Posted: 10/11/2025 9:30:04 AM EDT
|
Have a trip to patagonia early next year and my LowePro is over 10years old now. Does anyone have a line on large camera bags that are still small enough for intl. carry-on? I am pretty tolerant to having weight on my back for a few miles so it doesn't have to have an internal frame or any fancy hiking stuff. Also it seems like everything well made has those f'n camera cube things which suck up valuable space, generally unwieldy and not something I need or want in my life. I keep looking and at the moment seriously considering just buying a sewing machine. |
"Dum spiro spero"
|
Are you looking for something you can carry on your back full time, like when you are out hiking also? Or just something to carry gear through the airport? I recently went to Hawaii and bought a Tenba DNA 16 Pro messenger bag. It did well, but carrying it plus a fully loaded backpack was a pain. My next solution will be a rolling type bag. Something like a Pelican Air 1535, but I'm looking for something even lighter. My main problem is that I want to carry more gear than is prudent. So my bags end up heavier than I want them to be. |
|
Originally Posted By Grendel-OK: Are you looking for something you can carry on your back full time, like when you are out hiking also? Or just something to carry gear through the airport? I recently went to Hawaii and bought a Tenba DNA 16 Pro messenger bag. It did well, but carrying it plus a fully loaded backpack was a pain. My next solution will be a rolling type bag. Something like a Pelican Air 1535, but I'm looking for something even lighter. My main problem is that I want to carry more gear than is prudent. So my bags end up heavier than I want them to be. I have a big 450? now, the old lowepro that barely fits as a carry-on and it works fine just slowly unravelling after over a decade of travel an abuse. I don't plan on any major hiking but i have done a couple miles with this awkward chonky one with no issues. |
"Dum spiro spero"
Think Tank or Mindshift are the way I'd recommend. My Photocross 13 goes everywhere with me, but only holds a full size gripped body and 2 lenses, plus a laptop and little stuff. I had one of their Firstlight 46L bags, but never actually needed to haul everything around.  Think Tank owns Mindshift now, but their quality is really darn good. |
|
Does anyone have any experience with the Nomatic 35L? It's what I am leaning towards currently, but it's a bit pricier than I was hoping. https://www.nomatic.com/collections/mckinnon-camera-collection/products/camera-pack |
"Dum spiro spero"
|
I have several Tenba bags. Very serviceable. My problem is that no matter what bag I get, I always end up trying to put 10#s of crap in a 5# bag. Get a larger bag. Then I literally can't pick it up, let alone carry it. Obviously Domke is the premier (and status) bag. Nothing says "look at me, I'm a photographer" like a Domke bag. Fred has mentioned the Tenba bag inserts, that convert a regular bag to a camera bag. I just picked up a little Tenba shoulder bag, but after loading it, it's bulging all over. I need a bigger one. Or maybe I should just a Kodak Instamatic camera.  We did do an Alaska trip in June, using a small Tenba compact bag with 2 mirrorless bodies, 1 extra lens and cables, charger and spare batteries and SD cards. |
Gnu User, Clumsy Migratory Off-topic Herd Ungulate
|
@TheAmaazingCarl Big fan of the NyaEvo line of bags. Have a 36 and 60-C both have been used for international travel and have lots of space. Great for hiking with as well. Heading to Hawaii end of the week. 60-C Loaded out with Nikon Z9, Z6iii, 14-24mm, 24-120mm, 70-200mm, 180-600mm and 105mm Macro plus all the fixings. Attached File |
Just because you are unique doesn't make you useful.
|
Originally Posted By WhatsGnu: Obviously Domke is the premier (and status) bag. Nothing says "look at me, I'm a photographer" like a Domke bag.. They don’t just look the part. They are intelligently designed for working out of. They are the No. 1 choice of working pros for a reason. Also, OP, the original size Domke is intentionally sized to fit under an airplane seat. |
|
I used a Shimoda Explore 30L for this summer's Yellowstone/Tetons trip. I carried a Sony A7iv with a 24-70, 70-200, 200-600 and a Leica M6 with 35. It comes with a nice, padded belt, but I didn't plan on doing any real hiking with it so I left it home. Worked well and fit under the seat. I also carried the tripod, gimbal (for the 200-600), batteries, bean bag, mics, filters, etc. in a Pelican Air 1535 which was my carry-on. Attached File The Sprawl Attached File |
"The answer to crime is always cows." -Cheesebeast
|
I recently bought a Pelican Air 1535 when it was on sale at B&H. Picked up a padded divider set and a lid storage tray for a laptop at the same time. In this case I can carry my Canon R6 mkII with battery grip plus 7 different lenses: RF 24-70 f 2.8 L IS USM with lens hood RF 70-200 f 2.8 L IS USM with lens hood RF 100-500 f 4.5-7.1 L IS USM (lens hood shared with the 70-200) RF 16mm f 2.8 STM (tucked inside the lens hood for the RF 85mm) RF 85mm f 2 STM with lens hood Laowa Argus 35mm f 0.95 with lens hood Sirui 75 mm T2.9 FF 1.6X Anamorphic Plus, I can carry two extra batteries a Newer shutter release DJI Mic Mini 16" MacBook Pro plus charger K&F 77mm variable ND filter K&F 82mm variable ND filter A variety of USB-C cables and my Peak design Slide Light strap This whole set up weights right at 34 lbs. I'll carry my Sirui travel tripod in my suit case when I fly. And I don't often carry my MacBook Pro when I travel since I really only use it for audio recording and playback jobs. It's a decent amount of gear and covers the lens options I want to have available. And it's on wheels, so it'll be easer to move around an airport with a backpack on my back also. And since it has a bunch of lithium-ion batteries, they can't make you gate check it.    
|