The single strap bags are really nice for being able to just rotate them
around to the front for access. I'm going to try one for lift skiing this
year. Any double strap bag is more difficult for access without sitting it
down. The amount of weight you are considering may be a little much for a
single shoulder strap but there is a cheap way of testing this. The GAP
stores sell a bag like this that is amazingly well made for the price. I
think we paid about $18. There are many photo back pack bags that work very
well for carrying cameras and lenses but they aren't much good for anything
else. Some have a chamber for a lunch or some clothes. I prefer to use a
general purpose pack and carry the camera equipment in padded lens and
camera cases. Most packs now have d-rings on the front of the straps so you
can hang a bag on the front for a quick-access camera. I have two packs that
I really like for their versatility. The smaller one is a DaKine Poacher
(~$100) which is really a snowboarding pack. It has an internal hydration
unit sleeve and many other features for carrying different things. The
larger is a North Face Patrol pack ($200) which is built for back-country
ski patrollers. This thing has the ability to carry about anything in
various external fittings. If you carry portable blinds or tripods, packs
like this are excellent. There is a huge variety of backpacks available.
Most of the people selling them aren't photographers so you will need to
look at a lot of them and figure out what works best for you. One thing to
think about is the size of the pack because you will tend to put in as much
stuff as the bag will hold and that can get heavy. The packs made for
climbing and back-country skiing tend to all be of high quality. Of course,
the usual advice on this list is to buy one of each and try them all. Happy
hunting. /jim
-----Original Message-----
From: owner-olympus@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:owner-olympus@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]On Behalf Of Winsor Crosby
Sent: Sunday, November 24, 2002 8:50 AM
To: olympus@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Re: [OM] Backpack/case question.
>I am thinking that a backpack might be a good idea for my
>photography treks. Does anyone have any advice/opinions (damn silly
>question for this list) about what is available. Information that
>might help in giving advice is that I'm rather tall (6'4" and have a
>long torso) and I want to carry two bodies and at least one long
>lens in addition to others. Long lens meaning either a 300mm f2.8
>or 400mm f4 Tamron. Are there packs that are easier/quicker to get
>out of than others? Which tend to be most comfortable? Thanks in
>advance. Bill Barber
Unless you have tons of equipment to carry I think that the type of
bag with a waistbelt and shoulder strap tends to be a little more
flexible in carrying. Certainly it is easier to get something in and
out without having to set it down in mud, snow, dirt, sand or
whatever. I have an old Galen Rowell bag and a Lowe Pro with such a
system and the LP is the more comfortable with better padding in the
straps and belt. Their waist belt/suspender system of bags that can
attached and removed certainly looks most usable and flexible.
--
Winsor Crosby
Long Beach, California
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