Most efficient way to carry gear? (3 Viewers)

[devilbirder]

Hi there

I've always had problems in terms of balancing comfort and taking the necessary gear when I'm out in the field. For quite some time I used a rucksack but gave up with this when my feeble shoulders couldn't take it anymore - I had to pause and take it off every ten minutes.

Basically, I 'need' to bring: scope, bins, compact camera, SLR camera, lunch, flask, water, spare coats/clothes (most problematic in spring and autumn when it's chilly early morning but can warm up to T-shirt conditions after a while), Advanced Bird ID Guide (just in case...) and often an umbrella.

I'm mainly talking in terms of when I'm on my patch, which is a couple of square miles of open countryside and I usually walk 5-10 miles there per visit, being there from first light to mid afternoon or dusk typically. It's not so bad when I'm out on a trip someone as I'm usually on a short walk and can leave anything I don't need for a little while in the car (e.g. lunch, clothing depending on current weather etc). As I don't have my own car currently, I need all these things on my person when spending a full day on the patch.

My solution for the past year or so has been a shopping trolley (for my patch visits only) for which I have been the subject of friendly mocking by local birders. It's also difficult and embarrassing to take on the bus when travelling there and they generally have a short life span, which is quite expensive; they're not suited to outdoor terrain - more used to being pulled around my grannies in M&S!

I'd be keen to hear other people's solutions for a comfortable way of lugging lots of gear around for the day - recommendations for quality weight distributing rucksacks? Holdalls? Perhaps there is no easy solution.

Thanks for any advice

kind regards

David

 

[Jim M.]

For quite some time I used a rucksack but gave up with this when my feeble shoulders couldn't take it anymore - I had to pause and take it off every ten minutes.

A waist or lumbar pack, which rides on your hips and not your shoulders, can be part of the solution here. Examples: http://www.mountainsmith.com/products.asp?categoryId=49 I use one as my primary day pack and would never go back to a rucksack because of the problem you mention.

Jim

 

[Eagle67]

You could try getting your very own porter.

 

[devilbirder]

Thanks Jim - the products on that page look promising.

I quite literally had one for a little while in the early days, Ian, when my dad used to take me out

 

[Tarsiger]

Secondhand 3-wheeled 'cross country' baby buggy with large wheels seems the way to go.
Russ

 

[birdboybowley]

Take the missus with ya

 

[Mono]

I think wheels are the way to go. I have seen photographers using adapted golf trolleys, but a interesting Google has turned up a couple of alternatives.

http://www.humpalumpa.com/

http://dixonrollerpack.com/ A good do it yourself project with a old fashioned metal framed rucksack and golf trolley.

 

[grebefeet9]

try putting better wheels on the shopping trolley.

 

[Cliff]

Hi David,
I use a Aluminium And Steel Foldable Handtruck which I bought from B&Q (http://www.diy.com/nav/fix/handtool...uminium-And-Steel-Foldable-Handtruck-11247688)
It works quite well as long as the terrain is not too rough.
Another dearer consideration is an Eckla Beach-Rolly (http://www.speedgraphic.co.uk/other_items/eckla_beachrolly/20272_p.html)

and (http://www.nature-images.eu/contents/reviews/eckla/index.html)
Best of luck with your search :t:.
Regards
Cliff Jones

 

[Patchbirder]

Hi David,

I was rather tickled to read about all your gear carrying. I am a local patch birder (hence name) myself, but it is a big patch and I have a history of dodgy knees and other joints, so the less I carry the more I bird.

I try to restrict myself to one small satchel (aka "man-bag"), bins, plus scope and tripod (though not every time esp if I'm walking far). Any more and I'd be on my arthritic knees (and I'm only 41!!). But then I'm so useless a photographer I don't even try, so that makes a big difference.

How about (1) photocopying relevant pages of advance bird ID and stuffing them in your pocket, (2) bringing high energy snacks rather than full 3-course picnic (3) experiment with bringing only certain lenses, or just scope and compact. Perhaps trimming on the small stuff will make an overall difference.

