NigelCo2

Does anyone have a recommendation for a sturdy backpack type case for carrying my equipment? I travel a fair bit and need something sturdy, but also portable. I won't check my equipment, so need something that will allow me to carry the equipment on board. I have a Nikon D750 with 24-120mm zoom, 70-300 mm zoom and a large 14-24mm AF-S lens. The latter is bulky and comes with it's own case. I'd rather have something where I can fit all this into one backpack. Any suggestions?

jims203 Loc: Connecticut

Lightweight holds a lot and fits under the seat. Lowepro Photo Hatchback 22L AW Backpack (Galaxy Blue). My favorite for hiking too.

Dr.Nikon Loc: Honolulu Hawaii

With all that gear .., you will need the latest from Lowepro ... the Lowepro Pro Trekker 450 AW... not to be confused with any other model of Lowepro ..,

$259 On Adorama 1 left right now .., look on eBay as well ..., there are lots of Lowepro models .., don't get confused ..

I have 3 Lowepro .. the latest is last years model of this back pack the Lowepro Pro Tactic 450 AW .. on eBay now for $129 + shipping ...an excellent pak as well ... as I carry my 200-500 .., 24-70 ...18-24 and a 80-400 + my D810 and a D7100 and all the batteries and flash and tripod ... and 12.5 " IPAD PRO inside this beast as carry on when I board the flight .... I have done 10 mile hikes with all of this ..and I'm over 70 ...

Believe me when I say I have tried so many Camera packs and after hiking .. they don't do the job ..

You will get every kind of recommendation known to man on this site ...., but for your needs and hiking needs .. this is it ...

Note the look of the back where it rests on your back ..

I sometimes remove some of the padding and inserts to accommodate my total package or to place one of my lenses in with its own case ..

Good luck ..

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NigelCo2

Thanks for the rapid and comprehensive response!!

Basil Loc: New Mexico

I needed a better bag for my growing gear collection and, after a good deal of research, I ended up getting the Case Logic DSLR 206. I had seen this bag in person at a big box store in San Diego while on a business trip, and really liked it. I ended up getting it from Amazon for a lot less money. The two things I really (really) love about this bag are 1) the very nice rubberized bottom. This is water proof and allows you to set the bag upright on any reasonably flat piece of ground, even wet ground. and 2) The sling holder for the camera/lens. This allows you to easily unzip the top of the bag while it sits upright and extract the camera quickly without the need to unzip the entire back of the bag. This bag is currently on Amazon for $89. (Price went up - I paid $81 a couple years ago). Here is my review: https://youtu.be/sFW_ouhU8mk

jim quist Loc: Missouri

I bought a thinktank last year. I saw one that acts as a backpack and a roller bag.
https://www.thinktankphoto.com/pages/backpacks
https://www.thinktankphoto.com/pages/rolling-cases

thott Loc: GERMANY, Hessen

Hello,
do not buy to small.
Consider future equipment. Otherwise you pay twice.

I bought first the Airport Essential from ThinkTank. A phantastic backpack specially
if you travel by plane. A lot of stuff fits into this backpack.....but now it is to small
and it is peplaced by the Airport Commuter from ThinkTank.

The big advantage of the Airport Commuter is the depth of the backpack.
The D750 with attached battery pack and a L-plate fits perfect.
Even the huge Tamron 15-30mm fits vertical.
With the shown content there is still a lot of room in the front bags.

You can find the internal and external dimensions at the ThinkTank web page.
https://www.thinktankphoto.com/collections/airport-series-backpacks/products/airport-commuter

Greetings
Thomas

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

Contact your local outdoor store, the back packing section, or go to a site that specializes in back packs. There you will find experts in the field of back packing and can fit you with a custom back pack that will be very easy on your body for those long treks you are planning.

Szalajj Loc: Salem, NH

If you're not carrying a full sized tripod on your trips, I'm going to recommend the Lowepro Flipside 300. The advantage of this backpack is that the primary access into the main storage compartment where your expensive equipment is located is against your back, and inaccessible to pickpockets!

I don't know if they make a larger Flipside, backpack or not.

I often leave my Canon 100-400 v2. mounted to my Canon Rebel T5 in the center compartment! In addition, there is my 18-55 lens, my 55-250 lens, my flash unit, 2 spare camera batteries, a puffer blower for dust, and in a zippered pocket, there is a mini tripod, extra SD cards, 2 cables for the camera, instruction manuals, lens wipes, filters, and extra tripod mounting plates. In an outside zippered pocket, I carry extra batteries for my flash unit, business cards and a pen and small spiral bound notebook. On the opposite side, there is a mesh pocket that I use to hold a frozen water bottle.

The only lens that won't fit into this backpack is my 105 mm Sigma, I used to let it hang off of the top handle on the outside of the backpack in it's own case, but it's susceptible to pickpockets doing that. I've found that I no longer use thus lens on photo shoots outside of my home so it stays at home, lightening the load. Please note that up to now, all of my photography travel has been via a car, I haven't flown in over 20 years because I haven't been able to afford to fly!

I will tell you that yesterday I was walking out to my vehicle to grab my tripod with my backpack held down by my side. I slipped on the ice and dropped the backpack the 3" to the ground with no damage to my equipment because of the amount of padding they use in their products! Thank you Lowepro!!!!

thott Loc: GERMANY, Hessen

.....or within a good selected foto shop.
Take some (largest) of your equipment with you.
With this way I also found my shoulder bag and my
back packs.
Without guessing based on specs and nice pictures.

Greetings
Thomas

leftj Loc: Texas

Wow! Can't believe you don't use lens caps!

BobHartung Loc: Bettendorf, IA

Ye gads, there are so many widely varied backpacks available it is difficult to tell. But be sure to get one that is not so bulky that it will not fit under your seat. At least United Airlines is going to start charging for the 'privilege' of placing any bag into the overhead bins.

NigelCo2

Thanks for all the information and recommendations!

rrayrob Loc: Las Vegas, NV

Check out Peak Design backpacks. Come in 2 sizes - a 20L (liter) and a 30L model. Designed to carry camera with lens, 2 additional lens, 15" laptop, a tablet, and tripod. 30L model can carry 2 cameras. These are new on the market. I bought the 20L model thru Kickstarter. Its very efficient and like the side access. Since you travel a lot one feature I like is that there are no external pocket with zippers for pickpockets to take your stuff. And the 2 access zippers have security tabs. Check out their video. www.Peakdesigns.com

leftj Loc: Texas

Bad link