Suitable airline carry on backpack

Hi all,
I am wondering what you guys use to lug your gear when you travel by air.
Here, I assume you are taking your precious gear onboard as carry on luggage.
Say if you have monster lenses like a 500mm/600mm or god forbid an 800mm lens
plus the usual extras like camera body, maybe an extra body, converters, batt packs, flash head etc etc,
what kind of backpack would fit one of the above lenses plus the extras?
And if you have a Wimberley2 head, would that go into the backpack as well?
Thanks for any advice.

I'm using the Lowpro Compute tracker pro......... already with me travel many time...

Our Gear must on board as carry.

Wimberley head will be another another back as check in luggage

Thanks Nelson for your tips.

Normally we check-in the tripod and Wimberley head.

Our group has been using the following camera bags to carry on board:

1. Lowepro ComputeTracker Pro as suggested by Nelson

2. Lowepro LensTrekker 600mm AW with additional SlipLock Pouches and Lens Cases

3. ThinkTankPhoto Airport Security v2
- Big but still can put in the cabin
- Can fit 500/600/800mm, 2 bodies, 70-200mm, wide-angle lens, flash, teleconverters + accessories.
- Con: Heavy and big. Always blocked by AirAsia security guard. Better get the permission from AirAsia officers when check-in at the counter.

4. ThinkTankPhoto StreetWalker HardDrive
- More compact, just nice to fit the 500/600/800mm lens, 2 bodies, teleconverters.

5. Pelican Case
- Heavy and solid! 1 big lens, 1 or 2 bodies, 1 flash, teleconverters.
- Same problem when boarding AirAsia flights.

6. Combination of 2 bags:
- 1 Lowepro Mini Trekker for 2 bodies and all small lenses
- 1 Nikon CL-L2 Soft Case for 400/500/600mm.
- No problem to walk past the AirAsia security guards!

Thanks for a very informative post Makus.
I like option 6 and also 4. All the other stuff can go in as checked baggage.
I used to like airasia in the early days but have since given them the middle finger...but that's another story.
Back to google...thank you so much.

makus wrote:Normally we check-in the tripod and Wimberley head.

Our group has been using the following camera bags to carry on board:

1. Lowepro ComputeTracker Pro as suggested by Nelson

2. Lowepro LensTrekker 600mm AW with additional SlipLock Pouches and Lens Cases

3. ThinkTankPhoto Airport Security v2
- Big but still can put in the cabin
- Can fit 500/600/800mm, 2 bodies, 70-200mm, wide-angle lens, flash, teleconverters + accessories.
- Con: Heavy and big. Always blocked by AirAsia security guard. Better get the permission from AirAsia officers when check-in at the counter.

4. ThinkTankPhoto StreetWalker HardDrive
- More compact, just nice to fit the 500/600/800mm lens, 2 bodies, teleconverters.

5. Pelican Case
- Heavy and solid! 1 big lens, 1 or 2 bodies, 1 flash, teleconverters.
- Same problem when boarding AirAsia flights.

6. Combination of 2 bags:
- 1 Lowepro Mini Trekker for 2 bodies and all small lenses
- 1 Nikon CL-L2 Soft Case for 400/500/600mm.
- No problem to walk past the AirAsia security guards!

r u sure nikon 600mm can put in the CL-L2? somebody told me cannot.

CL-L2 is great, especially when you are traveling with Air Asia.

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Specification

The Semi-Soft Case CL-L2 is designed for the larger Nikon telephoto lenses, e.g. AF-S 400 f/2.8 II, AF-S 600 f/4, AF-I 400 f/2.8. The AF-S/AF-I 400 can be stored in this case when attached to a camera body (including the digital SLR D1 and F5).

Lightweight, portable lens case

The case's parachute cloth exterior and water-resistant fastener offer protection in rain and other inclement weather

Side pockets added for greater utility

New plastic base at bottom of lens provides stability and waterproofing

Film, other items can be stored in two mesh outer side compartments

Belts on the back of the top cover can be adjusted to reduce the case length for more compact storage of lenses without camera bodies attached

An inner belt has been added to secure the lens in place

Mr No Good wrote:CL-L2 is great, especially when you are traveling with Air Asia.

