The dreaded bag question....

[DavidPartington]

I'm getting a little tired with how many bags we have to carry around from event to event, so I'm looking to reduce it to 2 bags + tripods if possible.

I've been looking at the Kata OMB-75, and I think this will allow me to fit 2 cameras in each bag + lots of room for batteries, mics, wireless kit etc, as well as the laptop in one of them.

However, before I shell out the cash, are there other more suitable kit bags out there?   I'm just trying to get it down to something reasonable that two people can carry instead of needing multiple trips to the car or having a third person act as a running.

How do you carry around multiple (e.g. 4) cameras, 4 mics, wireless mics (G2s), multiple headphones,  12 batteries, external audio recorder, oodles of memory cards and other bits and pieces?   

[HankCastello]

We did great with those big, wheeled suitcase bags they sell at Walmart.  I think they cost about sixty bucks, give or take.  Look for the ones with zipper type inner liners so you can add padding.  Tight patterned foam rubber works fine.  We cut the same foam rubber to use as dividers or separaters between cameras.

A couple  years ago, I traded my big Walmart bag for one I bought at an outfitters for three or four hundred bucks.  It's sturdier and can be backpacked, but as heavy as it is with three cameras, even my six foot one inch frame isn't sturdy enough to backpack that thing!

I love my new bag, but to tell the truth, that cheap Walmart bag did the same job.  Jean and I each use a large wheeled bag (she still uses her Walmart one) and together they pretty much handle everything.  I've got an article about bags and photo of all our packed gear somewhere on this site.

Nothing wrong with Kata, but you could buy Walmart and probably have enough left over for another mic.

[Waldemar]

I use a Stanley three-level mobile tool box (no longer manufactured) that holds two cameras, filters, microphones, tape, tools, and most everything I would need to cover both ceremony and reception.  My major complaint is that it is a bit too wide (about the same width as airline luggage) to easily negotiate between dining tables in a banquet hall.  Always have to carry it through narrow aisles.  Would like to find something narrower and taller.  There is also a plastic tool bin on wheels to hold ceremony related gear.  Then there is the wireless mic rack and its stand.  That leaves two ladders modified to work as 8' camera platforms and my DSLR bag.   Significantly less stuff than I used four years ago, but still too much.  It all fit in and on my Jeep with little room to spare.  Now it comfortably fits in the bed of my F-150 with lots of room to spare!

Like it or not, we have to carry lots more stuff than photogs. 

I'm looking forward to hearing about innovative ideas to this issue.

[HankCastello]

We often use several static cameras for ceremony coverage (aimed at parents, singers, one wide from back, one tight on officiant and couple, etc.) and have several Sunpak tripods for these.  We used to use heavier, video camera tripods, but for static cams, the Sunpaks are much lighter.  We also carry three microphone stands and boom arms.

Anyway, these were a pain to travel with because they didn't fit into anything.  Well, while cleaning up one of the foreclosure properties we bought (anyone interested in a great deal on a lakeview house with 2.5 acres for, say $30k?), we came across a bag for an outdoor picnic canopy.  It's just the right size and has roller wheels at one end.  Four Sunpaks and three mic stands fit with no problem. 

My only complaint is that it is tan color instead of black.  We may dye it.

[Waldemar]

... we came across a bag for an outdoor picnic canopy.

What a great discovery!  I've got one of those monstrosities that never gets used.  Now I have a use for at least part of it.