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Are there any other members out there that go bushwalking? I'd really like to hear from those of you who do multiple day hikes, where you don't have access to power for 4 or more days. What gear do you typically take with you (photography wise)? Do you just put your camera carefully in your normal pack, or do you take a camera specific backpack? All the Lowepro's etc. that I've looked at weigh an absolute ton and waste heaps of space with foam. Have any of you used the Aarn range of backpacks (http://www.aarnpacks.com) with their front loading pockets? They seem to be a pretty practical solution to me, plus their light weight and NZ country of manufacture appeals to me.

Finally what do you do as far as storage of images goes? Do you take a number of CF cards or do you take some device to transfer the images across? Gary suggested taking my laptop with me and downloading to that on an unrelated post, but that's far more dead weight than I care to lug around for a few days. I'm reasonably fanatical about keeping the weight of my pack down, but not as bad as some of the ultra light hikers.

ABG,
Depend what gear do you want to carry with you, a backpack style as the mini trekker AW or similar will do the job.

I have few spare batteries, more CF cards or a PSD in the bag for the few days trip.

The longest I have done with the d70 is overnight. I strapped my nova II AW to the outside of my Macpac pack...

One spare battery should do..
IMHO it is a must to take some sort of lens cleaning gear on track... it will annoy you if you get rain drop on the lens leaving crud only 30 mins into your treck...

Taking the d70 off the beaten track can yeild original and inspiring images and IMHO is worth the extra backpain

... Obsolete ...

Hi ABG,

I have a lowepro top-loader that I keep handy when walking. In the main pack, just have the rest of the photo gear. On a 4 day plus, I would take a wide-angle lens, eg 12-24. That would be what I carry in the top loader. I'm looking at getting an AW top-loader, models at the link below.

http://www.lowepro.com/Products/Toploading/allWeather/

If you want to do birds/wildlife, you would need a telephoto, but that starts to add up weight wise. A light TF is the Nikkor 70-300mm, and okay lens, but not great. I have one, it's okay and when weght is an issue but I still want a TF I take it. If I don't need a TF, I will also carry my 50mm.

Have a CPL on your WA for those nice blue skies. As MHD said, take a cleaning kit. If you can spare the weight, have a tripod for sunsets/sunrise/low light. At the very least, one of those table top ones.

If you actually have to carry the gear on those 4+ days, you want to minimise some of the weight. CF cards are the lightest so if you can, have enough for the trip, otherwise a PSD is the way to go, I have a PD70X compact drive, there are lighter one like the Nexto. Two batteries should do you for 4 days. The rest of the camera gear is then just packed in the main pack, a Macpac. Haven't seen the Aarn packs, but they look interesting.

HTH,

radar

Radar, there are guys in the states that hike with D2X, 200-400VR, multiple teleconvertors Now that is some serious weight to lug around

In my books, that is not hiking "light"

For me, it has to be under 20kg and hopefully closer to 15kg. That includes food, minimal clothes, tent. Anything more, I bring a mule/horse/dog/car

That's why I prefer taking photos of landscapes when hiking, I don't need a 200-400VR for that. To each his/her own.

cheers,

radar

I am going to have to buy something like the TL 75 AW for a 7 day Overland Track hike shortly.

http://www.lowepro.com/Products/Toploading/allWeather/Toploader_75_AW.aspx

Does anyone know where I could get this for a good price within a little over a week?

Will probably bring an ipod for photo storage/backup. I will be walking with non-photographers so I don't think I'll be taking truckloads of images. 2x D2x batteries generally give me an average of 2,000 shots. I think this will be all I need.

Does anyone know if the huts along the Overland Track have power-points? They would have to be solar powered so unlikely?

Heath Bennett wrote:Does anyone know if the huts along the Overland Track have power-points?

Yes, that's where you plug in the reverse-cycle air conditioner, and cappucino machine.

Cheers

Thanks - what a relief. 7 days without being able to use my coffee maker.

digitor wrote:Yes, that's where you plug in the reverse-cycle air conditioner, and cappucino machine. Cheers

My cappuchino machine has a special back pack accessory for it. The pack holds the Nespresso machine, 20 coffee capsules two expresso cups and saucers, no room for water or milk though.

