Can you recommend a backpack?

[davidkhardman]

After a year-and-a-half of heavy use, my Mountainsmith rucksack is wearing out - the stitching that attaches the right hand shoulder strap to the bag is breaking away.

So now I'm considering a new bag. It needs to accomodate a 15" laptop, Canon 5D and 7D bodies, Sigma 150-500mm lens, 24-105mm lens, tripod, plus usual assortment of batteries, filters, cables etc. A waterproof cover is also necessary. Khaki or similar colouring would be handy but not essential.

Can anyone recommend anything?

The Lowepro website is very helpful, as it gives you an easy way to indicate requirements and narrows down the options for you. The bag that I focused in on was the Lowepro Pro Trekker 400AW, but unfortunately the reviews on Amazon suggest that - contrary to the advertising - it may not house a 15" laptop.

The Vertex 300 looks like it might be a possibility, but I'd be interested in the views of people with some personal experience.

Dave

[Markulous]

I'm a big fan of Tamrac and originally got the Expedition 8 which served me well before I then got the Expedition 7 which continues to serve me well (and see they now take laptops). It'll take a couple of bodies and my 150-500 as well as 10-20, 15-85 and 105. If I need my 70-200 I put that in an external lens carrier which attaches to the side where I also carry the waterproof cover. Good Mono/Tripod carrier.

Having said all that, I've recently got the Lowepro Pro Trekker AW II (s/h) so I may comfortably carry my 500 - a massive backpack but it easily carries all I need

[davewebleyphotography]

Crumpler are good, they are expensive but each bag comes with a 30 year guarantee so the quality speaks for itself. I also like the fact they don't look like camera bags so I feel safer in the city with a couple of thousand pounds worth of kit on my back. I bought the cupcake slim backpack ands its very comfortable. I can fit a 60D with grip, 70-200 L f4 and my Sigma 17-50 in it plus room for my Gorilla Pod SLR.

http://www.crumpler.eu/index.cfm?seite=photo&sprache=EN

[RichardA]

I've got the Lowepro Vertex 300AW. I was looking for a backpack that I could carry all my equipment, not only to jobs but for storage afterwards.

I carry a D300, D7000, several lenses, couple of Speedlights, tripods and when needed, a 17" laptop. There are many pockets (I'm sure there's some I've yet to find) for cards, batteries, cables etc.

I've had a Lowepro 200AW Slingshot for a while and have been impressed with it's quality. I bought the 300AW from JacobsDigital back in May for £150.

Pros: Well constructed, rainproof, lots of room for equipment and accessories.

Cons: Heavy when fully loaded (but what backpack wouldn't be?) - if you have an assistant/spouse/partner, make them carry it :-)

[jet_kit]

I'm very happy with my Tamrac Cyberpack 9, but by the time I've crammed all my gear in it weighs more than my house! So I tend to use it as a storage locker and load up my immediate needs in a Lowepro Slingshot. However, I don't lug my laptop around on photoshoots, so ...