Camera Bags :( trolley bag maybe????

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I find myself carrying much more equipment than I used too and while I seem to have a bit of a thing for camera bags I have 6 at the moment, none of them are really giving me what I want either in terms of storage size or ease of use.

I have rucksacks, messenger type bags and a couple of shoulder type bags.

At the moment I am usually carrying around the following

Nikon D800
Nikon D7000
Nikon 24-70
Tamron 70-200
Sigma 85MM
Sigma 35mm
3 x Flash's and a couple of triggers
A lightstand, shoot through umbrella and an adaptor thing for using 2/3 flashes on a lightstand
Plus the usual mismatch of bits and bobs grips spare batteries etc. etc.

I can just about fit it all in one of my rucksacks minus the lightstand and the umbrella which I carry in a tripod type bag, but it's a bit of a back breaker to carry around.

i recently started to use 2 shoulder type bags which I found a little easier but that means I am actually having to carry 3 bags every were if you count the tripod bag.

Yes I know, I could leave something at home but then I always end up missing it so I hate to do that.

I was thinking a trolley type bag might be just what I need but tbh I was a little shocked at how expensive they are, so I thought I would try and get a little feedback on here to see what other people in the same boat are doing. I am also a little unsure on how they are in terms of general use.

I have been shooting quite a lot of location based stuff and it's been a real pain. The locations can vary from anywere from a field to a hotel room so I am really stuck on what is my best option.

If your aware of any cheaper options to the £250 plus prices the lowepro's etc start at please point me in that direction. I had a quick nosey in my local calumet but apparently while they do sell there own brand trolley type bags they are a bit like hens teeth in terms of stock availability and they have no idea when they will get them in again.
 
I've heard of people using the foam stuff to create their own camera bags, is that an option for you?
 
Hi Tommy

I had exactly the same problem as you - loads of gear and generally taking 2 or 3 bags with me.

After many weeks of research & visits to Park Cameras i found the solution in a Lowepro Pro Runner X450 AW

Like you, I'm often in a variety of locations so needed something versatile. This bag gives you the rolling option but also a rucksack for rougher terrains. Unlike some combo bags, the rucksack aspect isn't an afterthought and is actually really comfortable.

Mine currently holds:
Gripped D800e with attached 14-24
24-70
70-200
4x flashes
All my Lee SW150 stuff in their original cases
Loads of batteries, triggers and odds & sods
2 compact lightstands (attached to side)
plus the option of attaching a tripod externally

As I already owned several hundred quids worth of bags I tried, in vain, to source a cheap option initially so bought one of those semi rigid, rolling suitcase type things. It worked for a bit and was big enough to carry all my stuff. However, it was just a big bucket basically so when you wanted to find anything quickly it was a PITA and didn't really offer much in the way of protection. That lack of protection just led to extra weight by way of lens cases and boxes for stuff to help protect & organise.

Ultimately, I decided that the only way to get everything I wanted in one unit was to pay the money! And I haven't regretted it at all.

So, in summary, use my experience to avoid weeks of arsing about and spend the cash ;)

Cheers

Mark
 
I've got a Vanguard Surreme 53D hard case and it has wheels built in and a retractable handle. I get 2 gripped bodies, both with a lens attached, 3 long lenses, 3 medium lenses, 3 small lenses and 3 extenders. On top of that there's a couple of flash guns, extention tubes, a Raynox 250 and a few other bits and bobs and a few straps. It weighs a ton when full but the wheels make it much easier to move about, it's very strong and waterproof to around 5 metres deep too. I've had a Tamrac Expedition 9x rucksack, which was also large and able to hold a lot, but got too heavy for me to carry in the end and I'm now thinking of putting that up for sale. I've also had a few shoulder bags, the best of which (and the only one I've still got) was the Tamrac Super Pro 14, which was the largest bag Tamrac made and had a 'piggy back system' to be able to to put it on a trolley and carry it that way. That's a great bag and I'm definitely not selling that, but it is hard to get hold of and expensive when you do find it.
 
I like the idea of the Lowepro Pro Roller bags and have had an X200 in my Amazon shopping basket for a while. Not sure how good the detachable backpack is though.
 
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