How do you pack for Landscapes (all day/overnight)

AndyB1976

AndyB1976

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Andy
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Hi

Just looking for some ideas on how to get the camera gear to the hills etc.

Got into my hillwalking phase a few years back so got some decent outdoor kit already including rucksacks. Ideally I would want to be placing the gear inside that, rather then an actual camera bag on my shoulder as I will also be carrying mountain clothing and equipment too.

Are lens pouches/cases are neat solution or a smaller camera bag (3-4 lens) inside the main rucksack. I'm considering possibly some bag/pouch with the camera & lens attached that get be clipped,strapped or hung on me so I have easy access to the camera for a quick shot. If I want to change focal length, I can pick from the main rucksack.

Ive only got a Canon 10EG camera bag at the moment.


Any ideas good people? :thinking:


Andy
 
Hi Andy

All the big camera bag makers do bags designed for that exact thing.They have a section for storing camera gear and then a large section for putting your waterptoofs etc in.
Take a look at the Lowepro,Tamrac and Crumpler ranges.I'm sure you will find a bag to suit.
Maybe something like-
http://products.lowepro.com/product/DryZone-Rover,1936,18.htm

Cheers
Gary
 
A lot depends on your definition of hillwalking ;)- in my experience none of these bags are up to the job.

I use various rucksacs (depedning on if I need sleeping bag, bivvy bag, crampons/ axes etc) and I then have a combination of camera bag/ lens pouch and dry sacs.
I would usually only carry a couple of lenses- a wide and a tele.

Typically the camera bag would be carried externally but if it was a storm I would put it in the rucksack in a dry sac- a good liner bag is just as good. The other lens would be in its case in another dry bag.

This method means my gear is as safe as it would normally be but my bag is much more robust and comfortable. It also leaves me with much more options on how to pack and what non-photograpy kit to take.
 
What I'm planning on doing is getting myself a small Lowepro Exchange Messenger bag and then placing that inside a rucksack with enough space for overnight accommodation. The camera bag shouldn't really be a problem it's the proper rucksack you need to worry about because if you get one two big you won't want to take it and if you get one too small then you might not be able to fit all your stuff in. also allow for a set of clothes, food and drink, tent etc.
 
TBH Neil_g although that is a nice bag it in no way fulfils the OPs brief. I'd agree with Dr_O and state that proper "camera bags" aren't particularly suited for overnight landscape trips. Where do my tent, sleeping bag, stove etc, spare clothes and other miscellaneous bits and pieces for an overnighter in the Lakes in current conditions fit? Quick answer - they don't.

My personal solution to the overnight wildcamping loadout is...

Osprey Talon 44 rucksac -
tent outside down one side, tripod the other, axe between back and sac if needed.
camping stuff inside

Toploader type bag -
attached to chest harness for easy access, (also helps balance load)
lens most likely to be used on the fly fitted.
filters, cards etc in various toploader pockets

Pouches containing spare lenses (2 tops) either in body of pack or attached to toploader

With this method most, if not all of my kit is to hand without stopping and faffing too much, I've space for my camping stuff and I can then just use the toploader around camp for 5 minute wanders etc. Finally in summer when I revert back to bivvy bag and lightweight sleeping bag I use the exact same method but just pack into a much smaller daysac.


In fairness though it does depend on your definition of "overnight walking trip" as mentioned above!
 
ivandobski said:
TBH Neil_g although that is a nice bag it in no way fulfils the OPs brief. I'd agree with Dr_O and state that proper "camera bags" aren't particularly suited for overnight landscape trips. Where do my tent, sleeping bag, stove etc, spare clothes and other miscellaneous bits and pieces for an overnighter in the Lakes in current conditions fit? Quick answer - they don't.

My personal solution to the overnight wildcamping loadout is...

Osprey Talon 44 rucksac -
tent outside down one side, tripod the other, axe between back and sac if needed.
camping stuff inside

Toploader type bag -
attached to chest harness for easy access, (also helps balance load)
lens most likely to be used on the fly fitted.
filters, cards etc in various toploader pockets

Pouches containing spare lenses (2 tops) either in body of pack or attached to toploader

With this method most, if not all of my kit is to hand without stopping and faffing too much, I've space for my camping stuff and I can then just use the toploader around camp for 5 minute wanders etc. Finally in summer when I revert back to bivvy bag and lightweight sleeping bag I use the exact same method but just pack into a much smaller daysac.


In fairness though it does depend on your definition of "overnight walking trip" as mentioned above!
Click to expand...

just to point out there are larger versions of the one i mention, also smaller camera inserts can be used to increase space for other items.
 
Yes I had a look on the website and they're nice bags. Personally I just don't like that type of system - very much personal preference though.

I wonder if it comes down to how different people approach "outdoors" photography, I've done outdoors stuff for years so I tend to focus (geddit?!) on the outdoors aspects of kit, planning etc and add the photography stuff later. If you're a photographer who has decided to move outdoors you'll probably do the opposite.

It's probably the difference between

"I need to carry my camera stuff with my outdoors stuff"

and

"I need to fit some outdoors stuff in a camera bag"
 
Hi guys,

Thanks a lot for you detailed replies. I will certainly look at all options.

I've not ruled out specific camera rucksacks, however I do carry quite a bit of outdoor gear in winter - mountain tents, axe, crampons, down insulation, stove
etc and revert to a smaller 35l 'daysack' in summer. I also carry drybags as per usual anyway, so my idea was at least to slip the camera gear in them (as well as a rucksack cover over it - just to be sure !)

As I said, I will go through all the recommended options above - something like the toploader sounds interesting, however won't make a choice until I've gone through all the reading.

Its most likely I will augment the existing rucksack.

Thanks again,


Andy:notworthy:
 
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