Waterproof waist pack for camera gear?

Hey guys. Do any of you have a waterproof waist pack recommendations? I need something that will do well in salt water spray / splash. Ideally, it would hold a 2 lenses (including a 70-200), cleaning supplies, extra flash cards, and a bit more. No need to hold a camera body, although that might be useful as well.

This one might be a bit big:

http://www.sagebrushdrygoods.com/product_i...?products_id=35

There is a review on Photo.net:

http://photo.net/equipment/bags/waterproof/

I used a lowepro waterproof backpack on a rafting trip down the colorado river. It kept my stuff dry, under extreem drenching, class 10 rapids. Its more then a fanny pack, but you can put more in it

I need something I can work out of. You can't work out of a backpack while you are wearing it. The Sagebrush one is a bit big, and is something that might be difficult to work out of, but it looks like it can swing around like a traditional shoulder bag.

Lowepro have a couple of sling bags (that work like your example), called sling shot in various sizes, this is the smallest. They also have various waist packs the off trail and off road bags. These can be as small as to carry one camera + lens. I picked up a second hand off road bag for when I dont need to haul the entire collection....

Eric, for a single camera and lens I use a roll top dry sack like these http://www.outdoordesigns.co.uk/products_s...ghtdrysack.html inside a large bum bag (fanny pack for those the other side of the pond!). For multiple cameras and lenses a few small drysacks inside a padded Scierra fishing tackle bag work well. Trapped air makes them float too and they are as cheap as chips (sorry, French Fries)!

Hi Eric.

Perhaps this is what you are looking for.

http://products.lowepro.com/catalog/Beltpacks,7.htm

I think that the Off road looks good and easy to work from.

Kind Regards

Mads

Eric -

It depends how much spray you'll be exposed to (like, will you be standing in surf, or will you be in a zodiac with some splashing and spray?).

For general waist-packs, the best things I've used is a Mountainsmith Tour lumbar pack (http://www.mountainsmith.com/products.asp?productId=28&categoryId=4&subCategoryId=3&subCategory2Id=0) which is incredibly comfortable and supports the weight very well. They even make a version that's from recycled plastics, so it's kind to the environment. It's also the perfect size for a Domke insert (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/16065-REG/Domke_720_230_FA_230_Insert.html) which allows it to perfectly hold lenses. It'll hold a 70-200 just fine (it's snug with the hood, but I have a rubber hood that works well). I've carried a 24-70, 70-200, 16-35 and extenders in it. It's my go-to bag for shooting sports. It's got interior and exterior pockets as well. I've sprayed mine down with waterproofing spray a few times, and it's done well. I've shot with it in moderate rain, and used it all summer on zodiacs in Alaska. Granted, it's not a dry-bag, but it does a good job.

Another option would be a waist-belt from ThinkTank or Lowepro. The ThinkTank waist belt I have has rain covers that pull out of the different parts on it. You can create a custom bag that will be pretty splash-resistant.

The other option would be to talk to the folks at Sagebrush. I've met them up there in Kake, AK and they're good folks, and have the ability to do custom bags. You could give them specs on someting and design it to attach to a waistbelt system like those from ThinkTank or Lowepro and have what you're really looking for.

Brian

Thanks, guys. Very useful.

I may end up getting a Thinktank waist pack to work out of, and will probably end up using a soft-sided cooler on the zodiac. I can't imaging changing lenses on a moving zodiac, so it's looking like I will just need something to keep the camera in when I'm not shooting.

Eric

I used the expedition line of RalfTech for my southernly trips

The Expedition Red 30 and 50L are great packs for keeping things dry and can be slung as a backpack or should bag for quick access. The red is also good for spotting in case it goes for a drink. I usually put a leather chamois (large piece), the lenses either wrapped in a towel or in the protective cases and a separate small zipper bag memory card and other accessories.

Just remember NOT to use the blower if your lens is wet

Eric -

 

It depends how much spray you'll be exposed to (like, will you be standing in surf, or will you be in a zodiac with some splashing and spray?).

 

For general waist-packs, the best things I've used is a Mountainsmith Tour lumbar pack (http://www.mountainsmith.com/products.asp?productId=28&categoryId=4&subCategoryId=3&subCategory2Id=0) which is incredibly comfortable and supports the weight very well. They even make a version that's from recycled plastics, so it's kind to the environment. It's also the perfect size for a Domke insert (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/16065-REG/Domke_720_230_FA_230_Insert.html) which allows it to perfectly hold lenses. It'll hold a 70-200 just fine (it's snug with the hood, but I have a rubber hood that works well). I've carried a 24-70, 70-200, 16-35 and extenders in it. It's my go-to bag for shooting sports. It's got interior and exterior pockets as well. I've sprayed mine down with waterproofing spray a few times, and it's done well. I've shot with it in moderate rain, and used it all summer on zodiacs in Alaska. Granted, it's not a dry-bag, but it does a good job.

 

Another option would be a waist-belt from ThinkTank or Lowepro. The ThinkTank waist belt I have has rain covers that pull out of the different parts on it. You can create a custom bag that will be pretty splash-resistant.

