Pack Mule? Or at least a Cart to carry this stuff around!

[parrotmomma]

Has anyone come up with a clever idea to carry all their stuff around? I have got to come up with a solution to carrying this heavy bag around. I have 5 lenses now, plus the camera and tripod, so I'm guessing my bag weighs around 20 pounds. I can't carry it, so my poor husband ends up lugging it around. We are going to Tetons/Yellowstone this summer, so that means lots of lugging around on trails. I've been thinking of a cart, something light weight, foldable, with big wheels, for going over rough terrain. I've looked at baby strollers, golf bag carts, and even been eyeing my lawn spreader. Has anyone "invented" a bag hauler? I'd love to see your ideas!

[Kalrog]

There is no wheeled vehicle of any sort that will work over hiking trails.

My advice: Downsize - don't take everything. 1 camera and 1 lens. Leave the rest down by the base camp ;-)

[kenw]

A lot of those requirements seem a bit mutually exclusive, but depending on on the roughness you need to traverse, possible /partial solutions would include a range from a simple wheeled backback (what I have) to a pelican case kludged to a 2-wheeled dolly. I toted my backpack (before wheels) all over Yellowstone a few years ago and it did get old. Best advice is to limit your load as much as possible and keep the simplicity of the backpack.

Recently I took my Nanue Pro backback, removed the inner divided case and placed it in a wheeled backback that I got at the outlet mall. It works perfectly for me. Body w/5 lenses ranging from 50/1.4 to 70-200/2.8, flash, all the fliters, batteries, remotes and a strap for the tripod. No way I'm carrying that on a trail, tho.

surf the web to get some ideas, and don't limit yourself to "camera" stuff.

[Flea77]

When on the trails if I have to carry a lot of gear I use a Tenba Shootout Daypack. More than large enough for two bodies and quite a few lenses, plus other "stuff". It has a harness meant for some serious day hiking, water bottle accessories for the sides, waist strap, full rain cover, etc.

That being said, Nathan is right. Carry only what you absolutely have to have.

Allan

[tc95]

Suzanne...one thing I have been keeping an eye on is my 11 month olds running stroller...Can not wait to get it to mod-it...



Before this I was looking into using a golf-bag cart....





My needs are a little different I hate lugging my 800 and few other lenses...sometimes...

Good luck...

[dmcantrell]

I know this doesn't exactly answer your question, but I have a Lowepro Nature Trekker AW. This bag is quite large, and is designed to be worn on your back. It will hold 5 lenses easy, and has an integrated system to attach a tripod to the outside of it securely.

The cool thing is that it comes with a little daypack integrated into it. The idea is to hike in with the full bag and all your stuff, then use the daypack for excursions to and from base camp with a reduced amount of gear.

[parrotmomma]

The problem with leaving lenses behind is I really do use all of them! And even taking them with but leaving them in my Jeep or pop up camper is not happening... might as well leave a sign on them that says 'steal me'. The canvas is just too easy to unzip or cut. I did the backpack but hated it. I ended up giving it to my son. My husband and I both have lumbar issues and it was a pain to change lenses. I couldn't open it with him wearing it, everything would fall out, so he had to keep taking it off, putting it on. He lost patience, quick.

I have been thinking about the jogging stroller. I had one when my kids were little, and those things are great on hills, rocks, etc. We did Yellowstone many years ago with the youngest one in a jogger. The big wheels are the trick. I actually looked at the golf cart, but it seems a bit l-o-n-g.

Maybe we should all get together and invent something!

[venchka]

Photobackpacker. Buy a backpack from them. Sized to fit your husband!

PhotoBackpacker Large Format Camera Backpack

I already had a good backpack. I bought a case for the camera from Photobackpacker. I use a fishpond fly reel case for lenses. I'm old. I can carry a Linhof 4x5 camera, 3 lenses in shutters on boards, 15 4x5 holders & a Grafmatic back, 2 meters, darkcloth, cable release, filters, a Leica M5 and 1 or 2 lenses and a Gitzo tripod & RRS head.
The key is a GOOD backpack. Not a camera backpack. I have an Osprey panel loader. The Kelty packs from Photobackpacker are good. Folks tote 8x10 cameras way back in the woods in those packs.
Where are these rough trails?

[groovyone]

My last flight my camera bag weighed 38.5lbs, same as my checked bag. Having a backpack with good support is very helpful.

[tc95]

Well I don't feel so crazy now......thank you Suzanne....

I would love to invent something...but I have about 3 years before I can get my hands on the one I have....

Let me know if you figure something out...I do own two-backpacks....they work...but you still don't have the ability to shoot quickly...you have to take it off and unpack your stuff...but you can carry a lot of cr@ in there...!!

[Dobick]

I own five lenses as well, but I usually don't carry all of them if I don't need them. I always have them with me though. There are bags and carry systems that have the ability to store all of your stuff, and then there are bags and carry systems that allow you to carry and use SOME of your stuff. I doubt you are going to find a solution that allows you to carry everything you own, as have it readily available for use like a fanny pack.

[parrotmomma]

Well..... I found a ratty old jogging stroller on craigslist. 40 bucks. Practically in my neighborhood! It's a bit long in the length, so my husband is going to cut it down a bit and rework it so it's shorter. Maybe put the front wheel on some sort of bike axle so it will be easier to negotiate curves. Then we're going to mount a basket where the seat is. Maybe a small laundry basket or a plastic milk crate. It's going to be bungeed on so the contraption will still fold. It has huge wheels, so it's going to be great for trails. I just want a cart to carry the bag and tripod, maybe some water bottles, etc. for when we are on hikes and such. We were in Teton/Yellowstone and Glacier 2 years ago, and we must have hiked 100 miles. Hopefully we can get this thing put together in the next couple of weeks and I'll post pics of the finished project.

Edited to add this link: This inspired my idea. http://www.bikehacks.com/bikehacks/2...e-trailer.html

[jfoureyes]

I'm curious what 5 lenses you have and need to carry on a long hike ... are they all heavy prime lenses?

[ka5txl]

Suzanne, we don't need to reinvent the wheel. Just think out of the box. Hunters have a way to move game out of the back country where the truck, horse, atv isn't handy. I have included a link to bass pro shops but you might check Gander Mountain, etc game cart - Search Results

[parrotmomma]

Jim, I have: Canon 85mm 1.8, Sigma 30mm 1.4, Sigma 50mm Macro (my only macro), Sigma 10-20mm, and Tamron 18-270. I carry them all because I really do use them all. I used to keep the Tamron on 90% of the time, but ever since I got the 30, I find I use that most of the time. I am in love with that lens! The focus is razor sharp. I like the 85 for people and flowers, and I love the super wide for landscapes, especially in Big Sky country. I don't do a whole lot of macro, but every now and then I see something I like, and that's the smallest lens so I don't see where leaving it at home would make a huge difference in weight. And as I mentioned, leaving them in my Jeep or camper is just not an option. Too easy to break in, and there's no way to lock them in a secure manner.