Every Photographer’s Dilemma

In the past few years I have spent a very intensive amount of time researching and trying several different bags for my camera gear. Wheather I was hiking the concrete jungle of Tokyo, working an event or shooting rock climbing in some far off place, it seemed that I needed a few different bags to get the job done right. To other photographers that is nothing new, but to non working photographers it might seem ridiculous, i.e. my wife. Fortunately for me, I had a momentous amount of help from my close friend and colleague Jensen Walker. Thanks bro!

When I was first starting out, as everyone can probably attest, I did not have much money after upgrading my rig. I needed a system that I could use for taking climbing and bouldering and then on the streets of Tokyo. I had been using an old 35l crag bag with my gear stashed inside along with my climbing gear. I needed something that could manage all of my gear.

I first went with a 3-1 Kata bag. A well built bag, as is all of Kata’s gear, but not functional for me at that point in time. I tried a few Lowepro bags after another colleague suggested some models that he liked to use. No go. After several failures I was steered toward Think Tank. I was psyched. Camera gear made by photographers for photographers. The working pros that have been around the block a time or two on the streets of New York or the fields of all professional sporting venues. I went straight to the modular system thinking that it would be good to manage lens while hanging from a rope. I could also use the system broken down to stow gear in my pack. It was great.

About the same time I came across a company called F-Stop Gear. A camera gear company for the adventure photographer, yes please. I had already started to use my Think Tank rig and really enjoyed it, but this was sounding savory. That said the best outdoor/adventure photographers were using the F-Stop gear, so I knew I had to look deeper. It turns out the company makes great gear. Most notable camera gear companies make good gear, but F-Stop makes great gear. The craftsmanship, attention to detail, enough foresight to add on options depending on where and what you will be doing. The ICUs system sold me as soon as I saw them. “Internal Camera Units” are removable, padded, adjustable compartments that come in an obscene amount of shapes and sizes. The ICUs were designed to work with the Mountain series packs and they do that flawlessly.

I have the Tilopa BC mountain pack, a medium Slope and a small Pro ICU. When I am out shooting, I usually have one to two bodies, three lenses, a flash kit, food, climbing gear and the occasional diaper kit. On longer trips my setup is quite different and includes a manfrotto stand bag, Pelican roller, and F-Stop Ando 18 all packed to the brim. I usually over pack not knowing exactly what I should take and would rather have something and not use it then not have something that I need.

As I have been using my new rig all over the world, I love that I can arrange my Tilopa anyway I choose. Sometimes I don’t need a light kit and leave the small Pro ICU at home. Other times I leave the Slope and only bring a body and two lenses in my small Pro. On the days that I trade my Tilopa for my Organic pad I am easily able to pack my Ando 18 and climbing gear into my crash pad for a day of bouldering. On these days I usually take two lenses, a flash kit and one body. So far that has worked great.

I still use my Think Tank modular system when hanging from a rope, but who knows what F-Stop will bring us in the future with their ever expanding component systems. I know I am sticking around to find out. If you are shooting in a concrete jungle or a jungle in Belize, F-Stop is you go to camera pack company and I strongly give them my stamp of approval. I am so psyched to be on their pro staff team. Thanks F-Stop for making such great gear!

Go Climb Something!!!