Back packing with a XL1S at DVinfo.net

Don Libby · March 18th, 2003, 04:56 PM

Has anyone hiked/back-packed with their camera? Looking at getting into out of the way spots in the South West soon - some of these areas you have to park the 4x4 and hike an additional 3 plus miles in. I'd like to get shots of places that a lot of folks just haven't got to yet, therefore the question regarding backpacking. I looked at the porta brace web site and saw they have something that may be used just want to see if anyone has had any experience (good or bad). Any thoughts are welcome...

Jay Gladwell · March 18th, 2003, 05:33 PM

Don, I don't have the PortaBrace backpack, but I have taken my XL1s on several extended hikes (5+ miles one way) thru the hills of West Virginia and the Everglades of Florida. One trip, a little over a year ago, lasted the entire week and covered many miles. No doubt a few people here will tell you there are smaller, lighter cameras, but they aren't the XL1s. The pay-off will be worth every inch!

Andrew Petrie · March 18th, 2003, 06:42 PM

Wow Jay, how many batteries do you take with you on those kinds of expeditions? I'm assuming you had a means of recharging batteries during the night on week-long trips....

Jay Gladwell · March 18th, 2003, 08:04 PM

I carry four batteries for about ten hours of total shooting time. However, I've never shot that much tape in a single day. The batteries are rotated. The truck was used as a "base camp" where I would return and recharge the spent battery/batteries every evening.

Jeff Donald · March 18th, 2003, 08:24 PM

Lowe Pro makes a great bag for backpacking with the XL1.

Dylan Couper · March 20th, 2003, 07:06 PM

THe Porta Brace backpack is a great case, but a poor backpack. Very uncomfortable for serious use. I'd look at the LowePro backpacks instead, or alternately, get a real hiking backpack and modify it yourself.

Lisa Strong · May 22nd, 2003, 07:41 PM

The Portabrace "Hiker" has no waist belt, only shoulder straps. If you hike, you know that won't work for even a moderate load after awhile. I saw a Kata backpack at NAB 2002. It was a prototype at the time, but it looked like a contender.

LS-A

Dan Holly · May 23rd, 2003, 12:08 AM

We were moving to another location downstream about 100 yards down and my bud picked up this small trout along the way, so this actually looks worse than the actual pic would sway.

The pack in the picture is an actual "meat pack" outfitted for a XL1s. Something like Dylan mentions above. The bad thing about it is.....that it is not waterproof.

But, you won't ever catch one of my cameras like this....that's for sure. hehe

http://www.rollcastproductions.com/i...wnottodoit.jpg

Edwin Quan · May 23rd, 2003, 12:46 PM

i don't know if you remember my last post asking what backpacks were best for the xl1s. i made a trip down to b&h just to look at the bags. i never expected backpacks for camcorders, not to mention a camcorder the size of an xl1s to say the least, to be so huge, rugged and just plain uncomfortable.

a week ago, my mind was set on getting a backpack, so that i could have my hands free to carry, shoot, etc. but after checking out what backpacks are out there for the xl1s, i just ended up getting a carry bag. my 2 cents...

Brad Higerd · May 23rd, 2003, 02:48 PM

I recently bought the larger Lowepro Dryzone to help my GL2 survive the Florida summer rainstorms. The pack is great! Instead on using it only for hiking and biking, I plan to use it all the time. It is very comfortable, and the divider system is flexible enough to make any MiniDV camera owner happy.

March 18th, 2003, 04:56 PM	#1
Don Libby Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Tucson AZ Posts: 48	Back packing with a XL1S Has anyone hiked/back-packed with their camera? Looking at getting into out of the way spots in the South West soon - some of these areas you have to park the 4x4 and hike an additional 3 plus miles in. I'd like to get shots of places that a lot of folks just haven't got to yet, therefore the question regarding backpacking. I looked at the porta brace web site and saw they have something that may be used just want to see if anyone has had any experience (good or bad). Any thoughts are welcome... __________________ Don Libby www.ironcreekphotography.com

March 18th, 2003, 06:42 PM	#3
Andrew Petrie Major Player Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: London, Ontario, Canada Posts: 484	Wow Jay, how many batteries do you take with you on those kinds of expeditions? I'm assuming you had a means of recharging batteries during the night on week-long trips.... __________________ Andrew \| Canon XL1s, ME66, Vinten Vision 3, GlideCam V16 (for sale!)

March 18th, 2003, 08:24 PM	#5
Jeff Donald Warden Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Clearwater, FL Posts: 8,287	Lowe Pro makes a great bag for backpacking with the XL1. __________________ Jeff Donald Carpe Diem Search DVinfo.net for quick answers \| Where to Buy? From the best in the business: DVinfo.net sponsors

March 20th, 2003, 07:06 PM	#6
Dylan Couper Wrangler Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Vancouver, British Columbia Posts: 8,314	THe Porta Brace backpack is a great case, but a poor backpack. Very uncomfortable for serious use. I'd look at the LowePro backpacks instead, or alternately, get a real hiking backpack and modify it yourself. __________________ Need to rent camera gear in Vancouver BC? Check me out at camerarentalsvancouver.com

May 23rd, 2003, 12:08 AM	#8
Dan Holly Major Player Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Anchorage, Alaska Posts: 336	Here's how you should not do it. We were moving to another location downstream about 100 yards down and my bud picked up this small trout along the way, so this actually looks worse than the actual pic would sway. The pack in the picture is an actual "meat pack" outfitted for a XL1s. Something like Dylan mentions above. The bad thing about it is.....that it is not waterproof. But, you won't ever catch one of my cameras like this....that's for sure. hehe http://www.rollcastproductions.com/i...wnottodoit.jpg __________________ Dan Holly Anchorage, Alaska

March 18th, 2003, 05:33 PM	#2
Jay Gladwell Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 1,244	Don, I don't have the PortaBrace backpack, but I have taken my XL1s on several extended hikes (5+ miles one way) thru the hills of West Virginia and the Everglades of Florida. One trip, a little over a year ago, lasted the entire week and covered many miles. No doubt a few people here will tell you there are smaller, lighter cameras, but they aren't the XL1s. The pay-off will be worth every inch!

March 18th, 2003, 08:04 PM	#4
Jay Gladwell Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 1,244	I carry four batteries for about ten hours of total shooting time. However, I've never shot that much tape in a single day. The batteries are rotated. The truck was used as a "base camp" where I would return and recharge the spent battery/batteries every evening.

May 22nd, 2003, 07:41 PM	#7
Lisa Strong Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: San Francisco, CA Posts: 42	The Portabrace "Hiker" has no waist belt, only shoulder straps. If you hike, you know that won't work for even a moderate load after awhile. I saw a Kata backpack at NAB 2002. It was a prototype at the time, but it looked like a contender. LS-A

May 23rd, 2003, 12:46 PM	#9
Edwin Quan Regular Crew Join Date: May 2003 Location: United States Posts: 38	i don't know if you remember my last post asking what backpacks were best for the xl1s. i made a trip down to b&h just to look at the bags. i never expected backpacks for camcorders, not to mention a camcorder the size of an xl1s to say the least, to be so huge, rugged and just plain uncomfortable. a week ago, my mind was set on getting a backpack, so that i could have my hands free to carry, shoot, etc. but after checking out what backpacks are out there for the xl1s, i just ended up getting a carry bag. my 2 cents...

May 23rd, 2003, 02:48 PM	#10
Brad Higerd Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 186	I recently bought the larger Lowepro Dryzone to help my GL2 survive the Florida summer rainstorms. The pack is great! Instead on using it only for hiking and biking, I plan to use it all the time. It is very comfortable, and the divider system is flexible enough to make any MiniDV camera owner happy.