This bit of insight has made Photobackpacker the company that serious backpacking photographers respect and who can’t wait to share with their friends why the RPT P3 backpack is so much different than all other photo backpacks on the market. What Photobackpacker discovered when “reverse engineering” the backpacks that adventurers and mountaineers choose to carry was that their backpacks had excellent “technical” suspension systems. What this means is that the fundamental design of the backpack was both stiff where strength was needed and flexible to be more comfortable for the hiker. Of even greater importance, theses backpacks’ technical suspension systems reduce the “felt” weight. Instead of feeling that one’s back muscles are bearing the total weight of a full backpack, a technical suspension system transfers much of that weight to the legs, which is more natural.
Then, Photobackpacker discovered Granite Gear’s Air Current suspension system. Granite Gear is one of the leaders of outdoor equipment, which was proven again when it received the Outdoor Product of the Year award and Backpacker Magazine’s Editor’s Choice for its Air Current suspension system. It became the core technology of the RPT P3 Backpack from Photobackpacker.
To revolutionize photo backpacks, the people at Photobackpacker knew they needed more than the best technical suspension system. What would distinguish its backpacks from all others is creating a customized fit for each customer. As a large-format photographer, Bruce Laughton, the founder of Photobackpacker, understood that many serious amateurs and professionals prefer large-format equipment to capture super-fine images in the field. This meant that his company’s backpacks had to be a simple, but customizable system to serve both the SLR/DSLR photographer and those hauling a 4x5, 5x7 or 8x10 and all their lenses and accessories to very remote locations.
Bruce and his team were able to achieve this goal, which certainly qualifies the RPT P3 as a great backpack, as many photographers are all too ready to tell Bruce.
“Bruce, I just returned from my trip to Mount Rainier NP and wanted to report back that your gear worked great! I especially loved the cascading film holder. Thanks again for making these products; they are top-notch.”
--- Kurt R.
“The backpack is just so incredibly comfortable; I can't be more pleased. I really love the P2 belt, as well; and the Velcro tabs that hold the cases closed without the zipper – very convenient. It was a pleasure working with you on this, and I have to say that the price was so incredibly fair given the value, comfort and utility the system offers. Hope you continue to grow your business and I'll certainly refer you to any fellow photographers. Many thanks!”
--- Tom
What these and many other photographers appreciate about the Photobackpacker system is that the company created 8 interchangeable belts, 3 shoulder straps, 2 torso frame sheets and 10 torso length adjustments. This means you don’t buy a backpack off the shelf (by the way, Photobackpacker’s backpacks are not sold at stores) or off the Internet that were manufacturered for everyone or anyone. Instead, you provide Photobackpacker with your torso measurements, and then its fitter determines which of the 240 combinations of belts, shoulder straps, torso frame sheets and torso lengths are perfect for you.
Then, it’s simply a matter of choosing the right inner protective enclosure that matches the format and size of your camera. The same backpack will accept any of the enclosures, so it’s easy to keep your SLR/DSLR equipment package in one enclosure to shoot with it today, and then swap it for your enclosure of large-format equipment to shoot with it tomorrow.
When you visit the Photobackpacker Website, you find that the SLR/DSLR and medium-format system is pre-configured, including the RPT P3 Backpack and the SLR/DSLR and medium-format partitioned enclosure. If you’re shooting large format, you simply click on the size of your large format and follow a few simple steps to select your camera model, provide its dimensions and choose the appropriate-sized camera case.
So what makes a photo backpack great? It’s more than comfort and the distribution of weight, so you still have plenty of energy to be creative when you reach your destination. It’s also a customized system that fits your body and your camera preference precisely – and that’s why the RPT P3 Backpack from Photobackpacker is great – but you’ll be able to prove that to yourself when you visit photobackpacker.com.
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