Crumpler

I think I've tried just about every bag to carry stuff around in and there's always something that fails me in the end; too small, too big, too soft, too hard, etc. The last bag I fell in love with, the Timbuk2 Commuter v.2 bag, is a great bag but seemingly no matter how light it is my back begins to ache after about 2km of walking. I walk a lot and having my back being enraged too often isn't something I can live with. So, I began looking for another bag that might be kinder to my back.

While we were in Prague, I dragged Jarkko to Fotoskoda, a candyland for photographers the likes of which Helsinki only wishes it had when compared to the Leica shop here which is small and seemingly only open during certain phases of the moon and the last day of February during odd-numbered leap years [when it is open though, the gentleman who runs the shop is absolutely excellent]. I noticed they had a camera bag department on one of the three floors and asked to look at a backpack they had on display. I didn't really want a camera bag since I travel light and don't carry that much kit and I've not liked backpacks since university where the weight of the bag stuffed with chemistry textbooks would crush against my vertebrae. The bag I found myself looking at and eventually buying was the Crumpler Formal Lounge. Its lower half is a padded camera bag and the top half is for a laptop/whatever else. Most importantly it has a gullet for your spine on the back between the padding much like a saddle does. It's easy to get into without being so easy that you have to worry about getting ripped-off in a crowd. The camera compartment isn't really large enough for someone with a large SLR and giant lenses, but it's perfect for someone with something of the Leica form factor who carries the camera [intact and ready to shoot], an extra lens, flash, a filter or three and extra film. It's also nice to have all the kit conveniently located, yet in a padded compartment where it won't rattle around like it did in the commuter bag. I still don't really love backpacks all that much, but this bag is the most comfortable thing I've worn in years. My back is very appreciative, too. :)