The Lowepro Field Station Belt Pack

I was recently given the chance to test the smallest bag in the range, called the Field Station it is a hands-free beltpack or fannypack that can carry your binoculars (or camera), field guide and some personal items like your money, keys, phone and a small water bottle.

But the Field Station is far more than just a bag that you carry your binoculars and field guide in as it also has a unique and rather ingenious platform that slides out of the bag. Called the “QuickShelf”, you use it to support your bird book, field guide or even a tablet-style computer like an iPad. What I really like is this shelf is not only steady enough to support your book, but you can make notes on it. This means that when you spot a bird or other wildlife, you can look it up, leave the book open at that page and then continue to observe it through binoculars, going back to the book at any time for further reference or to make notes.

For Safari?

Whilst the Field Station has been aimed at birders, I feel it has the potential to be very useful in a wide variety of situations. This would include general wildlife observation and even field researchers who often use binoculars and who could use the steady platform to write down their observations and notes. Artists could also use the shelf to make quick sketches on a pad whilst out in the field.

So on Safari, especially walking safaris this small bag would be ideal for travelling light leaving both hands free, which always makes walking through the bush much easier.

Using the Field Station

To really test the Field Station, I took it with me on a number of walks and I must say that even when fully loaded with my full sized Vanguard Spirit ED 8×42 binoculars, a large bird book, a compact camera, a small bottle of water, my cell phone, my keys and a wallet it was still pretty comfortable even after a few hours of walking.

For me the most comfortable way to walk with it, is to swing it around and use it more as a bum bag and then twist it back to your front when you need anything from it.

Accessing your binoculars and your reference book from the bag is fairly quick and easy, although to make it as quick as possible and to ensure that you don’t scare away birds and other wildlife with the un-zipping sound, I would keep the lid closed but unzipped. This is not a problem because the binoculars fit very snugly in their pocket as does your book in the shelf section. Things like your money and keys can be kept in a number of other pockets that have their own zip to keep them safe.

Initially I though that the shelf would probably be a little gimmicky, but after trying it and getting used to it, I found that it actually works really well and it is something that I really grew to like. What is interesting is that in the past I would often not bother to take my bird book or other reference books with me as they would often get damaged in my back pack and were just too much of a pain to access. With the Field Station, there really is now no reason not to take one with you as both of these problems have been addressed. I also like the attention to detail with the elastic strap that you can use to keep a place in the book for even quicker access.

A Compact Photography Bag?

One feature that I really like about this bag is it’s versatility: On my walks I always like to take some sort of camera with me and on my first few tests with the Field Station, I just took my compact camera which easily fitted next to the binoculars in the main compartment. This camera is fine for taking general scenic shots, but is just not good enough when it comes to taking quality photos of birds and other wildlife.

For this, the camera that I have been using is the excellent Fujifilm Finepix HS20 EXR, a fairly large bridge camera that is not much smaller than most SLR’s. To fit it into the Field Station all I did was to remove the binocular compartment which works pretty well.

Then for my binoculars, I just used my favorite binocular harness, the LockDown Optics Deployment System, which meant that I on my walks I now not only had my bird book, binoculars and best camera with me, but was still completely hands free – Excellent.

Beltpack Vs Backpack

Up until now I have always used my favorite camera backpack, the Vanguard Skyborne 45, but there have been times when I have wanted to travel a little lighter and because you carry it on your back, it can take a little time to access your binoculars and books from the top compartments.

Weighing just 1.6lbs/0.7kg, it is far lighter than the Vanguard backpack and because it sits on your waist, it makes accessing your binoculars and books far quicker than having to take a pack off of your back and put it on the ground.

However if you wanted to take a lot more gear, a backpack like the Vanguard Skyborne 45 would be far more suitable.

Other Storage Space
As well as your binoculars and field guide, the bag also has a number of pockets and compartments in which you can carry a bunch of other gear that you may have or need for a full day out on safari:

On bag’s exterior has two mesh pockets, one on either side of the bag, both of which have an elasticated top and the one on the right also comes with a flap that is fastened with Velcro. These make ideal places to carry things like camera batteries, pencils or a small water bottle. Then on the front there is another pocket, that can be zipped closed.

In side the bag, there is another zipped pocket under the lid, a snap keyring holder and a small pocket that looks like it had been designed to hold a mobile phone.

Conclusion

Overall I really like the Lowepro Field Station and recommend it to anyone looking for a small lightweight solution to carrying your essential field equipment that would work well on a walking safari. It is very well made with high quality materials, the flip out shelf is a great feature that has been very well thought out and it was comfortable to wear even on long walks and fully laden.

