Right off the bat, know this: All of my product pages are meant to reflect my own personal experience with my gear. I use everything I’ve listed!  I’ve chosen each piece based upon how they float my boat and make my work, art, travel, comfort and mobility possible. As such, my comments are completely my own opinion. So don’t cry if I’m not objectively droning about this feature vs. that feature and why point-decimal-some-number is going to make a difference in your life. It probably won’t anyway and there are plenty of people who WILL share that data with you. You might enjoy their reviews. What I WILL share is my thought process in choosing my gear, what it does for me, what I love about it… and if there’s something not love, I’ll share that too. I’m not an affiliate for fStop Gear. They don’t even do affiliate partnering. The links I’m providing are really just because I like the gear and to make it easy for you to check it out. fStop Kashmir Camera Backpack

I used to use an fStop Tilopa BC. Here’s a video I made about it... the Kashmir functions very similarly. I bought the bag through fStop’s Kickstarter campaign for it. I had it in time to take to France… and it was a godsend for getting me there and back. I use this backpack when I’m traveling. Meaning, getting from here to there. On the airplane, train, whatever. With mirrorless gear, there’s plenty of room for OTHER stuff, which makes it super handy. I use it when I’m hiking out for landscape shooting and need to take camera gear beyond just my cameras (like filters ‘n such), water, snacks, my tripod and other goodies. There’s plenty of room without making me feel like I’m carrying a family of four. Most of the time when you see “women’s backpack” from other companies… it’s wimpy. Not big enough, sturdy enough, not enough features to go where I want to go. fStop has always succeeded brilliantly for me in this regard… but was never quiiiiiite built for a woman’s body. 

They remedied this with the Kashmir. It does not have a computer sleeve, but I throw my laptop into a neoprene sleeve case and slide it in. Like all fStop bags, the opening for the gear is against your back when you’re wearing it. aarn backpack for saleNobody can just unzip the bag and grab your gear.msi ge70 backpack The zipper opening for gear is big, easy to open and I can get at my gear fast.quiksilver ignite backpack multi Without even taking it off I can get at my cameras by spinning it around my waist. millet ubic backpackI like this alot if I’m standing in water, mud or sand.bolles backpack login

Super comfortable… and carries/distributes weight REALLY well. It’s a bit shorter than my Tilopa was, so it doesn’t obstruct my head when I want to look up. Things I Don’t Love So Much It’s missing some vital interior pockets. backpack kopen enschedeIt was probably to lessen the weight, but dude. Every other fStop bag has them… but not this one. There’s a zipper pocket on the inside lid of every other fStop bag – and one on the inside of the flap opening to the main compartment. I used to keep Allen wrenches, batteries and stuff in those… now it’s just awkward to find spots to stow those things. Overall – the missing pockets bug me some, but non of the cons deter from the overall fabulocity of this bag in terms of fit and function. It fits great, distributes weight well, functions as fantastically as my other two fStop bags; the Guru and Tilopa BC. I think the adjustments they made for women are great and really work.

Hopefully other bag companies will follow suit! You can check out all the specs and price here. And nope, I’m not an affiliate. "Love your blog. I stop by for the photography, I linger for the philosophy." — Kelley Morgan, Portland OR "A beautiful mind will produce beautiful results.  And to say the least, yours is a beautiful mind!  Thank you for your wisdom and your inner "speak," as they both produce true art from the heart …" — Joe Hudspeth, Prineville OR "Thank you Karen. A wonderful story but only the tip of the iceberg, the bigger part below the water is all the thousands of photographers you have inspired to chart their own journey, I know as I am one of them." — Guy Parkes "Karen, thank you for the wonderful two day post.  Your insights are truly thought provoking.  I have never been a teacher, nor will I ever be, but to see someone see the light is a wonderful moment.  Thanks again." — Murray Parker "As usual, another terrific story. I’m glad I found you but I have to be honest. I

didn’t find you on Google + but did on Scott Kelby’s “The Grid”. Thanks for the inspiration in both images and by the pen/keyboard." — Bill Araujo "Gads-what a girl! Thanks for the story, it is beautiful." — Joe Hudspeth "Awesome story Karen — I loved reading about your life transformed. Of course I loved the photography theme and the geek in me is forever curious about the power of tech and the power of social platforms. But … for me it is the arc of lives transformed that inspires. Thank you so much for sharing. See you on G+ and in the Arcanum!" — Glen Orsak See All PraiseThe requested URL /forum/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=10521 was not found on this server.featured, Outdoor & Landscape, photo & video Face it, you were wrong. You thought carrying all that camera gear, extra lenses, tripod, and water inside a single strap messenger bag would work out just fine. But no, you were wrong. Nothing quite dampens the excitement of being outside and photographing a new place, like an aching back from carrying all your gear on a several mile hike.

