Here's a couple of small packs I recommended. When I just want to carry the bare minimum, my lightweight bag is a Lowepro Fastpack 100. I chose this one, because I hate the single sling setups. With the sling, there's just too much weight on one shoulder. Using the double straps evens out the weight. The really simple design also doesn't scream 'Look I have a camera in here'. I'm able to fit a Canon DSLR with a 24-70mm in the bottom area and another lens in the top part. Plenty of space for media cards, lens cleaners, and filters. If you're shooting with smaller cameras, there's more than enough room in the 100, but of course there's larger versions available too.
The Fastpack 100 is a great small pack (I actually have two), but the Flipside versions from LowePro are just a bit larger and the next step up to being able to hold a Tripod and a long lens. It's called the Flipside because of the way you gain access to the gear which is both functional for keeping things out of the dirt, and safer from pick pocketing sticky fingered thieves. If you need to hold a Tripod, carry longer lenses, or external Flashes, the Flipside 200 would be a good start. There's also larger versions of the Flipside available too.
There is a one very serious problem with Fastpack when you want to take your laptop with you - the laptop pocket is on the side and it's very easy to forget to zip it, and there's no sign it's open. This way I already damaged two laptops! They just fell out of the pocket...
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Batty
I love my Flipside, no laptop or room for bigger lenses but it's just the perfect sized travel bag for 3 primes and a gripped dslr plus minor accessories(charger/bubble level/caps/cards/battery holders etc) and small tripod/monopod.
I appreciated the zipper against my back too because sometimes the gear makes you a theft target when traveling.
However now I have a walk-around and will need to upgrade. Space for ipad will be nice too. Nice Kata link!
Rob
Really like Kata stuff as well. Very nice design that makes it easy to open the side doors with one pull that works both zippers. And they use YKK zippers which are very reliable.
Emm
Post author
@Conrad - Yeah a bit pricey, but Kata bags are great. The 20% off makes it enticing.
@Tan - Yeah I haven't had any issues with my LowePro stuff so far.
Tan
You forgot to mention that Lowepro has a lifetime warranty! And even though their warranty claim exclusively says that zipper damage is not included in the warranty, I was able to get a brand new bag despite telling them my zipper from my lowepro slingshot 200 was broken. I didn't even have to send in the damaged bag, all the asked for was the code from the inside tag. Great customer service!
Rob
Look like functional designs but was never a fan of Lowepro bags. The quality seems to be slipping. Think Tank, on the other hand, are great but you do have to pay for great.
Lowepro Fastpack 100 DSLR BackPack
Emm
Post author@Pawel Czerski - I didn't think a laptop could fit into a FastPack 100. It's very small and I don't think it was designed for that.
Pawel Czerski
There is a one very serious problem with Fastpack when you want to take your laptop with you - the laptop pocket is on the side and it's very easy to forget to zip it, and there's no sign it's open. This way I already damaged two laptops! They just fell out of the pocket...
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50% off ClickElite Bags BackPacks » CheesyCam
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Amazon Discount – Select Kata Camera Bags » CheesyCam
Batty
I love my Flipside, no laptop or room for bigger lenses but it's just the perfect sized travel bag for 3 primes and a gripped dslr plus minor accessories(charger/bubble level/caps/cards/battery holders etc) and small tripod/monopod.
I appreciated the zipper against my back too because sometimes the gear makes you a theft target when traveling.
However now I have a walk-around and will need to upgrade. Space for ipad will be nice too. Nice Kata link!
Rob
Really like Kata stuff as well. Very nice design that makes it easy to open the side doors with one pull that works both zippers. And they use YKK zippers which are very reliable.
Emm
Post author@Conrad - Yeah a bit pricey, but Kata bags are great. The 20% off makes it enticing.
Conrad
I know they're a bit more pricey, but Amazon is currently running a 20% off promotion on Kata bags. I just picked up their sling style bag https://www.amazon.com/Kata-KT-D-3N1-22-Backpack-Laptop/dp/B002UHKR68/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1308552778&sr=8-2
which is a bit nicer in my opinion then the fast track.
Emm
Post author@Tan - Yeah I haven't had any issues with my LowePro stuff so far.
Tan
You forgot to mention that Lowepro has a lifetime warranty! And even though their warranty claim exclusively says that zipper damage is not included in the warranty, I was able to get a brand new bag despite telling them my zipper from my lowepro slingshot 200 was broken. I didn't even have to send in the damaged bag, all the asked for was the code from the inside tag. Great customer service!
Rob
Look like functional designs but was never a fan of Lowepro bags. The quality seems to be slipping. Think Tank, on the other hand, are great but you do have to pay for great.