Big Prime - Camera Bags & Backpacks

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nmerc_photos said:
does anyone have experience with the Ruggard Alpine 600, Lowepro Lens Trekker 600, or something similar?

thanks!
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I have the Ruggard Alpine 600, and it fits my Z9 with 180-400 & FTZII and an extender attached, cradles it nicely. I've also fit a 400mm/2.8 the same way. I'm able to fit a disassembled Wimberley gimbal inside to the sides of the camera body, and a Gitzo tripod on the outside. Room in the other pockets for whatever else fits. Good shoulder straps and waist belt, overall good feel. It's a tall bag but the narrowness of it is helpful when walking through tight spots. I haven't used it extensively but it comes across as a solid solution.
 
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I ordered the New-evo xl icu and it arrived surprisingly quickly considering they shipped it from Hong Kong.

It fit perfectly in my custom backpack.

It is long enough that I can carry both my 400mm f4.5 and 70-200mm f2.8 end to end.

If I were going to fly with this pack I would remove the Nya-Evo XL and carry it on with an external strap. That would allow me to use the backpack as checked luggage, storing everything else in the pack.

My style for travel is to carry my 800mm pf with camera attached in its OEM case. With this insert my custom backpack will carry everything else I am likely to use.

Currently I have it set up with the following:

Z9 second body
70-200mm f2.8
400mm f4.5
135mm Plena
105mm macro
24-70mm f2.8
14-24mm f2.8
two teleconverters
 
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wotan1 said:
I ordered the New-evo xl icu and it arrived surprisingly quickly considering they shipped it from Hong Kong.

It fit perfectly in my custom backpack.

It is long enough that I can carry both my 400mm f4.5 and 70-200mm f2.8 end to end.

If I were going to fly with this pack I would remove the Nya-Evo XL and carry it on with an external strap. That would allow me to use the backpack as checked luggage, storing everything else in the pack.

My style for travel is to carry my 800mm pf with camera attached in its OEM case. With this insert my custom backpack will carry everything else I am likely to use.

Currently I have it set up with the following:

Z9 second body
70-200mm f2.8
400mm f4.5
135mm Plena
105mm macro
24-70mm f2.8
14-24mm f2.8
two teleconverters
Click to expand...
Can we get some photos of that custom pack???
 
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I have some photos I have to dig them out and I will post later.
Here is what Dan McHale in his web site said about the pack:

Geez, I look away from the website for 5 minutes and a month passes. Well here's a pack for a local photographer (below). He's a tall guy and he'll have some tall lenses in there. I even made him a 'Captain Hook' apparatus on the hipbelt since he did not want to have to put his sizeable tripod away as he walked. Lenses will also be hanging from various points on the frame. Don't trip George! It's black 400 Spectra Grid with orange accents. The accents are actually red, but the red did not want ti come to life, so I let things shift to orange. The bottom is black 1000D Cordura.

LBP%2040%20GT%20darker%20.jpg%20%20%20%201x.jpg



Anyway the front panel zips open and the flap exposes the ICU inside.

There is also a front pocket on the flap as well as two large side pockets. There is even a small pocket on the waist belt suitable for placing lens covers while hiking.

It has two straps one on each side with QD connectors. Robust enough to suspend the largest Z lens on a Z9.

the Nya Evo XL icu fits nicely inside the pack and is actually taller than the flap opening.

on top is a pull over bag on top that has two storage areas one suitable for a phone and smaller things the bigger will hold a series of straps or other things.

When you unclip the top pouch it can fold back. The top opening of the pack is highly expandable and even with the full NYA EVO XL in there there is lots of room to add a whole lot more gear. I think it will expand up to 18 inches or more higher. Plus there are all sorts of external straps for securing gear such as tripods and monopods and trekking poles on the outside.

the pack is custom sized and fitted to my frame and there is a substantial metal frame that transfers all weight to the hips.

when properly adjusted there is no vertical pressure at the shoulders and all the shoulder pads do is hold the pack securely against the back and encourage the shoulders into good posture.

In practice I can comfortably carry 50 lbs or more for hiking. You want to wear sturdy boots when walking with that much weight.

the pack trim is really red not orange.

