Topic: BAGS: Tamrac Vs. Lowepro

[kskreider]

I need a new bag as the GD bear Kelty pack that I have been using is just too cumbersome and the zippers are beginning to stick.  

I have been eyeballing two makes/models.  One is the Lowepro Nova 5, the other is the Tamrac Pro 8 (aka 608 or 5608)  

Can anyone give me any insight into why I should pick one over the other?

Any other recommendations in the same price range? (~$60-$70)

Thanks...Kk

[jpschust]

you should poke around on ebay- both those bags can be had for cheaper on ebay.  

What is your rig- that will make it easier to suggest bags.

[nic]

yeah, I'm looking at bags too and think the Lowepro Nova 5 wil best suit me:
ADK TL's, V2, SBM1, M1, 6v7ah + 6v4ah sla's, shockmounts, windscreens, xlr cables, small foam lined tupperware container for 7-pin, plus small misc stuff like barrel plugs and such...

[jpschust]

if a used bag is taken care of, then go for it.  You can clean all those bags, and both the Tamrac and the Lowe stuff is made of great material- really high quality stuff from my experiences.

[bhadella]

Just ordered a new bag to replace my own Rakgear here:

Lowepro Nova 5 for $40:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=800301405&is=USE

In the used section because it is last year's color/style, but who cares as long as my gear is safe.

B&H has several other Lowepro bags at very reasonable prices in the used section.,,

[olyrc]

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?ci=2870&sb=ps&pn=1&sq=desc&InitialSearch=yes&O=SearchBar&A=search&Q=*&shs=lowepro

And they aren't actually used, just last year's color/style.  Good deals.

*Oops, I shoulda read the previous post before posting this one.*

[Brian Skalinder]

Any other recommendations in the same price range? (~$60-$70)

The Mountainsmith Cairn, Blaze, and Day are all nice packs for schlepping gear.  Maybe just a bit above your budget, but really nice bags.  For your V3 + DAP1 + SLAs, I'd probably say go for the Cairn or Day, the Blaze would be a tight squeeze with the DAP1.

Seems a lot of people are really pleased with the Mountainsmith and LowePro so I doubt you can go wrong with either.

[nic]

Just ordered a new bag to replace my own Rakgear here:

Lowepro Nova 5 for $40:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=800301405&is=USE

In the used section because it is last year's color/style, but who cares as long as my gear is safe.

B&H has several other Lowepro bags at very reasonable prices in the used section.,,

sweet, just ordered the Nova 5 and with shipping it was still less than the buy-it-nows available on ebay(which had been cheaper than everywhere else I had seen)!
+T

[Nick Culbreth]

i'll second the mountainsmith suggestion, they're great bags and a little more inconspicuous than the lowepro or tamrac bags.  i use a mountainsmith cairn bag and can easily fit in my v3, 2 sla batteries, pelican 1060 case for skm140s, etc.  if you'd like to see a couple pictures let me know and i can snap a few for you.

[KC5]

the mountainsmith bags are very nice.  and the lumbar strap is a nice addition.  the blaze is small as brian mentioned.  i can get two bp50's, d8 and sbm1 is sbm-1 case, nbox, and small box for mic caps in main compartment.  in the front compartment i have dats, splitters,and clamp.  mesh pockets hold the active cables and my rca>rca cables, shockmount and stc bar.  i could probably get more in the front compartment, but don't need to.

[Tim]

I'd recommend the Cairn.. I know the dap1 will fit in there, not sure about the blaze or the day though.

[John R]

i'm thinking you should actually go to where the bags are(camera shop) and see if your gear will fit into the bags you think you want.  i spent at least an hour in a camera shop changing around configs and then got my bag from fotococan.  they're the cheapest, imo.

jr

[Brian Skalinder]

i'm thinking you should actually go to where the bags are(camera shop) and see if your gear will fit into the bags you think you want.

Good call, John - I did this for my Blaze.  The crunchy employees at the outdoor shop thought I was a littl weird, but it allowed me to figure out exactly which bag they had would work out well for me.  I ended up not even bothering with the camera shop as I liked the Blaze so much.

[BCostigan]

I have a Lowepro Nova 5 and get the following into it:

TLs
UA-5
D7
Supermounts
windscreens
7ah 12 volt sla
7ah 6 volt sla
vert bar
30' pair of star quads

plus assorted cables/ misc connectors etc.  It's a tight fit due to the shocks and screens but it all fits in there.
 

[John R]

...crunchy employees at the outdoor shop thought I was a little weird...

brian, face it...

jr