Good dSLR bag for trips and/or hikes?

[Hugh Conway]

LOL I was asking more in terms of bag suggestions than how to actually conceal my weapon... er, camera.

and, yup, you missed the point. it won't be concealed.

bring some shit to clean the camera; you'll get loaded with dust if you are changing lenses.

[SaSSafraS_LTK]

The Tamrac is exactly what you want for the trip you're making. You could also go with a a Crumpler 5 million dollar home, but they're very pricey. I have a 6 million dollar home and absolutely love it, but I had a friend that had a hook up and got it for me for cost. I don't know that I would pay retail.

Second on the Crumpler stuff. I have a 5 million (I think?), and I love it. I had one, got it stolen, and immediately ordered a second. It holds a d300, two medium+ sized lenses (18-200 and 12-24), and two small primes with any of them on the camera. I like to wear it over my head and one shoulder with the strap pretty long so I can flip it to the front and dig around in it or put in in the back when I'm walking. It also isn't quite as obviously camera gear as the normal black bags are.

If you're wearing a pack, otoh, I think the best way to go is a TLZ with the chest harness. You can make do with a shoulder strap bag if you put on the pack first and then put the camera strap over your head and both shoulders (like you're going through the strap) so that it hangs on the straps between the pack and your shoulders.

[Hugh Conway]

erm... if it weren't as obvious, why'd it get stolen?

If I were a thief in a tourist area I'd pick a lowepro/Tamrac/Crumper bag. Easy to identify, almost guaranteed to carry a bunch of camera gear, easy to carry away.

[SaSSafraS_LTK]

The guy broke into my car for my ipod, then saw the bag under the folded down back seat. It was in my gated apartment complex garage, so I didn't think there was too much risk. I was wrong.

[FMichigan]

Any suggestions for a low profile way to carry this along?

Ideally a front pack with some sort of reliable weatherproofing so it's easier to access and actually use the camera. I currently wear a small Black Diamond Bandit pack, can you connect a top load pack to the shoulder straps? Would you want to ski balls deep pow with your camera on your chest? I doubt I could fit the camera inside my backpack. Maybe with a form fitting rigid case for the camera body and lens.

Any ideas or better suggestions other than buying a bigger back pack?

[Wes Mantooth]

If you want a perfect pack then look at f-stop, that is if you have access to hefty funds, if not then maybe look at the dakine sequence or mission, or just wrap the cam in some towels

[7cs]

+1 on the digital holster. It also expands to fit bigger lenses.

[Todds]

Check out http://www.cambags.com/

User submitted camera bag reviews with user supplied pictures of bags loaded with real gear. It is broken down by bag and camera system.

[JabbaTheHuck]

Any suggestions for a low profile way to carry this along?

Ideally a front pack with some sort of reliable weatherproofing so it's easier to access and actually use the camera. I currently wear a small Black Diamond Bandit pack, can you connect a top load pack to the shoulder straps? Would you want to ski balls deep pow with your camera on your chest? I doubt I could fit the camera inside my backpack. Maybe with a form fitting rigid case for the camera body and lens.

Any ideas or better suggestions other than buying a bigger back pack?

I take a canon 40d with 18-200mm skiing. I took a Burton AK tha thas the"beer cooler" in the base. this cooler area open with a zipper in the anterior part of the pack that rests against your back. It is basicall a plastic lined tub. I custom cut some foam to fit camera with lens. This way I slip my pack off and the anterior surface of the pack does not rest in the snow, and the cooler tub provides some weather proofing. This way the weight of the camera is supported right at the waist strap and feels comfortable resting in the lumbar area. I would not suggest cliff hucks with this setup. You may also want to look at the seattle sling