SPEAK TO ME OF LUGGAGE, O INTERNET

[telophase]

Specifically, I am again looking for The Perfect Bag(s). As we are traveling to Japan, and keeping it light, I'm taking one suitcase and one carry-on on the plane. I also have need of a daypack of some sort, unless I can manage to get a carry-on small enough that will work as both (hah!). Ideally, with a daypack, I could shove it into the carry-on or suitcase for the flight over and just use it when walking around.

I don't need suggestions on the suitcase, but the carry-on and theoretical daypack have me trying to figure out what I want and what I can get.

Carry-on: Should have two padded shoulder straps. I have back problems already, and carrying a heavy bag on one shoulder leads to ouchiness. Needs to fit under an airplane seat: W22" × H16" × D10" Ideally it would also have that panel on the back that allows you to fit it down over the handle of a rolly suitcase if you don't want to wear it. Multiple compartments would be nice: my current one has one big compartment and I dislike it. Will be holding camera, lens, GoPro, steadicam mount, a small bag of toiletries currently allowed on planes, change of underwear in case of baggage getting lost, Kindle, iPad, migraine meds, and a couple of trashy magazines because I always buy trashy magazines in airports.

Daypack: Preferably two padded shoulder straps (see back problems note above). Ideally it would fake (after the straps were tucked in or taken off) looking like a much nicer bag. It will carry one (1) DSLR camera body attached to THIS LENS*, and various small accessories, one (1) GoPro and various accessories including a handheld steadicam mount**, one (1) wallet and one (1) passport. I reallllllllllly don't want it to look like a backpack. I can't tell you why; I just don't like carrying backpacks around. And, really, it won't be carrying ALL of that all the time: I probably won't carry my big camera with me on some of our trips around the city, and just rely on my phone camera or the GoPro for snapshots.

* by hook or by crook I will have that lens before we leave as it replaces the TWO I have to carry around now for close up and zoom shots and switching lenses quickly is a bitch.

** which I will never actually use but if I don't bring it I'll wish I had. I'm not sure if it's this one or not--we didn't pay that price--but it's right about that size.

Suggestions?

Comments

[movingfinger]

You asked. So.

I say, Don't go with both a carry-on and a daypack. From your descriptions, they are interchangeable. Look for a good daypack and use that as your carryon.

Most backpacks look like backpacks, sadly; I do not recommend the handbaggy ones that try to look like purses that just happen to have two straps. I suggest you go with something fun like this or this. Those square school backpacks from France were all the rage a few years ago and would likely also be good for travel but I have not used one.

With similar amounts of gear on my urban trips this year, I have just had one carry-on suitcase and a purse which I shoved into a canvas hand luggage piece; that is to protect the purse in the overhead bins as much as anything else, and I have been staying in one place all the while and day tripping or one-nighting otherwise. The purse is good-looking and normal but was large enough to hold a body, two lenses (one pancake low-light lens) and wallet, money, postcards and small articles purchased during the day, maps, phone, etc.


Oh, yeah: do get the lens well beforehand and from someplace where you can return/exchange and test it ruthlessly. Pixel-peep your shots. There can be significant distortion at the ends, and you will find that the majority of your shooting is done either as wide as you can go or in the high zoom end, which is where distortion shows up worst.

[estara.livejournal.com]

This is what I used for Loncon 3 and for various day trips. I have it white/silver which doesn't seem to be available anymore. The cool thing is the fold down and that if you need it you can put a lot of stuff in it, and it's a bit like a bike messenger bag
http://www.wardow.com/en/bree-punch-93-backpack-83152093-red.html
Lots of other colours available as you can see, and the straps are padded (just click through their pictures onsite)j
Downside: it's just one big bag and you have to scrounge down to get to the lowest bits when you look into it, so they have that small inner bag thingie for the important stuff to draw up easily).
Also, I've had the bag for years and it never looks bad. Very durable material.

[estara.livejournal.com]

Hmm, I can only see it at Amazon.co. UK but maybe you have better search options?
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Bree-Punch-93-Backpack-83900093-black/dp/B004U5KEF2
This is the original maker site
http://bree.com/men-s/Punch-93.html

[movingfinger.livejournal.com]

What season will you be there?

[telophase.livejournal.com]

Dead of winter: Dec-Jan.

[movingfinger.livejournal.com]

Make sure whatever bag you pick is truly water/precipitation-proof, or at least resistant! Add folding umbrella to things you plan to carry every day.

[solarbird]

I was shuddering at the f-stop range of that lens until I remembered HEY NOBODY'S SHOOTING ASA400 FILM ANYMORE WAKE UP.

old habits die hard.

[affreca.livejournal.com]

For the bag with just one big pocket, would a organizer insert help? Amazon seems to carry a number, as does wrapable.com