The things is with cappucino machine on my back the camera will have to be a stomach pack (large) - just as well as I have a wife to carry the luggage, food and wine.

Heath, they sell these at Paddy Pallins, I recommend them for a good cup





ABG,

I just use the top pocket of my pack and only takes two primes, usually 20mm and 50 1.4, a spare battery, enough CF cards or if longer a PSD as well

Hi
I will be treking a asian high mountain in a few weeks time, according to travel schedule it take about 5 day without power, to reduce weight I have to carry on my back I only bring with me a wide angle lens, a medium zoom lens , a Xdrive portable harddrive with built in card reader and my camera I do not bring the heavy 80-200 ,all will be in a normal back pack lens and camera are in the middle of clothing, so the clothe act as foam cusion.That is what I plan .

Regards
spada

VK4CP's bag looks mighty familiar. Our man of the week Rokkstar and I also have that Crumpler bag, and I reckon it's ideal for light hikes where the primary concern is survival and photographic gear secondary. It's ideally suited for overnighters or weekend, but you'd be pushing it for multiple day hikes - especially if there are no useable water sources.

I find the Crumpler's laptop compartment ideal for fitting a camelbak hydration kit, plus alongside it a spare jumper or raincoat. The rest of the top section can be outfitted with food/snacks, first aid kit, etc.

If you were to go multiple days, I'd suggest a Lowepro Toploader and strip everything down to bare essentials (1 zoom or 2 prime lenses), and fit that bag inside your backpack.

Last year I did the Tas overland trip 7 days approx, at that time I had a Oly P&S 5060 the basics are the same. I carried 3 batteries, 2 CF card and a portable storageHD like the PDX7 with a 20gig HD. When I filled the 2 cards just transfer into the HD all worked fine. Now I own a E1 so thing are bit different and I have only done overnight walks with it. I carry the body and my main lens (11-22mm) around my waist in Lowe Orion Mini with a couple of filter in the case as well (easy to access). My other lens just go in a Lowe len case which I just throw in the top of my rucksack. I find that two 1 gig cards are plenty for me and I take 1 spare battery but dont seem to use it (you never know). My tripod for walking is a Velbron 343i weighs 800grams.

Heath Bennett wrote:I am going to have to buy something like the TL 75 AW for a 7 day Overland Track hike shortly.

http://www.lowepro.com/Products/Toploading/allWeather/Toploader_75_AW.aspx

Does anyone know where I could get this for a good price within a little over a week?

Will probably bring an ipod for photo storage/backup. I will be walking with non-photographers so I don't think I'll be taking truckloads of images. 2x D2x batteries generally give me an average of 2,000 shots. I think this will be all I need.

Does anyone know if the huts along the Overland Track have power-points? They would have to be solar powered so unlikely?

No power. No solar. No light usless you being it.. They all have gas or coal heating. They all have noisy people in them, use the tent sites or take ear plugs. No cooking facilitys either need a stove.

thanks shane.

as far as carrying gear, I think this may be my best option:

http://www.digitalcity.net.au/store/product.asp?idProduct=1006

EDIT: How/where do you get the accesories to make it a chestpack?

good price? will it fit a D2x sized body?

I think that I will bring D2x, 12-24, 50 1.4, Tamron 90.

28-70 and 70-200 VR bit too heavy.

Heath Bennett wrote:thanks shane.

as far as carrying gear, I think this may be my best option:

http://www.digitalcity.net.au/store/product.asp?idProduct=1006

EDIT: How/where do you get the accesories to make it a chestpack?

good price? will it fit a D2x sized body?

I think that I will bring D2x, 12-24, 50 1.4, Tamron 90.

28-70 and 70-200 VR bit too heavy.

Think your lens ranges is good, not a lot of need for the teles, marco is a must.. My only thought about the bag is if you use it as a bum bag arrangment it may/will hang low and be a bit anoying when walking, thats why I went for the Orion ( camera fits sidewards). Have a look at the sideshooter by lowe also. Dont take to much stock in the AW on the Lowes I had a AW with another bag (got stolen) and in heavy rain just went straight through. good chance of getting rain on thee OT. . so spray it with one of those waterproofing sprays as well.

thanks shane - good tip on waterproof spray.

I won't be wearing the 65 AW on the hips, but rather the chest with the chest straps. This should help balance the weight of the pack too.

