Mountainsmith Tour FX Lumbar Camera Bag

Great product, easy to use and customize. Top access not quite as easy as other small portables.

This item was a good idea, but was poorly designed. It was top heavy with no equipment in the bag.

I use this for carrying a couple lenses, body and a flash. It won't occupy a large bunch of stuff, but the basics are covered. I plan to use this as an on location lens carrier.

Well constructed, easy to carry and access all your gear. Can carry body with telephoto and a couple of other lens. Only drawback is its a bit heavy with everything you end up bringing.

Another wonderful bag from Mountainsmith! I haven't used it yet: I bought it to follow this year's Amgen Tour so I don't have to use a book pack as a camera bag in the crowd. I'm just an enthusiast who carries a Cannon Power Shot S3, a 5-year old Sony Handycam and extra battery, and a Gorillapod, but I also like to keep my purse stuff and water bottle in the same bag as my camera items when I'm walking or hiking, and I'm looking forward to having the ability to access these items in a hurry– the flap and lid lift up so you're facing the inside compartments on them - and keep them safe from moisture and jostling from "outside interference". The top padded lid has a 1 x 6 x 12 1/2" zippered compartment with a 5 1/2 x 9 1/2" flap and zippered inner-flap (a combo of honeycombed "reinforcing mesh plus see-through vinyls") pocket; the flap has corner supports so that it cannot fall backward when left open if the lid's hefty 2" lip is pulled down or zippered over the main (camera) compartment. This same compartment has elasticized openings to three-4" mesh compartments for easy storage of camera cards and batteries, but there's plenty of room on top of them for other items. The 6 x 9 x 12 1/2" padded camera compartment has six padded wall pieces you can move around via velcro to customize your own partition sizes; the two 6"-tall pieces leave enough room to be able to get a firm grip on most items before you withdraw your hand from (the safety of) the bag. The lid's underside – the inner top of the main compartment - also has a zippered opening to three-4" combo-vinyl pockets. The there's the outside: a padded, tapered 5+" waistband with adjustable tension straps that appears to be comfortable even when the bag is loaded down; a padded, adjustable shoulder strap that's long enough to keep the bag out of the way when shooting; a padded 6+" pocket on the body's side; an 8 x 12" pocket on the opposite side that unzips to reveal several briefcase-style pockets for things the size of credit cards and pens, plus one long pocket behind them; an underside velcro'd pocket that stores an elasticized nylon pouch you can slip over the entire bag for extra protection, though it is suspended from an elastic band via a tension lock so you can release it or else use as a bag for wet gear that will then stay clear of the bag's sides; an elastic cross-corded loop plus nine more loops, two made with non-slip material; and many more loop options with it's several adjustable straps that can be tucked away if not being used or are too long, reinforced enough to carry a heavier tripod. This is probably overkill for amateurs like me, but I plan to enjoy all of it's possibilities for the variety of times I use cameras, from hiking in rain, to future grandkid-enjoying (meaning I'll need lots of batteries and chargers and patch cords). Having bought Mountainsmith before, I know this bag will last me for years.

This bag is a great concept but falls short in practicality. It easily holds my DSLR with a 24-70mm lens attached; a 10-20mm lens; a 70-300mm lens and a flash! But hang it all on my hips - I don't think so! The hip belt does stow out of the way (sort of) but the supplied shoulder strap is junk! Lesson learned - spend the extra dollars and buy a backpack camera bag.

I use the Tour FX to carry my DSLR cameara and all of its accessories when I go hiking or if im just taking it with me anywhere. I really like the size and versitility of the bag, it holds all my stuff with ease and the lumbar straps can be tucked out of the way and used with the shoulder strap. It is very comfortable on those long hikes and easy to get into when you need to swap lenses.

Holds more than the minimum, but less than a ton of gear.

Good use on adventure travel. Keeps equipment protected and accessible. Many good features

I need a big bag, and this is it. It looks funny, but it is comfortable, stable, well-made. Interior is light-colored for finding dropped lens brush, etc. Standard velcro-adjustable compartments. Fits long lenses. I could measure, but dimensions are posted on website. Why it's not perfect: The hand-carry loop handle and shoulder "strapette" (optional) buckles interfere with the main zipper. I might cut away them buckles and just leave the fabric loops. Shoulder straps would ruin quick access, which is the whole point of not using a backpack. The main zipper is one of those water-resistant kinds. I would have preferred one that opens faster. The bag has a built-in rain cover anyway. I also wish I could find it in a high-vis color. I often use it in conjunction with a small backpack (with no waist strap) above it. I still have quick camera access, and can split my load between the two bags. I'll use it on bike, ski, hike and anywhere that I don't need a full frame pack.