OK, look! I've been looking and looking, but...

[ameerat42]

(OK, only in local camera stores) but I'm yet to find a suitable (well, I thought backpack-type) camera bag.

Here's what I'm looking for to replace my 1980s-style, Tristar-brand camera "schoolport" for travelling, and a soft day-pack bag for hiking:

I think a backpack...
It has to be able to take a DSLR with a Σ50-500 telephoto lens attached...
Have compartments for a 2X converter and another lens (I don't take that many with me)...
Be cabin-luggage compatible...

And, since it will become the main and serious bag for transport AND hiking it must also:
be big enough to also take a netbook computer AND 2 pairs of socks and the same in unmentionables.

Nothing I've seen so far has been good enough. Yes, you pay the dough - it's "camera-gear" after all - but you only get a compromise.

Ta, Am(getting anxious!).

PS: Can't somebody say: "Yes, get a such-and-such..."
PS again: I really thought it would be easier than this.

[Roosta]

Can you advise as what you have found that wont work?

Some suggestions - I have a Lowepro 300 pro runner, worked a treat in NZ. Also the new Lowepro pro trekker are suppose to be a great bag.

http://store.lowepro.com/backpacks/pro-trekker-400-aw

[swifty]

Will either of these work?

http://www.guragear.com/bataflae-18l/

http://www.guragear.com/kiboko-22l/

I use to own the larger kiboko but was too big for my needs and lacked a laptop compartment.
These two backpacks do have laptop compartments but are smaller. The smaller bataflae 18L can only do a maximum of a DSLR and 70-200 attached.
I'm not sure how big the 50-500 is in comparison.
The Kiboko 22L is larger but if that's still not big enough, the larger Bataflae and Kibokos are very spacious and yet airline cabin luggage ok but lacks laptop compartments.

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Oh when I said I use to own the larger kiboko I meant the 30L one, not the 22L that I linked.

[Epoc]

Lowepro Computrekker??

[ameerat42]

Can you advise as what you have found that wont work?

Some suggestions - I have a Lowepro 300 pro runner, worked a treat in NZ. Also the new Lowepro pro trekker are suppose to be a great bag.

http://store.lowepro.com/backpacks/pro-trekker-400-aw

Can't remember the exact ones, but a couple of Lowepros and a couple of Tatas. Will now look at what you, Swifty and Epoc have suggested.
Ta, Am.

[blkmcs]

You might find something here.. http://www.tenba.com/Categories/Backpacks-Daypacks.aspx

[I @ M]

Am, be a good lad and duck over to Gladesville to site advertiser Digital Camera Gear and have a look at their range of Vanguard bags.

From what I have seen in the past the Vanguard bags are of the same standard as the usual suspects out there ( AK83 has one from memory ) and come out of probably the same Chinese / Vietnamese factories as lowepro, think tank and Tamrac etc but don't cost as much.

[ameerat42]

Hmm! Tell you what, Andrew, I like what I see there, both features AND price. Come to think of it, the prices are also
a feature. Yes, and in this weather I will DUCK over there poste haste. OK, it'll have to be Monday.
Ta for that.
Am.

[Boo53]

Am

I don't have one of these bags myself (yet) but I bought a Lowepro flipside 300 for my eldest son about a year ago for him to use exactly as you've mentioned. It easily fitted my a65 with a 120-400 siggy attached and had plenty of room for jocks and socks , etc: He's taken to europe 2 or three times since, all for work and as he's a software engineer a laptop was encluded.

One of the reasons I bought that model for him is that the opening is against your back when you're wearing it. You have to take any pack off to access it so opening on the outside or against your back makes no difference in that respect, but against your back makes it more secure when wearing as no-one can nick things simply by undoing your zips.

Google provides these photos
https://www.google.com.au/search?q=l...gdii=_&imgrc=_

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Am

I don't have one of these bags myself (yet) but I bought a Lowepro flipside 300 for my eldest son about a year ago for him to use exactly as you've mentioned. It easily fitted my a65 with a 120-400 siggy attached and had plenty of room for jocks and socks , etc: He's taken it to Europe 2 or three times since, all for work and as he's a software engineer a laptop was encluded.

One of the reasons I bought that model for him is that the opening is against your back when you're wearing it. You have to take any pack off to access it so opening on the outside or against your back makes no difference in that respect, but against your back makes it more secure when wearing as no-one can nick things simply by undoing your zips.

