UKC

Im getting into full frame photography, and was looking for some advise as to what people use to bring their kit into the mountains? 

I’ll be taking a telephoto, and a couple of primes, as well as a tripod. At the moment I’m just using socks to pad out the lenses, and a camera bag, but I’d quite like something a bit more easy access for the lenses. I figured some sort of insert bag might be useful, rather than a dedicated camera bag, then I can use whatever sized pack I want depending on what I’m doing. Any thoughts?

Cheers!

I have a Lowepro Flipside AW400 which is very good as a camera bag, and I happilly use it on sizeable treks, but it's not a mountaineering pack, and whilst ok stomping up a hill, I certainly wouldn't want to use it if climbing as it's wide and a little restrictive.

I did notice the other day that Lowepro do a range of bags designed for hill walking/mountaineering which is probably where I would look first.

The issue with a insert bag will be finding one that fits in an ordinary day pack without making the whole thing a chore to access... you might as well use separate lens bags and one for the body?

I take two cameras {Fuji X Series} up the hills; one with a wide angle and one with a telephoto. I also take a tiny bag wth spare batteries, SD card & cleaning cloth.  I just put them in a 45 litre rucksack along with my normal kit. I don’t bother with a tripod anymore but I used to strap one on the outside without too much fuss.

If it looks wet I put each in a waterproof bag.

Thanks for the reply’s.

This is pretty much what I’m doing at the moment, although I can afford an extra body, hence the need for some easy access options for the lenses.

balmybaldwin - I get your points there. I’ll have a look at the Lowepro range, although I was hoping for a solution that doesn’t involve more rucksacks, as the wife is already complaining about the number I have cluttering the house! Maybe I can sneak another one under the radar though...

"It's a camera bag dear/not a rucksack!". Guaranteed to work, no?!

I use a couple of inserts 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00KT7GKXK/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o...

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0763V22ZY/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o...

They make a huge range of bags so you should be able to find one that suits. 

All the dedicated "wilderness camera backpacks" I have looked at before have been heavy, uncomfortable to carry and with downright stupidly designed back systems, compared to normal outdoor packs from the likes of Millet, Deuter and others. Might have changed in the recent years, but I still think a camera bag company can't make a backpack that would be actually good to carry on your back...(I would love to be proven wrong, though!)

I would just get a lightly padded insert or a couple of lens pouches, like others suggested. It's more versatile, you can still put the insert or pouches into a small ultralight summit pack. If on easy terrain, I just attach the camera with my favourite lens via a couple of biners and short cord to my shoulder straps (to take the pain out of my neck). Works a treat and is essentially free and more secure than those overpriced backpack shoulder strap attachment systems as well. The nice thing about lens pouches is that you can just put them together on a sling, and have a lens bandolier for short excursions out of camp.

Hi Smelly.

I would suggest you look at Shimoda Designs. Working as a professional adventure photographer I have often battled against this issue. These bags has resolved all my problems. Owned by the previous designer of F Stops bags Ian Miller they are truly epic bags. 

I use the 60 litre and can carry all my camera gear plus a trad rack. 100 meter static line, food and clothes and it is super comfy.

https://www.shimodadesigns.com/

https://www.dalephotographic.co.uk/search?controller=search&orderby=pos...

F-STOP or Shimoda have been doing this for years. 

Thanks. It has been a while since I looked at some camera backpacks I heard about the F-Stop ones, but thought it was mostly an urban focused brand. And Shimoda is a new one for me. Back in the day I looked there were mostly just those so-so packs from Lowepro, and for normal photography I just toted an overfilled Domke F2, issued by the paper, like everybody else... (my spine does not thank me for that now!). Finally upgraded to ThinkTank and the then excellent Newsvest (Are these still made? Before all the terrorism craze, now it looks a bit too militaristic to be comfortable carrying one in the city), although it was not outdoorsy at all. But since I mostly leave the heavy full frame DSLR and take just a small Fuji for any trips nowadays, lens pouches inside normal backpack work quite well for me. After lugging two 1D-style DSLRs with 2.8 zooms for years, a small Fuji feels like Pentax MX or Leica film days again!

Agree about inserts and/or padded pouches. There are loads of them on Ebay. The only drawback I can see is that although the adverts for them give the dimensions you can't be absolutely sure they will fit your rucksack until you get them. I think the dedicate camera rucksack are just way too expensive.

Dave

Also worth thinking about your carry system when you're moving through the mountains.

If all you intend to shoot are static, long exposure style tripod captures - then great.  Get bag recommendations.

If you're also going to shoot while (somewhat) mobile, then it's worth looking into a clip system.

Some of the better options are repurposed solutions that have been attached to shoulder & camera.

Quick to secure/release, stable when moving, and readily accessible.

Sorry, just returning to this thread since I’ve been away at work...

Thanks for all the useful tips. I’ll have a think about the f-stop range and check out the Shimoda range, I’d never heard of them before.

I think for day trips I’ll be looking at a clip system with lens pouches, a bit like what I’m doing at the moment, but for the multiday stuff I’ll check out the bags.

Have anyone used any of the chest mounted clip harnesses? Saw some by cotton that looked quite good, but not sure if theyd be any good for hiking?