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Specification

The Semi-Soft Case CL-L2 is designed for the larger Nikon telephoto lenses, e.g. AF-S 400 f/2.8 II, AF-S 600 f/4, AF-I 400 f/2.8. The AF-S/AF-I 400 can be stored in this case when attached to a camera body (including the digital SLR D1 and F5).

Lightweight, portable lens case

The case's parachute cloth exterior and water-resistant fastener offer protection in rain and other inclement weather

Side pockets added for greater utility

New plastic base at bottom of lens provides stability and waterproofing

Film, other items can be stored in two mesh outer side compartments

Belts on the back of the top cover can be adjusted to reduce the case length for more compact storage of lenses without camera bodies attached

An inner belt has been added to secure the lens in place

thank you

I'll highly recommend [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.].

The bag is really light & can fit in all big lenses from C & N (I've one myself, I've tried it on a small regional jet & it fit well on the overhead compartment). Down site is it's pretty expansive!

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makus wrote:Normally we check-in the tripod and Wimberley head.

Our group has been using the following camera bags to carry on board:

1. Lowepro ComputeTracker Pro as suggested by Nelson

2. Lowepro LensTrekker 600mm AW with additional SlipLock Pouches and Lens Cases

3. ThinkTankPhoto Airport Security v2
- Big but still can put in the cabin
- Can fit 500/600/800mm, 2 bodies, 70-200mm, wide-angle lens, flash, teleconverters + accessories.
- Con: Heavy and big. Always blocked by AirAsia security guard. Better get the permission from AirAsia officers when check-in at the counter.

4. ThinkTankPhoto StreetWalker HardDrive
- More compact, just nice to fit the 500/600/800mm lens, 2 bodies, teleconverters.

5. Pelican Case
- Heavy and solid! 1 big lens, 1 or 2 bodies, 1 flash, teleconverters.
- Same problem when boarding AirAsia flights.

6. Combination of 2 bags:
- 1 Lowepro Mini Trekker for 2 bodies and all small lenses
- 1 Nikon CL-L2 Soft Case for 400/500/600mm.
- No problem to walk past the AirAsia security guards!

Makus,

Some of the bags you mentioned here are larger than the permitted hand-luggage size.
Have you been stopped for these? If so... how troublesome would it be to get through security?

Chongbt,

We have few time experience ( Makus, Mr No good and Me ), like last week when we back from India, when we check in at the counter , they are reject us to hand carry so heavy (13KG+-) but after explain and talk and talk, show them the gear and tell them the cost.... after they will check with the officer and the officer come to us and talk again.. end out they allow us to hand carry in, this same case when we in India last year too, even last year we have go to the air port custom said need to tax our gear.. but end out no tax.....

This kind of problem mostly is air asia or from India, last year we take MAS, India also stop us but end out ok too.

But if you go to Australia... you must apply or write the letter to the air line, else no execute....

Remember when we go to East Malaysia with Airasia using the ThinkTankPhoto Airport Security v2 (Makus) the officer also stop him.. but after again.. explain and show.. the allow him to hand carry...

Me is using Lowepro ComputeTracker Pro... so far so good.. only one complain is the weight ... my beg weight normally is about 12kg+-

nelson khor wrote:Chongbt,

We have few time experience ( Makus, Mr No good and Me ), like last week when we back from India, when we check in at the counter , they are reject us to hand carry so heavy (13KG+-) but after explain and talk and talk, show them the gear and tell them the cost.... after they will check with the officer and the officer come to us and talk again.. end out they allow us to hand carry in, this same case when we in India last year too, even last year we have go to the air port custom said need to tax our gear.. but end out no tax.....

This kind of problem mostly is air asia or from India, last year we take MAS, India also stop us but end out ok too.

But if you go to Australia... you must apply or write the letter to the air line, else no execute....

Remember when we go to East Malaysia with Airasia using the ThinkTankPhoto Airport Security v2 (Makus) the officer also stop him.. but after again.. explain and show.. the allow him to hand carry...

Me is using Lowepro ComputeTracker Pro... so far so good.. only one complain is the weight ... my beg weight normally is about 12kg+-

Thanks Nelson.
I've that's the thing that's stopping me from bringing the sigma previously.
Next time, I'll just quote you guys to the airport security and check-in staffs.