a Brownie 620 would be fine ?
While the 4 3/4lb weight of the pack alone makes me cringe real
lightweight packs are not designed/built to carry much more than
30 lbs. Just look at the specs on each one. I think that carrying
at teh Max. Recommended is kind of pushing it for comfort too.
Have you considered a Pack Llama or Goat ?

Larry S

Ian,

The trailpix is nice, but I'm not positive I'd trust a D800 on it. I was a bit nervous with my D7100. Of course it wasn't the ballhead that was the worry. The third leg is a bit flimsy for my liking.

That said, I like the trailpix for my purposes where I am rarely need a tripod, and only want one several times a day. I will be taking it this summer in place of BH30 and Gitzo 0542. I feel "ok" with my a6000 on it, especially as long as I hover around it to protect it!

just my thoughts…

Ortlieb V Shot – http://www.ortliebusa.com/prodInfo.asp?pid=379&cid=2

For the reasons others have given I prefer to carry my camera gear on my front of my chest connected to my pack straps with 2 small S-biners. Note the Orlieb on my chest in my profile pic.

It comfortably holds:

1. Micro 4/3 camera(Olymp OMD-EM5) with 14-42 lens attached;
2. 50-150 Zoom
3. Samsung smarphone used to bluetooth text message via my inreach;
4. Spare camera battery; and
4. Dictaphone.

It is completely waterproof and submersible. It has travelled downriver hanging upside down from the gunwhale of an overturned canoe through class III rapids with no leakage nor damage – it is very well padded.

Derrick

"The trailpix is nice, but I'm not positive I'd trust a D800 on it. I was a bit nervous with my D7100. Of course it wasn't the ballhead that was the worry. The third leg is a bit flimsy for my liking."

Yeah the extra leg they provide appears to be the achiles heel of that system although they're advertising it that it'll hold the Canon 5d. In the picture with the Canon, they are using a third trekking pole which is probably the route I'd want to go (in theory) with a full frame DSLR. He's also carrying 1/3 of the Nikon holy trinity lenses which complicates matters further.

For me to carry an extra BD Carbon Cork is an additional 9ish oz (you can buy a cheaper version from Costco.) Add that to the 5.2oz of the Trailpix and their heavy duty ball head and you still end up saving 79.7oz over the tripod and ball-head he's carrying now. Include some of the other tips for reducing weight to this and he's removed a bit over seven lbs from his pack.

I won't order my Trailpix until next week and don't have access to a full frame DSLR to say whether this would work or not but by looking at the weight of his current tripod, dang it's worth a try.

Derrick,

Nice looking camera case. From their website I see it's close to a lb in weight. How much do you save by removing the strap?

Probably could save a couple grams by removing the carrying handle as well but at $190, I'm not sure I'd have it in me to do it.

I tried to use a chest pack as a camera bag, but I lost my view of my feet, and that caused me to trip over things in the trail. By having a camera holster over my neck and under one arm, that view is good. I'm righthanded, so the holster fits between my right arm and my right front pocket.

I'm not convinced at all about the Trail Pix tripod. For most tripods like that, you really want some stiff bracing among the legs about halfway to the ground. A big heavy carbon fiber tripod doesn't need bracing, but that is because the metal bracket at the top of the legs would probably support an elephant. When I have a few thousand bucks into a camera rig, I don't intend to put it on a tripod that has no reliable weight rating.

Also, in case the wind is blowing, you really want some place along the center of gravity of the tripod where you can hang a ballast bag. That may consist of a rock that you pick up, but you need a good hook there.

–B.G.–

Hi, similar boat! I used to carry a DSLR and a tripod into the woods.

One pack never did it all. I settled on two packs. I have a very light 40L pack (Boreas Buttermilk) that I use in the summer, and then I have a brutally large Kelty frame pack, 66 liters I think but lots of external capacity. That's for winter and car camping.

Honestly, it's nice having the giant Kelty. I can beat it up and it doesn't care. I can carry gear for a friend or ladyfriend without burdening them. I always know I have the space.

So, consider two packs.

Actually…. Look! You can see both in my avatar right now. Ha!

This is a timely post as I am in the same situation (and have looked at the same Osprey pack as you). I also had planned on using my F-Stop small ICU inside the pack, but I’m starting to wonder if there isn’t a better way. Having to dig out the camera/lens any time I wanted to use the camera might become tiresome after a while. Not to mention taking up a significant amount of space in the pack.

I haven’t tried it yet but I’m leaning towards trying a ThinkTank belt with pouches for the two lenses, fliters, and my 5D3 (might use a chest pack for the camera). This way I can be separate from by pack and still have all my camera gear with me if I need to move around after I’m on location.

http://www.apogeephoto.com/oct2012/ThinkTank_photos/LoadedBelt.jpg

Also, I have the same ballhead as you and just recently picked up the smaller BH-30. It is 19 ounces lighter and it supports my 5D3 and 70-200 with no problems. I didn’t go for their smallest BH-25 as it doesn’t have a locking pan knob, which I find useful.

How does the Small Pro ICU fit in your bag? Do you keep it at the top facing up?
-Dave

Thanks guys, I've been out so unable to respond till now. I appreciate your comments! Unfortunately Ian, I don't think that tripod will stand up to a D800E (heavier than 5D as far as I'm aware) and the 14-24 lens. The 14-24 alone is heavier than the camera. I hate the fact I have to carry so much weight in camera gear but as they say, thems the breaks.

I'm not much a fan of having external belts/chest straps with pouches dangling off them everywhere. It seems like it could be extremely irritating and perhaps, depending on where it's located also block some vision. I do have a Rapid Strap which sometimes I attach my camera to and it sits down by one of my hips. They are a great strap, but sometimes I get sick of having to think about the camera there and worry about it knocking onto something.

I can knock off a pound and a half from my tripod weight by going carbon fiber, which is something I plan to do soon.. and the person who mentioned downgrading to the smaller RRS ball-head is probably right as well, so I can probably shave a couple of pounds of my camera gear.

I think people are right in suggesting two bags. One for the long 10 days trips and week long winter trips. Another pack for the rest of the trips. As I said, the majority of my trips will be under 3 nights, but I do have that Europe trip coming up that I need quite a bit of space for.

Oh and for the person who mentioned it, I am also planning to replace my Katadyn filter with the Sawyer Mini. It was a purchase I did before I knew any better ha.

Whaaaa?!? You mean you've never had >$5k in camera equipment bounce off of a boulder?

Yeah me neither. Of course I've spent less on all of my camera equipment since the day I was born than what you have invested in your D800E and f2.8 so I can understand your concern.

At any rate, it sounds like you have a very enviable set-up. Have fun with those toys.

Thanks Ian! It's a hobby I take very seriously, and who knows, one that one day I might be able to make some money from (I currently only sell a few shots here and there). I also do a lot of stacking shots of multiple exposures/focal points so I need to trust the tripod head will not move a millimeter between shots.

@ Ian

I got it down to 11.7 ounces with the strap and an internal pocket removed. I then sewed on some stretch webbing inside and shockchord outside and its final weight is 12.8.

I initially struggled with its weight given how much I have invested in other gear to get my weight down. It does weigh more than almost any other single gear item but I could not find another bag which accomplished my goals like this one:

1. Reliably waterproof in extended submersion;
2. Heavily padded for impact
3. Easy access to my camera so I can use it and not just carry it.

The cost is fierce too, especially when importing.

Derrick