Cost & Where to Buy

The Lowepro Field Station costs about $99 in the US or about £80 in the UK:

UK Residents:

• Lowepro Field Station Warehouseexpress.com

US Residents:

• Lowepro Field Station on Amazon.com

Lowepro Optics Range

As well as the Field Station, the Lowepro Optics range of bags consists of 3 larger backbacks designed to be used with spotting scopes or a large amount of equipment:

• Scope Travel 200 AW - Can carry a spotting scope, tripod, binoculars, compact camera, digiscope adapter, field guide and personal items
• Scope Photo Travel 350 AW – Can carry a spotting scope, tripod, binoculars, DSLR, extra lens, laptop, field guide, personal items
• Scope Porter 200™ AW – Can carry a spotting scope, tripod, binoculars, hydration reservoir, field guide, personal items

Acknowledgements

I would like to thank Warehouse Express for organising the Lowepro Field Station bag to be sent to me to review. I would also like to point out that all the reviews on this site, including this one are my opinion and are not influenced in any way by manufacturers, distributors or suppliers. I do however think that it is worth noting that at the time of writing Warehouse Express currently have the Field Station listed on their site for £139. Check current price on Warehouseexpress.com.

Related Articles

• Safari Equipment Guide
• Vanguard Skyborne 45 Camera Backpack Review
• LockDown Optics Deployment System Binocular Harness
• Field Guides, Safari Books & African Bird Books

Below are a few of my personal experiences with the night vision binoculars on that trip, which I think really highlight just why I think that you should really consider taking a pair on your next safari holiday:

Viewing Elephants at Night with Night Vision

During my stay in Zimbabwe, I went on a houseboat on Lake Kariba. Located on the Zambezi river, by volume it is the largest artificial lake in the world and there is plenty of wildlife that lives in and around it’s shoreline and it is where where elephants are a very common sight, but it is not that often that you get to watch them at night:

Late one afternoon as the sun was setting, I watched and took photos of a couple of elephant bulls feeding on an island and just before it completely set, they swam across the small stretch of water between the island and the mainland. The water was deep and they became completely submerged, except for their trunks. This in itself was really great to see, but later on that night I was in for far more of a treat.

On the houseboat, I usually sleep out on the front deck under the stars instead of inside a cabin. I love it as not only do the stars seem to shine much brighter in Africa, but from here you get to hear all the sounds of the bush at night.

On this particular night I heard the breaking of branches not far from the boat and knew what it was – the elephants, tearing at the trees for food. Turing on the Luna Optics LN-PB3 Night vision binoculars, I was able to sit and watch them for ages.

For me it is always fascinating to watch these majestic animals at night and this occasion was no diofferent. What was also very interesting was to note just how good their eyesight must be as even though there was nothing but the light from the stars and the moon, they purposely walked over the large ropes that we use to secure the boat to the shore, being very careful so as not to touch them.

The Bat and the Hippo

Spending some time on a houseboat on Lake Kariba is a wonderful experience and is a great way to view animals like elephants, buffalo, crocodiles and a whole host of African birds. It is also a great place to go if you like fishing as lying within these waters is the mighty Tigerfish (Hydrocynus forskalii).

Obviously being on the water another very common sight during the day are Hippopotamuses, but like the elephants you rarely get the opportunity to observe them at night.

At night the boat is moored up against the land and shortly after going to bed one night, (I usually sleep out on the deck under the stars) I heard the unmistakable sound of a hippo coming out of the water onto the land to feed (Hippos usually feed on land at night because their skin is very sensitive to the sun and they can even get sunburnt.)

With so many hippos, this sight is not uncommon around Lake Kariba and I have often seen them eating at night, but never without using a light. So I quickly reached for the Luna Optics binoculars and what I saw was a complete revelation. Sure enough there was a large hippo munching on the grass only 20 meters from the boat, but what I also saw astonished me:

I could also clearly see a bat flying around it again and again. The reason for this I imagine is that it must have been an Insect-eating bat (Microchiroptera) that was taking advantage of the fact that the hippo was flushing insects out from the ground.

For me this sight was incredible and I just wonder if anyone has ever seen this behavior or even if it has been documented it before?

The Greater Bush Baby (Galago crassicaudatus)

During my safari holiday, I also spent a few nights at a Game reserve called Imire. This 11,000 acre game park is located about 105kms east of Zimbabwe’s capital, Harare and belongs to conservationists John and Judy Travers who have made it their lives’ work to give rescued wild animals a home.

At the heart of Imire is their black rhino conservation project and for over twenty years they have been breeding these critically endangered mammals and returning them to national parks at Imire. However as we learnt illegal poaching in Zimbabwe means they face a daily battle to keep their animals alive. So what I really like is that by visiting Imire, you can also feel good in the knowledge that the money you spend here is going to a great cause.

On my second night at Imire, I was woken by noise in a tree behind our lodge. It was a sound that I had never heard that close before, it was very loud and and sounded like a little like a human child crying and was rather scary!

Plucking up a little courage and taking my night vision binoculars with me, I decided to go and investigate. Using just the Luna Optics binoculars, I could make out that there was something fairly large in the tree behind our lodge, it was about the size of the cat, but because it was fairly high up, I could not positively identify it.

Turning on the LN-ELIR-1 laser illuminator (an extra laser illuminator that can be attached to the binoculars), I instantly recognised it as the Greater Bush Baby (Galago crassicaudatus). Worth mentioning here is that the laser illuminator is invisible to wildlife, but their eyes shine back at you, almost like cat eyes do on the road. This makes finding animals soo much easier than if you were not using it.

