Make Your Own Camera Gear Backpack

posted on 8th of november, 2009

I do alot of hiking daytrips with my camera gear, so I was in the market for one of those camera packs that has a compartment for camera gear plus a compartment for hiking gear. Well after looking for awhile I never found anything that quite met my needs as the hiking gear compartments were too small, the pack was expensive, and the shoulder and waist straps were too minimal for proper comfort.
So my solution was to modify an regular hiking daypack to suit my needs.
First, I bought a 55litre small overnight backpack, which in my case was this Outbound Canyon 55 litre pack. I got this one on sale for $55.00. This one works well as it has a bottom sleeping bag compartment with an outside access zipper (where the camera gear compartment will be). It also has 3 side straps for secure tripod placement plus other straps on the back should I want to lash snowshoes to my pack.
Now for the camera gear compartment, I cut 6" wide strips of 1/2" dense closed-cell foam. Thicker ensulite sleeping pads work for this and are quite cheap and widely available at most sporting goods stores.
First I make the outside frame so it looks like an upside-down "U" and ensure that it will fit snugly in the sleeping bag compartment and can still be zippered closed. If you want extra stability, use two layers for the outside part. I used duct tape to put the pieces together as duct tape sticks really well to this stuff. Put lots of duct tape around the outside of your photo gear frame as you wont be seeing this tape anyway.
Next you just cut lengths to tape to the inside; customizing a space for your camera body and whatever lenses you want to include. My gear space holds my Sony A700 with landscape lens attached plus space for 3 other lenses.
My filters and lens brush are attached to my hipbelt for quick and easy access via A lowepro Edit 100 camera bag.
Now I have a very comfortable pack with room for all my camera gear as well as plenty of room for hiking gear and clothing. This particular pack also comes with a rain cover as do many other packs.
Total cost was about 70.00.

Tags: backpack gear storage travel

Comments (8)

	Posted by Rocketmann7 on November 12, 2009 Thanks for the information you have given to me. I was planning to go out hiking with my loved one but I still don’t have any exact date since she loves to take pictures. So with your article, you have help me a lot, it would be my anniversary gift to her. She will really have some great fun. Speaking of anniversary, it's the fortieth Sesame Street Anniversary, and instead of hailing an achievement on broadcast TV that few have or will ever parallel, we get to hear about Big Bird's Birthday. Well…to be fair, it is Sesame Street, and it is kind of cute. The big yellow bird is turning 40, and to celebrate Big Bird's Birthday, he's going on Jimmy Kimmel, after getting a caricature on the front page of Google. Other Sesame Street residents like Elmo (the most annoying thing ever created, except maybe for Sarah Palin or possibly Nancy Grace or the Gosselins) will also be making appearances. Still – every year, the show gets money now for a new season, and...(More)
	Posted by Digitalg on November 10, 2009 I'm planning to do a long 3 week hiking trip next year and surely I'll be carrying my gear. Maybe just one lens, because I'll be hiking in high altitude and will have to travel light, but almost surely I'll have to adapt some backpack as a way to fit everything I need. Great tips you gave here, thanks.
	Posted by Devontej on November 09, 2009 Thanks for the information you have given to me. I was planning to go out hiking with my loved one but I still don’t have any exact date since she loves to take pictures. So with your article, you have help me a lot, it would be my anniversary gift to her. She will really have some great fun. Speaking of anniversary, it's the fortieth Sesame Street Anniversary, and instead of hailing an achievement on broadcast TV that few have or will ever parallel, we get to hear about Big Bird's Birthday. Well…to be fair, it is Sesame Street, and it is kind of cute. The big yellow bird is turning 40, and to celebrate Big Bird's Birthday, he's going on Jimmy Kimmel, after getting a caricature on the front page of Google. Other Sesame Street residents like Elmo (the most annoying thing ever created, except maybe for Sarah Palin or possibly Nancy Grace or the Gosselins) will also be making appearances. Still – every year, the show gets money now for a new season, and a new instance of [link=http://personalmoneystore.com/moneyblog/2009/11/04/big-birds-birthday-marks-sesame-street-anniversary/]...(More)
	Posted by Eppic on November 09, 2009 I'd like to be able to show some photos of the actual pack but unfortunately there's no option within the blog to do so.
	Posted by Wildmac on November 09, 2009 Great ideas! Thanks for sharing :0)
	Posted by Kenhurst on November 09, 2009 Just the article I've been looking for - I'll have to save it for future reference. Great ideas!
	Posted by Cleaper on November 09, 2009 Nice tips - it sounds as if the result was like a Kata rucksack which is what I use.
	Posted by Creativei on November 09, 2009 great tips. thanks for the share