 

The other option would be to talk to the folks at Sagebrush. I've met them up there in Kake, AK and they're good folks, and have the ability to do custom bags. You could give them specs on someting and design it to attach to a waistbelt system like those from ThinkTank or Lowepro and have what you're really looking for.

 

Brian

I love my Tour but it's a far cry from being waterproof or even spray proof IMO. I'll have to try waterproofing it. That's a good idea. But I was disappointed with the rain covers on my Lowepro bags for heavy rain. I'll likely be getting a new Think Tank waist pack soon so it will be interesting to try that.

An interesting idea to keep your cameras dry comes from a friend who is a place kicker for a NCAA Division I football team. He's an aspiring photographer and a good one at that. We were shooting a football game in the rain and he grabbed some cellophane from the trainers and wrapped his cameras up in it. All functions were still accessible. It's the kind trainers use to wrap ice packs to athletes. It's like saran wrap but thicker. I know it's not a bag but it's a good idea I thought I'd pass along.

You could also try a waterproof messenger bag like this and put an appropriately sized Domke insert inside. You could definitely work out of it.

From personal experience (well, observation, not really experience) I wouldn't trust the plastic wrap the trainers use. I've seen it use by desperate photogs on the sideline when it starts getting ugly, but in heavy rain the cameras/lenses were still toast (and we're talking D2x/1DmkII/400 2.8-type combos - this is at NCAA D1 and NFL). If you're going to shoot in the rain/heavy spray, there's no substitute for good raincovers (either a Kata-type cover if you're trying to save a few bucks, or the industry-standard AquaTech covers, which are well worth their cost for usability and when you consider the cost of repair/replacement for a camera, they are a no-brainer).

The ThinkTank rain covers do a pretty good job - I've worn my waist belt outside of a rain coat in pretty heavy downpour shooting football and never had an issue. I'd trust them more than my Mountainsmith Tour. Plus, I've got pretty good faith in the weathersealing on the mkII/mkIII bodies with certain lenses.

Messenger bag is a good idea - the inserts are pretty versatile, so whatever you can shove them in, go for it.

I bought an Aquatech cover from Backscatter last weekend. I think the combination of that and a soft-sided cooler (if we overturn upon launch) should be sufficient!

Will probably use a Thinktank waist pack on the big boat. If the rain is coming down, I'll likely have just the Aquatech-covered camera on; the bag will stay inside.

From personal experience (well, observation, not really experience) I wouldn't trust the plastic wrap the trainers use. I've seen it use by desperate photogs on the sideline when it starts getting ugly, but in heavy rain the cameras/lenses were still toast (and we're talking D2x/1DmkII/400 2.8-type combos - this is at NCAA D1 and NFL). If you're going to shoot in the rain/heavy spray, there's no substitute for good raincovers (either a Kata-type cover if you're trying to save a few bucks, or the industry-standard AquaTech covers, which are well worth their cost for usability and when you consider the cost of repair/replacement for a camera, they are a no-brainer).

 

The ThinkTank rain covers do a pretty good job - I've worn my waist belt outside of a rain coat in pretty heavy downpour shooting football and never had an issue. I'd trust them more than my Mountainsmith Tour. Plus, I've got pretty good faith in the weathersealing on the mkII/mkIII bodies with certain lenses.

 

Messenger bag is a good idea - the inserts are pretty versatile, so whatever you can shove them in, go for it.

Hey, I didn't say I took my rain covers off and used the stuff! :-) I've been using the same Lightware cover for my 400/2.8/600/4 for years and you couldn't pry it out of my hands. But for light spray with MKII/III bodies the wrap would work fine. That same game, a NCAA DI game in pouring rain, the covers on my Lowepro modular belt system didn't work very well. I was kind of surprised. I also have a lot of faith in the Canon pro bodies. They can handle a lot of water. With salt water though I'd want to keep them as dry as possible. Less cleaning to be done later.

Eric

i will 2nd the mountainsmith tour(I use mostly mountainsmith bags now for my photo gear, i used to use tamrac bags) as this is a hip pack that i use for multiple things, but mainly for work (EMS) when working events or during hurricanes gustav and ike.

a good resource is Steven Frischling blog flying with fish http://flyingwithfish.blogspot.com/ it has alot of good info for traveling photographers. He shares his standard set up, and the amount of gear he is able to carry in his set up is amazing.

FWIW

Dan

Hey guys. Do any of you have a waterproof waist pack recommendations? I need something that will do well in salt water spray / splash. Ideally, it would hold a 2 lenses (including a 70-200), cleaning supplies, extra flash cards, and a bit more. No need to hold a camera body, although that might be useful as well.

Eric,

My wife and I were in Alaska last month shooting in the rain , I used Think Tank's Modulus set. It worked really well traveling in boats, bush planes and helicopters. Here's the URL http://www.thinktankphoto.com/ttp_product_MdlrSet.php

Cabela's rain gear was pretty nice as well

-Jim

I think you might find exactly what you are looking for at http://www.ortlieb.com

I have one of their bags, really good stuff, used it in the sardine run.