Thanks for all the replies guys.

Birddog, I've looked at the mini trekker, but it's way too small to carry any camping gear. I need to carry all my sleeping and cooking equipment, tent, food, water, first aid, warm clothes, etc. For a longer walk, I just about fill my 75L Macpac bag.

MHD, where did you attach the Nova to your pack? Do you have to take your pack off to access the camera? I'm really looking for something that will allow me to access my camera without having to drop my pack. Not everyone I walk with is into photography and one sure way to make yourself unpopular is making everyone stop while you take your pack off to get at your camera... What sort of lens cleaning equipment do you recommend? I just use a microfibre cloth.

VK4CP, the Crumpler bag you've shown is way too small for my needs, bit looks like it would be good for day treks, etc. I'll take a closer look. Do you know how much it weighs empty?

Kipper, those guys stateside must be gorillas I guess if you were shooting birds then you might want to lug all that gear, but that's gunna take some serious time to get good shots. I normally cover 15 + clicks a day and wouldn't be able to spare that sort of time. Not to mention the fact I don't have a fat enough wallet for the 200-400VR.

Radar, sounds like we're on the same wavelength. I like to keep my pack under 15Kg, even for a 4 day hike. I'm not a small guy - 6'0" and 87 kegs, but I like to enjoy the walk, not feel like I'm a pack mule. I used to do carry everything but the kitchen sink when I first started bushwalking, but now that I'm closing in on 40 I'm doing it a bit smarter and enjoying the freedom of packing light. Like you, I'm mainly taking landscape photos while walking, but sometimes find myself wishing I had a longer lens for capturing wildlife. I'm really keen to see the reviews of the 18-200, but I've gotta say I'm not holding out that much hope with any lens trying to cover that sort of range...

Heath, the TL 75 looks like a really viable option. Is it possible to wear this around your chest while you've got a pack on your back? This is getting closer to the Aarn concept of carrying the heavy weight on your chest, stopping the all too common syndrome of stooping carrying a normal pack (like my Macpac).

BullcreekBob and Glen, remind me not to hike with you guys on an overnighter Sounds like you guys are where I was 10 years ago carrying way too much crap. Lucky for me I don't drink coffee, so I've never had to lug one of those for days on end... Glen, the top pocket of my pack would work okay, but I normally reserve this for snacks and drinks for easy access. I'd really like to access my camera without having to stop and take my pack off as well.

Spada, enjoy your trek. I'm jealous... Chi, as I said, I'm interested in the TL - sounds like an interesting option. Depends on the protection this can offer vs the light weight and versatility of the Aarn at this point.

Thanks for the feedback so far. It's all been helpful - cheers

Shane, thanks for your advice. Buy yourself a waterproof bag, like the Sea to Summitt Dry Bag - super light weight and easily big enough to fit your P & S. They come in big enough sizes to take a DSLR too.

Heath, take a look at the Aarn range. Their chest bags look ideal for spreading the load. You and I are definitely thinking along the same lines. I haven't tried one personally, but I'm thinking seriously about grabbing one and retiring my old Macpac bag. In conjunction with a waterproof bag, I reckon they'd be a very viable alternative. They're regularly on ebay at cheap prices to boot. Just bear in mind that they're a super light weight pack, so you can't throw them around like a Macpac - not that you'd do that anyway if your camera gear was in it... The material they're made from is not as heavy duty. You have to be a bit more careful placing them on the ground, but I'd be willing to trade that minor inconvenience for the benefits the Aarn system give your back. Plus you can access your camera from the chest bag so easily. I'm just not sure whether the chest bags would be big enough to accomodate a D2x. Check 'em out at outdoors.com.au in West Ryde to make sure. Definitely worth looking at before you spend your hard earned.

... Obsolete ...

Think about what are your needs in photography and what you want to shoot. Have to be realistic.

Carry with you one or two bags are normal, hiking is difference story, though to reduce the weight, you have to work it out the way which you can have on your back.

One big bag as Photo trekker or something else won't provide you enough space if you want to haul everything.

Andrew, I generally only take two lenses out with me on long distance hikes.

