How do you carry your gear when out hiking

twhite87

twhite87

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Tim
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I'm going to Zimbabwe next year, and during this trip i'll be hiking up Kilimanjaro. I have a canon 60D and I'd like to take a 18-50 2.8, and a 70-200 2.8. I've seen the lowepro chest harness for a top loader, but has anyone got any other suggestions. I also have a S&F belt, but wondered whether this would be a pain in the unmentionables when hiking.
 
Carrying camera equipment is really no different to hiking. Any significant weight should be carried on the hips. The straps on a rucksack are there only to stop it tipping backwards. So if I was doing it i would be looking for a rucksack type bag that allowed the weight to sit on or just above my hip bones. You may have to try a few to find one the correct length for your back. I dont know if you can get camera rucksacks with adjustable backs.
 
Sorry can't help with the bag recommendations but that's going to be a fantastic trip - hope you post pictures afterwards.
Are you flying to Zim then on to to Tanzania as part an organise trip up the volcano?
 
I've got a lowepro photosport 200 aw , it has a separate camera section in the main part of the rucksack that's accessed from the side.i can fit a 7d with 17-70 lens attached plus a 70-200 f4 at the side,I know the 2.8 is a bit chunkier than the f4 so you'd have to check that.its really a lightweight hiking rucksack with a camera section in but I find it brilliant, very comfortable with room for plenty of walking gear too.
That sounds a brilliant trip, hope you post the photos on return.
 
twhite87 said:
I'm going to Zimbabwe next year, and during this trip i'll be hiking up Kilimanjaro. I have a canon 60D and I'd like to take a 18-50 2.8, and a 70-200 2.8. I've seen the lowepro chest harness for a top loader, but has anyone got any other suggestions. I also have a S&F belt, but wondered whether this would be a pain in the unmentionables when hiking.
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Hi Tim, Can't help much with regards to a bag etc, but for a free ticket I could be coaxed to carry it for you. "Enjoy".:)
 
I bought a proper hiking rucksack with a frame, Osprey make some nice ones.
Camera,lenses and gear are stored in an insert which fits nicely inside. My insert is a butchered Lowepro Slingshot 100 bought secondhand on here, but there are plenty of ready made ones available.
Tripod goes in one of the side mesh pockets secured with the compression straps, small one fits inside the bag.
Much better than the specific camera ones, cheaper too and my Flipside 400 gets left at home these days
 
I did Kili last year and I only took my D700 and Tamron 28-70, I didn't miss any shots and believe me, you don't want to be lugging extra weight.

I'm pretty fit - I run half marathons for fun after a heavy Saturday night and even yesterday I did a 75 mile bike ride after an 8 hour session on cocktails the night before. So, I'm a glutton for punishment but even I certainly wouldn't have wanted to carry any more weight up Kili. Taking a 70-200 f/2.8 would be foolhardy and unnecessary IMHO, 6000m altitude is no joke.

Edit: actually, my avatar is me at the top during sunrise.

Also, no one tells you this but the dust is unreal, it gets everywhere! I would avoid changing lenses at all costs (and I'm not precious about my gear). If you feel you want more length than the standard zoom then I'd get a super zoom specifically for the trip, you won't need the f2.8 as the light is good as you're above the clouds for most of it.
 
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Nawty said:
I did Kili last year and I only took my D700 and Tamron 28-70, I didn't miss any shots and believe me, you don't want to be lugging extra weight.

I'm pretty fit - I run half marathons for fun after a heavy Saturday night and even yesterday I did a 75 mile bike ride after an 8 hour session on cocktails the night before. So, I'm a glutton for punishment but even I certainly wouldn't have wanted to carry any more weight up Kili. Taking a 70-200 f/2.8 would be foolhardy and unnecessary IMHO, 6000m altitude is no joke.

Edit: actually, my avatar is me at the top during sunrise.

Also, no one tells you this but the dust is unreal, it gets everywhere! I would avoid changing lenses at all costs (and I'm not precious about my gear). If you feel you want more length than the standard zoom then I'd get a super zoom specifically for the trip, you won't need the f2.8 as the light is good as you're above the clouds for most of it.
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Thanks for the advice. I may swap both my lenses for my old 17-85mm. Or perhaps this is the calling card for me to buy the Tamron 18-270.
 
Thing is you'll need carry other things - as a minimum water and maybe rain gear - so the question is whether to fit it all in one bag or keep the camera gear separate.
The problem with back packs is the faff of usually needing to remove it to get things in and out.
You really don't want anything acting as a disincentive to grab shots, or you'll end up only taking it out at over-photographed viewpoints.
 
4wd said:
Thing is you'll need carry other things - as a minimum water and maybe rain gear - so the question is whether to fit it all in one bag or keep the camera gear separate.
The problem with back packs is the faff of usually needing to remove it to get things in and out.
You really don't want anything acting as a disincentive to grab shots, or you'll end up only taking it out at over-photographed viewpoints.
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This was my question. Is there something you can use to carry my camera gear somewhere else, as i think my day pack will be filled up with other stuff. I've seen the harness you can use to put a toploader on your chest.
 
I just carry the camera slung across the chest (I use an Optech strap, not that that makes much difference), has done me fine for Kili, the Inca trail and much more sedate stuff in the UK.

No point in keeping the camera locked away where it won't get used and no point in carrying anything you don't need.

Off to the Alps in a couple of weeks - I won't be taking any special camera bags.
 
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i asked a similar question recently, the peak design capture pro clip was recommended to me, attached to a belt or harness (whichever you prefer) and the camera clips on to it, using a mount, which also accepts a RC2 manfrotto tripod mount so no need to swap between clip and when using the tripod.

You would however need some sort of weather protection, im thinking a toploading camera bag, which can be cliped on using the capture pro clip hopefully

sounds a very nice trip to be doing, good luck and hope you enjoy it
 
I use a Lowepro Dryzone Rover for hiking, it has a decent harness, room for gear and personal stuff and being watertight I don't worry when I have a hydration pack in the top section, I ditched the one it came with an use an Osprey Hydraulics 2 litre pack which fits just fine, if the worst happened and it burst the only things that would get wet would be fine, things like filters, filter holders etc.
 
Have you thought about something like the spider pro attached to your S&F Belt. Could attach water on the other side for balance easy access. Also that way the weight is spread between back and hips rather than everything being on your shoulders
 
ChrisHeathcote said:
Have you thought about something like the spider pro attached to your S&F Belt. Could attach water on the other side for balance easy access. Also that way the weight is spread between back and hips rather than everything being on your shoulders
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I have thought about it, but wouldn't you get annoyed with your camera swinging about while you're climbing up rocks?
 
I would have thought that there would be very little swinging, due to the nature of the attachment, probably more worried about knocking against rocks, so hand would naturally move to protect, come to think of it, it might be worth adding body armour to the camera :D
 
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