[Dialyt]

Hey does anyone know of a really good shoulder bag for birding - one to hold bins, flask, sandwiches, bird book, and other small items? Preferably not too expensive.

UK suppliers only.

Cheers,

D

[Craig H]

I use one of the Crumpler range and have found it quite good so far. I dont carry quite as much as you do though. They have a massive range and I'm sure there must be something that would be Ok for your needs.

Craig

[Corax67]

Depending on how hard you want to bash your bank account there are the Billingham range of camera bags

http://www.morrisphoto.co.uk/manufac...illingham.html

or the Barbour bags

http://www.barbour.com/index.cfm?fus...D=16&RangeID=4

or leather satchels

http://www.saddlebackleather.com/products.htm


Of course if you are not looking for a waterproof item then there are a wide variety of "fashion" bags available at the moment as I see a lot of kids going to our local comp favouring this type of bag.

Personally I favour a rucksack as it is a lot more comfortable due to the load being spread over both shoulders.

[Baron Birder]

I suggest the Lowepro Orion Trekker II. I paid £40 waterproof, cover for zips etc. Check out their website.

[number6]

+1 on the Crumpler, lots to choose from in both colour and size.

[J. Moore]

Originally Posted by Corvus Corax

Personally I favour a rucksack as it is a lot more comfortable due to the load being spread over both shoulders.

Yet another option is a lumbar pack. These rest the weight on the hips, and eliminate shoulder strain. Only suitable for smaller loads though; probably not good if you have a lot of camera equipment. But I think good if you just have something like a bird guide, water, sandwich, sweater, and light camera. see here: http://www.mountainsmith.com/

Jim

[stbear]

The Mountainsmith lumbar bags can also be slung over the shoulder with the supplied strap or an OP/Tech strap. I use mine as much over my shoulder as I do around my waist. It's a good system with sturdy construction. You can also get shoulder straps for it if you feel the need.

[number6]

Another thought , fishing bags made by such as Barbour or Brady are a classy bit of kit and will last years, Monty Don appears to be using one as he travels the world looking at inspirational gardens ( Series on BBC currently).

[BobCesme]

My lumber pack will hold all you mentioned and a bit more,replace water bottle with medium sized flask,I find it much more comfortable than a bag as everything stays in place without swinging around.

[Dialyt]

I wonder would those lumber packs hold the hardback version of Collin's Bird Guide?

Crumpler bags are good but I can only get em mail order so can't try em out first.

[Green beetle]

Try looking at "Healthy Back Bags". I've used a medium size one for a few years and am about to treat myself to one of the cotton canvas ones for holding a similar assortment of birding gear. They have a number of pockets on the outside and even more on the inside and are very roomy for bigger items. I've been pleased with their quality and they are comfy to carry as they are designed to go across one shoulder.

They are available on line in the UK for about £45 + postage or you could try the shop at Carsington Water who will order one for you.

Happy hunting!

[BobCesme]

Originally Posted by Dialyt

I wonder would those lumber packs hold the hardback version of Collin's Bird Guide?

Crumpler bags are good but I can only get em mail order so can't try em out first.

I carry the A5 size paperback version in mine.

[Dialyt]

Originally Posted by Green beetle

Try looking at "Healthy Back Bags". I've used a medium size one for a few years and am about to treat myself to one of the cotton canvas ones for holding a similar assortment of birding gear. They have a number of pockets on the outside and even more on the inside and are very roomy for bigger items. I've been pleased with their quality and they are comfy to carry as they are designed to go across one shoulder.

They are available on line in the UK for about £45 + postage or you could try the shop at Carsington Water who will order one for you.

Happy hunting!

Do you have a manufacturer's name for it?

I find rucksacks, even 35L day-sacks, unsatisfactory, as everything just piles at the bottom in a disordered fashion.

Do you get packs to hold a big scope and lunch?

[SteveClifton]

I use a small rucksack (older version of this). It carries all my digiscoping gear including 2 cameras, adapters, 2 spare eyepieces, waterproof leggings and lots of other small bits & pieces. You could easily carry a Collins guide and small scope on it too, though my larger scope is always on the tripod.

http://www.outdoorkit.co.uk/products...category_id=80

I also bought a Swarovski Taimyr shoulder bag for a bargain price of £20 last year from Ace Optics of Bath. Normal price was over £100. I don't carry it in the field (much prefer the above) but keep it in the car with all my spare birding kit in it. It would however easily carry all the stuff you mention Dialyt.

Steve

[Green beetle]

G'morning

They are manufactured in the USA by Ameribag but are acvailable in this country. Try http://www.thehealthybackbag.co.uk where you'll find information on the things - sizes, fabrics etc. I have experimented with the medium sized one I have and it easily takes the hardback Collins guide in one of the internal pockets, a pair of old, large, heavy Nikon 10x50 bins in the main body which would also have room for lunch, flask and a woolly jumper, notebooks and assorted other bits and bobs easily spread around the other internal pockets rather than in a heap at the bottom. Happy to send you a picture of the bag with the above in it. They seem very well made and I'm very happy with them.

I bought the first one I had at the Rutland Bird fair from Country Innovation and they are still on their website (just had a look) so might be worth looking there too.

And while I'm thinking about it I'll probably go and order the canvas one ...

[Dialyt]

Originally Posted by SteveClifton

I use a small rucksack (older version of this). It carries all my digiscoping gear including 2 cameras, adapters, 2 spare eyepieces, waterproof leggings and lots of other small bits & pieces. You could easily carry a Collins guide and small scope on it too, though my larger scope is always on the tripod.

http://www.outdoorkit.co.uk/products...category_id=80

I also bought a Swarovski Taimyr shoulder bag for a bargain price of £20 last year from Ace Optics of Bath. Normal price was over £100. I don't carry it in the field (much prefer the above) but keep it in the car with all my spare birding kit in it. It would however easily carry all the stuff you mention Dialyt.

Steve

Do you think the Swarovski Nakuru would hold the bird guide and a pair of Zeiss Dialyt 7x42s? I've no way of seeing them.

http://www.warehouseexpress.com/?/bi...ovski.html#tai

[SteveClifton]

http://www.opticsplanet.net/swarovski-bag-nakuru.html

Dimensions given in this link. I notice it has been discontinued there, so probably explains the discounts at the moment.

Steve

[Dialyt]

Originally Posted by SteveClifton

http://www.opticsplanet.net/swarovski-bag-nakuru.html

Dimensions given in this link. I notice it has been discontinued there, so probably explains the discounts at the moment.

Steve

warehouse express are selling it for £49.

Was the ace optics price of £20 a one-off?

[SteveClifton]

warehouse express are selling it for £49.

Was the ace optics price of £20 a one-off?

Yes, though I'm sure I saw an ad somewhere recently to say they were still going for around £40. Could be mistaken though.

The best thing would be to ring them.
Their number is o1225 466364

[vkalia]

+1 Mountainsmith. I have one of their waistpacks which converts to a shoulder bag and it is great for birding jaunts.

Vandit

[MackThePen]

The North FaceBasecamp Messenger Shoulder Bag looks very good - however, I have not worn one for any length of time to know how comfortable they are. They are waterproof, and come in a number of sizes up to 25L.

Andrew