I carry the D70 with the 24-85 f2.8 in a toploader bag and in my backpack, I'll have the 80-200 f2.8 in a Lowepro lense case and a PD70X in a small Pelican Case. The 80-200 is admittedly a little on the heavy side but in my opinion, well worth the effort. On the other hand, I've also got a Tamron 70-300 which is also an option but if possible I'll take the Nikon.

As for the other stuff like spares, I've only carried the spare battery holder that the D70 came with, a second 1GB card and a spare set of AA batteries for the PD70X. They're relatively small stuff which generally fits in the pocket I've got under the hood of my backpack.

On overseas backpacking trips (including the Himalayas), I've had my gear in a Lowepro Nova bag and just had it slung around my neck.

Ahh Bushwalking - right up there with Photography...

Sorry I haven't snooped around the site for a bit and have only just found this thread.

I did a 7 day very hard walk back in February, the full Frenchmans Cap circuit. Images from my 3rd post here, with links to my other 2 posts on this subject.

I had 2 batteries and wish I had 3 - or MORE! Run out of power and it's GAME OVER!

I had two 1Gb cards with me and shot in medium. I should have had more cards and shot in fine or raw. Now I can, because I have one of these and I will be taking it on any trip I do. I still need to work out what to do about a spare battery for it - and won't be wasting battery power on MP3's. Still, more cards a good option - small and safe.

I had the D70 and the 2 kit lenses. I wish I had something better than the 70-300G. Still, the images are okay for snaps and I won't be looking to sell any.

I had a screw-on 67mm 4x macro filter but didn't use it much - wish I had a 105 Macro. So many fascinating subjects in the macro range when walking.

I have a small Lowepro bag big enough for the D70 + kit lens and spare batteries, cards etc. My kit includes a lens cloth, a small pack of cleaning pads like pec pads - for lens cleaning - I do not intend having to do a sensor clean in the middle of nowhere. It also includes the remote.

I have a tripod I take, seen in one of the photos at the above link. I carried the kit lens in a separate bag made of wetsuit fabric - actually it's a wine bottle bag for keeping wine cool, but serves the purpose of protecting the lens quite nicely. (Now there's a market - lens bags made of wetsuit fabric!)

And as well as all this, I had with me many plastic bags and rubber bands. When it was raining, and when we swam across the Franklin River with our packs, I had the camera gear triple-wrapped in plastic bags, each one well sealed with rubber bands.

When actually walking, a lot of the time I had my camera around me and the kit lens in a pocket of my vest.

In my pack, when my gear was there, I kept myself aware where the gear was - not in a rear pocket in case I fell backward and landed on it. And not in the bottom - so I could get to it, more importantly so I didn't thump it on the ground when I took my pack off for a p!ss or to ge the tripod off.

Also generally tried to pack things around it well like clothing or whatever, not the stove or fuel bottle or other hard things.
You know, common sense stuff.

My dream kit for walking would be a D200 with 18-200VR for me and the D70 with 105 macro for my wife, and a 50mm f1.4 in the pocket with a 1.7x tele. (providing that's all compatible).
And if I were rich and a bit fitter and could afford the room in the pack, the 80-400VR - but at 1340g it WOULD make a difference.
Actually it's not as expensive as I thought it would be... (sshhhh!)

Oh, one other thing I had was a small toweling cloth wrapped in a couple of sandwich bags, so I always had a DRY cloth - lens cloths aren't very good at removing water (rain, usually) from the filter on the end of your lens.

Last comment - be careful how and where you change lenses so you try to avoid dust bunnies. It was that walk that I went on that I learned dust could cause a problem to a DSLR. Now I'm an experienced low-pass filter cleaner.

I have seen a pack with an array of solar cells from garden lights glued on with silicon rubber.

The owner had a battery charger in the pack and charges as he walked.

Good in sunny areas.

Adam,

Just came across your post and had a quick peek at your photos from the Frenchman's Gap Circuit. There's some lovely images there - you've captured the beauty of the place really well. I'm keen to go to Tassie and do some bushwalking with the kids, tho' my wife wouldn't be too happy - she doesn't enjoy bushwalking too much...

What Lowepro bag is it that you took with you? Did you just pack in in your backpack? I'm seriously thinking about getting the Lowepro Top Loader and strapping it to my chest. Just need to see how comfy it is when I'm wearing my pack as well.