After watching “him” for a while, he moved out of sight and I went back to bed. I was thrilled to have seen the Bush Baby and to have been able to identify the animal that made the sound made going back to sleep much easier! Because I was using night vision, I was able to watch it in it’s own environment, acting completely normally without me having to disturb it with a spotlight or torch, which is what you really want.

Conclusion

Apart from these highlights, I had many other wonderful experiences with the night vision binoculars and it is why I highly recommend that if you are going to be spending a few nights on safari or anywhere in the wild that you get yourself a good pair.

I can’t speak for all Night Vision binoculars, but the Luna Optics LN-PB3 Night vision binoculars that I was using were excellent but I must stress that what really made them was the additional LN-ELIR-1 laser illuminator that you can buy as an accessory to add to it as it really does make a huge difference.

Please note: All of the images used in this article were taken by me, apart from the green night vision ones. Unfortunately I did not have the capability to take photos through a night vision device and they are only there as a guide, but what I will say is in terms of quality, they fairly accurately depict what I could actually see through the binoculars.

Cost & Where to Buy

UK Shoppers Buy in the UK:	US Shoppers Buy in the USA:
Luna Optics Night Vision on Amazon.co.uk	Luna Optics Night Vision on Amazon.com

More Information

• Night Vision for Safaris and Wildlife Observation
• Full Review of the Luna Optics LN-PB3 Night Vision Binoculars

For a long time, my favourite binoculars for safaris were my pair compact Steiner 10.5×28 Wildlife Pro’s. One of the main reasons for this was because they were so small and because of their double hinge design, I could easily keep them in my pocket when not in use. In this way I could go on a walking safari and easily take my camera AND my binoculars.

The downside to this was because these binoculars have such small objective lenses (28mm diameter), they let in less light and therefore produce an image that is less bright than an equal quality binocular with larger lenses. To compound the problem, a lot of the time I would be going out on either a game walk or on safari in a vehicle early in the morning or just before sunset when a lot more of Africa’s wildlife is at their most active and you get a better chance of finding it. So in many ways a compact binocular was not ideal as at this time the light is also not at it’s best.

What I needed was an easy way to carry a larger pair of binoculars that would produce brighter images, but still be able to carry and use my camera easily.

Just using the neck strap to hang the binoculars around my neck does work as the binoculars flap about too much and can really get in your way if you are walking through thick bush.

Binocular Harness

The answer to my problem must surely be to use a binocular harness or binocular suspenders as they are sometimes called which allow you to carry your binoculars on your person without having to hold them in your hands.

I have tried a few binocular harnesses in the past and they work well, except for one thing that annoys me about them:
Because of the way they are designed with their elasticated straps that keep your optics against your body when you are not using them, they have the problem that your binoculars are under tension when you hold them up to your eyes, which is something that I found hard to get used to.

LockDown Optics Deployment System

I was recently asked if I would like to try out a new type of binocular harness that is said to have a whole host of advantages over a standard harness including “Tension Free Glassing” which immediately interested me. Called the “LockDown Optics Deployment System”, they are produced by an American company called S4Gear and below are my findings:

Tension Free Glassing
Most other binocular suspenders and harnesses keep your binoculars against your body with elastic straps (like trouser suspenders) this means that when you bring them up to your face they are under tension. In some cases and when you get used to it, this can be beneficial as it can help keep the binos more steady by pressing them firmly against your face. But in my experience, I find it a little annoying and can also make using your binoculars one handed difficult or at times even impossible. The LockDown harness uses what they call “shock” cords and there is no tension when you bring them up to your face and it feels just like you are using your binoculars with a traditional neck strap.

Secure
The first thing that you notice once you have attached your binoculars to the harness, is just how secure the binoculars sit next to your body, without being uncomfortable at all. This is very important to me as when I am walking in the bush, there are often times that you have to bend over or climb through some thick undergrowth and if your binoculars are loose they can not only annoy you, but also get hooked up on something.

To really test them, I even tried jogging and they were still held securely against my body, which is so much better than just using the standard neck strap on your optics and even some standard harnesses, where if walk fast they can often move from side to side on your chest.

Protection
Another unique feature of the LockDown is the hood and the cover that protect your binoculars. With this system, you no longer have to keep the standard objective and eye-piece lens covers that come with your binoculars with you in the field as both sets of lenses are protected by the harness. This makes keeping them free from dirt and scratches much easier and it is much quicker to take your optics out of the harness than it is to put on and take off lens covers.

Another advantage is that because a lot of the binocular is covered by the hood, they are pretty well protected from rain as well as for getting scratched should you knock them against something in the bush.

Keeping a Low Profile
Because the harness fits nice and tightly to your body and does not stick out much more than the width of your binoculars, you are far less likely to get it and yourself tangled up in bushes or other thick undergrowth when out on safari.

Another benefit of this design is that you could easily wear something like a jacket over the harness, this could offer extra protection to your optics in extreme weather conditions. The other real benefit of this is that there may be times when you are travelling that you do not want to stand out as a “rich tourist” with a fancy pair of binoculars.

