You would not believe the gear I schlepp around the planet with me — strike that, you probably do the same. I’ve not stopped to weigh in, but at a digital SLR with a telephoto lens, a laptop, a video camera, miscellaneous chargers, cables, flash cards and batteries, I would not be surprised to find that the small electronics store I have with me when I travel adds 15 pounds to my carry on weight. Toss in a ukulele and, well, there’s got to be a good way to get this stuff from point A to point B. While there are three packs in my house that do the job, I’m still hunting for the one bag to rule them all.
The Sinking Barge (Deluxe) from Crumpler: If you travel light — and we’re not talking electronics, we’re talking the OTHER stuff, this is the photographer’s weekender. There’s a configurable bucket in the bottom part of the pack for your camera, lenses, flash, other whatnots — and there’s an external strap and feet protector gizmo for your tripod. The bucket doesn’t fall open when you unzip that part of the pack, so your gear is secure, even when the pack is open. There’s a generous sleeve for your laptop in the back of the pack. The lunchbox sized top compartment will hold a change of unmentionables, a t-shirt, your toothbrush, if it’s summer, you’re pretty well set. You can stuff your sports sandals or water bottle in the stretchy side pockets, your wallet and your phone in the accessible front pocket, your don’t-steal-or-lose-me doodads in the zippered interior mesh pocket. The bag is great for gearheads, it holds a shocking amount of stuff.
Downside? It’s kind of big for a munchkin height person like myself and it didn’t accommodate my uke. It’s a little too much bag, it doesn’t double well for lighter use.
Price? 275 from Crumpler — check Amazon
DR-467 from Kata: I’ve had this bag for about two years now and it goes almost everywhere with me. The reason it edges out the Crumpler? The laptop sleeve is accessible from the outside and I can slide my uke in there along with my netbook. (Okay, not everyone has this need.) The configurable camera gear bucket is big enough to hold my Nikon, two lenses, a flash, my video camera, and a bag of gadgets. The waterbottle/tripod pocket is mesh and zips away when you’re not using it. It’s big enough for a day trip — the top compartment will hold my sweater and snacks and the zippered front pockets — which seem quite secure because the zipper tabs tuck into a heavy cover — hold smaller items that might wander off. There are side lashes that you could use to tie on your shoes or your wet towel. The outside laptop pocket makes it easy to get at your computer. Bonus? It’s got a stretchy strap across the back that you can slide your rolly bag handle through, making it easy to drag through airports if your shoulders are tired.
Downside? The bucket sort of spills open when you unzip the lower compartment. If you’re not careful, you could dump your gear. When you have a water bottle in the side pocket, it kind of flaps around and that’s annoying.
Price: I bought mine from Amazon
The Hertz/TBEX Commemorative Backpack: When all I have to do is carry my laptop, I use the bag that I picked up at last year’s Travelblog Exchange conference. It’s been a perfect mobile office, holding my laptop, mouse, cables and power supplies, umbrella, raincoat, and snacks. I have no idea where you can get one and I’m hoping they’ll hand out new ones this year because the husband keeps eyeing mine. It’s made by High Sierra, but I can’t find the specific model online.
Downside? With zero padding, this is not a good pack for camera gear. You drop it, you’re hosed. The side pocket flaps around and that can be annoying when your water bottle is in there.
Price: Free swag from TBEX 09.
The perfect bag still eludes me. I like the Crumpler if I’m just trying to get my stuff from point A to point B, but it feels like overkill for day trips. I like the Kata, but the bucket makes me nervous — I’m hyper aware that I might pour out my gear and hey, that stuff is pricey. My freebie pack from TBEX is good for the laptop only, but I don’t like the way the camera kicks around in there. Who’s got the perfect bag for your traveling documentarian kit? I’d love to know.
Hi Pam,
I am convinced the perfect bag does not exist. That is why I have, ahem, a closet full of backpacks, waistpacks, slingbags, messenger bags, camera bags, computer bags and totes. Beach. Hike. Boat. Coffee. I have a bag for that. One night away? Five? Two weeks? I have a bag for that. Bags, well, they are my addiction. Good luck with your search.
A hui hou, Kim
I got around the no padding problem in the Hertz backpack on my trip to Africa last Fall by adding a Lowepro padded camera-only case for the camera. Takes up more space in the pack, but otherwise it was the perfect size for the trip. On safari I had the smaller case for just the camera and a spare CF card.
Pam, I absolutely love the DR 467 bag – it’s actually pretty close to the perfect bag for me. We were in Seoul at the best camera shop I have ever been to last week and they had a newer version of the DR 467 than what we have and it looks like they solved the bottom compartment spilling out issue. Basically, the zipper part on the bottom scoops out instead of just folding over in the new bag (I don’t know if that made sense) but – on the negative side – it is a little bit larger. We are happy with our old bag but you might want to check out the new version.