Converting hiking pack to camera pack

None of my photo backpacks owned were designed to get weight off the shoulders and onto the hips like my hiking packs. I refuse to pay $300 plus for such a photo pack that is also a functional hiking pack. I am considering purchasing protective inserts and simply putting them in my Osprey brand hiking packs, carrying only what I need for an outing. For longer hikes, has anyone been happy with this approach even though, the camera gear is not as accessible? Insert selection criteria?

This will probably not fit your price expectations for a photo pack, but check out the Atlas packs.  I have just talked with people who have used them; I have never used one.  

Mark L wrote:This will probably not fit your price expectations for a photo pack, but check out the Atlas packs.  I have just talked with people who have used them; I have never used one.  

Correct, $400 for a pack is too much.

I have exactly the same problem. I have a long torso, and all of my photo backpacks rest on my shoulders and do not sit properly on my hips. I greatly prefer the fit of my inexpensive old Kelty backpack over any of the fancy photo backpacks that I have purchased. If I am walking any distance, I carry lenses inside padded cases within my regular backpack. This is not convenient for lens changes, but much more comfortable for hiking. The photo backpack is more convenient when I am shooting out of a car because I can quickly access multiple lenses.

f-stop gear has what they call - ICUs - https://shop.fstopgear.com/other-produc ... units-icu/
Not sure what kind of camera and lenses do you want to carry. But their smaller units are not expensive. Again these are made for their backpacks, so not sure if they will work for your bag.

https://www.carryology.com/utility/the- ... backpacks/

This one looks interesting - https://www.pelican.com/us/en/discover/trekpak/

I have done this myself using various LL bean backpacks. I have used inserts made by Domke to fit their camera bags. And GuraGear has inserts designed for a laptop bag that might work.

https://guragear.com/collections/all-pr ... -chobe-2-0

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/buy/Inse ... 4232860913

I ordered a true hiking pack with built in photo storage. Jack Wolfskin brand. Far better than the useless waist straps on photo backpacks that I own.

I have found few if any comfortable photo backpacks. I own a number of them. A true backpack company should take over one of these photo backpack companies and resdesign them

Off-track. Right now, I am looking for a very inconspicuous photo backpack that I can swing to the front and take out a camera and then put camera back and swing it back to my back.

OntPhoto wrote: .......Off-track.  Right now, I am looking for a very inconspicuous photo backpack that I can swing to the front and take out a camera and then put camera back and swing it back to my back.

I own the Lowepro Flipside 200, 300 and 400 series. All are easy to use and are not large. I don’t know what you would call inconspicuous, but these are photo back packs and serve that purpose. They also have a Flipside Trek series.

https://www.lowepro.com/us-en/flipside-200-aw-ii-lp37125-config/

https://www.lowepro.com/us-en/collection/flipside/

They are much smaller than they appear on the website.

Joe

SantaFeJoe wrote:

OntPhoto wrote: .......Off-track.  Right now, I am looking for a very inconspicuous photo backpack that I can swing to the front and take out a camera and then put camera back and swing it back to my back.

I own the Lowepro Flipside 200, 300 and 400 series. All are easy to use and are not large. I don’t know what you would call inconspicuous, but these are photo back packs and serve that purpose. They also have a Flipside Trek series.

https://www.lowepro.com/us-en/flipside-200-aw-ii-lp37125-config/

https://www.lowepro.com/us-en/collection/flipside/

They are much smaller than they appear on the website.

Joe

Cool.  I checked out some YouTube videos on the Flipside 200 AW II.  It is very compact and I may try one out.  I like the very compact look to it and the price is good too.   Some days you just wnat to go with one lens like a 70-200 2.8 + DSLR or 100-400L IS + DSLR.  Go as light as possible. 

I was looking for something even slimmer and more compact, maybe for one camera and lens without any wasted space so when I have it on my back it doesn't even look like a backpack.  Maybe more like a sling.  Something that if I looked at it on someone else's back, I would wonder, 'Is that a backpack or what.  No, it's too small to be a backpack, so it's not likely to have camera gear in there.'  Maybe there is no such backpack as I'm looking for something unique.   I'd prefer to have some sort of pack rather than wrap the camera and lens in a plastic bag while I walk. 

This is NOT a camera backpack but maybe I can fit a 70-200 2.8L and camera into it (probably not).  Just slightly bigger would work.

ODYSSEY Mini backpack


PS.  One of the most comfortable backpacks I have used is the ThinkTank Glass Limo.  Slim, compact, minimalist backpack that carries a 500mm lens with camera and tele-converter attached.  

This is the original Flipside 200. It is much smaller than the AW model and way smaller than the Glass Taxi(which is smaller than the Glass Limo), which I also own.

https://www.adorama.com/lpfl200bk.html

I still see the Flipside 200 on the aftermarket occasionally, especially on Craigslist and are often new and unused for as low as $30, e.g. this ad for the 300:

https://boulder.craigslist.org/pho/d/hygiene-lowepro-flipside-300-camera/7282046081.html

Here’s a link to a video on the old model:

https://youtu.be/5lNvDVpP4I0

Joe

SantaFeJoe wrote:This is the original Flipside 200. It is much smaller than the AW model and way smaller than the Glass Taxi(which is smaller than the Glass Limo), which I also own.

https://www.adorama.com/lpfl200bk.html

I still see the Flipside 200 on the aftermarket occasionally, especially on Craigslist and are often new and unused for as low as $30, e.g. this ad for the 300:

https://boulder.craigslist.org/pho/d/hygiene-lowepro-flipside-300-camera/7282046081.html

Here’s a link to a video on the old model:

https://youtu.be/5lNvDVpP4I0

Joe

Hey, neat.  That 200 is very compact.  I think there was plenty of room for his 70-200 f4 but he had another compartment at the bottom of the bag (you can see where the lens stops and the outside of the bag stretched further.  

