No place to keep my gear?

[Photoguy]

Okay we're leaving for Disney in a week. I have a Rebel XS, the 18-55 kit lens, a 50mm f1.8 and the Tokina 12-24 f4. I have only a very small camera bag and now it won't even comfortably hold the camera with the Tokina attached, let alone the other two lenses. I feel I need to get a larger bag but don't want to carry a huge backpack or suitcase with me as I trudge thru the heat and humidity. It's bad enough that my tripod, which dangles from my shorts pocket by it's handle, bruises my knee as I walk. (the things I suffer in an attempt to get a nice picture!) Does anyone have any suggestions for something that's comfortable, lightweight, not too large, that will hold the small amount of stuff I have so I'm not overburdened at the parks? I can leave the tripod dangling out of my shorts for the time being. Okay that didn't sound too good but it's late and I'm tired.

Also, I'm trying not to stand out too much as I walk around so I'm not really looking for one of those full body harness things. They remind me too much of the one my parents used to make me wear when I was a toddler and they'd attach a leash to it so I couldn't wander too far in the mall!

 

[Angrypenguin]

Check the crumpler series. Fairly comfortable to lug around, looks like a messenger bag, and very well made. The Crumpler 5 million dollar home or the 6 million dollar home should work out well.

 

[tiggr33]

I like Lowepro waist/belt packs. They have a wide variety of sizes, to fit most needs. On a daily basis I tend to carry a gorillapod or monopod/walking stick. I don't think I have used the gorillapod anywhere else. With all the fence posst, garbage cans, light post, etc. I find it very useful. I usually bring a travel tripod in days I intend to use it. Many bags will have a tripod tie-down. That would protect your knees.

 

[RBennett]

I will vouch for the Lowepro also, but I have the Slingshot 100 AW. It will comfortably hold my Pentax K100D, my Tamron 70-300 lens, my 50mm lens, and my 18-55mm lens. It also has a pouch at the top for batteries, remote shutter control, filter, whatever. The only thing that it won't handle for you is your tripod, but on my most recent trip I discovered that the parks will hold it for you at the locker rental. If it is too big to fit in a locker, just ask the CM if they could hold it for you behind the counter; all of them have been VERY accommodating for me.

 

[zackiedawg]

I go with a 2-bag system...my main Kata backpack, which can hold all of the gear I own and then some, including the tripod, and can just be thrown on your back or slung over one shoulder (or carried by the top handle even)...doesn't look any different than other folks backpacking through with food, clothes, etc. And I bought the Kata because it's by far the most comfortable backpack of all the ones I tried, especially carting around my really big wildlife lens. If I really need all my lenses or kit, then I'll bring that.

The second bag is a tiny Tamron bag that can JUST hold my A300 with 18-250 lens mounted, and my 50mm F1.7 wrapped in a microfiber cloth sitting under it (very tight squeeze though). My purpose is to mostly have the camera and 18-250 hanging around my neck or wrapped on my wrist, with the small, non-rigid bag weighing almost nothing and holding only my 50mm F1.7 for when I need it. That's when I really don't need the tripod, flash, 200-500, or filters. The bag is there to make carrying the 50 F1.7 more convenient, but mostly to have a place to stash my camera if it were to start raining. With the 50mm lens in there, I can just get the zipper closed...and the bag is water resistant enough to give me time to find cover.