The material and construction is quite robust and will last a lifetime. Certainly longer than me.
 
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wotan1 said:
I have some photos I have to dig them out and I will post later.
Here is what Dan McHale in his web site said about the pack:

Geez, I look away from the website for 5 minutes and a month passes. Well here's a pack for a local photographer (below). He's a tall guy and he'll have some tall lenses in there. I even made him a 'Captain Hook' apparatus on the hipbelt since he did not want to have to put his sizeable tripod away as he walked. Lenses will also be hanging from various points on the frame. Don't trip George! It's black 400 Spectra Grid with orange accents. The accents are actually red, but the red did not want ti come to life, so I let things shift to orange. The bottom is black 1000D Cordura.

LBP%2040%20GT%20darker%20.jpg%20%20%20%201x.jpg



Anyway the front panel zips open and the flap exposes the ICU inside.

There is also a front pocket on the flap as well as two large side pockets. There is even a small pocket on the waist belt suitable for placing lens covers while hiking.

It has two straps one on each side with QD connectors. Robust enough to suspend the largest Z lens on a Z9.

the Nya Evo XL icu fits nicely inside the pack and is actually taller than the flap opening.

on top is a pull over bag on top that has two storage areas one suitable for a phone and smaller things the bigger will hold a series of straps or other things.

When you unclip the top pouch it can fold back. The top opening of the pack is highly expandable and even with the full NYA EVO XL in there there is lots of room to add a whole lot more gear. I think it will expand up to 18 inches or more higher. Plus there are all sorts of external straps for securing gear such as tripods and monopods and trekking poles on the outside.

the pack is custom sized and fitted to my frame and there is a substantial metal frame that transfers all weight to the hips.

when properly adjusted there is no vertical pressure at the shoulders and all the shoulder pads do is hold the pack securely against the back and encourage the shoulders into good posture.

In practice I can comfortably carry 50 lbs or more for hiking. You want to wear sturdy boots when walking with that much weight.

the pack trim is really red not orange.

The material and construction is quite robust and will last a lifetime. Certainly longer than me.
Click to expand...
Nice pack, for me, not sure about the colour, but thtis is a personal thing. Guess the red.orange make it easier to find in the brush? Do you happen to know the dimensions H/W/D of your custom pack please? I ask because I am purchasing the NYA-EVO XL as well, but want to shoehorn it into either a Mystery. ranch/Osprey/Fjallraven pack, that has similar front opening capabilities to this one... TIA
 
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Marcus said:
Nice pack, for me, not sure about the colour, but thtis is a personal thing. Guess the red.orange make it easier to find in the brush? Do you happen to know the dimensions H/W/D of your custom pack please? I ask because I am purchasing the NYA-EVO XL as well, but want to shoehorn it into either a Mystery. ranch/Osprey/Fjallraven pack, that has similar front opening capabilities to this one... TIA
Click to expand...
The trim color is actually red with no hint of orange I did not take that picture.

He also will make it whatever color you want. He had a bunch of this black check fabric and I picked the trim color.
 
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wotan1 said:
I have some photos I have to dig them out and I will post later.
Here is what Dan McHale in his web site said about the pack:

Geez, I look away from the website for 5 minutes and a month passes. Well here's a pack for a local photographer (below). He's a tall guy and he'll have some tall lenses in there. I even made him a 'Captain Hook' apparatus on the hipbelt since he did not want to have to put his sizeable tripod away as he walked. Lenses will also be hanging from various points on the frame. Don't trip George! It's black 400 Spectra Grid with orange accents. The accents are actually red, but the red did not want ti come to life, so I let things shift to orange. The bottom is black 1000D Cordura.

LBP%2040%20GT%20darker%20.jpg%20%20%20%201x.jpg



Anyway the front panel zips open and the flap exposes the ICU inside.

There is also a front pocket on the flap as well as two large side pockets. There is even a small pocket on the waist belt suitable for placing lens covers while hiking.

It has two straps one on each side with QD connectors. Robust enough to suspend the largest Z lens on a Z9.

the Nya Evo XL icu fits nicely inside the pack and is actually taller than the flap opening.

on top is a pull over bag on top that has two storage areas one suitable for a phone and smaller things the bigger will hold a series of straps or other things.

