PLEASE recommend a good outdoor/mountain/desert backpack. Thank you

Cristian Mihai

Cristian Mihai

Well-known member
Hello there. Looked and so many options outhere. I will use this backpack on rare ocassions ( 3-4 times a year ) in remote mountain areas and dessert zone for 3-4 days on foot no car :). Will have a C70 or Komodo with minum lenses and some clothes, 1 person hammock or 1 person tent. I saw that most of the backpacks are build strictly to accomodate photo/video gear. If some of you have experienced these kind of trips and shooting pls share some ideeas pls. Best regards.
 
IN my distant past when I did hardcore stuff I had a 'bergen' rucksack and actually kept my camera kit in a billingham packington.

So the floppy unprotected bergen had water clothes sleeping bag and also the billinhgham inside.

This meant one coould abandon the big pack for daytrips* or perambulate with the the pack on your back while the billingham was on your front accessable.

Basically moving the smaller bag around - inside the pack for 'hardcore' hiking and storms or on the front for scenic stretches and good weather.

Id sometimes move with the back and the billy balanced n top.

A side note is that my extras - closthes sleeping bag food , whatever, would be in tough dustbin lners

*or the 300 days a year you do not do this stuff
 
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I guess maybe you need to thing about a system that can be configured for each of you modes of activity..

moving not shooting (fully locked down)
shooting not moving (pack abandoned, bag in use)
moving and shooting a bit (pack on bag seperate)

When I was doing mountains generally Id be moving and trying to grab a few things. At the end of the day camp was set and Id do shooting

There was a need to be able to be super light and efficient as one need to have everything.. plus cameras.. so not many clean pants for you :)
 
Single Day around town: Just gear rides in a Lowepro ProTactic 450 AW II configured for the project.
Multi Day Extreem Location: A limited amount of select gear rides in padded inserts, which are then placed into an Eberlestock Phantom backpack along with first aid kit, weather gear, food and any needed supplies.
The downside of the Phantom is it's a smaller sniper pack which limits your load out. Which is also the upside. A larger pack loaded with gear and supplies on a 3 day would get pretty heavy on multiple moves, but might be better on a single location hike in/out.
 
morgan_moore said:
Id skip military colours and looks where possible.
Click to expand...

Absolutely!!! One man's camo is another man's target!
Also depending on where you are you will want to appear CIVILIAN as loud as you can.
Also not mistaken for a bush containing game (deer, pheasnt etc) by any hunters within 800 yards.

A lot of people gain attention because they look like military (or worse still someone else's military) or "freelance security"
A military friend of mine who did the Fan Dance use to use bright yellow, blue and red kit on mountains when he wasn't working.

Rucksacks and kit tend to be very personal. I know a lot who swear by Berghaus. However I never got on with their back system and used Karrrimor. (a Kalahari in blue and Condor in green. )

It depends where you are going and for how long and what you need. Some of this will be specific to the location. In the UK it is hard to be more than 5 miles from a road. in some parts of the world it is easy to be more than 50 miles from a road.
 
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I usually backpack or hike 300-400 miles per year and I love my Osprey Atmos AG 65L. Most comfortable pack I have EVER used. It puts the weight on my hips so I barely feel anything in my shoulders. And the mesh backing creates some airflow so that I don't have sweat dripping down my back the whole time.

In terms of your video needs, are you hiking in with the purpose of shooting at specific locations? Or do you need to be able to capture moments quickly as they arise (a la documentary)?

If it's for specific locations and the camera won't be out as you move between then, I'd pack all camera gear into an airtight/watertight pelican case, ideally as small as possible, and then lash a lightweight tripod to the back or side of the pack. You could also store it in your bear vault if you're bringing one, but as your empty packets of curry and Pad Thai accumulate in there, you risk getting greasy food on your expensive camera so I'd definitely put them in a wrap if you're going to do that. The elements can be really hard on outdoor gear. I have fallen during a stream crossing and waterlogged my camera, and I have slipped from the trail and rolled down a hill before. I've also had my pack tip over backwards and do the same. For the high value cameras you're talking about, I'd definitely go the extra mile to protect them.

If you are documenting a trip and need easy access to your camera, I'd recommend skipping those cameras and bringing along something much cheaper, smaller, and with good IBIS so that you can leave the tripod at home. There are holsters that go on your backpack strap. I am right handed and I like having my camera on my left. If something interesting happens, I can grab it quickly, get the shot, and then return it to its holster. This is a much more enjoyable way to shoot in my opinion and you'll have more shots to choose from.
 
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