Keeping the Noise Down
If you are going on a walking safari and hope to get close to many species of animals, it is important that you keep your noise level to the absolute minimum. Loose fitting clothing and equipment will brush against objects as you walk past them and could potentially frighten away what you are trying to track. Again the LockDown system will help, because The whole harness including the very light aluminium hood that covers and protects your binoculars is covered in a tough as well as noise resistant fabric. On top of this because your binoculars fit so securely to your body with out flapping about, there is even less chance of them hitting something that could make a noise.

Negatives to using the harness?
If you have already read the paragraphs above, you have probably realised by now that I really love the LockDown Optics Deployment System, but as with everything in life nothing is perfect and below are a few things that are also worth thinking about:

Even though removing the harness from your body is very quick, it is not as quick as taking the binoculars from around your neck and passing it to someone else. So if you are planning on sharing your optics on safari (which you really shouldn’t), I would not recommend using this or indeed any harness.

To attach the binoculars to the harness, you have to thread a split ring or zip tie through the loop on your binoculars that is usually used for your neck strap. If these loops are a very tight fit, you won’t be able to quickly swap from the harness back to your standard neck strap as you will first have to remove the split rings or zip ties from the loop before attaching your neck strap to your optics again. On my binoculars that I tested these with I was actually able to keep the zip ties attached so for me this was not a problem.

Conclusion

If you want to use full sized binoculars and need to be able to use both hands without your binoculars swinging about then I highly recommend the LockDown harness. It is by far the best binocular harness that I have ever used.

As well as on safari and because of their tight fit, they would be ideal for hunting, mountain bikers, those who hike on a trail or those into orienteering or even skiers who want to carry optics with them.

Cost & Where to Buy

So far I have only been able to find them available in the US, where they are available for around $40:

US Residents:

• LockDown on Binoculars.com

UK Residents:

• Binocular Harnesses on Amazon.co.uk

Options & More Information

The LockDown harness currently comes in two colour combinations (Black & Gray or Black & Camo) and there are two different sizes. To work out which you need, just measure the length of your binoculars:

• LockDown for binoculars from 6″ to 7.5″ in length.
• LockDown Micro for binoculars from 4.5″ to 6″ in length.

The video below goes over some of the key features of the LockDown Optics Deployment System and even though it is mostly aimed at hunters, it will give you a good idea of how it can help you on safari.

I get many people writing in to ask me “what should I take on safari” – of course there is no absolute list as all adventures are slightly different and different people have different wants/needs. But because I am currently busy planning for a trip to Zimbabwe, where I hope to spend a lot of time on safari, photographing as well as just enjoying the wonderful wildlife that the country has to offer, I thought that with my experience, what I take with me may be of interest to others as well and at least give you a starting point.

I have already written an article with an essential packing list & what to take on safari, and another one that covers what clothes to take on safari, so I won’t go over the basics again, but rather go into specifics on the actual equipment that I take on safari:

On this trip I will be going with my wife as well as our new daughter who will be just over 4 months old when we leave, so I have to make sure that what safari equipment (Cameras, Binoculars etc) I take are as compact and lightweight as possible as I will also need plenty of space, free hands and available weight to carry baby clothes, prams etc!

Best Safari Binoculars

For me the most important piece of kit is my binoculars, as they take viewing wildlife to a whole new level and I highly recommend that anyone who goes on safari invests in a decent pair. Through working on this website (see my section on Safari Binocular Reviews) and from working on my Best Binocular reviews website, I test and review many binoculars every year. The cheapest binoculars are rubbish, little more than toys and I urge you to stay well clear. That does not mean you have to spend a fortune as most good quality pairs are sufficient and far better than not having any at all.

Like all my other equipment, the most important feature I am looking for is a pair to take on safari is one that is light and compact. The very compact pairs have the disadvantage of not being as suitable as larger versions in low light conditions, so for me the ultimate pair would be a mid-sized binocular where you combine decent light gathering ability with a fairly compact binocular.

Of all the binoculars I reviewed last year and taking all things into consideration (including cost) the best for safaris were the Minox BL 8×33 Binoculars and if price is not really a factor, the Kowa Genesis XD 10×33 Binoculars.

If you are looking for a cheaper pair and want to keep size down to a minimum, favourites of mine are the range of Steiner Wildlife and Safari compacts. I often use them when out walking in the bush, especially when I am carrying other equipment like my camera as they can fold up small enough to fit into your shirt or jacket pocket. Take a look at the Steiner 10.5×28 Wildlife Pro Binoculars or the cheaper Steiner Safari Pro 10×26 Binoculars.

Would it not be for the fact that I am going to combine this trip with a little work and take a pair of binoculars that I have not used before to test and review, I would definitely take one of those pairs above.

Best Camera For Safaris

For this trip, I am looking to get myself a new camera – For me it is important to get the best possible wildlife photographs, not only for my enjoyment, but also for this website and so it is vital that I don’t sacrifice quality for gear that is too lightweight and compact.

I have already written an article as to why I feel that for me, a Superzoom Bridge Camera is the best camera to take on safari, rather than an SLR with a powerful telephoto lens (Digital SLR vs Compact SuperZoom Cameras) – The main reasons being cost as well as weight and size.

