Upcoming Road Trip Part V; Gear Now Selected, Which Camera Backpack Did I Choose?

Mindshift Gear (now fully merged with ThinkTank Photo) Backlight 26L (click to enlarge)
Mindshift Gear Press Photo

This is part V of my short series about my preparation and gear decision-making for my wife's and my upcoming road trip to the Rocky Mountains, western and southwestern U.S. states.  You can read Parts I-IV here, here, here and here.

To briefly recap, I made my decision, based upon the reasons previously stated, as to why I chose to take my M4/3 gear as opposed to my Fujifilm gear.  My plan is to be able to place all of my M4/3 gear into one large camera backpack so: 

a) I can carry the backpack containing all of my gear from my vehicle either for a photo opportunity or, alternatively, into the hotel at night, and 

b) use it as a "suitcase," so to speak, and when I will not need to carry everything, pull out what only what gear I think I'll need when leaving my vehicle to photograph.  In the second case, I would put what I specifically anticipate needing into a small shoulder bag, most likely my small and very lightweight Ape Case, that I've described before in this post.

Currently, I don't have a camera backpack which will carry everything I plan on taking.  My Fujifilm gear resides in a LowePro Flipside II AW 300 and it all fits nicely.  A place for everything.  Not so for my M4/3 gear.

Ashamedly, I own much too much gear.  However, for a trip such as this, I will be taking much more gear than I would if I were traveling for a shorter period of time or if the locations, geography and wildlife I plan to visit were known.  On a long road trip without a specific itinerary, one never knows what one will encounter so sometimes its better to take too much than not have something you need.  If I were flying instead of driving, things would be different.

Here is the gear I plan on taking so my search for a camera backpack had to contain all of this:

Olympus E-M 1 Mark II
Olympus Pen-F (backup and to use by my wife is she wants to take photos)
Olympus 12-40mm f/2.8 PRO lens
Olympus 12-100mm f/4 PRO lens (this will be my primary lens unless my wife wants to photograph)
Olympus 40-150mm f/2.8 PRO lens
Olympus 17mm f/1.8 lens
Olympus 60mm f/2.8 macro lens
Olympus 300mm f/4 PRO lens
Olympus MC-14 1.4x Tele-converter
Panasonic-Leica 8-18mm f/2.8-4 lens (I chose the Panny over the Oly 7-14 due to filter threads)
Gitzo GT-2540 Carbon Fiber Tripod with a Markins M-10 ball head (Arca-Swiss compatible)
Gitzo G0011 mini tripod w/a Manfrotto 3009 ballhead
L-brackets for both cameras
3 extra batteries for the Mark II; 2 extra batteries for the Pen-F
2 battery chargers for each camera (backup chargers are often forgotten)
1 GB in memory cards
Giottos small Rocket Blower
5 or so microfiber lens cloths
10 Zeiss Lens Cleaning Wipes
Arctic Butterfly Sensor Cleaning Brush
Polarizing Filters
6X and 10X ND filters
Several filter step-up/down rings
2 Upstraps with Peak Design lugs
2 Peak Design wrist straps
X-Rite Colorchecker Passport
2 Op-Tech Rain Sleeves
1 large Zip Lock® 5 gallon plastic bag
10 Think Tank Photo Red Whips
1 small LED flashlight
1 small LED headlamp
1 small roll of gaffer's tape
1 microfiber towel
1 extra pair of reading glasses (I'm old and need them to see clearly!  You just wait! LOL)
1 mechanical pencil
1 notebook

as well as some small, miscellaneous other photo related stuff.

The basic plan is to keep the 12-100mm f/4 PRO lens on the E-M1 Mark II and that will serve as my primary "walk around" camera and lens.  If my wife decides she would like to make some images in a location where we visit, I'll place the 12-100mm lens on the Pen-F for her and use the 12-40mm f/2.8 PRO lens and if needed, the 40-150mm f/2.8 PRO lenses.  I also have the option of placing the Panasonic/Leica 6-18mm f/2.8-4 lens into that small bag as well.

Finding a photo backpack that will provide the room for all of the gear itself isn't so hard.  But finding a backpack that fits the gear and has room for all of the miscellaneous stuff and is not too big and bulky is a greater challenge.  In other words, I'm picky and want something very well made, carefully thought out and designed and not too bulky.  Tall order.  I willing to pay for high quality as I know that I won't have to buy another similar pack in the future.  As I've heard Sharky James say, "buy once, cry once."

Opens from the back or side that faces your back.  Laying it down on the ground
will not get the shoulder straps nor padding wet or muddy. (click to enlarge)
Mindshift Gear Press Photo

The criteria I set for myself for the photo backpack is this: First and foremost it must be well made.  I don't buy cheap gear and I want my pack to protect it and last for a long, long time.  Second, the interior camera compartment must be accessible from the rear only.  The pack must open from the back or body side of the pack.  I want to be able to set the backpack down on the ground or grass and then wear it again without getting the shoulder straps or my back dirty or wet when I pick it back up.  Third, it must easily fit both cameras, lenses and filters in the interior divided area.  Fourth, it must provide the ability securely to attach a tripod.  If I want to take one without having to carry one in my hands, the pack should be made to attach a moderately sized one.  Fifth, it must have room for all of the miscellaneous photo stuff listed above in many pockets, compartments, etc., and sixth, it mustn't be too large or bulky.  As I said, tall order.

After viewing lots and lots of You Tube videos, reading lots of reviews, I narrowed my search down to four:  the Vanguard Alta Sky 51, the Mindshift Gear Backlight 26L, the LowePro Flipside 400 AW II and the Lowepro Pro Tactic 450 AW.  Drum roll please!

Without going into all of the gyrations of my decision-making, I chose the Mindshift Gear Backlight 26L. I ordered it from Amazon, took delivery and I am extremely pleased with its quality, overall size and how well all the gear listed above fits into it.  It is not as large or as bulky as I thought it would be.  When sitting upright on the ground, it reaches the height of my knee.  I decided to buy a green one as just about every bag I own is black.  Nice change.  Did I mention that when you set it down on its bottom it sits securely and nicely upright and doesn't fall over?  In the past, that is an issue I had with many of the ones I've owned.

I've now loaded it up with everything I listed above, worn it around for a while and I must say it is very comfortable.  The waist straps rest perfectly on my hips, relieving my shoulders and back of the weight.  This has to be the most comfortable and well made backpack I've ever owned.  No compromises in manufacture.  I'm even happier!

Plenty of room for "stuff" in the front pockets. (click to enlarge)
Mindshift Gear Press Photo

One of the problems I saw with many of the bags I looked at was that if there was plenty of room for cameras and lenses, there were few other pockets and compartments and little room for any other stuff we, as photographers, need to pack and take.  Vice versa; if there was plenty of room for miscellaneous stuff, then the area where the cameras and lenses fit would not suffice.  The Backlight 26L has a perfect combination, in my opinion.

I'll be taking some additional safety and emergency things but they will stay in the vehicle and I won't be packing those into this pack.

Next post, I'll talk about planning for contingencies.
Join me over at Instagram @dennisamook or my website, www.dennismook.com. 

Thanks for looking. Enjoy! 

Dennis A. Mook 

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