Photo vest? jacket? (Page 2): The problem with vests is that they still put the weight on your shoulders. I use belts and a harness to transfer the weight to my hips. this lengthens...

Bazbo Loc: Lisboa, Portugal

finalimage wrote:

A friend of mine wants to buy her husband a photo vest or jacket and asked my advice. I used to use a photo vest back in the film days when i was using film and needed a place to keep all those film canisters. Am curious about whether any fellow "hogs" use photo vests and what brands they would endorse. Many thanks.

The problem with vests is that they still put the weight on your shoulders. I use belts and a harness to transfer the weight to my hips. this lengthens the time I can stay in the field.

amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

finalimage wrote:

A friend of mine wants to buy her husband a photo vest or jacket and asked my advice. I used to use a photo vest back in the film days when i was using film and needed a place to keep all those film canisters. Am curious about whether any fellow "hogs" use photo vests and what brands they would endorse. Many thanks.

I use a vest all the time... for spare batteries, extra memory cards, business cards, phone, lens cleaning supplies, snacks, yada, yada.

In fact, for general purpose I don't buy "photo" vests. Instead I buy generic fishing vests, which are far cheaper but do the job just as well. Most have been $15 to $20 vests at Walmart, which wear out after a couple years and need to be replaced. Last time I needed one they were out of stock at Walmart, so I instead ended up buying a "fancier" one for $25 at Big 5 Sports. Seems a bit better made... so might last 3 or 4 years. We'll see!

I also have a Lowepro vest/belt rig that I use for macro gear. It's a modular setup that can be configured many different ways, with various size lens cases and pockets available for whatever you need to carry. It's a whole lot more expensive, but when specific sizes and shapes of pouches are needed for a particular system, it might be ideal and well worth the extra cost. I put it together a bit at a time, but in total I'd guess I've spent over $100 on my particular Lowepro vest/belt setup.

Your friend should be careful... folks seem to either love or hate vests... plus photographers can be really picky about what they use. She might be best giving him a gift certificate to let him make his own selection (or choose something else entirely).

aellman Loc: Boston MA

PeterBergh wrote:

I always use a photo vest; I find that a bag twists my back out of shape. My vest holds four lenses and all the accessories I need, such as batteries, cable releases, exposure meter, etc. I prefer a vest over a jacket; I can use the vest over as much clothing as I need to stay comfortable. I think it would be harder to use a jacket over several layers of other clothing.

Just be sure you don't trip on a rock or a curb and go face first, because your 4 lenses
will become decorative paperweights. Not to mention unwelcome alterations to various
body parts. >Alan

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

aellman wrote:

Just be sure you don't trip on a rock or a curb and go face first, because your 4 lenses
will become decorative paperweights. Not to mention unwelcome alterations to various
body parts. >Alan

When I shot professionally for UPI (united press international) we had pockets sewn into the top of our shirt sleeves just below the shoulder. we could put one spare lens on each arm. Never got in the way and the lenses could be easily taken out and used and then put back. One guy I know had twin pockets on his one arm for a additional Vivitar 283 flash to go into. Why this never became popular is not known. Haven't used that old shirt for years, don't even know what happened to it, but it worked great in it's time. A waist band type of thing was sewn into the top of the pocket, this kept the lenses in, we could just reach in and the material stretched to allow us to withdraw the lens when needed.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

PhotoPhred wrote:

I use a fishing vest...

And it doesn't smell?

latebloomer Loc: Topeka, KS

Bob Locher wrote:

eBay has some nice vest from Chinese merchants - inexpensive and good quality. Just make sure you the size right. Asian "large" for example is not the same is American "Large".

Is this a fashion statement or a statement about practicality. I have a couple of vests. I really like the convenience of a photo vest. I also have often not used one in public because of vanity and not wanting to be viewed as a "dork."

Come on folks, what is your opinion about wearing a photo vest?

I will appreciate your opinions.

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

jerryc41 wrote:

And it doesn't smell?

Most fishing vests made today are not made to hold fish for that very reason. Or, as my daughters father-in-law says, "fish and company smell after 2 days".

PeterBergh

aellman wrote:

Just be sure you don't trip on a rock or a curb and go face first, because your 4 lenses
will become decorative paperweights. Not to mention unwelcome alterations to various
body parts. >Alan

I am OFF (Old, Fat, and Feeble), so I'm very careful when moving around.

Wuligal Loc: Slippery Rock, Pa.

I use a "hand-me-down" fishing vest. It works and that's all that matters.

finalimage Loc: Brattleboro, VT

Thank you.

Wuligal wrote:

I use a "hand-me-down" fishing vest. It works and that's all that matters.

akretiree Loc: Anchorage

I use a Rothco Outback Trailblazer that is a jacket that has sleeves that zip off to make a vest. In cool mornings I have the sleeves on and when it warms up I take them off and put them in the back pocket of the vest.

WILLARD98407 Loc: TACOMA, WA.

finalimage wrote:

A friend of mine wants to buy her husband a photo vest or jacket and asked my advice. I used to use a photo vest back in the film days when i was using film and needed a place to keep all those film canisters. Am curious about whether any fellow "hogs" use photo vests and what brands they would endorse. Many thanks.

I use a mesh shooting vest that I got from Cabela's. ( the pockets are not mesh) removed the leather and padding from the shoulder. it has plenty of pockets and one big one all the way across the back..

one xxl for over winter clothes and one xl for over lighter clothing or just a t-shirt.

I've had them for several years and I think I paid about $20 bucks each on sale.
use them all the time when out in the ( -20 to 115 degree) weather. they are holding up very well.

tore a pocket off once while dodging an elk, but took it to the local shoe repair and it was fixed in about 10 minutes for $3.

the elk shots turned out spiffy.

jeep_daddy Loc: Prescott AZ

rmalarz wrote:

I have a couple. They are made by Domke. The reason for two is seasonal. I don't use them as much anymore, but they are still useful, as I carry filters, lenses, notebook, and pencil, along with a light meter. Generally, I carry everything I need in a sapper's bag, but if I need to carry just the bare minimums, I still use them.
--Bob

I also own 2 Domke photo vests. Too bad they seem to have gone out of business. Can't find them anywhere now. Glad I got mine.

finalimage Loc: Brattleboro, VT

Thanks so much for your advice!

finalimage wrote:

Thank you.

finalimage Loc: Brattleboro, VT

thanks so much!

akretiree wrote:

I use a Rothco Outback Trailblazer that is a jacket that has sleeves that zip off to make a vest. In cool mornings I have the sleeves on and when it warms up I take them off and put them in the back pocket of the vest.