When you unclip the top pouch it can fold back. The top opening of the pack is highly expandable and even with the full NYA EVO XL in there there is lots of room to add a whole lot more gear. I think it will expand up to 18 inches or more higher. Plus there are all sorts of external straps for securing gear such as tripods and monopods and trekking poles on the outside.

the pack is custom sized and fitted to my frame and there is a substantial metal frame that transfers all weight to the hips.

when properly adjusted there is no vertical pressure at the shoulders and all the shoulder pads do is hold the pack securely against the back and encourage the shoulders into good posture.

In practice I can comfortably carry 50 lbs or more for hiking. You want to wear sturdy boots when walking with that much weight.

the pack trim is really red not orange.

The material and construction is quite robust and will last a lifetime. Certainly longer than me.
Click to expand...
That pack looks awesome and well made!
 
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popupbackpacker.com

McHale Backpacks — Long Term Review (Bump 32 and Little Big Pack 36) - PopUpBackpacker

It has been almost 10 years since I received my McHale LBP 36 (Little Big Pack) and almost 9 years for my McHale Bump 32. Over the years I have used either the LBP or the Bump on over 90% of my backpacking trips. Enough time and use has passed to objectively review both for … Continue reading...
popupbackpacker.com popupbackpacker.com

Above is a reference to a detailed long term review of McHale packs written from the perspective of someone who has backpacked for 50 years. I don’t understand all of it but if you skim through it you will get a sense of what McHale is about and how much goes into one of his packs.

I am not a 50 year backpacker. I might have been but I met and married She Who Must Be Obeyed. She to put it simply Does Not Camp. I have never seen her inside a tent ever. Life and love can take you unpredictable directions.

These packs are not cheap but they don’t compare in cost to even the least expensive lenses we choose for wildlife. They are priced more like quality tripods. I was advised when getting a tripod to buy the best I could afford. Buy quality buy once, buy for bargain you are going to buy again. I think the same advice applies to photo backpacks. I certainly wasted a lot of money trying photo backpacks that did not work out for me.

These are also not designed for air travel. You can’t carry on one of these packs. But if you want something that you use to carry in comfort all the equipment you could possibly want on a shoot that can involve multiple miles of hiking, you can’t do better than this.

McHale is a one person show. He has been in the business since at least the early 1990’s. I live in Seattle so was able to meet with him in person on multiple occasions as I got measured and tested and my pack designed. He seems in good health and on top of his game, but the inevitable reality of life is that one day he will stop making packs. When this happens his knowledge and skill will be lost.

All I can say is his packs are the most comfortable I have ever worn and they last forever.
 
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First time poster here - I just placed an order for the NYA-EVO bag with S/M/L RCI which nets a 10% discount. I’ll likely order the XL RCI in the future.

This was more than I wanted to spend on a bag but from what I’ve read it’s one of the better bags for carrying large lenses + other gear.

Hudson Henry’s YouTube channel has a NYA-EVO playlist which has multiple videos about the bag and his loadout using different lenses. I also reached out to Hudson and NYA-EVO direct with some questions and both were very responsive.

One of main concerns was the listed depth of the bag being deeper than US Airlines carry on requirements. Both NYA-EVO and Hudson confirmed it can be compressed to easily meet within the airlines requirements.

I’ve watched a ton of content on these bags and ended up building a scaled mock kit load out using Excel and PowerPoint to make sure everything I have/will get fits. Obsessed much? Yes…
 
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Jojo said:
First time poster here - I just placed an order for the NYA-EVO bag with S/M/L RCI which nets a 10% discount. I’ll likely order the XL RCI in the future.

This was more than I wanted to spend on a bag but from what I’ve read it’s one of the better bags for carrying large lenses + other gear.

Hudson Henry’s YouTube channel has a NYA-EVO playlist which has multiple videos about the bag and his loadout using different lenses. I also reached out to Hudson and NYA-EVO direct with some questions and both were very responsive.

