Campco Photo Safari Vest

Copyright Matthew K. Whitley

One of the challenges nature photographers face is how to carry all of the necessary gear into the field. For many this decision comes down to the choice between a vest and a bag. For a long time I carried my equipment in a Lowepro S&F Specialist 85AW, which I still own. About 2 months ago I decided to purchase a vest in order to allow me to quickly access my gear while in the field. I quickly discovered that there are a whole host of options available in terms of size, color, and cost. I wanted a vest that could accommodate a large amount of gear (including a large lens if needed), wasn't so long that is contacted my knees, and wouldn'tbe so expensive as to break the bank. In addition, I didn't want to look like a blimp wearing it. I settled somewhat cautiously on the Campco Photo Safari Vest for $49.99. This vest is identical to the one that Banana Republic used to sell before they went chic. It turned out to be a good choice…

When I first received the vest I was impressed with the build quality. It looks and feels durable. One thing that I really like is that the vest felt broken in out of the box, yet not worn. There are pockets everywhere… in fact, I think there are pockets I still haven't found. The pockets range in size from small enough to put a lens cap in to large enough for a 3lb 100-400L zoom lens. It features a breathable design with mesh "slits" that make it comfortable to wear even in hot weather. It can hold an enormous amount of equipment, which I will detail below. In the top left pocket (i.e. the wearer's left), I keep my keys, my cell phone, and a stick of DEET bug repellant with room to spare. Below that is a large pocket where I store an extra battery for my Canon 1D. This pocket is quite large and will actually hold the 100-400L, but I prefer to keep it lower for comfort reasons. I also store my incident meter in this pocket if I am wading into water to prevent it from getting fried. Below that is a large non-covered pocket that just fits the 100-400L with the lens hood reversed (which is what I keep there). This pocket is VERY large and would accommodate many different items. In the top right pocket is a moderate size, a good fit for my wallet (a trifold). The pocket also features attached D-rings which could be used for attaching various things. Immediately adjacent to that is a vertically oriented zippered pocket that I use to store lens caps for quick access (although I often drop them in with my teleconverters). Also on the right side are three mesh pockets that are perfect for storing filters or even digital memory cards. Below these three pockets is a large zippered pocket that I use to store teleconverters and stray lens caps while shooting. I also store my incident meter there on most occasions to facilitate quick access. On top of that pocket, there are two pockets side by side. In the first I store my Canon 550EX flash, which fits perfectly. In the second I store my Kenko extension tubes (12mm, 25mm, 37mm) stacked with room to spare. There are hand warmer pockets on both sides of the vest that I plan to use for my hands when it gets colder. On the inside of the vest there are two large front pockets that I use to store my Better Beamer flash extender and the 500mm's front lens cap. The back outside of the vest features a large covered pocket that could be used to store a poncho, another lens, or other large items (I carry trash bags for rain protection in that pocket). My only regret in purchasing this vest is that I got the olive color instead of khaki. The vest has made working in the field much easier and allows me quick access to my entire collection of goods. I'm sure there are other options out there, but this one works well for me. The vest is available from Campco (http://www.campco.com) and from Pockettools.com.