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[Paul T]

Do you have the medium or large Athlete bag? Could you share an image of how yours is packed to hold all those items?

Here you go AstroEd. I have the large waist belt etc on my Athlete pack. I traipsed around parts of Patagonia and parts of the Antarctic Peninsula with this pack in 2019 and found it very very comfortable.

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[fcotterill]

After trying a few too many bags, and giving up on getting the accessories of the Mindshift Elite 45L modified to my needs... I use the f-Stop Sukha for full loads and Tilopa for lighter outings. The unclipping straps on the sides can carry a water container etc and side pockets work well enough being spacious.

fyi an earlier bag thread, and another there have a few of these useful discussions

Many thanks for all of the helpful contributions and the time taken to respond. I have been doing a good bit of research on this given its importance to actually getting to desired locations.

Unfortunately Atlas and Guragear are not readily available in Europe - they are expensive enough but adding import duty etc puts them into another category of financial craziness. I had a good look at the F-Stop and Shimoda bags which also seem a little overpriced for what you get. A rain cover should really be standard on a 4-500 euro plus bag. The F-Stop tilupa doesn't provide for the carrying of an external water bottle which seems a bit short sighted given the bag's purpose. An internal water bladder seems risky in a camera bag.

From personal experience, there is something very appealing about the purpose-built back support systems used by manufacturers such as Osprey, Deuter etc. Many of these purpose built back packs weigh about 1.6kg which is quite light. I was looking at the ThinkTank digital holsters (specifically the 50 v2 and 150 models) with the idea of inserting one in an Osprey back pack. The total weight is then about 2.5kg and it would provide a reasonably rigid structure to the back pack. The primary benefit of this is having the luxury of the more advanced back support systems that purpose- designed trekking back packs benefit from and which camera bags (even the expensive ones) tend not to.

 

[philippe]

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[agdoherty]

I am looking into a NYA-EVO pack. Got a chance to see them in use and i liked it. Only downside to the tilopa for me is no water bottle pockets on the sides and no separation of the main compartment. Will be looking into some of these other options too though!

 

[Lardo]

I recently bought the NYA-EVO 60C backpack. It’s basically a 44-liter pack that can be expanded to 60-liters. The reason I chose this pack is it’s close to a REAL hiking backpack, which holds camera gear but has room for my normal hiking stuff.

I do lots of 12 to 15-mile day hikes, usually with a 22-liter pack and just a compact camera. I plan on using the NYA-EVO pack for hikes geared primarily for photography. I just got the pack and have only used it on a 7-mile hike so far. It did feel like a real backpack, with a very good hip belt & should strap carrying system. But I need to put lots more miles on it to get a better feel for the pack.

For comparison, I have their medium RCI and I carried a Z6 II, Z 24-120 & 100-400mm lenses. You’d want to check their website for dimensions, but I assume you’d need the large RCI.

If you don’t plan to hike very many miles, this might be an overkill and it is pricey...

Here’s a few videos if you want to check them out more.

 

[Calson]

Not ideal but their are water bottle holders that attach to the straps of a backpack. For my part I have never carried a water bottle or canteen on day hikes, even in the desert.

 

[AstroEd]

Here you go AstroEd. I have the large waist belt etc on my Athlete pack. I traipsed around parts of Patagonia and parts of the Antarctic Peninsula with this pack in 2019 and found it very very comfortable.View attachment 35605View attachment 35606View attachment 35607

Fantastic, thanks.

 

[AnnetteJane]

Here you go AstroEd. I have the large waist belt etc on my Athlete pack. I traipsed around parts of Patagonia and parts of the Antarctic Peninsula with this pack in 2019 and found it very very comfortable.View attachment 35605View attachment 35606View attachment 35607

I have the smallest atlas athlete backpack and it fits my Z9 with 500 5.6 pf and my Z7 with 70-200 on it. Really isn’t room for any more lenses but it’s about all I want weight wise anyhow. Just saying for comparison in size.

 

[agdoherty]

Up to about a 100-400mm lens spider holster dslr hip belts are a pretty nice setup too. (Even works well under a backpack hipbelt) the mirrorless clips aren’t as comfortable with larger lenses. If the weather is decent I like keeping one camera out of my bag while hiking and access other options when I stop. Overall bag volume can work out w potentially smaller sizes or room for more food/clothes since you need to stow a bit less (or you can plan to stow the hip belt for the walk back.) I usually keep a 24-120 out until I stop to open the rest of my bag.

 

[Woodpecker]

Up to about a 100-400mm lens spider holster dslr hip belts are a pretty nice setup too. (Even works well under a backpack hipbelt) the mirrorless clips aren’t as comfortable with larger lenses. If the weather is decent I like keeping one camera out of my bag while hiking and access other options when I stop. Overall bag volume can work out w potentially smaller sizes or room for more food/clothes since you need to stow a bit less (or you can plan to stow the hip belt for the walk back.) I usually keep a 24-120 out until I stop to open the rest of my bag.

