My boyfriend and I are serious photographers, and I am looking for a pack I can use while on backpacking photography trips. I used by Osprey Talon 44 this past weekend while shooting on just an overnight car camping trip, and I found it very difficult to access my photography gear (a professional Canon 1D series DSLR and 2-3 lenses) from the top of the pack while shooting. All of the photo backpacks I have owned in the past are panel loaders (as well as incredibly uncomfortable with poorly designed harnesses and suspension), which makes accessing gear much faster and easier. For backpacking photo trips, I think a panel loader would be indespensible, because it would allow me to access my photo gear without removing clothes and other items packed on top (it would not make any sense at all to pack the heavy camera equipment at the top of the pack). With the bulky camera gear, I find that having an internal frame is preferable to a frameless pack, as lenses poking you in the back are pretty uncomfortable.

Therefore, I'm looking for recommendations for packs that fit the follows specs:
- Panel Loading
- Internal frame
- Lightweight
- Capable of comfortably carrying loads up to 40lbs
- Durable fabric (like dyneema gridstop) and construction
- Way to externally attach and carry a tripod with ballhead

Any suggestions?

Six Moon Designs Traveler.

Thanks Richard this is what I was thinking and I actually already started another thread on it (http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/forums/thread_display.html?forum_thread_id=18222). The problem is, I can't find any reviews on the pack anywhere. Do you have any experience with the pack?

ULA will be coming out with a panel loader.

^^^

Which was first announced in a podcast in 2006, if I remember correctly.

Edited by TwoFortyJeff on 01/24/2009 15:31:46 MST.

Granite Gear Latitude series packs...

I was going to say the same as Brad.

Latitude Vapor is 2 pounds 10 ounces, carries up to 30 pounds.

Nimbus Latitude is 3 pounds 8 ounces, carries up to 40 pounds.

If you really need to haul more than 30 pounds, skip on the Vapor. They both unzip from top to bottom from either the top or bottom:

Edited by mn-backpacker on 01/24/2009 15:50:49 MST.

Kari,

I own a Traveler, but I have not used it enough to review it.

I have a lot of Six Moon Designs products and have always been satisfied.

Edited by food on 01/25/2009 08:16:58 MST.

see review of the Traveler at http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/forums/thread_display.html?forum_thread_id=18222&skip_to_post=140334#140334

Edited by wandering_bob on 01/25/2009 09:39:59 MST.

McHale packs has some nice lite panel packs.