Bag for Regional Jets

[RecalcitrantRon]

I have the Mindshift Backlight 36L. In it I have my Z8 (unmounted), Z180-600 (hood reversed), Z 800 with the short (6.26 inches across) Zemlin Hood reversed, Z24-120 and some miscellaneous items. My only issue is the bag is too deep (thick) to fit into a regional jet overhead bin. Any thoughts on an alternative bag option that would fit int he regional overheads? Thanks.

 

[ChrisRufousHummer]

I have the Think Tank/Mindshift Firstlight 35L. I bought this one because of the smaller dimensions vs. Backlight 36L. According to their specifications, the Firstlight's depth is 1.5" thinner than the Backlight 36L. I haven't taken this bag yet on a regional flight though. I packed the Z8 (unmounted), Z800mm (with nikon hood reversed and nikon lens cap), Z180-600, Z 24-120, and some accessories. The 800mm was rented. I usually don't pack anything in the front pocket when flying to keep bag as thin as possible.

This bag also fits my Z8 mounted to Z 400 2.8 tc, 180-600, and 24-120 + accessories

 

[RecalcitrantRon]

I’ll check it out. Thanks.

 

[nmerc_photos]

This thread has a ton of options -

Big Prime - Camera Bags & Backpacks

Bags are always the topic of a lot of discussion, especially once you get some monster wildlife primes. I wanted to post and allow people to drop pics and descriptions of their setups, and see if we can learn more about the best ways to carry this gear. Specifically - I'd love an alternative...

bcgforums.com

Additionally, here's an incomplete list I've put together so far.

TLDR; Shimoda 35L v2 or Nya Evo 60L depending on flight

ICU bags are the safest way to guarantee that your bodies and lenses make it wherever you're going

 

[Calson]

I like the now discontinued Gura Gear 32L backpack that has a main compartment that is 7 inches deep. So long as I do not fill the outer pockets with stuff it will fit inside very shallow overhead bins as with the Bombardier Q400 aircraft. Whenever possible I fly on full size aircraft as the pilots are far more experienced than the ones on the regional jets. A pilot may have 4,000 air hours but only a few hundred in the regional jet they are flying.

 

[CoyoteCreationsNW]

I use the Gura Gear 30L (the version without the laptop sleeve). I can fit my 400 TC 2.8 but not with the lens hood attached. The listed depth spec is 5.5 inches but it can handle a little more if the outside pockets are not stuffed. You would have the same problem with the 800 hood. I either carry that in my personal item or put it into the backpack on end and pack small items and padding inside it. Used on Delta and Alaska regonal jets and it fit in the overhead bins with no problem. I do store the hip belt and straps in the provided pocket before boarding. No perfect solution for the lens hoods on larger diameter lenses that I have found.

 

[JulieE]

I plan to pick up a Shimoda explore V2 30 on Black Friday specifically for small jet use (depth 6.6"). This bag takes mirrorless core units and will fit the gear I carry.

However based on my research I think the explore V2 35 would fit a regional jet at 7.8" in depth. This bag takes DSLR core units and at 6.7" internal depth (medium or large unit) I think it would fit your Zemlin hood.

As @CoyoteCreations already said Gura Gear bags are also among the most shallow that will swallow a large lens and hood. The Big Prime Camera Bags and Backpacks thread linked above by @nmerc-photos is excellent.

 

[Abinoone]

I have the Mindshift Backlight 36L. In it I have my Z8 (unmounted), Z180-600 (hood reversed), Z 800 with the short (6.26 inches across) Zemlin Hood reversed, Z24-120 and some miscellaneous items. My only issue is the bag is too deep (thick) to fit into a regional jet overhead bin. Any thoughts on an alternative bag option that would fit int he regional overheads? Thanks.

I bought the Think Tank Airport Advantage (https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/prod...to_553_airport_advantage_roller_carry.htmlfor) specifically this purpose. I always have my photo equipment as a carry on, and previously had been flagged for checked baggage a few times with a larger roller bag. With the Think Tank AA, I've never once been stopped. It fits very nicely into the overhead bins of regional jets, and holds most of my camera gear (I say "most" only because occasionally I'll carry something separately in my "personal" bag, depending upon how much stuff I schlep along on a trip). Typically, I'm able to fit two camera bodies, a 500mm f4, 70-200, 24-70, wide angle, and various accessories (TC, batteries, filters, etc.) into the bag. I don't know if it will hold all of your own equipment, but fortunately B&H has a liberal return policy if it doesn't. Best of luck finding your perfect solution!

 

[Gov]

I use the Gura Gear 30L (the version without the laptop sleeve). I can fit my 400 TC 2.8 but not with the lens hood attached. The listed depth spec is 5.5 inches but it can handle a little more if the outside pockets are not stuffed. You would have the same problem with the 800 hood. I either carry that in my personal item or put it into the backpack on end and pack small items and padding inside it. Used on Delta and Alaska regonal jets and it fit in the overhead bins with no problem. I do store the hip belt and straps in the provided pocket before boarding. No perfect solution for the lens hoods on larger diameter lenses that I have found.

The 800 PF and 600 TC each fit in my Gura Gear 30 L with the hoods reversed.

 

[Viathelens]

I use the ProTactic BP 450 AW II from Lowe Pro. This just fits into the smaller jet overhead space. I put two Z8 cameras, a 600PF with reversed lens attached, a 100-400 with reverse lens attached, and a 24-120 with reversed lens attached, along with some smaller items, batteries, cards, charger. It weighs 23 lbs. It has a backpack sleeve but when I use that I can hardly pick up the bag as my MacBook Pro adds another almost 4 lbs so I normally pack that in a separate carry on but use the sleeve if I can only have one carry on. I just used it on a regional jet, Calm Air, going to Canada to photograph Polar Bears. On the way back, however, I used the valet service with Calm Air and that turned out fine. On the bush planes they just put everything in the back of the plane so good padding is a must.

 

[joe43]

A few of the Peak Design backpacks might work depending on what you need to put in it.

 

[Calson]

For air travel I take a LensCoat folding lens hood and leave the very expensive hard Nikon lens hood at home. Being adjustable with Velcro closure the hood will work on a 600mm f/4 or a 800mm PF and similar size lenses.