Cheap but tough bag for camera and a few accessories

[Guest thiswayup]

http://www.armysurplusandtoys.com/s6-pouch-gas-mask-respirator-p/s6-bag-used.htm

 

This is a British S6 gas mask bag. The fabric on this one is rubberised (that's not true of all S6 bags, so check) and the flap provides semi-ok rain protection over the sides.

 

20 cm wide

12 cm deep

23 cm height

approx

 

I usually insert a plastic food container with a water tight seal into bags I use this way. I pad the container with bubble wrap, duct taped in place, and add a little more bubble wrap between the container and the back of the bag for comfort. Short of a peli case, this is the best protection for a camera I know and it's much lighter than a peli and the camera is easier to get at. Less paranoid types could use a dry bag as a liner instead.

 

The strap hooks on metal D-rings at the back of the bag so it's easy to change (I'm going for an Optek/Bihn.) There's also a lchannel that will take a belt so the bag will work as a waist pack.

 

There are a few small interior pockets that will work to hold power cells and what have you, and the bag would probably hold a telephoto zoom and flash even with the food container in place for the camera.

 

Mine cost me about $10 and I 've seen the same bag on US websites. You can easily find a larger rubberised French gas mask bag and a smaller handbag-shaped Swiss one, all in plain green. If you're ok with camo then even more options are available like the modern UK "Osprey" gasmask bag. Or of you're of the hipster persuasion or an Indianna Jones fan, there are lots of East European canvas gasmasks bags available - although I don't think any offer the security of the deep and narrow design of the S6 bag.