I'm out of shape and gyms make me claustrophobic. I figure regular weekend photo hikes will do wonders for my general health and improve my photography.

What kind of bag - beltpack or backpack - would you recommend and what 2 lenses to take? Would a 17-35 and a 85 work?

I'm out of shape and gyms make me claustrophobic. I figure regular weekend photo hikes will do wonders for my general health and improve my photography.

What kind of bag - beltpack or backpack - would you recommend and what 2 lenses to take? Would a 17-35 and a 85 work?

jerry, im now using lowepro off trail 1 which i bought at stronghand in QC...:D:Grin:

here's the link. (http://www.lowepro.com/Products/Beltpacks/modular/Off_Trail_1.aspx)

it cost 2.5k

in infomax the price of it was at 3k

Agree with BJ! But it would be much better if you go for the Off Trail 2 which is designed for PRO use! :)
http://www.lowepro.com/Products/Beltpacks/modular/Off_Trail_2.aspx

checkout lowepro Off trail 2 (http://www.lowepro.com/Products/Beltpacks/modular/Off_Trail_2.aspx). Tried and tested for climbing and hiking. You can bring a long lens with it plus It can free both of your hands.

LowePro Offtrail is it!

See how I move around conveniently using the OffTrail 2...
http://ct.pbase.com/o5/29/643429/1/69334668.UVDgrODJ.JDLinMS_003.jpg (http://www.pbase.com/josedeluna/medain_saleh)
Contents are... KM7d with VC7D grip, 18-200mm lens attached to body, other lenses inside lens pouches (35mm f/2, 50mm f/2.8 macro, 85mm f/1.4, 100-300mm APO lens), Minolta 5600 HSD flash, a tele-converter, spare batteries, 2 spare CF cards.

Here's a friend using OffTrail-2 in a more extreme situation...
http://ct.pbase.com/o5/29/643429/1/69724908.ccq43k0c.TRarab_0167.jpg (http://www.pbase.com/josedeluna/personal_stuff)

...and the desert boys have spoken based on first hand experiences! :)

Cool bag. :) Does it come with the two lens cases attached to the side already or those are sold separately as part of the Sliplock system?

@Fidel,
The Off Trail 2 bag is sold with the two lens cases. :)

Cool bag. :) Does it come with the two lens cases attached to the side already or those are sold separately as part of the Sliplock system?

Hi Fidel,
Yes, the two lens pouches attached to the sides of the main bag are part of the package (removable type, slings and attaches via velcro strap). I also added small pouches on the waist belt and on the shoulder harness... in effect, mine looks like a military-type harness, almost similar to my BCD harness.

I wish that someday there will be a Pinoy photographer who would venture into the business of designing and producing customized camera bags/harness for us.

Cool. Thanks for the information Orlando and Jose. :)

Unanimous answers! Thanks for saving me from shopping agony!

:)

...and the desert boys have spoken based on first hand experiences! :)

True... True... :) A perfect example of it being subjected to the elements already...

I find the Off Trail bags constrain movement when worn on the waist in front especially when climbing with a backpack on steep slopes.
What I use is a Lowepro Topload Zoom AW attached to the shoulder harness on my backpack while hiking/backpacking. The AW cover also doubles as a rain cover while shooting in the rain.

The lenses you mentioned are excellent for shooting while hiking.

Enjoy the great outdoors!
http://photos.friendster.com/photos/87/67/15207678/16490466518869l.jpg
Photo by Jay J. on the slopes of Mt. Ugu in Benguet

i use a Tamrac Adventure Series 9 :D but haven't really tried hiking with it but for long walks it is good and comfy.

Hi Bernard, thank you very much for the valuable advice from your actual field experience. I took one look at the Off Trail and I realized that it's similar to my S&F Top Loader 75. I also have the S&F harness and a bunch of bags and accessories (from my wedding days) and I believe I already got the bags I need pala. Looking at your setup, placing the bag at chest-level is the perfect way to go to as the Toploader is way too long if mounted as a belt pack - it also look like a phallic-protection-pouch thingie!

Thank goodness, I don't have to acquire another bag!

By the way, is it okay if a noob tag along one of your hikes? I have complete gear from a past life except for a new pair of boots. :)

Jerry,

Just PM Jay Jallorina as I'm currently in NZ. We're both members of Pilipinas Sierra and he'd be happy to help you out with your backpacking queries. I'm sure he's currently using the same setup as mine but I'll post pics of the backpack harness that I made for the TLZ.
Regarding footwear, you don't have to necessarily wear boots as light hiking shoes are available from major manufacturers.

aha!

i have a score to settle with mr. jerry tieng. i dont know if he recognizes me! :)

Aww shucks! What did I do (kaba kaba kaba..)? Can we settle it over coffee po? :)

Aww shucks! What did I do (kaba kaba kaba..)? Can we settle it over coffee po? :)

i'll pm you.

then we can talk about your return to the boondocks! :)

Not sure if they are available here, but Kata has some really good looking bags.

www.kata-bags.com (http://www.kata-bags.com)

Hi Fidel,
Yes, the two lens pouches attached to the sides of the main bag are part of the package (removable type, slings and attaches via velcro strap). I also added small pouches on the waist belt and on the shoulder harness... in effect, mine looks like a military-type harness, almost similar to my BCD harness.

I wish that someday there will be a Pinoy photographer who would venture into the business of designing and producing customized camera bags/harness for us.

@jose - what sort of lenses fit into the provided lens cases? would they fit an 80-200 and a 28-70?