One of main concerns was the listed depth of the bag being deeper than US Airlines carry on requirements. Both NYA-EVO and Hudson confirmed it can be compressed to easily meet within the airlines requirements.

I’ve watched a ton of content on these bags and ended up building a scaled mock kit load out using Excel and PowerPoint to make sure everything I have/will get fits. Obsessed much? Yes…
Click to expand...

make sure to come back in and post pics of your excel and ppt informationals! I'd love to see it
 
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Jojo said:
First time poster here - I just placed an order for the NYA-EVO bag with S/M/L RCI which nets a 10% discount. I’ll likely order the XL RCI in the future.

This was more than I wanted to spend on a bag but from what I’ve read it’s one of the better bags for carrying large lenses + other gear.

Hudson Henry’s YouTube channel has a NYA-EVO playlist which has multiple videos about the bag and his loadout using different lenses. I also reached out to Hudson and NYA-EVO direct with some questions and both were very responsive.

One of main concerns was the listed depth of the bag being deeper than US Airlines carry on requirements. Both NYA-EVO and Hudson confirmed it can be compressed to easily meet within the airlines requirements.

I’ve watched a ton of content on these bags and ended up building a scaled mock kit load out using Excel and PowerPoint to make sure everything I have/will get fits. Obsessed much? Yes…
Click to expand...
Welcome to the forum.

The Nya Evo 60 appears to be the best commercial photo pack out there for carrying a lot of gear that I have seen, although I have not had it on my back and I have no idea how I would feel after hiking five miles with it fully loaded.

Certainly if you intend to fly with this it should be a good choice.

After decades of flying all over the place for work, I would be perfectly happy if I never got on an airplane again. My pack choice is ideal for me for trips that might involve travel by vehicle and then carrying a heavy load of photo gear over potentially miles of hiking and scrambling in back country. I store my gear in my pack and I take it with me on most photo shoots. I have a midsize pickup with a hard to tonneau cover so I can put my pack in there where it can't be seen.


We frequently go to places where you have to park at a trail head. Car prowls at wilderness trail heads is a known risk (they post warning signs all over the place) so in those locations I prefer to be able to shoulder the pack and bring all my gear with me. That is why for me the primary requirement is that the pack needs to be super comfortable for carrying heavy gear on my back while hiking for miles.

I have the nay-evo xl and it is a pretty roomy unit. Similar dimensions to the F stop pro xl but several inches longer, plus it has a flap on the top that can be opened so you can access a long lens and camera from the top.

Congrats on your choice and hope to see you here more often. this is a great place to share information.

Also of course a great place to find reasons to spend money.:):):):):)
 
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I’m in the same boat (airplane) - I used to travel a ton for work and don’t miss flying but I still have to occasionally and a key requirement was being able to have a carry on compliant bag. I normally do local hikes but would never leave my expensive gear in my F-150 bed or cab due to theft so it all has to come with me. I might add a traditional hiking bag at some point but trying to figure out fitting long telephotos lenses in hiking bags isn’t the easiest.

The new PGYTECH some Pro Flex is intriguing but I ruled it out on the depth (10.23”) and PGYTECh never returned my inquiries when I asked if it could be condensed. The waist belt also isn’t removable and I wasn’t loving some of their design decisions. The TMPish panel looks ideal though and their cubes are very spacious.

Great to be here!
 
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Jojo said:
First time poster here - I just placed an order for the NYA-EVO bag with S/M/L RCI which nets a 10% discount. I’ll likely order the XL RCI in the future.

This was more than I wanted to spend on a bag but from what I’ve read it’s one of the better bags for carrying large lenses + other gear.

Hudson Henry’s YouTube channel has a NYA-EVO playlist which has multiple videos about the bag and his loadout using different lenses. I also reached out to Hudson and NYA-EVO direct with some questions and both were very responsive.

One of main concerns was the listed depth of the bag being deeper than US Airlines carry on requirements. Both NYA-EVO and Hudson confirmed it can be compressed to easily meet within the airlines requirements.

I’ve watched a ton of content on these bags and ended up building a scaled mock kit load out using Excel and PowerPoint to make sure everything I have/will get fits. Obsessed much? Yes…
Click to expand...
Don't put too much reliance into your spreadsheet obsession. :LOL: I've discovered several times that actual bag interior, exterior and/or weight specs turn out to be differnet IRL than what's advertised on the manufacture's website.