Panasonic FZ100 The obvious choice?
I have been using the range of Panasonic FZ cameras years now and I am a real fan of them, indeed some of my favourite Zimbabwe safari photos were taken with the now very old Panasonic FZ18 (see my gallery of Bird & Wildlife Photographs taken in Kariba, Zimbabwe)

I especially like the way that you can so easily attach a Telephoto Conversion Lens to the Panasonic’s to further increase the focal length, which is especially useful for bird photography.

So looking at my list of the best Superzoom Bridge Cameras 2012 and the fact that I thought it was excellent when reviewed it a while back, I was very tempted to go with the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ100.

Newcomer: Fujifilm FinePix HS20EXR
Brand new for 2011 is the Fujifilm FinePix HS20EXR that in many of the specifications is very similar to the Panasonic FZ100, except in some key areas like having a more powerful 30x zoom (compared to 24x on the Panasonic) and a EXR CMOS sensor that records images with a very high resolution (16 Megapixels compared to 14M on the Panasonic).

What I also love is that at the end of the lens there is a 58mm thread, meaning that I can also attach a Telephoto Conversion Lenses (more on that later). So even though it is a little bulkier and heavier than the Panasonic, it is still far smaller and lighter than the equivalent SLR set-up.

So because of this, the camera I have decided to buy and take the Fuji FinePix HS20EX with me, which to be honest I am very excited about.

Telephoto Conversion Lens

Whilst I will admit, that the Fujiflim with its 30x (720mm – 35mm camera equivalent), will be more than enough for most situations on safari, but I also have a real passion for birds and love bird photography. Because of their small size and the fact that most are very timid, the bigger the zoom, the better the chance you have of getting close enough to take great photos. To do this I add a Teleconverter lens to my camera as for me the added size and weight that this entails is well worth it. Up until now I have always used the Olympus 1.7x Tele Conversion Lens (TCON-17) attached to my Panasonic – but have recently purchased a 2.2x teleconversion lens made by the Japanese company Raynox that I am extremely happy with. For more take a look at my Raynox DCR-2025PRO Super Telephoto Conversion Lens Review.

Best Compact Tripod For Safari and Travel

Because this FinePix HS20EX camera has a powerful 30x Zoom (35mm camera equivalent: 24-720mm) and the fact that I will also be attaching the Raynox 2.2x teleconverter lens to it, I feel that even with it’s very impressive image stabiliser, to get the best photos and video, without any blurring or image shake, a tripod is necessary.

As I write in my page on the Best Tripods for Travel & Safari, they need to be small and light enough to easily carry with you, but strong enough to take your camera with as little or better still no flexing or movement.

A while back after reviewing the Vanguard Alta Pro 263AT Tripod for my Binocular Reviews website, I liked it so much that I decided to buy it. But unfortunately as much as I would love to take it with me, I feel that it is just too it is just too big and heavy for this trip.

Another option that I considered, also from Vanguard is their excellent PH-242 Pan Head Window Mount, but as well as vehicle and houseboat safaris, I am also planning on doing a lot of walking in the bush and even though you can attach the mount to objects like tree branches, you cannot always guarantee that there will be one exactly where you need it.

Ultra Compact Tripod?
So I contacted Vanguard asking if they could help me with some lightweight equipment for the trip and they very kindly sent me some kit to try out and review, including the Nivelo 204BK Aluminium tripod. You can read my full review of the Nivelo 204BK Aluminium tripod here, but to sum up I was really impressed:

With a folded height of only 30cm and weighing just 600g it is certainly extremely lightweight and compact, so no problem packing it away with my luggage. It extends to over a meter which is good and I love the “twist-n-lock” legs that allow you to extend and lock them in seconds – a very important consideration a few seconds can mean the difference between capturing a picture of a skittish bird or not.

It has a load capacity of 2kg (4.4lbs) and considering it is so lightweight this is very impressive and easily holds my Superzoom Bridge camera. Admittedly when fully extended there is a little movement and flexing, which is to be expected, but as a base for safari photography and as a travel tripod it is steady enough and far better than none at all.

The problem I have with it is the added instability I get once I attach a Teleconverter lens to my camera and this is mainly due to the extra length added to the camera by the telephoto lens. I feel that if I was just taking photos, it would be acceptable, but I also shoot a lot of video with my camera and so I need a tripod that is a little more stable, which is a shame because I really love just how light and small it is.

So all in all an excellent lightweight travel tripod, ideal for super zoom bridge cameras and the new Mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras, but if you are planning on using a DSLR camera or indeed a Bridge Camera with a telephoto lens attached and want to take steady video footage, I would recommend getting a slightly beefier tripod.

Compact Travel Tripod
Slightly larger and less compact than the ultra compact tripods a compact travel tripod can also carry a little more weight and is more stable, making shooting video on a superzoom bridge camera like the Fujifilm FinePix HS20EX or Panasonic FZ100 with a teleconverter lens possible. Here again you have some excellent choices from Vanguard and many in their Alta+ look ideal and I especially like the look of the Vanguard Alta+ 225CT that weighs just over 800g, has a folded hight of less than 35cm and yet it can carry a load of 3kg or for added stability the Alta+ 284CT, weighing 1.37kg’s with its folded height of 50cm, that should still easily fit into my suitcase and can carry a weight of 6kg.

