Having the roles of both videographer and photographer in my upcoming elephant expedition to Nepal, I have spent some serious brain time researching and considering the need to comfortably juggle two bits of precious tech while trekking.

I know that I can video with my camera and take stills with my camcorder but neither produces satisfactory results. So, before anyone suggests it, I’m sticking with both bits of kit.

Bouncing kit becomes irritating very quickly

Until recently, I was considering some type of shoulder strapping. However, following a recent trip to the Brecon Beacons I quickly discovered the impracticalities of having both camera and camcorder swinging freely. To be frank, it’s irritating enough to have even just a camera freely swinging from around your neck when you’re trekking. So, you can elect to have it immediately accessible, yet bumping around up front, or confine the strap under an arm and have to pull it around every time you wish to take a snap. Neither option is perfect and neither of these options leaves much room for a second camera of any sort.

I did eventually end up having my video camera up front and using the around-the-waist strap of my backpack, with its quick release buckle, to tie it down when not in use. At least then all I had to do was unclip, point and record. This setup was till a whole pickle when having to negotiate walking sticks too!

The paparazzi solution doesn’t cut it in Nepal

Online research (outlined in a previous blog) revealed multiple strapping solutions of various types used by the paparazzi. However, none of these offer much protection for the precious tech when it’s not in use. This may be OK when running around after celebs through the streets of London, but in dusty Nepal I do not want my cameras to be open to damage. I need them to be safe – but immediately to hand.

I was at a loss!

My solution: the Kata shoulder bag

Until I spotted the nifty double case pictured above on Amazon.

The Kata DL-H-531 Hybrid D-Light Shoulder Bag has two perfectly sized sections for my hybrid camera with its long lens attached and my video camera. Each section can be connected or disconnected from one another and carried using a single shoulder strap and/or connected to my survival belt (which is the crux of preventing that annoying bouncing and I have to wear the belt at all times anyway). It seems like the perfect solution so I have purchased one.

I envisage having the tech straps round my neck but keeping them snuggled in each pouch, nose down and ready to be grabbed at will. I have yet to test it out and don’t really have time to do so properly before I leave, but I have high hopes for this solution and shall let you know how I get on with it upon my return.

What do you think? I’d love to hear your opinion and/or any advice. Have you ever managed to successfully solve this problem?