Cameragadget bag for aircraft

[stuh]

Been looking around for a travel bag for my camera kit. The bag needs to be small enough to be allowed as hand luggage but big enough hold everything safely.

Therefore the maximum size is 55x40x20cm (22x16x8") - According to the BA website.

Stuff to carry is DSLR, 4 lenses, flash, CF's, chargers. Laptop, iPod+eti's, DV camera. Plus hopefully enough room left over for a book and travel washbag!

I thought i'd found the ideal with the LowePro Stealth AW II backpack:

www.warehouseexpress.com/index.cfm?photo/lowepro/stealthaw.html

However a few online reviews say it has insufficent padding.....

Then there is something made by crumpler. I don't know the brand, but the bag looks good....

http://we-sell-crumpler.co.uk/Products.asp?ID=24

Anyone advise from their own experience or reviews they have read?

Cheers

[parrot of doom]

I've taken all kinds of equipment as hand luggage, and not even in bags. Its my experience that they care more about weight (5kg for hand luggage) than the physical size.

So long as its about the size of a normal rucksack (not one of the tent carriers), you'll be fine.

[beano500]

Billingham 550.





Well it does me OK anyway.

[murph7355]

I have a stealth Stuh.

You can get plenty in it (2x DSLRs, 3 lenses, laptop, cables etc), but as a backpack to carry it all it's not very satisfactory. Too limp with zero support and poor straps.

The crumpler stuff looks OK, but I suspect its more fashion than substance.

Am still looking for a really good bag.

[PetrolTed]

Not sure if it matches your dimension requirements but I recently bought a Lowepro and am very pleased with it.

[ehasler]

PetrolTed said:

Not sure if it matches your dimension requirements but I recently bought a Lowepro and am very pleased with it.

I've got one of these too (and it's a great bag), and have never had any problems checking it on as hand luggage.

If I'm pushed for space in the bag, I pop the camera round my neck, and if that fails you can always slip a lens or two into your coat pockets as well.

I've also recently bought a Pro Trekker, which dwarfs the Mini Trekker, however it seems that quite a few people have managed to get that on as hand luggage as well.

I've never had them weighed though, so as long as you pretend it's nice and light, or keep it down by your feet when you check in, you should be fine

[CVP]

ehasler said:

PetrolTed said: Not sure if it matches your dimension requirements but I recently bought a Lowepro and am very pleased with it. I've got one of these too (and it's a great bag), and have never had any problems checking it on as hand luggage.

Me too. A very relaible bag for flying as it doesn't look too big or that's it's carrying really heavy kit

ehasler said:

I've never had them weighed though, so as long as you pretend it's nice and light, or keep it down by your feet when you check in, you should be fine

Pretending it's light is a good one. I've only been caught out by this once when Virgin insisted on weighing it. Turned out my camera bag weighed more than my checked luggage It ended up at about 7kg I think. Fortunately being nice and polite to the check-in agent meant no fuss was caused and I cruised onto the plane with no problem.

Chris

[V6GTO]

I'm on planes all the time and I've never been stopped for my bag. However, I think you are being a bit unrealistic wanting to get all that stuff in a bag with the dimentions you give. It needs to be made by the same people who made the Tardis.

I've got this...
www.morrisphoto.co.uk/ProductDetails.aspx?productID=4213&categoryid=157


Martin.

[stuh]

Cheers Folks

Well as the LowePro's are so well regarded, i might try the Stealth backpack after all. I don't actually intend to use it out in the field. Just to get the gear to Cape Town without the check-in people making a fuss.............

Anyone know whether any high street stores stock the LowePro backpacks?

[stuh]

V6GTO said:

I'm on planes all the time and I've never been stopped for my bag. However, I think you are being a bit unrealistic wanting to get all that stuff in a bag with the dimentions you give. It needs to be made by the same people who made the Tardis. I've got this... <a href="http://www.morrisphoto.co.uk/ProductDetails.aspx?productID=4213&categoryid=157">www.morrisphoto.co.uk/ProductDetails.aspx?productID=4213&categoryid=157</a> Martin.

A Tardis is what i need for the Mrs luggage

Looking at your link Martin, i've seen this:

www.morrisphoto.co.uk/ProductDetails.aspx?man=Lowepro&productID=4219&categoryid=157

Although it doesn't make it very clear what the total size is, just the 2 compartments individually.....

Don't suppose you've got a pic of your bag with gear packed in it?

>> Edited by stuh on Friday 18th February 13:34

[V6GTO]

Stuh,
Mine is called Rover Light and is a bit smaller than the one you're looking at, but pictures are here http://v6gto.smugmug.com/Other .
I can't tell you how good, and tough, this bag is. I'm just about to get another lens so I think I'll be getting the AW Pro too. Mine has been skiing twice, to Morrocco, Barbados, Las Vegas twice and Thailand. It gets chucked in the back of the car at least twice a week and it has'nt got a mark on it, and it's really comfortable. I couldn't reccomend it highly enough, like I said, I'm getting another one.

