Tamrac Expedition 5 Model 5575 Rucksack Camera

...bag also) and this, the tamrac Expedition 5. Both are small enough that you will have no problems taking them on the plane, but large enough that you can carry all your essential gear.

It's waterproof, so i can rain heavily on it and you gear is protected. It's also exceedingly well padded, so if you drop or knock it, nothing inside gets damaged.

I can't tell you enough though, just how comfortable this is to wear. ...
...terms of photographic storage. The tamrac has the slight edge in being designed more recently and hence has a few nice features like the front rip-away pockets for easy acccess to memory cards or filters etc, unlike the lowepro which you have to take off and open.

The whole package has been well thought out and executed and i highly recommend it to anyone who is into photography and wants to comfortably carry their kit around, protected.  ... more

Let me just say before you read this, that this product is only going to be of interest to people who have a fair amount of camera kit based on an SLR, Medium Format, or large Camcorder. It is not really a general use backpack, although you could use it as that, since it's weatherproof, light, strong, very confortable and very well padded, but it's most likely overkill unless you are carrying precious cargo.

Now that i own a camera body, three lenses i take everywhere, extension tubes, a large Flash, a photo viewer/Hard drive, memory cards, filters etc, i needed somewhere to put it all safely when i go off trekking to take photographs.

After doing some research, my decision lay between the Lowepro Mini-Trekker AW (an excellent bag also) and this, the tamrac Expedition 5. Both are small enough that you will have no problems taking them on the plane, but large enough that you can carry all your essential gear.

It's waterproof, so i can rain heavily on it and you gear is protected. It's also exceedingly well padded, so if you drop or knock it, nothing inside gets damaged.

I can't tell you enough though, just how comfortable this is to wear. And this is the most important point in choosing a backpack. I carry over 8Kg of stuff (which doesn't sound a lot, but try carrying it around the North Yorkshire moors in something uncomfortable) and i barely notice the weight. The bag is so well balanced, has perfectly crafted shoulder straps and special airflo netting on the back to stop you getting sweaty.

It fits all of my kit (almost) without too much concern, and i have a big lens (see my review of the Sigma 50-500 APO EX).

It has easy access pockets on the outside for little things like memory cards and lens cleaners, so they are quick to hand and you don't have to open it up.

It has a tripod mount, which straps a tripod in a position which makes it perfectly balanced with the rest of you equipment.

The internal dividers are infinitely flexible allowing whatever kit you have to fit snugly and safely inside.

The external size is (cm): 32x25x41 while the size internally you have for putting your kit is (cm): 28x13x34. The bag itself weighs nearly 2kg, but it really doesn't feel like it once it's on your back. It's also quite light considering the amount of padding and faetures they have crammed in.

It's direct competitor is the Lowepro Mini Trekker AW. This is similarly sized and priced (at £75). I have used this too and it's also very comfortable, but a bit more traditional in terms of photographic storage. The tamrac has the slight edge in being designed more recently and hence has a few nice features like the front rip-away pockets for easy acccess to memory cards or filters etc, unlike the lowepro which you have to take off and open.

The whole package has been well thought out and executed and i highly recommend it to anyone who is into photography and wants to comfortably carry their kit around, protected. 

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