Google provides these photos
https://www.google.com.au/search?q=lowepro+flipside+300&client=firefox-a&hs=Gq9&rls=org.mozilla:en-GBfficial&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=Q3DOUYuGFsmziQeK54CIBg&ved=0CF0QsAQ&biw=1445&bih=883#facrc=0%3Blowepro%20flipside%20400&imgdii=_&imgrc=_

[ameerat42]

Ta John. That looks good too.
Am.

[mikec]

Am, check out F Stop bags, they are US based but I've got one of their Guru's and it's a great bag.

Their Mountain series would fit the bill of your requirements and then some.

[ameerat42]

Am, be a good lad and duck over to Gladesville to site advertiser Digital Camera Gear and have a look at their range of Vanguard bags.

From what I have seen in the past the Vanguard bags are of the same standard as the usual suspects out there ( AK83 has one from memory ) and come out of probably the same Chinese / Vietnamese factories as lowepro, think tank and Tamrac etc but don't cost as much.

OK, so now I've been there and done that, and can report that I saw a Vanguard for $138 and a Lowepro for $163. And I came away with more pros and cons...

The Vanguard was nice and roomy and had zipped compartments here and there. (I was thinking about my socks.)
But, its main camera access was from a side panel. OK, I could live with that.

The Lowepro was mostly a single zipped compartment with lots of velcro dividers that could be arranged to suit one's gear. Its laptop storage
facility was a bit more ho-hum than the Vanguard's, and my socks were going to find it hard to get a look-in.

But I will decide between these two. All the others - though some were "heavily discounted" - cost upwards of $250, and typically $300s.
They also looked LARGE-LARGE.

BOTH bags looked good and equal in terms of material, stitching, padding, zippage and strappage.

So there I am.
Am(still there, or maybe a bit closer).

[Roosta]

Let us know what you decide on AM, and the main points as to why please. Could make for a good product review in the appropriate forum.

[ameerat42]

Let us know what you decide on AM, and the main points as to why please. Could make for a good product review in the appropriate forum.

UCH! Now yer twisting my arm...

Well, see what I can do.
Am.

[hakka]

http://fstopgear.com/product/mountain/loka#.UdUDzcsaySM

[ameerat42]

Ta hakka, but my budget is about an entry level bag, somewhere around the $150 mark.
Am.

[Rattus79]

What Epoch said.

The lowpro computrekker is the ideal bag for your requirements (and mine)

It's got a good interior that you can setup how you want, can carry large lenses and a laptop up to 17 inches

I manage to fit into mine:
sigma 10-20
sigma 50 1.4
sigma 70-200 2.8
Tamron 17-50 2.8
2x bodies (one without a lens the other on the 70-200)
chargers x2
filters in hardcases x 4
flash transmitters and miscelaneous cleaning equipment
laptop
and strap a tripod on the outside.

It has a half decent hip suspension system and disperses the weight over your hips/shoulders well without being overly hot on your back.

oh, and it has a rain cover as well.

I usually use this as my lugging bag and then pack a day bag (flipside 200) when i get there depending upon what I'm doing on the day.

[ameerat42]

Ta. It looks suspiciously like the one I saw today, but that one was going for $163. I wonder if it could be the same bag???
I'll call him back tomorrow and ask him.
Am.

[hakka]

Ta hakka, but my budget is about an entry level bag, somewhere around the $150 mark.
Am.

In that case look at the lowepro flipside 400aw.

[mikew09]

Have had a Lowepro Flipside 400AW for about 18 months now and found it to be the best bag I have had and no plans to replace it. Don plenty of domestic fly time with it and never any problems, fits in overhead just fine.

Always packed with Canon 50D Gripped, 70-200 L f/4, 24-105 L, Canon 10-22 UWA, 1 x 430 flash, 1 x 580 flash, a set of filter and holder, 4 x Yougnu flash triggers, remove control for remote exposures and 3 plastic diffusers for the 580 plus some lens cloths, 6 CF mem cards, lens pen. All fits pretty neat and the backpack is very comfotable. Have worn it for an all day shoot and all good.

In the front compartment I will have maybe my wallet, iPhone pen small note book etc. Often have a plastic bag with some fruit or a sandwich stuffed in there too. That is about all that will fit within reason I think. The best thing I have found with this bag is it opens from the back which means when you put the bag down to access your gear you don't end up with dirt etc on the padding of the back pack when you put it back on.

It is without a dount it is the best bag I have had out of the 4 previous which I changed within 6 months until I good the current.

I think the next size up can take a notebook but not sure it is plane cabin friendly.

Oh, I neglected to mention I also have the battery charge unit in the bag also.