Do you guys actually bring tripods for 2- or 3-day treks? May carbon fiber kasi na 1.5Kg, how heavy is that after trekking for 8hrs? :)

Jerry,
If you have the Rover AW this can double as your backpacking bag. I use mine during ultralight hikes. If you have the attachment straps to attach your TLZ to your S&F harness then you're good to go.

If you don't have harness straps, you need to buy the following:
2 meters of 1" black nylon strap
8 pcs 1" or 1.5" Snap hooks
4 pcs 1" ladder locks (optional)
4 pcs 1" D Rings (to attach to your backpack -- on the shoulder and belt harness) - some backpacks have these already.

Have them sewn so that you have these sets of straps
4 straps with a snap hook and ladder lock on each end
4 straps with a snap hook on one end.


My DIY straps
http://static.flickr.com/101/290176149_caee4d7213.jpg

Here's what it looks like when attached to my backpack.
http://static.flickr.com/111/290176160_f8ea5709f5.jpg

Do you guys actually bring tripods for 2- or 3-day treks? May carbon fiber kasi na 1.5Kg, how heavy is that after trekking for 8hrs? :)

I bring mine and it's around 2.1 kgs i think. It's a Manfrotto/Bogen 190 with a 484RC2 ballhead. It really depends on your fitness level and the outdoor gear you take. I've hiked for 14 days straight with it and sometimes I wished that I bought a Gitzo Mountaineer.
Anything that you carry on your back will be heavy after 8 hours trekking so the lighter your gear, the better you feel and the more you are inclined to shoot.

I bring mine and it's around 2.1 kgs i think. It's a Manfrotto/Bogen 190 with a 484RC2 ballhead. It really depends on your fitness level and the outdoor gear you take. I've hiked for 14 days straight with it and sometimes I wished that I bought a Gitzo Mountaineer.
Anything that you carry on your back will be heavy after 8 hours trekking so the lighter your gear, the better you feel and the more you are inclined to shoot.

me too, i bring me generic tripod... because their shots that it would really requires a tripod...:D:Grin: and bernard is correct about the things you carry, it would be heavy...

about my off trail 1, i do lock it around my backpack... and the camera is position on the side ofcorse... hehe

Hey BB thank you for the DIY tips! I do have the S&F harness (makes me look like a freakin' SWAT cop and I've been accosted/searched several times for it) but I prefer your low-profile look! :)

I just ordered a Benro (China-made!) carbon tripod (http://www.benro.cn/Product/1/c298.html) with a Arca-compatible ballhead (http://www.benro.cn/Product/2/ks1.html) instead of the Manfrottos that we all swear by. They're half the price and let's see if they work and look as good as advertised.

Do you guys actually bring tripods for 2- or 3-day treks? May carbon fiber kasi na 1.5Kg, how heavy is that after trekking for 8hrs? :)

after my recent ordeal during our three day mt. amuyao traverse in mountain province/ifugao, i could swear off bringing that damn tripod! i never got to use it that time since the summit was fog swept and offered no visibility. it was so heavy....especially mentally! hahaha.

but after reviewing all my mountaineering photos of years gone by, i realized all my best/important shots were with the tripod...dawn/dusk lowlight shots....

i must say a mountaineer-photographer must also invest in his physical conditioning if he wants a modicum of fulfillment during a climb :)

Now we're all set.. sabi sa Calendar ni JayJ may Banawe village-to-village trek daw.. nagbayad na rin ako ng Gate Pass hehehe :)

@jose - what sort of lenses fit into the provided lens cases? would they fit an 80-200 and a 28-70?

Hi Nolan,

I did try using the LPro OffTrail-2 with a Nikon D2X + 28-70mm + 70-200mm... they fit well... the 28-70mm attached to the camera body with the hood inverted goes to the main bag, the 70-200mm with the hood inverted goes to the right pouch (the 80-200 would fit better since it's shorter and smaller in diameter). I use the left pouch for the SB-800 together with some small accessories.

But for steep climbs, I'd really prefer backpacks (of any kind)...
http://ct.pbase.com/g6/29/643429/3/69334672.0Sr6Ui66.jpg (http://www.pbase.com/josedeluna/medain_saleh)
That's me... while climbing one of the rock formations at Medain Saleh Tomb City.:)

Now we're all set.. sabi sa Calendar ni JayJ may Banawe village-to-village trek daw.. nagbayad na rin ako ng Gate Pass hehehe :)

Enjoy kayo! Your 85mm would come in handy when photographing locals.
I would also suggest getting a Leki Sierra Photo trekking pole as this has a thread for attaching heads.

The Benro tripods and ballheads look really tempting especially the C-057 n6 tripod as it saves me 700 grams. Thanks for the link.

Hi Nolan,

I did try using the LPro OffTrail-2 with a Nikon D2X + 28-70mm + 70-200mm... they fit well... the 28-70mm attached to the camera body with the hood inverted goes to the main bag, the 70-200mm with the hood inverted goes to the right pouch (the 80-200 would fit better since it's shorter and smaller in diameter). I use the left pouch for the SB-800 together with some small accessories.

But for steep climbs, I'd really prefer backpacks (of any kind)...
That's me... while climbing one of the rock formations at Medain Saleh Tomb City.:)

@jose - thanks for the info. when i surfed for info i got conflicting opininions. some said these lenses fit some and said they don't. at least i have first hand info from you with similar gear. :)

a waistbelt would be comfortable...IMHO