Tandaina

Hello folks, slightly different question about messenger bags but I'm looking for expert opinions.

I'm a photographer and I'm searching for a bag. I've been searching for a bag for 10 years now and while my closet is full of rejects (anyone want to buy a few nearly new photo bags? ) I've yet to find one that works well for me. I've decided hte problem is that while messenger bags are designed/built by real bike messengers camera bags seem to be designed by people who've only heard cameras roughly described.

I just got back from a trip to Europe where I took everyone's advice and took a photo backpack. Mistake, BIG mistake. To get at anything in a backpack requires it to be removed and set on a bench, ground or not so willing assistant. Frankly its a pain in the *ss. Also it was bulky, hot and annoying on busses and in crowds. I actually ditched the camera the last 4 days of the trip! Something I never do (I live with my camera).

So I've given up on camera bags. They're either way too big, or way to small. They're overly padded, bulky, square and uncomfortable to carry. Years ago I had an old leather one strap "backpack" (I guess sort of an old hippie messenger bag?) that I used to toss my old film camera in along with cloths/lunch/etc. Its long, long gone but I'm trying to get back to that idea. After lots of research I started to think a messenger bag might be the right choice. I can make a couple small padded inserts to hold lenses/camera when not in use and still not have a big square padded bag that won't sit comfortably. Also would give me some much needed room for notebooks, books, jacket, lunch, etc.

However I live in the sticks and there are, sadly no bike shops around with bags I can test drive. So I'm hoping the experts here can give some input on how well a messenger bag would work for me. I'm looking for a bag I can wear up out of hte way on my back when I'm shooting and can access easilly and quickly without removing it! (I've been looking at the chrome and the quick strap adjustment looks perfect for this.) It needs to be comfy to carry all day. Needs to hold a pro-digital body, hard drive, lens, various photography junk and my jacket, lunch, wallet, etc.

I'm looking at the Chrome Mini Metro right now. Partly just because I like the look, but also because it gets good reviews as being a very comfy bag. Also supposedly has extra straps on the bottom for carrying large obejcts (like a tripod), can anyone confirm that the Mini Metro has this features?

Size is also a concern. I'm a little lady, 5 feet tall, about 115 pounds and I'm a LITTLE worried that most messenger bags would overwhelm me.

Feedback and tips would be greatly appreciated guys and gals.

Allen

Tandaina,

I am also a photographer with a small hill of "not quite what I wanted" photo-packs. I've settled on the Osprey Torque. It comes in 3 sizes, the back is flat and padded, the front is curved and semi-ridged. I can carry my full size SLR body, a big lens and 2 smaller ones. No photo bag has come close to it yet. The top will stay open when you want it to, and it has a thin waist belt so you can cinch it up to your body, front or back. It sold me when I mounted it on my bike rack. I added 2 carribeaners through the waist-belt loops and the flat back lets it hang tight and snug to the rack, or works just as well over the shoulder.
hope this was of some help,
--A

jyossarian

Courtesy of the SS/FG forum: What to do with the camera

Tandaina

That link appears to be dead. Thanks for Osprey suggestion, hadn't seen that one beore I'll check it out.

EDIT: nm its working now! Thanks!

ceridwen

I've got the Chrome Citizen. I'm taller than you (5'6") but despite my height I'm tiny (110-115 pounds, very small frame). I was also worried that the messenger bags would overwhelm me, and I'm still quite sure the largest ones would given that I have heard from several people that I would fit *into* the big ones. My Citizen is not at all overwhelming though, and I could probably handle the Metropolis just fine. Don't know about the MiniMetro, but I have attached my tripod to the Citizen just fine. The downside to this though is that you have to remove the tripod to get into the bag.

I am honestly not sure that a messenger bag will be the solution you want. You have to open it up to get anything at all (no matter how small) into and out of it, which is loud due to the velcro closure system (depending on what your subjects are this could be an issue). I also cannot imagine being able to use padded inserts in it, though there is some chance it would work if you used stick on velcro (you do not want to put holes in the waterproof liner).

I am currently thinking of getting the Lowepro SlingShot for my camera and accessories (I have a Sony H2 + accessories, not a DSLR). I've seen it very highly recommended and it looks like a solution I would actually use. Can't tell you anything about it from personal experience though, as I won't be able to afford it for a month or so at least. It's supposed to be a lot easier to get into than a backpack and I think it will be less of a pain in the butt to get stuff out of than the messenger bag is.

https://www.lowepro.com/Products/Slin...ot_200_AW.aspx

I do love my Chrome bag btw! Just not for photography.

ikaraus

This is the bag I use for riding after years with a Timbuk2. The number one thing about this bag is access while wearing it. On the front it has a quick-release system where you just pull a strap, and the bag loosens and then is easily swung around in front of you. Sounds like something you would like. Link:

https://www.baileyworks.com/catalog/product.cfm?id=2

Tandaina

I've got three Lowepro bags and not happy with any of them. My main beef is that, like most camera bags, they're completely full of stiff foam. The result is a square box that doesn't really fit or form to the body at ALL. For me at least this makes the load really uncomfortable to carry. I've considered the Slingshots but again, they're square and rigid. Maybe its because modern cameras are so large (My 7D is HUGE compared to my old film camera) or because they're so darn fragile they require all that padding. My old camera certainly didnt.

