I have a couple of do's and don'ts as far as bags go. My most recent failing attempt was a pretty big "don't" - if you're doing a fair amount of hiking, you probably DON'T want to go to something as big as a Pro Super Trekker - this sucker, while it holds virtually everything I own (including my photo gear), and weighs in at close to 100lbs loaded. It DOES make a nice base pack to get everything into the car, and from there load smaller packs as needed. For the past several years, I've been happy with a Photoflex bag (designed by Galen Rowell - I have no idea where you can get one, I won mine). It's a shoulder bag that's also a fanny pack - and a pretty comfortable one at that, considering I carry two SLRs, four lenses and a good size flash, along with a 300mm clipped to the outside. As far as what to look for in a pack, look a good bit deeper that just what it can hold - it's gotta be comfortable and sturdy, and offer protection for your gear. That being said, I wouldn't even consider anything that didn't have some sort of internal frame and a waist strap. I would consider looking at packs that weren't made specifically for photography and modifying them. A friend of mine wrote a pretty good article on how to build your own pack, and if I can get permission from him, I'll post it here - otherwise you can find it here: How to Make Your Own Photo Backpack Nature Photographer, January/February 1993 It's old, but still applies. Wolf