Martin.

>> Edited by V6GTO on Friday 18th February 15:38

[Bee_Jay]

stuh said:

Cheers Folks Well as the LowePro's are so well regarded, i might try the Stealth backpack after all. I don't actually intend to use it out in the field. Just to get the gear to Cape Town without the check-in people making a fuss............. Anyone know whether any high street stores stock the LowePro backpacks?

London Camera Exchange definitely stock them - phone ahead first though. (your profile doesn't say where you live)

I have taken both the Nature Trekker and the Micro Trekker 200 with me on flights before no problem.

I tend to check things like chargers and leads etc. so as to be able to transport all my stuff sometimes, but only the things you could do without for a couple of days at the other end in case your luggage got lost.

You are asking a lot to get all that in one bag though, in my Nature Trekker I manage to fit 20D and Battery grip, 28-135 on camera, 100-400, 70-300, 50, 85, 18-55, flash, batteries, laptop (IBM X40, small) and other sundries (sensor swabs, filters etc).

On my most recent trip I too the Micro Trekker 200 and my laptop bag as handluggage no problem, they are very understanding nowadays - you should see the size of some of those wheely bags people take on!!!

[ThatPhilBrettGuy]

ehasler said:

I've never had them weighed though, so as long as you pretend it's nice and light, or keep it down by your feet when you check in, you should be fine

Or, if you're feeling very sneeky (not that I do anything like this ) check you bag into left luggage when you check in. They almost never question you at the gate, and if they do you just say 'Well, they didn't think there was a problem at check-in!'.

Mini-trekker here which has the bonus of just, and I mean just fitting in the 'back' of the Noble. I'll be demonstrating the Noble / Bag tug of war at VW no doubt.

[-DeaDLocK-]

I take one of these wherever I go. Fits on planes with tripod mounted and all my kit inside with no fuss and no problems (on smaller planes it's best to remove the tripod). I also find it's plenty big enough even for extended trips.

[philblade]

PetrolTed said:

Not sure if it matches your dimension requirements but I recently bought a Lowepro and am very pleased with it.

Echo Teds post..

Lowepro Mini Trekker AW for me £79...

Took it carry on to Singapore in November and Cape Town last month. Plenty of padding and the straps allow easy carriage on back/ shoulder onto the plane or around the city. Looks just like a rucksack to anyone but the numerous configurable compartments are brill. Just position them to suit your equipment.

Holds my:

Canon 10D
28-135mm
17-40 F4 + hood
70 - 200mm F2.8 + hood
550 EX
manfrotto mini tripod
Filters + spare batteries for flash + camera + CF's

and it even has space for food and drink.
A nice touch is the pull out pocket on the back to hold a full size extendable tripod if required. You would struggle to fit a laptop in though.!

[ThatPhilBrettGuy]

philblade said:

You would struggle to fit a laptop in though.!

Mine fits in ok with a 10D, 28-135IS, Sigma 15-30, 100-400IS, mini tripod + bits. It's a rather thin Sony X505 though...

[stuh]

V6GTO said:

Stuh, Mine is called Rover Light and is a bit smaller than the one you're looking at, but pictures are here http://v6gto.smugmug.com/Other . I can't tell you how good, and tough, this bag is. I'm just about to get another lens so I think I'll be getting the AW Pro too. Mine has been skiing twice, to Morrocco, Barbados, Las Vegas twice and Thailand. It gets chucked in the back of the car at least twice a week and it has'nt got a mark on it, and it's really comfortable. I couldn't reccomend it highly enough, like I said, I'm getting another one. Martin. >> Edited by V6GTO on Friday 18th February 15:38

You've got pics of EVERYTHIMG

[stuh]

ThatPhilBrettGuy said:

ehasler said: I've never had them weighed though, so as long as you pretend it's nice and light, or keep it down by your feet when you check in, you should be fine Or, if you're feeling very sneeky (not that I do anything like this ) check you bag into left luggage when you check in. They almost never question you at the gate, and if they do you just say 'Well, they didn't think there was a problem at check-in!'. Mini-trekker here which has the bonus of just, and I mean just fitting in the 'back' of the Noble. I'll be demonstrating the Noble / Bag tug of war at VW no doubt.

Agreed. Two years of M12 ownership certainly sharpened my packing technique

[stuh]

OK, I'm up bright and early to start my quest for the perfect bag! I'll let you know how i get on..........

Current favourite is the Lowepro Rover AW+, as per deadlock (you weren't a hacker previously wer you per chance?) and V6GTO's.

[gravymaster]

Lowepro definately the way. Even my minitrekker is like a tardis!