Yep, I can confim this one. I have a number of Street&Field Holsters that fit to the side mounts nad the hip belt of my backpack. Providing you are not climbing but more or less walking it turned out to be quite practical to have one of these holster hanging of the belt to get your hands free if needed in situtations where you can't or don't want to put down the camera for whatever reason. For me it works up the size/weight class of a D850 with a 500PF, that will happily stand upright in a holster with the right size with the hood attached and you can grab it any time. That said, it is obviously not safe if you bring yourself in a position where the holster comes to a horizontal'ish position . That's why I wouldn't use it when going up steep slopes or climb rocks.

 

[DsD]

I have the smallest atlas athlete backpack and it fits my Z9 with 500 5.6 pf and my Z7 with 70-200 on it. Really isn’t room for any more lenses but it’s about all I want weight wise anyhow. Just saying for comparison in size.

Thanks for this Ajodo. I'm seriously thinking the Athlete medium pack. I currently have a D-750 kit with a few lenses. Namely 25 & 40 manual primes, Sigma 150 macro and 200-500 f5.6. A Z9 and 800 pf are on order.

Are there others here using the medium Athlete pack with the Z9? I'm am interested in understanding my loadout options.

1. Does it accomodate big glass with the hoods in stored position., i.e. a 200-500/ 5.6?
2. Does Z9 with said lens fit mounted?
3. If not #2 above, dose Z9 body have to be stored flat, i.e. lcd down?
4. Any swag guess if the new 800 pf will fit @ it's 15"-16' length?
5. If #4 is yes, will Z9 body and what other len(s) (if any) will fit?

 

[G-FOTO.de]

I went for one of these a while back for the simple reason it is a seat as well. It's not a photo bag and I had to get some foam inserts for it. Having a seat is really useful when I need a rest and when I need to sit quietly to observe/photograph birds.

Singi Stubben

Robust backpack with built in frame that doubles as a stool. Produced without PFAS.

www.fjallraven.com

Thanks a lot for the link!
I guess I gonna give it a try. Although it should be slightly higher to fit better some big glass with hood. But having a permanent seat with you, is really a plus. And really like the look and the material of the Fjällraven.

 

[AnnetteJane]

Thanks for this Ajodo. I'm seriously thinking the Athlete medium pack. I currently have a D-750 kit with a few lenses. Namely 25 & 40 manual primes, Sigma 150 macro and 200-500 f5.6. A Z9 and 800 pf are on order.

Are there others here using the medium Athlete pack with the Z9? I'm am interested in understanding my loadout options.

1. Does it accomodate big glass with the hoods in stored position., i.e. a 200-500/ 5.6?
2. Does Z9 with said lens fit mounted?
3. If not #2 above, dose Z9 body have to be stored flat, i.e. lcd down?
4. Any swag guess if the new 800 pf will fit @ it's 15"-16' length?
5. If #4 is yes, will Z9 body and what other len(s) (if any) will fit?

I generally have my Z9 connected to a 500 5.6 pf and the 70-200 connected to the Z7 ( with hood on both)in the medium atlas and they don’t have to be flat. I have the two ready to shoot, just need to flip around the hood. When I had the 200-500, my lens hood wouldn’t fit though. I had to put in the other section. Loving the 500, smaller and lighter. However, my pack is older and they have made them deeper and longer so best to check with someone knowing the newer dimensions.
1. The lens hood did not fit on the 200-500 in my older atlas model
2. Z9 fits mounted to the 500 pf 5.6
3. I haven’t stored it down flat yet
4. I would have to check the current sizing on atlas medium to know if the 800 would fit but it wouldn’t fit in my current one.
5. Note lenses I carry above.

 

[DsD]

I generally have my Z9 connected to a 500 5.6 pf and the 70-200 connected to the Z7 ( with hood on both)in the medium atlas and they don’t have to be flat. I have the two ready to shoot, just need to flip around the hood. When I had the 200-500, my lens hood wouldn’t fit though. I had to put in the other section. Loving the 500, smaller and lighter. However, my pack is older and they have made them deeper and longer so best to check with someone knowing the newer dimensions.
1. The lens hood did not fit on the 200-500 in my older atlas model
2. Z9 fits mounted to the 500 pf 5.6
3. I haven’t stored it down flat yet
4. I would have to check the current sizing on atlas medium to know if the 800 would fit but it wouldn’t fit in my current one.
5. Note lenses I carry above.

Thanks again Ajodo, I appreciate your response. I understand that the newest iteration has increased depth 2 cm, so around 6" depth now and the 200-500 hood should now fit (I hope). I guess i'll get one ordered once I get good measurements and we will see. The pack sounds great for serious loadout and carry, however, it could be an expensive oops.

 

[AnnetteJane]

Thanks again Ajodo, I appreciate your response. I understand that the newest iteration has increased depth 2 cm, so around 6" depth now and the 200-500 hood should now fit (I hope). I guess i'll get one ordered once I get good measurements and we will see. The pack sounds great for serious loadout and carry, however, it could be an expensive oops.

Make sure you check recommended size for your height as well. A large would be to long for my body. If you are a tall person or a long torso, you could possibly need the large. There are sizing recommendations on the website. You may have already checked but just advising in case you hadn’t noticed sizing, and just thinking on what size you want. Trying to divert any possible whoops. Camera packs are expensive.
I got my atlas pack in 2020 before the increased depth and length to camera section. Would love to have a new one but can’t justify it.
Also, the Z9 has an ftz adapter attached to the 500 pf 5.6 .. to consider older shorter length and it fits.