Well, the Flipside 200 AW is on the way and I am hoping it will be as comfortable as the Glass Limo.  

First impressions of the Lowepro Flipside 200 AW.  Certainly NOT my choice for a backpack that swings to the front.  Not an efficient design for that purpose.  I tried it and it is not a smooth action at all.  From a balance thing, it is better to have the bag sitting left to right when swung to the front instead of the Flipside's design where the bag protrudes in front of you.  A sling bag that rotates to the front may be much better design for this use.  

However, I do like the Flipside 200 AW for its compactness.  I can put a 7D Mk2 with battery grip and attached Canon 70-200 2.8L IS and 1.4x.  Hood reversed.  The camera has to be on its side as it is too tall with battery grip attached.  The top part of camera will be a lump and felt on your back when zipped up.  I think the original Flipside would be too small.  

In conclusion.  
Like how compact it is.  Sits tight to the body.  Fits good.  No excess movement on the back.  Bag is not deep so it wasn't made to carry a DSLR with battery grip.  

Having a battery grip will mean feeling a bump on the back.  The camera with battery grip is too tall and bag wil not close.  Even when camera is placed sideways (7D MK2 + battery grip), the bag will close but you will feel a bit of a bump om the back.  It can be gotten used to but you'll still know the bump is there.  Would feel much more comfortable / form fitting if not using a battery grip. 

NOT good for use as a swing to the front bag.  I tried.  When I use the Flipside 200 AW, I will have to take the backpack off to access gear. 

I'm using an REI Ruckpack 40. It fits a 600/4 with camera attached and a few other lenses and such in padded pouches. Last year pre-Covid I used it for a month in Japan. It's an inch or so longer than some carry-on rules allow but the airlines didn't complain. Padded back, decent backpack harness, laptop sleeve, can hide the backpack harness and use it as hand-carried luggage, rain cover.

If you are carrying a body with a lens like the 70-200 or 100-400 attached, I certainly would not be looking at backpacks - I use the Think pack digital holsters on a belt system. I can add on various modular bags on the other side to carry smaller lenses and flashes. It's not exactly inconspicuous but most people would have no idea what it was.

ChrisRoss wrote:If you are carrying a body with a lens like the 70-200 or 100-400 attached, I certainly would not be looking at backpacks - I use the Think pack digital holsters on a belt system.  I can add on various modular bags on the other side to carry smaller lenses and flashes.  It's not exactly inconspicuous but most people would have no idea what it was.

Thanks.  I had a look at one of the holster bags and may consider trying it.  I like the drop-down option to extend the bag at the bottom.  Still undecided between a sling bag and a holster over the shoulder carry.  However, on other backpack related needs, something very comfortable where I don't mind carrying two lenses in (70-200 2.8 and 100-400 and camera) I am getting a Think Tank Streetwalker Pro.  Getting it based on how comfotable the Glass Limo is on the back. 

Updated:  Just ruled out the Think Tank Turnstyle 20.  Apparently, it will not fit with a battery grip attached.  I like how the Turnstyle 20 works.  Whenever I get the R6 (smaller profile camera, less bulky), I will reconsider the Turnstyle and Flipside. 

OntPhoto wrote:

ChrisRoss wrote:If you are carrying a body with a lens like the 70-200 or 100-400 attached, I certainly would not be looking at backpacks - I use the Think pack digital holsters on a belt system.  I can add on various modular bags on the other side to carry smaller lenses and flashes.  It's not exactly inconspicuous but most people would have no idea what it was.

Thanks.  I had a look at one of the holster bags and may consider trying it.  I like the drop-down option to extend the bag at the bottom.  Still undecided between a sling bag and a holster over the shoulder carry.  However, on other backpack related needs, something very comfortable where I don't mind carrying two lenses in (70-200 2.8 and 100-400 and camera) I am getting a Think Tank Streetwalker Pro.  Getting it based on how comfotable the Glass Limo is on the back. 

Think tank are great bags, I've had my Streetwalker hard drive for at least 10-11 years now and still going strong.  You change the standard skinny belt over to one of their system belts which has better padding and you can also use that belt with a holster.

ChrisRoss wrote:

OntPhoto wrote:

ChrisRoss wrote:If you are carrying a body with a lens like the 70-200 or 100-400 attached, I certainly would not be looking at backpacks - I use the Think pack digital holsters on a belt system.  I can add on various modular bags on the other side to carry smaller lenses and flashes.  It's not exactly inconspicuous but most people would have no idea what it was.

Thanks.  I had a look at one of the holster bags and may consider trying it.  I like the drop-down option to extend the bag at the bottom.  Still undecided between a sling bag and a holster over the shoulder carry.  However, on other backpack related needs, something very comfortable where I don't mind carrying two lenses in (70-200 2.8 and 100-400 and camera) I am getting a Think Tank Streetwalker Pro.  Getting it based on how comfotable the Glass Limo is on the back. 

Think tank are great bags, I've had my Streetwalker hard drive for at least 10-11 years now and still going strong.  You change the standard skinny belt over to one of their system belts which has better padding and you can also use that belt with a holster.

Yes, I noticed the belt is skinny.  I will look on their website for the system belt.  The belt on the Glass Limo is better.  First impressions is the Streetwalker Pro feels stiff on the back.  I will take it out for a test run this weekend. 

Hi,

I converted a backpack to a camera bag and used it for several years http://www.jeffcolburn.com/articles/my- ... a-daypack/

Then I bought a Lowepro Flipside 400 AW, and love it.

Have Fun,
Jeff