Found my perfect airline photo backpack.

footman

footman

footman

Soldato
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21 Oct 2002
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After looking at several sites and on here I've followed the example of a certain Brechin City photographer!
We're off to Ecuador and the Galapagos in a couple of weeks and I've been breaking my head about what bag to take and how much kit I can fit in it.

Finally settled on a ThinkTank Airport Antidote
http://www.thinktankphoto.com/products/airport-antidote-backpack.aspx

Packed it up this morning and I've managed to get in:

7D body
5D2 body
300 F4L IS
70-200 F4L IS
24-105
50 1.4
Kenko 1.4x TC, Panny LX5, BlackRapid double strap, a pair of 8x56 binos and a kindle.
It satisfies the size requirements of the flights to Madrid and Quito and with using a cheapo Regatta photographers vest it's light enough to pass the paltry 7Kg limits of Tame Airlines to the islands.

The last thing I wanted was to be forced to check in any photo gear to the mercy of baggage handling.
 
have you looked at the airport and airline guides on photographic equipment on planes? Last time I checked you couldnt take anywhere near that as hand luggage.
Many airports will physically inspect and wipe down all your equipment to check for the typical nastys.

and your going on holiday! time for relaxing just bring a body and 3 lens max.
 
Last edited:
iamtheoneneo said:
have you looked at the airport and airline guides on photographic equipment on planes? Last time I checked you couldnt take anywhere near that as hand luggage.
Many airports will physically inspect and wipe down all your equipment to check for the typical nastys.

and your going on holiday! time for relaxing just bring a body and 3 lens max.
Click to expand...

I have taken my entire gear on a flyBe flight twice and may be I got lucky as both times they didn't even open the case. They did look at the screen for a while one time though, probably it is because it is full of gear.
 
Budget airlines you need to be careful of the weight - Most will only allow 5kg hand luggage.

Easyjet are the only ones I know who don't have a weight limit but your bag has to fit in that cage they have.
 
iamtheoneneo said:
have you looked at the airport and airline guides on photographic equipment on planes? Last time I checked you couldnt take anywhere near that as hand luggage.
Many airports will physically inspect and wipe down all your equipment to check for the typical nastys.

and your going on holiday! time for relaxing just bring a body and 3 lens max.
Click to expand...

I've been studying these guides for weeks now and I can't find the restrictions on photographic gear you mention.
Perhaps you could provide a link that would help me out.

British Airways specify cabin luggage size restrictions which are 56x45x25 and an upper limit weight of 23kg!
My bag will be about 9kg in weight.
They specify you must be able to lift the bag unaided into a locker.
Iberia specify an overall size limit of 114cm

Tame Airlines in Ecuador specify a weight limit of 7kg and an overall size limit of 126cm.
The bag I've bought has overall dimensions of 93cm.
The only thing I will probably pack in the hold luggage is my rocket blower!

This holiday is not about relaxing but is all about photography.
 
Slightly off topic but we did 3 weeks in Ecuador (not Galapagos) in June. We flew to Coco from Quito with VIP and they didn't even weigh the bags.

Email if you have any questions :)
 
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We stayed with friends in Quito in 1989 and had a week in the Galapogos while we were there. Absolutely fantastic, apart from the boat we were on, but I bet it's very different now. We flew with Avianca, the Columbian national carrier, as we were on a tight budget and I haven't flown with worse.....
 
Have flown extensively using a Think Tank Antidote. Never had any issues with being allowed to carry it on. It's a great bag - amazing what you can fit in it. I've even had a Nikon 200-400mm f4 squeezed in alongside 3 other lenses, an array of accessories and a camera body.
 
I think budget airlines,especially Ryanair( they make most problems with hand luggage) , look more on size than weight.
If your bags fits their 'cage' you should be fine.
And I think limit is 10kg anyway (?)
 
Congratulations, great bag. Bought one more than a year ago, these ******** are rugged as hell and handy as well :)

iamtheoneneo said:
have you looked at the airport and airline guides on photographic equipment on planes? Last time I checked you couldnt take anywhere near that as hand luggage.
Click to expand...

Dangerous said:
Budget airlines you need to be careful of the weight - Most will only allow 5kg hand luggage.
Click to expand...

I've been flying with my Airport Antidote (with 7D/1D, 24-70, 70-200, 300mm f/2.8, Laptop and accessories) extensively - nobody ever cared about the weight.
 
Ecuador is an awesome country! I want to go back, don't forget to try some guinea pig, tasty. Some really good scenery etc in Banos (erupting volcanos etc).
 
As long as you're within the size and weight limit you shouldn't have any problems, nothing you're taking is restricted. Every time I've flown with camera kit it has always been swabbed at security. It's a right pain having to pack everything again!

I'm off to Istanbul for work in a week or so. As it's work I'm probably not going to bother taking a camera as I'd only have free time in the evening :(
 
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