Please recommend a bag for this equipment

Rael

Hi folks,

I thought I'd ask for your opinions and experience. I'm going to New York in January and I'm hoping to pick up some new equipment. I'm thinking of getting the following:

40D
EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 Lens, Hood & Filter
EF 70-200mm f/4L Lens & Filter
EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro Lens, Hood & Filter
Extra Battery & Grip
580EX II Speedlite Flash
Filter Wrenches & Memory Cards

I was wondering if anyone can recommend a good backpack to carry all this equipment, especially for the flight back home. I was looking at the Lowepro range and I was first considering the Computrekker Plus AW and more recently the Fastpack 350.

Can anyone give me their recommendations please, would these bags (particulary the Fastpack) hold the above mentioned equipment?

I've also had the compuprimus and compurover mentioned to me.

Please keep in mind that I don't actually need the laptop section, but I was looking for a bag that could comfortably hold my equipment and this seemed a byproduct of my needs.

As always, all suggestions will be gratefully received.

thanks,

Rael

Shiny

I have been using the Computrekker Plus AW for the last year
and a half and it would easily hold all the equipment.

After I sold my laptop, the laptop section becomes very handy for
holding, magazines, model release forms etc.

Also have seen it getting the number one spot in several photography
magazines.

gandalf

I have the Computrekker AW and would recommend it wholeheartedly. Has carried my gear to quite a few places without incident.

Paulw

I have the Computrekker AW too, and it would certainly hold all that gear and a lot more.

I'll be travelling to the US next month and plan to bring a lot of gear with me, so the Computrekker is great for holding my gear for the flights.

Well worth checking out.

Also, the Slingshot 300AW would also hold that gear. I think it's an easier bag for general walking around with better support and ease of access to get at your gear. It's actually the bag I use most often, but doesn't quite hold as much as the Computrekker.

Rael

Thanks for the replies guys,

Any idea abut the Fastpack 350, or would it be too small for my needs?

decsramble

I have the Fastpack 350. I bought it for use as a travel bag and to replace my old Lowepro Orion Treker which was pretty battered and could not hold all the gear I wanted to carry. I also have a Crumpler backpack with a laptop section but that is far too small in fact it probably works out to have less usable space than the Treker.

The fastpack 350 was a bit of an impulse buy. I was looking at the smaller 250 but when I saw the two side by side I spent the extra couple of euros for the extra space. It is perfect for what I want. Lots and lots of space. I can easily carry a 40D with a Sigma 18-200 attached, plus a Sigma 10-20, Sigma 70-300 and Canon 50mm along with a memory card holder, spare battery, cleaning cloth, blower and a bag with other little bits and pieces AND thats just in the camera section at the bottom. The general purpose section on top can hold lots more stuff. Yesterday I had a hoody, small cash box, two small rolls of twine and various other bits and pieces. The laptop section then can be used to carry magazines, a few folded up plastic bags and so on. Plus there are two small pouches, one on the front and one under a flap at the bottom. This flap seems to be there to prevent the camera section opening accidentally and having all your lenses fall out.

You probably wont run out of space because I tend to reach a point with the bag when packing that before I run out of space I have more weight than I want to carry for the day.

At the side there is a quick access zipped flap for the camera. Works a treat. I can have the camera out of my bag in a couple of seconds. 40D fits ok, maybe a little small without a battery grip. I'd be careful to make sure one side nestles into the zipper lip to prevent it accidentally falling out as you open the bag when walking.

The only flaw I had with the bag was carrying a tripod. There were no catches but I found that a couple of carbineers work well for attaching one at the side, though that then blocked access to the quick access camera flap.

I like the bag and in fact it's become my general walk around bag instead of my excursion bag, though if i'm being honest it might be just a touch big for a general walk around town bag. I flew to Canada with it a couple of weeks ago and just out of curiosity/boredom I tried fitting it in the bag measuring stands beside gates in a couple of airports. It does fit, though depth wise it's a little tight, the waist straps get in the way a little when putting it into the frame but once it's in it is obviously well inside the limits for the airlines I was using.

I'm happy with my one so far and I'd recommend it.

Rael

Paulw wrote: »

I have the Computrekker AW too, and it would certainly hold all that gear and a lot more.

I'll be travelling to the US next month and plan to bring a lot of gear with me, so the Computrekker is great for holding my gear for the flights.

Well worth checking out.

Also, the Slingshot 300AW would also hold that gear. I think it's an easier bag for general walking around with better support and ease of access to get at your gear. It's actually the bag I use most often, but doesn't quite hold as much as the Computrekker.

Can I ask who you fly with and is the Computrekker okay for carry on? I normally use Delta because they allow twice the checked baggae of Aer Lingus. Very useful for Stateside

gandalf

Used the Computrekker with Aer Lingus, Delta, Virgin Atlantic and Cityjet with no issues.

Rael

Hmmm, I think I'm down to either the CompuTrekker, the Primus AW or the Fastpack 350(lack of AW is an issue though !)

decsramble

Rael wrote: »

Hmmm, I think I'm down to either the CompuTrekker, the Primus AW or the Fastpack 350(lack of AW is an issue though !)

Actually I forgot to mention the AW. Yeah it is a bit of a worry though I'm not out in the rain much and the couple of times I have been caught in showers the bag held up ok, though I wouldnt want it to get very wet. I do have a cover from another bad that I keep meaning to fit onto it.

I flew air canada.

Paulw

I've flown with Delta, Continental, American Airways, United Airlines, Aer Lingus, Air Canada .... and more. Just about any/all that fly between Ireland and the US/Canada.

BanzaiBk

Southwestern are the only crowd who ever have an issue with the Computrekker when I fly with them, I usually squash it up a bit or claim it to be my handbag and get away with it:P

Rael

Another alternative that I'm leaning towards is the Kata R103, any opinions?

I've found a setup that would be similar to my proposed kit: