I must have owned more than 20 assorted camera backpacks and bags over the years. Some have been big, some small, and even were some free, but most were purchased for specific trips or applications.
Not all bags are the same but, as I'm sure many people will know, the technology and design that goes into the manufacture of a camera bag has improved significantly over the last couple of decades. Bags are tougher, more versatile, better designed and in some examples, completely waterproof and are, in general, often considerably lighter than older designs.
The first photo tour I ever undertook - to Tanzania - saw me buying one of the largest LowePro backpacks I could legally take on a plane. Back in 2010, hefting large hand luggage onto a plane wasn't quite the issue that it is now.
Luckily I loaded the pack up with every lens I thought I'd need, plus two DSLR bodies, battery chargers, multiple batteries, assorted USB cables, a heavy laptop, a/c cables, socket adaptor, a large power brick and a bunch of other bits and bobs 'just in case'. I was barely able to pick the damn thing up and once strapped in, I felt more like an army recruit than a photographer on a big trip. I needed a rethink. So I reduced the number of lenses by 50% and secreted some of the heavier stuff in my suitcase.
Although the weight issue was less tragic, it was still physically a bit too big to fit into any kind of overhead storage bin - especially when in small planes as you often do in Africa.
Since that memorable trip, I have gone through several more backpacks and each time they have been a little smaller, and more compact. However, one feature of all bags that has always nagged me has been the depth of the bag. Often the height and width is OK but they can be too deep - which means if you are moving through a crowded space, there's a chance that you'll bump into people, especially if you turn around quickly.
In Japan and Singapore (and I'm sure in many other countries), backpacks are not allowed to be worn while travelling on the rail network - this is to prevent unsuspecting passengers being accidentally whacked by unwary backpack wearers. Last year I bought an Olympus OM-1 and used my trusty 40 year-old Billingham Hadley shoulder bag to accommodate the new camera body, plus a 12-40mm Pro lens, plus the heavy 300mm Pro f4 telephoto lens. It's a perfect size to accommodate this kit, plus a few nicknacks like a smartphone, small flash unit, and more. But add another lens and the Hadley gets a bit cramped. For a replacement I eventually settled on a Tenba Fulton photo backpack. Actually Natalie got one first, and I liked it so much I had to copy her - although I did buy the larger 16 litre model. The Fulton can easily accommodate the above equipment, plus a large speedlight, two lens Extenders, a 12inch Macbook Pro, noise-cancelling headphones and a few other bits and bobs while remaining remarkably compact.
Another consideration I had was for a bag that was not black - hard to find a colourful bag in the current market. Everyone it seems, loves black. I don't because it is a: boring and unimaginative and b: if everything in the bag, including your camera gear, is black, it makes it hard to find stuff in a hurry.
I suspect that there's also a (mistaken) idea that if it's black, it's less conspicuous and therefore it's more secure. I don't go with that theory. Anyone walking through the streets of La Boca, Redfern or Soweto will still look just like a rich foreigner with a fancy, expensive bag worth investigating. So we both love the green/tan colour design, plus the fact that it's not as deep as all the packs I have owned previously. It ticked all those boxes and more. The Tenba Fulton comes in three capacities: 10, 14 and 16 litres - I bought the 16 litre version - it can hold four short Olympus Pro lenses (i.e. 8-25mm, 12-40mm style lenses, a big 100-400mm telephoto lens, plus an OM-1 body, headphones, hard drives, 12-inch laptop and a lot more. Perfect!
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