How long have you had the VP300 and what do you think about it? Looks like a resonable way to store images, but I'm keen to hear feedback from people who've used it for a while.

ABG wrote:Are there any other members out there that go bushwalking? Do you just put your camera carefully in your normal pack, or do you take a camera specific backpack? Have any of you used the Aarn range of backpacks (http://www.aarnpacks.com) with their front loading pockets?

Sorry to wander along much after the event, but... how'd it go?

I normally carry a shoulder bag with the camera in it, and only put it into my backpack when I absolutely have to (ie, when it's pissing down rain). Partly becase it won't fit unless I take a pile of stuff out first... like my wet weather gear. For short trips (1-4 days) in sub-alpine areas I'll normally use my 30l pack and a Crumpler camera bag (that holds about 20l). For longer/harder trips I'll take a bigger pack, and just a "camera with lens" size camera bag, with extra lenses wrapped in socks inside the pack or in pouches on the outside if we're going to be in open country.

I'm much a fan of a fitting my camera into a proper pack rather than pretending that LowePro know much about bushwalking. No offense, but that's not what they're good at. I've used a variety of MacPac and Fairydown packs over the years (and when I moved to Oz I sold 5 of my 6 packs... ow!). I use a big (90l before expansion) travel pack as my main pack sthese days, and ultralight gear for smaller loads. The travel pack weighs 5kg empty, but will take my Desley camera backpack as well as everything I need for a week's walking. Don't do that!

As far as Aarn's gear goes, I've been one of the people hassling him to supply a camera option so perhaps fair to say that I am a bit biased. Suffice to say that a couple of my packs come from him :)

Hi Moz,

Sorry for the delay in replying - I've been too busy with work lately to spend much time here. Worse still, I haven't been on a real walk for ages. I guess I must be getting old, but I find the weather in summer just too taxing these days for anything longer than a day walk. However, I've got a 4 day walk lined up in the week before Easter down the far south coast with a mate who lives in Pambula and I'm just itching to go.

What Aarn packs have you walked with? I still haven't taken the plunge and bought one yet, mainly due to financial constraints but I'm really impressed by the thought that's gone into them. On this trip it'll be my trusty old Macpac Cascade that gets the dust blown off it. What are your thoughts on the Aarn packs? How do you rate them compared to the standard design stuff with a load on longer walks? Are the front packs big enough to handle a D70 and kit lens?

How the hell do you manage a 4 day walk with a 30L pack? I have the handicap of a 3 man tent every time I go 'cos the kids are just a bit too young to carry everything with them. Even so, 30L isn't a whole lotta space. You've gotta be sleeping in a 3000 star hotel with a bag that small. I prefer to take some sort of shelter with me as I hate spending days on end dripping wet . I kow you still end up wet during the day regardless, but it's nice being able to sleep in a dry tent at the end of the day.

This'll be the first walk I've done since buying the D70 and it will be residing in my dry bag and wrapped in a jumper (unless it gets cold, in which case it'll be subjected to the other contents of my pack unprotected). I'm undecided at this stage whether I'll be carrying my new (2nd hand) Slik Master tripod. While it's nice and stable, it weighs a ton.

I agree with you wholeheartedly about the unsuitability of the Lowepro range for this kind of activity. They're clearly designed by someone who's never spent more than a night on a walk, but then again they're probably not designed for bushwalking. Which makes me wonder what they're designed for, 'cos every time you wanna get to your camera, you need to take your pack off (at last their range of backpacks). They may protect your camera gear really well, but what about your back? I still haven't looked at the Crumpler range, but don't intend holding my breath for anything much better.

Perhaps a few like-minded DSLR members might be keen to hold a mini-meet bushwalk somewhere. Maybe an overnighter as a starting point. Anyone keen? I can just imagine with so many photo enthusiasts that we'd cover all of 20 kays in 2 days...

Hello all

I have been lucky enough over the years to have done lots of walking and mountaineering in different spots (NZ is my favourite).

The set up I have been using is a Lowe photo runner that I wear around my waist, facing the front. I put my pack on first, do up it's waist strap (I use Wilderness Equipment packs) and then thread the camara bag straps behind my back. If you make one really long and the other short, it is quick and easy to put on.



This shot was taken in the Lewis Pass region of NZ last December.

