I thoroughly enjoyed my recent trip to Costa Rica, and have posted some early pictures, but I had one issue that I feel I need to address before I head out on another trip. Equipping myself with a waist- or day-pack.
I found myself with gobs of stuff hanging from my neck: camera strap, hat strap, id strap (yes, I take those kind of tours), audio guide strap, etc. Plus, hiking rainforests and traversing hanging bridges requires hands-free maneuverability and often re-hydration. One of my fellow travelers wore a waist pack that had pockets, water bottle holders, and seemed to be the perfect thing for carrying lens filters, snack bars, bandanas, and assorted stuff needed for a day out in the wild.
The biggest problem I have is finding one that I can pack into my suitcase. When I travel, I have a suitcase and my ThinkTank Airport Essentials, which contains my laptop, camera, lenses, etc. I'm pretty good at packing pants, shirts, socks and underwear for up to a ten-day trip. So, if I add a day/waist pack, it will need to pack tightly into my suitcase.
I've been looking at the Mountainsmith Tour Lumbar Pack (MSRP $79.95), but I don't know how well it packs (I can stuff it with toiletries and sunscreen). I've also seen the Columbia Sportswear Pocket Daypack, which folds up into its own little pouch. They are two different approaches; the Columbia is a space-saver and the Mountainsmith a utilitarian item.
Does anyone have any experience with backpacks/daypacks/waistpacks? Thanks in advance.
Fanny packs are nice. I actually have several (which I purchased at Walmart). The latest one is large enough to carry a diet bar, cell phone, I-pad, tissues, $$ and the like when I do art shows. It has two pouches for water bottles (that came with it) and I use one of them for an extra lens when I hike. Luckily they fit snuggly, so I don't worry about them coming out.
What I'm having to get away from is hanging anything around my neck. So I wear the cotton carrier to carry the camera. I do wish it had attachments for a water bottle!
Sometimes I wear a vest. I bought a fishing vest once, then tore it up to make a pattern to make my own. It has pockets just the right size for everything and d-rings to actually hang my camera from. Works well for a day.
Bill Munny wrote:
I used to work for BackPacker Magazine and have te... (
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Thank you, Bill. I just came across a nice price on the Mountainsmith Tour 9L, so I placed an order. I may still consider the Columbia, but it's available only in a ghastly color, so I'm holding off. I have reward points at Columbia, however, so maybe I'll just spring for it.
Seems every photographer has at least 3 camera bags/packs. If you have more than one, and if you have traveling buddy, they can carry some of your stuff too. I think you made a good decision on brands, just hope the pack works for you. Happy trails.
Just Fred wrote:
I thoroughly enjoyed my recent trip to Costa Rica, and have posted some early pictures, but I had one issue that I feel I need to address before I head out on another trip. Equipping myself with a waist- or day-pack.
I found myself with gobs of stuff hanging from my neck: camera strap, hat strap, id strap (yes, I take those kind of tours), audio guide strap, etc. Plus, hiking rainforests and traversing hanging bridges requires hands-free maneuverability and often re-hydration. One of my fellow travelers wore a waist pack that had pockets, water bottle holders, and seemed to be the perfect thing for carrying lens filters, snack bars, bandanas, and assorted stuff needed for a day out in the wild.
The biggest problem I have is finding one that I can pack into my suitcase. When I travel, I have a suitcase and my ThinkTank Airport Essentials, which contains my laptop, camera, lenses, etc. I'm pretty good at packing pants, shirts, socks and underwear for up to a ten-day trip. So, if I add a day/waist pack, it will need to pack tightly into my suitcase.
I've been looking at the Mountainsmith Tour Lumbar Pack (MSRP $79.95), but I don't know how well it packs (I can stuff it with toiletries and sunscreen). I've also seen the Columbia Sportswear Pocket Daypack, which folds up into its own little pouch. They are two different approaches; the Columbia is a space-saver and the Mountainsmith a utilitarian item.
Does anyone have any experience with backpacks/daypacks/waistpacks? Thanks in advance.
I thoroughly enjoyed my recent trip to Costa Rica,... (
show quote)
I have a couple of lumbar packs from LLBean, pack rather flat when empty, the one with bottle holders not as flat as the smaller but then it does have a thin shoulder strap also if you want extra stability, bottle holders will probably hold a 1 liter bottle each. lots of pocketsbig enough for camera with a lens, bob.
IMO, you're traveling with too much stuff to start with and it's making you miserable. You didn't say what camera or lens(s) you were taking so it's hard to know what would work. Check out Peak Design. I just bought the Sling Back 10L which can be worn cross body or as a waist pack.
I have a Mountainsmith Tour lumbar pack. I find it extremely comfortable to wear all day. It is quite roomy. I do find that if I use small zippered bags to organize my stuff inside it's more functional. I have a couple of zippered pencil cases I got from LL Bean that work well and are fairly rugged. Batteries in one, memory cards in another and any allen wrenches needed for tripods/heads, etc in another. Still room for my phone, snacks and whatnot in the pack. Water bottle(s) in the mesh pockets on the sides.
mizzee wrote:
IMO, you're traveling with too much stuff to start with and it's making you miserable. You didn't say what camera or lens(s) you were taking so it's hard to know what would work. Check out Peak Design. I just bought the Sling Back 10L which can be worn cross body or as a waist pack.
In this case, you are correct. I don't often travel with a name tag/pouch, an electronic hearing aid so that the guide can be heard, and (in this case) a hat with a neck strap (to keep it from being blown off). Most of the time, I just carry my Nikon D7500 on its strap around my neck and leave my hands (and neck) free of extraneous items.
In truth, I think my goal is to have my camera fastened with a body harness to reduce/eliminate camera sway as I navigate hanging bridges, and a fanny pack to carry my water bottles and small items (filters, lens cleaners, etc.).
It seems your original conundrum concerned packing the waist pack amid the other items. I’m in this position a couple of times a year and have found loading the pack with luggage items allows it to use the space those items would have. Just a suggestion.
I sometimes carry a back pack that has a sternum strap, if I fasten the sternum strap over the camera strap it prevents most of the annoying swinging of the camera and yet lets me lift the camera for landscape orientation shots, portrait I have to unbuckle.
Acufine3200 wrote:
It seems your original conundrum concerned packing the waist pack amid the other items. I’m in this position a couple of times a year and have found loading the pack with luggage items allows it to use the space those items would have. Just a suggestion.
Yep. My thinking, too. Thanks.
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