I have been searching on and off for the perfect camera bag for years and as my equipment changes so do my bag requirements.

The latest need has been the desire to look after my back that has been feeling every bit of the last 20 years of lugging equipment around on location over the underlying misguided thought that weight limits and correct lifting techniques were the domain of over-regulated litigious phobic organizations and do-gooders.

The LowePro Compu Trekker AW has served me well but the D3 and the new D3x bodies sit too high for protection and when the laptop is in the bag, you can feel the pressure that has you waiting for the screen to crack.

I have recently bought one of the THINK TANK Airport Airstream rolling cases and so far it has been near perfect. The depth of the case safely protects the Nikon bodies and allows for vertical storage of lenses that makes for more space all round. It looks discreetly unphotographic so doesn’t get attention of airline staff  who may wish to weigh the bag to check to see if it complies with the 7kg limits.

I have taken the bag on a few domestic flights and 2 international flights, the experience of walking through the airports without an additional 15kg hanging off one shoulder has been sheer bliss.