Yesterday I sold my North Face Base Camp Hot Shot backpack on Craigslist. It was a great bag, but just a little too small to carry my dSLR and lenses. I loved the water-resistant material, which was super tough and a cool green color. That material is why this backpack has the “Base Camp” moniker; it’s the same material that the famous Base Camp Duffel bags are made of. But, I need something just a little bit bigger than it’s 30l capacity. I currently have my eye on the 41l North Face Router backpack, which holds the dSLR padding nicely. It’s a little pricey, but I think it will serve me well. It also has better organization and a dedicated tablet pocket. I am in no rush so I will keep my eye on ebay and other sources to hopefully find a good price, and perhaps look around for other models. In the meantime, I will get by with my REI Transit messenger bag (with dSLR padding insert).
Speaking of the messenger bag, the one I am using is just about perfect for my gear. The reason I want a backpack (besides the fact that I am a bag junkie) is that using both shoulders (and sometimes the waist strap) to distribute the weight is much easier on the body than just a single shoulder-strap. Comfort counts, especially when travelling!
So the old backpack is gone, but I’ll keep some good memories: mainly that it served us well on our last two Disney trips. In fact, it was almost perfect for trekking around the massive Disneyworld Orlando!