The camera is easy to get to, but in really manky weather, the whole bag goes into the top of the pack. I usually don't carry dry bags but if I was doing river crossings I would.

My old photo runner (10 years old?) is starting to delaminate on the inside of the zip pocket and covers my accessories with little bits of crap. I have been searching for a replacement and have been reading all of the info on the forum... but at this stage I can't seem to find anything that suits me better than the photo runner. I am keeping an open mind about the lowe orion and hope to check one out over easter.

Cheers
Gerard BTW I carry kit lens, 2 x batteries, 2 x 1g CF, CPL, blower brush & lens cloth, tripod, a small child (and on my next walk a King Pano head)

ABG wrote:What Aarn packs have you walked with? How do you rate them compared to the standard design stuff with a load on longer walks?

I've played with a couple of Aarn's designs at his place (if you visit Chch ring him, I suspect he'd be happy to have you drop round). No idea of the names, sorry. I had a 40l version borrowed off a friend for a while, and owned a 60l one (liked it a lot, sold it to someone who liked it even more). I've never really put a whole camera inside it, that's not the way I walk. Compared to a MacPac style two compartment job they're simpler and a lot lighter. One compartment, simple harness (still comfortable, but more requirement on you to pack them properly). I don't like the external hang-off pockets but then I'm a bush-bashing mountaineer type, so my requirements are a little different. Bad enough having a camera bag as well as the pack, adding extra stuff to hang up on the landscape is just painful. For longer walks the weight is key, and they're comfortable enough.

Currently I have only two packs (I think I deserve much praise for this!), the Gondwana travel pack and a 35-ish litre thing I got from a ski shop in the outdoor zone in Sydney. On sale for about $150 so it replaced my 60l pack as a way of making me carry less junk. It has a couple of lid pockets and tripod loops (I mean, "ice axe loops"), and came with an internal back plate that was easily removed.

ABG wrote:How the hell do you manage a 4 day walk with a 30L pack?

I have a hammock, 3/4 size down mat and down bag that are about 12l total, add my billy+lid with the stove in it, food is freeze/dry plus rice, minimal clothing and an ultralight showerproof windbreaker plus polypro for if it does get cold. I can get all that in the 20l front pack that's part of the travel pack. However, if it rains I get wet or stay in the hammock. Years of hunting and cycling have innured me to that, plus moving from NZ to Oz has left me with the conviction that it never gets cold in Australia.

I cycle tour more than bushwalk, and my last trip I had about 20kg of camera gear and perhaps 15kg of camping gear plus food. Rolling weight as I left Christchurch was about 65kg IIRC, of which 20kg was the bike. When bushwalking it's 10kg of gear+food for up to a week, then add a 20l camera bag weighing 7-8kg Of course, for all of this it's "then add water" which is more of an issue in Oz than NZ. Me on the bike: http://www.moz.net.nz/image2/moz-in-nz.jpg

ABG wrote:haven't looked at the Crumpler range,

They don't do backpacks AFAIK, just a range of camera shoulder bags starting from barely big enough for an SLR+lens to the $7M home that I have that's good for two bodies with lenses plus spare lenses or a flash. Comfortable enough for me, and the strap is wide and adjustable from "in your armpit" to "arms length for a knuckledragger".

In the past I've had other bags, but the Crumpler is my new toy. It holds the 30D+70-200/2.8IS, the 300D+18-50/2.8, wireless remote, PSD, and either my stack of TC+macros tubes or the flash. Other pockets hold filters and batteries etc, although when walking I often have some of that inside the pack to reduce weight. I'm currently tossing up the Sigma 150/2.8 macro, which I'd carry instead of the Sigma 12-24 and Canon 50/1.4 that I carry on short or base camp trips. But it's a convenience (nice prime, macro) rather than a new feature in my kit, so I'm reluctant.

ABG wrote:Perhaps a few like-minded DSLR members might be keen to hold a mini- meet bushwalk somewhere. I can just imagine with so many photo enthusiasts that we'd cover all of 20 kays in 2 days...

I'd be interested, would be good to walk with people who understand that it's about taking my camera to look at things rather than going any great distance. Although the last walk I did my knees were sulking quite vigorously after only about 5 hours the first day. But going slowly with the photo crew should be ok. Only one way to find out...

Moz