Latest Update: I know I said that the Vanguard Alta Pro 263AT Tripod was too big and heavy to take with me, but because I felt that the Nivelo 204BK was just not steady enough for my camera with the teleconverter attached, I have decided that I will now be taking it with me. I would have preferred to take a more lightweight carbon version – but my budget just won’t stretch that far.

Cost & Where to Buy
UK Residents: Vanguard Alta+ Tripods on Amazon.co.uk

US Residents: Vanguard Alta+ Tripods on Amazon.com

Tripod Head

I have decided that because I am not going to take an ultra-lightweight tripod with me, instead opting for a more sturdy full-sized tripod, I may as well also take what is now one of my favourite pieces of kit as well. The Vanguard GH-100 Pistol Grip Ball Head.

Because the handle that is attached to a ball head is so intuitive it makes moving the camera into position very quick and accurate – even more so than a standard ball head. Panoramic shots are really easy and panning for video is also possible.

I can’t begin to tell you how many shots I have missed in the past (especially of birds) because I was fiddling, trying to get my camera into the correct position on the tripod – with this I hope to rectify much of that – so for me even though it is a little bulky and heavy for travel, I have decided to take it on safari with me this year.

Read the full Vanguard GH-100 Pistol Grip Ball Head Review.

Night Vision Binoculars

There was a time not so long ago that the only people that had half decent night vision equipment were the military, police and other law enforcement professionals. This was mainly down to their high cost and whilst I wouldn’t describe a good quality night vision binocular as being cheap, their prices have come down a lot over the past few years and it is now a real option for you to take your own night vision binoculars on safari.

Why Night Vision?
So much of what goes on in the African bush goes on after dark. Most predators hunt at night and many other animals are far active during this time when it is much cooler.

In the past most people would use a spotlight at night, this had the major disadvantage of disturbing the animals natural behaviour. A night vision device is a far better and more ethical option and I now almost never go on safari without one.

For more on how they work and why I highly recommend taking a night vision binocular or monocular on safari read my article on Night Vision for Safaris and Wildlife Observation

Night Vision Monoculars or Binoculars?
On this latest trip I will be taking the excellent Luna Optics LN-PB3 Night Vision Binoculars with me. In the past I have often opted for a night vision monocular as opposed to a binocular, just to save weight and space in my bag.

However after reviewing the Luna Optics LN-PB3, I was so impressed with the quality of the view through it, especially after adding the optional LN-ELIR-1 laser illuminator, that I just can’t resist taking it with me. Besides because it’s body is made from aluminium it is pretty lightweight. It is also one of the smaller full size night vision binoculars out there. (it is about the size of a standard full-size binocular).

For more details – take a look at my full review of the Luna Optics LN-PB3 Night Vision Binoculars

Cost & Where to Buy
UK Residents: Luna Optics Night Vision on Amazon.co.uk

US Residents: Luna Optics Night Vision on Amazon.com

Travel / Camera Bag

Obviously I don’t want to have to put my expensive equipment in with my luggage on the plane with the cargo, so I always carry it on board with me as hand luggage. To do this, with as little hassle and as much comfort as possible a good Travel / Camera bad is essential.

Over the years I have used many and in my experience a bag that has been specifically designed to carry photographic equipment works the best. This year I will be taking the one of the Skyborne Series of bags from Vanguard as they have kindly sent me one to review – Read my Vanguard Skyborne 51 Laptop and Camera Backpack Review

As I mention in my review, I think that this Skyborne Camera Backpack is one of the best that I have ever used. The only thing that I would say about the Skyborne 51, is that I am a little worried that it may just be a little to big to take on as hand luggage, it will probably just depend on the person at the desk on the day. To be safer, it may be better to take one of their smaller bags like the Skyborne 48 that can carry one Pro DSLR with attached lens (up to 70-200mm f/2.8), 3-4 extra lenses, a flash unit and accessories (memory cards, cables, battery and charger) plus a laptop up to 14″or even the Skyborne 45, which can still carry one Pro DSLR with attached lens (up to 70-200mm f/2.8), 1~2 extra lenses, a flash unit and accessories (memory cards, cables, battery and charger) plus a 12″ laptop.

Whichever one you choose, one of the best bits is the quick access opening, that enables you to quickly grab your camera without disturbing all your other gear.

Cost & Where to Buy
UK Residents: Vanguard Skyborne Bags on Amazon.co.uk

US Residents: Vanguard Skyborne Bags on Amazon.com

Also worth Considering

Below are a few new pieces of equipment I have reviewed since first writing this article and what I am planning to take with me on my next trip:

MINOX DTC 500 Trail Camera Review We took this excellent remote Minox digital camera with us to Mana Pools National Park in Zimbabwe where we would leave it overnight and got proof of what ever passed by. What we got back was some incredible video and still photos of elephants, honey badgers, hyenas, a porcupine, African civet, warthogs, bats and many more animals that you very rarely see in the wild and we managed to capture them on film!