Most recently, my Guragear Kiboko and NYA-EVO bags had a little more depth then what was advertised and the GG Kiboko weighed more than what was advertised. I've posted some pictures and measurements from my experience in other threads on this site.

You can probably make reasonable estimates on the advertised dimensions in advance, but you'll also probably notice some differences when you have the gear in hand.
 
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Jojo said:
I’m in the same boat (airplane) - I used to travel a ton for work and don’t miss flying but I still have to occasionally and a key requirement was being able to have a carry on compliant bag. I normally do local hikes but would never leave my expensive gear in my F-150 bed or cab due to theft so it all has to come with me. I might add a traditional hiking bag at some point but trying to figure out fitting long telephotos lenses in hiking bags isn’t the easiest.

The new PGYTECH some Pro Flex is intriguing but I ruled it out on the depth (10.23”) and PGYTECh never returned my inquiries when I asked if it could be condensed. The waist belt also isn’t removable and I wasn’t loving some of their design decisions. The TMPish panel looks ideal though and their cubes are very spacious.

Great to be here!
Click to expand...
BTW, I like the fact that the NYA-EVO RCI can be removed from the camera bag, and carried on separately when you are flying and get challenged at the gate about the size of the camera bag.
 
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SoCalRick said:
BTW, I like the fact that the NYA-EVO RCI can be removed from the camera bag, and carried on separately when you are flying and get challenged at the gate about the size of the camera bag.
Click to expand...
I also like that feature.

I have given some thought to what I might do if I flew and it all depends on where I go and what is planned.

The problem I now have is, given what I now have as a backpack I am very spoiled. I find that pack so comfortable that I would not want to use anything else if hiking is involved. Last night I was moving my cameras upstairs and put the pack on fully loaded with all my gear. It was so comfortable I could have worn it comfortably for hours while walking around the house.

So if I have to travel by air and plan to hike with cameras at the destination then I am most likely going to bring my pack and use it for a suitcase. I can carry the ICU on the plane and pack my clothes and everything else in the pack for checking. I would probably place the whole pack in a heavy duty plastic bag to protect the straps from being snared by the airport baggage handling equipment. Once I got to the hotel I would unpack everything and put my icu back in the pack and I am ready to go.

In case I still have to move around a bit at my destination I might want to add a collapsible duffel bag to hold my clothes and non camera gear for convenience. In fact the best option is to find a collapsible duffel bag that can hold the entire loaded backpack.
 
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There have never been so many brands and models for lugging our camera gear around and sure enough are many claiming to have "unique" features but is it either a twist to existing features or soon found in other backpacks.

So, what is your wishlist on what you want to see in the next backpack?
For me:
1. No velcro inside or outside the bag. Reason: biosecurity. Local seeds and other plant matter can get stuck in the velcro. Some countries are absolutely paranoid and can be very strict (Australia & New Zealand on top of that list) but also when going on shore in Antarctica shall require sanitation and removal of all possible plant life when going back on the boat.
2. No RCI's. Why? See the above, no hidden areas (biosecurity)
3. A true waterproof outside fabric, a bag that can safely put down in a puddle of water
 
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I purchased the Vanguard Alta Sky 66 and I am very happy with it.
The negative is that you can only carry one combination of camera and lens, however I get around this by loading a second bag with my Z8 + 800 PF and once I arrive at my destination, I put one combo on a Black Rapid strap and the other in the Alta Sky 66.
No good for travel if you want to carry more than one set up, but the bag has served me very well to date and I like the fact that the set up is ready to go straight out of the bag, without the need to reverse the hoods..
 

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starting to pack for my first wildlife centric trip this year, 10 days out in Yellowstone/Tetons.

the Nya XL ICU will fit 2x Z9 + 300GM + 600TC pretty comfortably. could probably also pack one or more smaller lenses (24-120, 35-150, etc.) in there as well.

now I just have to decide if I want that combo, or to swap the 300GM for the 35-150 + 100-400.

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