For outdoor and landscape photography, a solid DSLR camera backpack that distributes the weight across both shoulders and waist is a must. And there are plenty of options out there, from the sleek and stylish to the comfort priority traditional. If you’re an explorer and “good-enough” simply doesn’t cut it, then it might be time to upgrade. That is why we have rounded up 7 of the best DSLR camera backpack options to secure all your gear on your next outdoor photo adventure. The Lowepro Whistler BP 450 AW made the top of our list for a number of reasons. This bag is a backcountry champion. It’s original idea was created by professional photographers while in the wilderness of the Coast Mountains of British Columbia, Canada. Therefore it blends the needs to being able to cary both: camera gear, and functional outdoor gear. It is able to carry several cameras, lenses, large amounts of batteries and other accessories, extra jackets, food, water, skies, and snowshoes.

Best of all, you can wear it comfortably and have quick access to everything you need. It is definitely a large bag, and is meant primarily for the photographer who wants to feel comfortable carrying around lots of gear. But if that’s you, then this bag will do the trick. A favorite feature, is that you can attach heavy gear like skies, or a pro tripod to the side of the pack, but still have total access to the main compartment. All in all, a really solid, workhorse backcountry photo bag, even with the steep price tag of $389.95. The F-Stop Tilopa merges both comfort and capacity, making it a great option for bringing along photo gear as well as extra hiking supplies. The interior is customizable with different internal compartment options, and the exterior is adjustable as well with option ad-ons, like sleeping bag straps for the overnight hikes. Tripod straps are included as well. The waist and sternum straps, along with the well-padded shoulder straps, help keep carrying all that gear comfortable.

There’s no water bottle pouch on the side, but it’s compatible with several different hiking hydration systems. The bag costs $259, with additional internal organization pouches ranging from $45 to $99. This bag might be tough to find outside of the manufacturer’s site. If your outdoor photography experience involves swinging from the side of a mountain, you’ll probably want something a bit more crushproof than your average outdoor backpack—and who does crushproof better than Pelican? The U160 Urban Elite has rigid front panels on both the bottom gear compartment and top accessory pocket. Those panels make the bag a bit heavy at about seven pounds, but the trade off is your gear won’t be ruined if sandwiched between you and a hard place. It’s also waterproof, but the biggest selling point is that crushproof quality that’s much tougher to find. The extra-protected bag will fit a DSLR and two lenses with a flash for about $240. While the Ruggard Thunderhead 35 may not have enough space for packing much more than a three lens kit and laptop, the well-endowed shoulder straps and belt make it a very comfortable option for shorter day trips.

The exterior is water resistant, and there’s a built-in rain cover for extra protection. A tripod can be attached at the side, and access to all your gear is from the front of the pack. The base also has feet, so sitting the pack down outside isn’t an issue. The bag offers a pretty good value at less than $170. The Tenba Shootout is a bag that’s just as at home in the outdoors as it is inside a crowded airport. Outside, there’s the water-repellant exterior and extra rain flap. At the airport, the bag conforms to current carry on guidelines, includes a trolley strap and still has room for up to six lenses. Wherever you are wearing it, the Tenba is designed for comfort with the thick shoulder and waist straps. This Tenba is also one of the few large capacity bags to include a quick access side door, while most with this feature are half packs with limited gear space. A tripod strap and accessory loops can expand the capacity even more. The blend of comfort, style and versatility comes at a bit higher price point at $240.

MindShift Gear’s BackLight is a sporty backpack designed for carrying plenty of gear comfortably. The bag will hold up to five lenses as well as flash and other accessories. Despite the larger capacity, the strap system helps keep it comfortable for long hikes. The pack also opens from the rear, which allows you to swing the pack around with the waist strap and access gear without putting the pack on the ground. Airflow mesh padding on the back will help for warm hikes as well. That big capacity will run you about $250. The LowePro Flipside has been around for a few years, but it’s still around because it’s such a solid pack. The bag is obviously designed for comfort, with well-padded shoulder straps and a waist strap that makes a big difference in carrying lots of gear. Access to everything but the smaller accessory pouches is in the back, so you can slide the shoulder straps off and use the waist belt to turn the bag into a table of sorts to swap lenses.