Their compact size and rugged body make them ideal binoculars to take wherever you go including on safari and even at their standard price they make pretty good value for money. But now that most of the models in the range have been substantially discounted both in the UK and USA, it makes them a real bargain. If you are in the UK it is well worth taking a look at the 9X25 version in particular, which is currently available at better than half price.

Warehouse express currently have the Nikon 9×25 Travelite V CF Binoculars on offer for £69.00 which is better than half price (RRP £150.99):
Nikon Travelite V Binoculars on Warehouse Express

At the time of writing, all the Travelite V series binoculars from Nikon are available at discounted prices on Amazon.com. For example the 8X25mm V Binoculars have list price of $128.95, but are currently available for $79.96:
Nikon Travelite V Binoculars on Amazon.com

The Travelite V Series

All binoculars in the Travelite V Series are compact porro prisms and all have 25mm objective lenses and come in various magnifications from 8 to 12x. Whit is really impressive about them is even at their really low selling price they have a few features that you would usually only find on far more expensive binoculars. These include a an ergonomic body made from light and durable carbon fibre with a tough rubber armor coating and aspherical lenses that minimise distortion and provide sharp images up to the periphery.

More Information

• Full Review of the Nikon 9×25 Travelite V Binoculars

For those who don’t know, the field of view on any binocular is basically the width of the image that you see through the binoculars at a specified distance, it is most often expressed in feet at 1,000 yards, but increasingly common is in meters at 1,000 meters or as an angle.

One of the most important features to look out for in any really good Birdwatching Binoculars is their field of view (FOV), this is because binoculars with a very wide FOV make it easier to scan an area and spot an object, especially if it is moves fast and erratically, like many birds do.

The problem is that the higher your magnification, the less wide your field of view tends to be. This is why most of the very best bird binoculars tend to use magnifications of 8x or even 7x. On Safari where most of you observation through your optics is going to be done looking at larger, slower (usually!) moving animals, I have often recommended a 10x magnification where they do get you just that bit closer to the action. This is especially helpful if you are going on safari that have wide open plains like the Masai Mara in Kenya, where the wildlife is often easier to spot at greater distances.

This is not to say that the field of view is not important for a safari binocular and if you like birding as well as the larger stuff (and you should) then you should play close attention to the field of view on the binoculars that you choose to buy. A wider field of view will make it easier to scan an area looking for game. It can also make looking at a large herd of animals like wildebeest, zebra or even elephants better as you will get more of the animals into a single view without having to move the binoculars and as such will “see” more.

I personally still mostly use a 10x binocular for general wildlife observation, but I do choose a pair that has a wide field of view and so should you. So if you are undecided between two binoculars, just check which has the wider FOV and just maybe that will help you make up your mind.

If you plan to do a lot of bird watching or going on Safari in an area that is thickly forested then an 8x magnification for the widest FOV possible may be better than a 10x binocular.

One of my favourite binoculars for safaris is the Minox BL 8×33 that has a very wide field of view as well as many other excellent features that are not only ideal for travelling and safaris, but make them great birding and general observation optics as well.

Further Reading

• Guide to the Best Binoculars for Safari Holidays

Safari Binoculars for Women?

What are women’s binoculars I hear you ask? Well if you were expecting to find ones that have some sort of special eyepiece, or magical lenses that only work for women, I am sorry to disappoint you. Technically speaking there is no difference between “normal” binoculars and womens binoculars. The difference is in the styling, because most binoculars have a rather masculine look to them, a few optical companies have decided to design their binoculars with a softer more feminine look to them.

Nikon SHE Safari Monarch 10×36 Binoculars

These are not only great looking and stylish women’s safari binoculars, but the binocular is based on the excellent Nikon Monarch 10×36 DCF binoculars.

Nikon Sport Optics and SHE Outdoor Apparel combined to design a pair of binoculars specially for a woman. The mid-sized 10×36 Safari binoculars offer women the best of both worlds – trademark Nikon optical performance and attractive SHE styling.

These mid-size binoculars make ideal travelling companions: Not only are they lightweight, waterproof, fogproof and comes with a protective rubber-armored coating, the powerful 10x magnification means I highly recommend them as ideal safari binoculars.

Features
They are fully fog and waterproof and come with Fully Multi-coated Lenses that Increase light transmission with multiple anti-reflective coatings on all air-to-glass surfaces. The quality Bak-4 roof prisms have phase correction coatings that is not only expensive to produce but enhance resolution and contrast of the image.

As well as the binocular, you get a great looking and excellent quality leather and canvas shoulder bag in a bush friendly khaki colour with chocolate brown trim. The bag has multifunctional pockets and a built-in optics case with plenty of room to store your binoculars and more, making it perfect for travel or day trips.

More information & Where to Buy
Read the Safari Guide review of the Nikon SHE Safari Monarch 10×36 Womens Binoculars

Do I Need Waterproof Binoculars for Safaris?

The MOST important thing is that you do have a pair of binoculars for your safari, it is the single most important piece of equipment that you can take with you and will transform your experience.

