The search continues..

"We're gonna need a bigger bag.."
I've added a sackload of Canon L-series EF lenses to my arsenal.
Next year, I am going to concentrate more on producing nature images through my macro and bird photography.
This means: lugging two bodies and at least five lenses to the field.
I need a camera backpack that would fit the bill.

Choices, choices, choices..
Basically, I've narrowed-down my search to the Clik Elite Venture 35 backpack.
The price is not bad and since I had their Probody Sport model, I kind of like their overall design and functionality.
But the thing that sucked about these backs are the level of protection provided by the bag's padded compartments.

The Clik Elite: an obvious choice

 Other contenders
I did check out F-stop Gear's Tilopa-series backpacks.
The pictures cannot do justice to the real thing.
It looked really good and solid, but seeing it up close, the bags looked like crap.
They are also overpriced and the guys who sells them also wanted a lot of support like a review and testimonial for the product.
Well, I don't think they are gonna get any. Its like paying a thousand ringgit for a sack of lemon and on top of that, giving it a review. Its not gonna happen..

Ah, something new is on the block...
The guys who made Think Tank bags are coming out with something new called the Mindshift rotation 180.
Looks like a kick-ass backpack. Again, I am sceptical. 
Things that looked great on pictures need not necessarily be good in real life.

Mindshift's Rotation 180 pack

 Well, I might have to wait a little bit longer and see what's in store.
The Rotation 180 project is definitely worth watching in the months to come..

Tough choices

The expanding gear
I  made plans to increase my range of lenses to include super telephoto and a full-frame body.
Purpose? Well, if I can't score a decent bird shot, I can switch to macro.
This means hauling two D-SLR camera bodies and a shitload of equipment.
For the past two years, I've been very comfortable with my Clik Elite Probody sport. This is a compact backpack with enough room to lug my EOS7D with at least three lenses, two macro flashes and some extra room for batteries, CF cards and cleaning tools.

The Clik Elite Probody sport

 As far as performance is concerned, the Clik Elite Probody had lived up to its expectations. 
But, having said that, I can only carry one camera body.
Two cameras with a compact as back-up would be stretching it too thin.
I tried this with my EOS7D and EOS5DmkIII with a 400mm F.6L and the MPE-65 and MT24EX twin flash. The bag was already overloaded.

Other brands
An acquaintance of mine recommended the F-stop gear adventure camera backpacks. 
From the pictures, they looked great. 
I narrowed down my search to an F-Stop gear Loka. This seems to be the right choice. It also carries a pricetag of RM1.1k a pop. 
But upon close examination, I found the pack to be overpriced. On top of that, the guy who brings them in also requested a write-up and long-term review. I don't think he is gonna get my business. 
For starters, the Loka is made from a thin nylon fabric and its overall fit, finish and quality is quite inferior. 
I used the Clik Elite Probody Sport as a benchmark in this case. But on protection, the F-stop gear is indisputable. It has a padded insert that takes all the knocks and bumps. 
But this made it really bulky. 
Again, my concern is the high start-up cost. Having seen the bags for the second time, I was not impressed at all.

F-stop gear Loka

 Back to square one..
Rather than getting burned, I shifted my choice back to what Clik Elite has to offier. They have a new distributor now and since I've had some really good experience with the Probody Sport, I need something bigger and the choices has been narrowed down to the Venture 35 or Hiker. I hope to get a back that is big enough to lug my bug and birding gear for at least three days in the wilderness...

Clik Elite's Hiker, a big bag for extended missions...

 Here's hoping to score one.. 
I contacted the sales guy from Clik Elite's distributor here. Seems that its an old-timer who don't really care much about his trade.
It's been three weeks since my last phonecall and I reminded him again today which he asked for a second-chance. So, let's see how it goes..