I hadn't really come up with a good solution to attaching the inserts to the bag. I'm not sure they really need to be attached to the liner for regular use, as long as they fit the bag well they shouldn't move around too much. But you're right. i've got no idea if this will actually work.

swwhite

I DO NOT use a messenger bag, but I went shopping for one before I settled on the Ortlieb messenger backpack. Three things to consider.

1. A messenger bag supposedly is comfortable for riding a bike, but how is it for walking? (I don't know.)

2. You can indeed get into a messenger bag without taking it off, but you have to hold that large flap out of the way while you rummage around inside.

3. A messenger bag does not have any kind of zipper on the top to really close it. Things are kept in by the large flap that goes over the top. Is that secure enough for an expensive camera? (I don't know that either.)

ceridwen

I don't think they would even remotely stay in place if you don't attach them. I have trouble with stuff moving around even when it's something that stays put a lot easier than camera pieces (like a single book). Every time I bring it around to the front of me it is prone to wrinkling up against my back when I flip it back around. I could be wrong, but I just see dividers slipping all over the place if not attached.

Square foam boxes can be a pain against your back, but lots of randomly shaped things poking you in the back isn't comfortable either, and this is often what you end up with with a messenger bag. And the lack of any kind of dividers means that everything will be squished up together once you lift the bag onto your back.

If you want I can play around with my bag and take some shots of the inside of it and stuff. I never found the pics on the Chrome website very helpful (especially since they are almost entirely on guys, and most are not specific to the particular size bag you are looking at).

1) Comfortable enough unless you have a lot of heavy stuff in it. Not fun with schoolbooks, fine otherwise.

2) This one is dead on, the flap can be a pain in the butt to hold back while the bag is on you, though it gets a bit easier as you get accustomed to it.

3) The way the flap is designed on the Chrome bags I cannot imagine you losing the camera. I can keep change in mine and not have it fall out. This is exactly what makes it nearly impossible to get anything into or out of the bag while the flap is closed though and this can be kind of a pain at times.

madscot13

I am 5'2" also. I work out quite abit and my weight is 120-125. Even with all these muscleys, I can't stand messenger bags. They kill my shoulder and neck and plus no matter how often I switch sides my knees end up hurting by the end of the day. My plan has been a purse and a small back pack for anything larger. I know a purse might seem pretty sissyish but I picked a nice one from REI that has more of a small messenger style about it (ie flap over the top) and does have zip pockets. Then I just put my camera with its own case inside of it. It might seem a bit bulgy in places, but without getting a larger back that is the trade off. the bag was the northface calyx bag. The small back pack is for things that you really don't want to be searching through anyways. This is how I did Europe for three weeks and chicago a few weeks ago. However, I usually don't carry a FULL SLR outfit with me. I've really been trying to simplify.

cheers

kyledr

Also depends on how rigid your messenger style bag is. I have experience with a laptop bag, which uses a similar design as a messenger bag. With books and a 5 lb laptop which is quite rigid, it sucked. If it can't conform to you it's not as comfortable.

Sammyboy

This is going to sound quite radical, but it might be a possibility, given the prices of these bags. My ex is a photographer, but when we spent 2 years travelling, we didn't have enough money to buy a camera backpack from Lowe or the likes. When we reached Kathmandu, in Nepal, however, we were able to have one made, for about $10. We went to a shop which manufactured trekking backpacks and other items, copies of expensive western gear. We told them exactly what we wanted, they measured everything, and 2 days later, they delivered a backpack, with velcro dividers, a zip all the way round the top, straps for tripods, elastic loops for films, almost everything you might expect from an expensive bag, for less than $10, made to measure for us.

For the price of a Chrome messenger bag, you could pretty much fly economy to Kathmandu, stay in a cheap hotel (I'm talking about $2 a night), and get exactly what you want made, or even 3 or 4 different attempts, to see what really works! They'll even make the colours you want. And, as a photographer, you could make it pay by taking photos whilst there. It's a wild idea, but you should consider it.........

jyossarian

^^^ That's the best idea I've ever heard only b/c it involves going somewhere cool under the pretense of getting something done.

Tandaina

LOL I adore that idea. But I'm pretty sure a plane ticket to Katmandu would cost me a little more than a Chrome, alas. I do love the idea of a custom bag! (The idea of visiting Nepal isn't unappealing either!)

Sammyboy

Seriously - if you're a capable photographer, with the right contacts, you ought to be able to make the trip profitable in just stock library submissions. If you decide to do it, don't look for a direct flight. Cheapest flight to Delhi, then on to Kathmandu - far cheaper.