P

 

[bitterntwisted]

Trike?... http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Pashley-P...0703031928?pt=UK_Bikes_GL&hash=item2ebad53a78

 

[csanchez7]

I'm shocked by the amount of equipment being carried! I can just imagine noisily carting around all this equipment just being awkward and cumbersome.

I just carry my bins and a good camera, with sunscreen, a water bottle, tape, and field guide in my rucksack. The less I carry, the better I feel and the more liberally I can explore a given location.

A scope is a heavy piece of equipment to be carting around for miles. I find them especially cumbersome and often get in the way as often as they help. Unless I know I am going to be scoping out waterfowl or shorebirds, I leave it at home.

Back and leg issues know no age or fitness level. I am 28. I am very fit, athletic, play sports, and weight train. Unfortunately, I also have herniated discs which result in crippling lower back/leg pain if I am not careful. I don't feel like I need to carry a trolley behind me to enjoy birding and find lots of good birds, however, either locally or abroad. One of the best tools a birder can have by far is a good set of ears, anyways.

Carlos

 

[Patchbirder]

I'm with you, Carlos.

The more I carry the less I feel able to really enjoy the birds. But I do understand the fear of leaving something behind - I've seen guys wince at seeing a raptor catch prey and wish they'd had their camera.

 

[Farnboro John]

Photograph the advanced bird guide and keep that card handy for insertion in your camera when necessary.

Use a photographer's/fisherman's waistcoat with lots of pockets for stuff or even invest in some military webbing, which is well designed for long-term carrying of weight.

John

 

[Redshank3]

I tend to cover a fair distance when birding at times too so often carry quite a bit of outdoor gear plus binoculars and scope; not sure what rucksacks you have already tried but would strongly recommend something like a Berghaus Freeflow; the rucksack has rigid plastic backpieces and padding that keeps anything in the sack from digging into your back and distributes the weight very well - personally find I can easily carry a lot of kit in mine without noticing the weight.

Tom

 

[devilbirder]

Thanks all, some great advice and I have some shopping to do. It is important to me to have both a compact and SLR camera plus scope with me whenever I'm at the patch, there's been times when I've missed IDs or photo opportunities because I've chosen to leave them at home and since then I've always had them with me and this has saved several birds from giving me the slip.

I guess it doesn't help that I don't feel comfortable carrying my SLR on my shoulder, as it's old and delicate and breaks after a while of doing that (so I keep it in my trolley, and used to keep it in my rucksack until I gave that up). I'm getting a new setup in the summer which will hopefully make this possible again and give me the opportunity to use a rucksack more comfortably. It's mainly the refreshments and any spare clothing that makes up the rest of the weight, as advised perhaps I could focus on high energy foods. The issue of removing heavy winter clothing remains a challenge for a non-wheeled bag, though. Two coats and a pair of gloves taken off on a warming spring morning but significant extra strain on one's back.

I'm looking forward to developments in bins/scopes with inbuilt cameras, what a weight off my shoulders that would be

 

[Reuven_M]

Do you really need 2 cameras and a scope? I usually just take bins and a notebook - water and snacks in a backpack if it's going to be more than a few hours, and I can stick any extra clothes in there as the day warms. Occasionally a scope (I've got a very light 50 mm) if I need one or butterfly net in the summer.

 

[mdb2]

hi take a look at the fishing gear ads, I used to use a BOSS trolley, these have pumped tyres and are easy to pull. http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/images/B0035GWC5W/ref=dp_image_0?ie=UTF8&n=318949011&s=sports. 1 have walked many a mile with heavy tackle boxes with these. Mike

 

[Mysticete]

I'm with some of the others here...I generally don't take much gear when I bird my patch, although granted I seldom walk more than 1-2 miles on it. Just Bins and water. Most of the places around town that would need a scope can be driven with car. And although I often have to wear a jacket and sometimes glove, my solution (should it get to warm) is to take them off, shove the gloves into the pockets, and tie the jacket around my waste.

 

[Farnboro John]

and tie the jacket around my waste.

Do you wash it later?

John