Can't find ideal walkabout solution

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ShaggyRS6

Senior Member
I have a bad back and I love walking, not the best of combos. Just recently I really hurt my back as I was carrying my D800 and a big lens around my neck for long periods.

I did find a solution to this issue. I got the BlackRapid DR-1 double strap, I actually love it. I can carry two camera bodies and long lenses and I feel no pain. I even got a little accessory ta carry's my smart phone too.

I am limited to carrying just the lenses fitted to the bodies. I want the ability to take a couple more lenses and perhaps some cleaning equipment with me, a bottle of water, that kind of thing, I don’t want a big back pack though as they kill me too.

Any suggestions you may have would be great.


Lee

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ShaggyRS6

Senior Member
Yeah I gave one of those. But as he gets older (nearly 18) the more he becomes comfortable saying no. :)

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Krs_2007

Senior Member
There are some belt systems, have you looked into those. You could attach suspenders to the belt system to distribute the weight more.
 
Horoscope Fish

Horoscope Fish

Senior Member
I guess I have two suggestions going in two directions. As I understand it, you're carrying two bodies, each with a fairly large(ish) lens and, ideally, you'd want to be able to carry two more lenses, some Arrowhead and a cleaning kit. Yes?

If that's the case my first suggestion would be to simply lighten your load. Two bodies and four lenses? That strikes me as a crazy amount of gear for routine walkabouts. At some point you have to stop asking yourself what lens you need to get the shot you want, and start asking how you get the shot you want with the lens you have. I have a feeling that suggestion will fly like a lead balloon, though, so my other suggestion is to investigate a sturdy waist-pack. Not one of those flimsy give-away pieces of crap you get at Wal*Mart, but something like the Lowepro Inverse 100 AW or something similar.

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ShaggyRS6

Senior Member
That Lowepro looks like a spot on solution. I m. Going to read some reviews, but it does look it will be perfect. Thank you!!

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hark

hark

Administrator
Staff member
Super Mod
Contributor
I have three different Tamrac bags all of which fasten around my waist--and two of those have the option to carry them with a shoulder strap (included with the bag). Think Tank is another company that makes modular pieces. You can buy a Think Tank belt then add a holster case which will hold both a body mounted with a lens or just a lens case. The holsters and cases fasten onto the belt so you can customize it to hold what you need.
 
Browncoat

Browncoat

Senior Member
Or, another suggestion: Forego the walking and buy a good bike. There are some pretty wild looking bikes out there now that (at least I would think) might be even lower impact on the back.

I've even seen these rad trikes a lot lately:

CTVillager.jpg

They have accessory bags you can buy that would hold a lot of gear. Also 2-seater versions to haul around the Mrs.
 
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TedG954

Senior Member
I used to carry my LowPro 101AW. It worked fine for the camera and 2-3 other lenses. Then I decided to make my subjects fit the camera/lens instead of the other way around. If I'm walking, I have one camera with one lens attached to the BR over the shoulder strap. If I don't have the right combo for a particularly good subject, I'll go back another day.

Just make a plan; pick a subject; gear up for that plan/subject. No pain, my gain.
 
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ShaggyRS6

Senior Member
I just find I take more than the average person when I go walk about. I like the fact that I never know what I am going to see although I do understand your philosophy.

I carry a D800 and D7100 when I go walk about, I don't generally put anything massive on the cameras. 70-200 on one and a 20mm or something like that on the other. What I do find is that I might also want to use a Macro lens, or my 50mm. I might need my little macro tripod or my bird book to identify something.

I know I take to much, but that's just me :)
 
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STM

Senior Member
ShaggyRS6 said:
I have backpacks STM - Unfortunately they make my back bad. The weight needs to be by my waist.
Click to expand...

Having lugged Army rucks (which for the most part really SUCKED) weighing sometimes more than I did, if you can find something with a good padded waist belt and a strap that connects the two shoulder straps, the majority of your weight will fall on your hips and not your back.
 
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