Packing electronics
 

A lot of us will carry a camera, a smart phone, a small computer or an iPad, an MP3 player or other devices. How do you pack electronic items when you're touring so you don't damage them? Are they safe in a handlebar bag? Do you cushion them in a pannier? What works for you?

My smart phone and camera go in my handlebar bag, inside ziplock baggies if there is a threat of rain.

My response is in this recent thread ... :)
http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...light=neoprene

I'll be getting this for my 7" tablet. Not sure what i'll do with my DSLR but it's probably just going in the handlebar bag.

http://www.adorama.com/PL1055BK.html

So far, I've kept my camera and my phone in the handlebar bag, without problems. I've kept a netbook computer in a bag and cushioned in my left rear pannier. I'm now switching to an iPad and I'm wondering whether to store this in my handlebar bag, or whether this would be too jarring on the electronics inside. I didn't worry about that with the netbook. My handlebar bag is waterproof and I also have a waterproof sleeve which fits the iPad, for extra protection.

I've got a small external frame pack that I put all my camera gear in. The frame makes enough space between the bag and my back that I don't really get very sweaty with it on. I pretty much always rode to school and work with much heavier (and crappier) packs full of books/tools too though. so as far as I'm concerned it's not that big a deal... but some people would probably disagree.

The camera and lens goes in a small photo backpack strapped on top of the front rack. I use clothes as dividers and extra padding on the bottom and to make sure nothing moves inside the bag. So far so good.

I keep my phone, computer, GPS, iPod, alarm clock, flash light, camera, movie camera, weather warning radio, calculator, CD library (350 CDs), cookbooks, address book, survival guide, knot tying guide, first aid guide, several novels, newspapers, board games, compass, small tv, theodolite and of course 3 bike computers all inside my iPhone and my iPhone inside my Mophie case and I keep that inside my handle bar bag along with my back up charging system (TekCharge MP1580) and spare AA batteries. 4 alkaline and 4 NMH. I also carry a small telephoto lens / small tripod that can become a full size tripod with attaching my tent poles for the iPhone. The bar bag is padded and I have a padded case for the phone and always a couple zip lock bags just in case. For a year or so I was keen on mounting the phone to the bars to be viewed and in a weather proof case but as time went on I felt it safer and better to stop and get it out when needed.
Bar bag is small and attaches with hooks (easy on and off) has a carry strap. It always comes with me off the bike.

In the handlebar bag when on the road bike. On the mountain bike, last trip I rigged up a small Mountain Hardware camera bag that I hung on the front of a bar roll that carried my tarp and bivy. on some trips, I might limit my electronics to just my smart phone, in that case if not on a bike with a handlebar bag, a Ziploc bag in a jersey pocket would suffice, but I have not gone that route yet.

Phone in case in bar bag. Camera in bar bag, simple point and shoot closes up and there's nothing to protrude. Note bar bag is waterproof Ortlieb.

I carried a netbook in neoprene case, and wrapped that in a plastic grocery bag. It lived in pannier with clothes, and the only time I worried was after a couple days' rain had most of the clothes wet. No problems with leakage through the bag + case, though.

It hasn't been touring yet, but I got this top tube bar for my phone: http://www.timbuk2.com/tb2/products/goody_box

Not water proof, but as long as there's no rain, it keeps the phone handy. Only problem is that if there is rain, water can get under the cover and it can be a chore dying it out. It needs a little shower cap or something. Inside I keep a spare tube and maybe a couple of tools.

I try to keep my camera in my pocket, in a plastic bag if there's a chance of rain (or sweat). Other items: my tablet, spare batteries, various cables all ride in a waterproof bag in a front pannier. If rain threatens, the phone and camera get dumped there as well. I try to reserve that pannier for outer layers of clothing that I may want to put on or remove while riding, and for other things I might want to access throughout the day (which would include my electronics), and for items I don't want to leave on the bike when it's unattended (which would also include my electronics). It works out pretty well. The clothing items provide a little padding, but nothing really feels fragile enough to be in danger as long as I pack it with a little care. I have a padded case for my tablet, but with the case it becomes too big for my waterproof bags, so sometimes I skip the case. Short of a wreck, I don't feel like anything is all that vulnerable, and water damage is more likely than impact damage, but I would like a solution that uses both.