Ok now that we have established that we are going on safari with a pair of binoculars, which pair of binoculars is the next question? I have written a guide to choosing binoculars for safaris, which goes over all the important features you should look out for. One of them is waterproofing, which I will go into more detail here:

Whilst having a pair of waterproof binoculars on safari is not absolutely essential, it is preferable. We all hope that it does not rain on your holiday, but if it does, you should be prepared. Whilst it is true that spotting some types of game is harder in the rain and depending on how hard the rain is you may not even go out on game drive. But on the other hand I have also had some of my best experiences in the rain.

A particular example was sitting for hours watching a cheetah sheltering from the rain under a tree. Sure everyone and everything got wet, but hey it is only water and everyone on the game drive had a magical experience watching one of the most elusive creatures in the bush.

Dry and Sandy Environments

It is not only wet and humid conditions where water and fog-proofing can help: in an extremely dry and dusty climate, like on safari the O-ring seal used to make your binoculars waterproof will also prevent dust and tiny debris from entering the unit.

The Waterproof Fogproof Binocular

Many binoculars are either waterproof, fogproof or both where as some manufacturers call their optics weather protected or even weather proof. But what exactly does it all mean and just what do they do to make a pair of binoculars waterproof and fogproof?

Waterproofing

Waterproof binoculars are sealed internally using O-rings to prevent moisture as well as dust and other small debris from entering the inside of the unit.

Fogproofing

Fogproofing means that the optical barres are filled with nitrogen or argon gas to prevent internal fogging caused when subjecting the optic to temperature extremes, especially in high humidity. Fogproofing is sometimes referred to as nitrogen-purging. This term is probably more descriptive of the actual process; O2 (oxygen) is purged from the barrels and replaced with an inert gas (usually nitrogen) which doesn’t condense.

A pair of binoculars or can be waterproof without being fogproof. What this means is that the binoculars are sealed, but the oxygen inside the barrels haven’t been purged and replaced with an inert gas. But if an optical instrument is fogproof, it has to be waterproof (sealed) as well.

Today even fairly inexpensive binoculars are both waterproof and fogproof. Just look out for manufacturers that claim that their optics are “weather protected” or “water protected” this usually means that they are not 100% water or fog proof, If you are paying for it, make sure that they are 100% waterproof.

Water Repellent Lens Coatings

Another feature to look out for and one that is often found on high end optics are special lens coatings that are actually water repellent or sometimes known as “hydrophobic coatings”. These water and dirt repelling properties, not only repel water, but they are have more resistance to abrasions and make it much easier to remove your fingerprints and dirt particles from the lenses. Lenses treated with the hydrophobic coating allow water to just roll off them.

Popular Waterproof Binoculars for Safari

If you buy a Nikon EDG binocular or spotting scope, Nikon will send you a FREE D3000 camera kit with 18-55VR Nikkor lens worth $549.95.

Ideal Camera & Binoculars for Safaris
This promotion is even better if you are planning on going on safari as now you can get some of the best safari binoculars available (or spotting scope), with a free Digital SLR camera that also makes an ideal a safari camera, but hurry, the offer ends on October 31st 2010.

Where can I get this offer?
The Take it to the EDG Promotion from Nikon is only available to consumers within the 50 United States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands by Nikon Inc., Melville, New York. Purchases made in or delivered to other countries are ineligible. There are two major binocular online retailers in the US who are also authorised dealers of Nikon EDG Binoculars and Fieldscopes who are participating in the promotion:

Nikon EDG on Binoculars.com

Nikon EDG on Eagle Optics

Nikon EDG Binoculars
Truly some of the finest binoculars available, Nikon EDG Binoculars use Nikon’s own ED (Extra-low Dispersion) glass lenses that deliver superior sharpness and color correction for unmatched detail resolution with Dielectric coated prisms meaning that Nikon’s coatings deliver brighter views. The optics are fully multicoated meaning that there are multiple layers of anti-reflective compounds on every glass surface for bright, vivid sight pictures.

The design of the binocular has open bridge style which is ergonomic making sure the binoculars balance perfectly in the hand for extended use. A quick, central focusing knob has been paired with pop-up diopter adjustments for unparalleled speed and convenience. The Horn-shaped detachable eyecups are ergonomically contoured to block out peripheral light for a clear field of view on top of this you get a long eye relief with ratcheting eyecup adjustments that allow for a perfect view, with or without eyeglasses.

All EDG Binoculars are O-ring sealed making them 100% Waterproof and fogproof as they are dry nitrogen filled to handle the toughest conditions on the planet.

The Nikon D3000 Digital Camera
The Nikon D3000 is Nikon’s entry-level digital SLR camera designed for anyone who wants to take quality digital photographs without worrying too much about settings. It features a 10.2 megapixel sensor, EXPEED processing system, 3-inch LCD screen, 3 fps continuous shooting and 11-point autofocus system.

You can select from a choice of subject parameters and the camera will do the rest, and the instant response time means you never miss a moment. The 11-point autofocus system ensures everyone is in focus, and the bright viewfinder means you get what you want, when you want it.

More Information
Best Binoculars for Safari Holidays
Digital SLR vs Compact SuperZoom Cameras for Safaris