Best Backpack Ever?

Dzr · Sep 25, 2022

I can't be alone in the drone frustration I have.

In simple terms I take my drone on holiday/travelling and then want to take on a walk, car journey, etc. to whip out when the opportunity arrives.

The basic problems are

Deploying the drone is a pain…Every method of carrying a drone means a frustrating set up especially if it's bright sunlight and I need a shade of some kind. Even when I've got get good at unpacking, it can take 10 mins to set up and then 10 minutes to pack away. In most of the places I go I want a quick 5-10 min video and be gone and so the 20 mins set up and pack away is fiddly, difficult (on the floor of a dirty track) and infuriating.
Bright sunlight is an absolute pain. There are lots of sunshades but frankly in bright sunlight they're next to useless not least because you need to be able to read the small text on the screen that might be saying something like "SD card full not recording". Add to that they're difficult to carry around without damaging (in the drone backpack), fiddly to set up and easily broken.

Screen size is a problem. It's all very well using a small phone to view what the drone is filming but small screens mean even smaller text and again that can be a big problem Sure I can use a tablet but that means lugging more weight, a much bigger more cumbersome sunshade, etc. It's especially a problem for those of us who are long sighted and need glasses to read the close stuff. It means juggling glasses on your head to see the screens and then moving to see the drone at longer range.

Transporting for plane travel, etc is difficult. To take a drone on your travels/holidays means using up your onboard carry allowance with a dedicated drone bag. There's no easy alternative to folding down the backpack (I need to carry the drone on a walk/bus, etc) into my carry-on.

I can't be alone in these frustrations but despite looking through the forums I haven't seen anyone commenting on them as a whole.

I have a solution though... it's taken me hours of trial and error, and I've had to refine skills in cardboard folding, sewing, gluing and design.. but, for me, the result is awesome. I'm absolutely thrilled with the (final) end result and am posting just in case others might benefit. (NB this one is for Mavic Pro but principles apply to all drones and I've just finished a new and much improved version for Mini 3 Pro)

I've made the first and only backpack, I know of, that easily, safely and securely carries the drone, controller, etc, is really quick to deploy, is a complete blackout sunshade, incorporates optics (glasses) and folds completely flat to pack in hand or hold luggage. Consists of four parts...

1) Outer shell - ripstop nylon
2) Protective Frame - vinyl covered cardboard (possibly overkill?)
3) Carry Box / Backpack frame - cardboard frame
4) Sunshade - Cardboard box (usable without backpack or inside backpack)

It's a bit difficult to explain in simple words and so I've included four pictures to show the various elements.

Thoughts / comments?

MAvic_South_Oz · Sep 25, 2022

I use the LowePro BP250 Droneguard for my M1P kit.
Holds full kit (with 6 batteries), safely holds drone with props folded, controller, a host of cables, ipad mini 4 and lifthor mount, gopro / DJI pocket, phone holder, lunch, water, light rain jacket, pack cover, other odds and ends.

I don't usually fly in full sun, mostly early / late in the day, but if so finding shade is relatively easy and most often have the broad brimmed bushwalking hat on to help protect screen.

You did a good job on the making of that prototype, could be commercialised into suitable plastic shell and refined viewer etc.
Comfort in the biggest thing if this is going to be carried any distance, a wide waist belt is good on any sort of pack.

I think I can get in the air pretty fast on a bush trail, just practice I guess getting used to whatever system you use.
Once the hardshell of the DroneGuard is opened, I can be flying in 5 mins.

Robert Prior · Sep 25, 2022

I just put my drone (either Mini 3 or Mavic 2) in my camera bag. Haven't had an problems either on the plane or getting it out to take pictures.

I have both the RC controller and the smart controller, and those work well enough in sunlight. A bit bigger but worth it not to run my phone down and easier to read too.

I also got a PygTech hard case for just the Mavic 2, so I can pack it in a carry-on suitcase without worrying about damage. Only used it on one trip when I was lugging too many lenses and it didn't fit in the camera bag. (Lesson learned: too much weight for an aging back!)

PGYTECH Portable Carrying Case Mini for DJI Mavic 2 Pro/Zoom Hard EVA Material Hard and Waterproof Case : Amazon.ca: Electronics

www.amazon.ca

I'm currently travelling and put the Mini 3 in my camera backpack for the plane (fits under seat as my 'personal item') so my carry-on suitcase is just clothes etc. (Given Pearson's record with lost luggage this year, I'm not checking anything I'm not prepared to lose.)

Getting airborne is less than 5 minutes. Find launch point, turn on controller, unfold drone and turn on, do launch hazard assessment while drone is connecting and locking GPS, and I'm good to go. (Or abort launch, if hazard assessment shows problems I didn't spot earlier. Safety first!)

LoudThunder · Sep 26, 2022

Dzr said:
Thoughts / comments?

It looks like you've re-invented FPV Goggles, Gordon Gekko would be so impressed…

And I'm guessing that the requirement to maintain visual line of sight is out of the question…

Kilrah · Sep 26, 2022

I have my MP1 in the stock bag and either throw that into my normal backpack along with other stuff or carry it with its own strap when just moving around, or throw it into my suitcase when flying (batteries removed of course). 2-3 min prep.

Dzr · Sep 26, 2022

MAvic_South_Oz said:
I use the LowePro BP250 Droneguard for my M1P kit.
Holds full kit (with 6 batteries), safely holds drone with props folded, controller, a host of cables, ipad mini 4 and lifthor mount, gopro / DJI pocket, phone holder, lunch, water, light rain jacket, pack cover, other odds and ends.

I don't usually fly in full sun, mostly early / late in the day, but if so finding shade is relatively easy and most often have the broad brimmed bushwalking hat on to help protect screen.

You did a good job on the making of that prototype, could be commercialised into suitable plastic shell and refined viewer etc.
Comfort in the biggest thing if this is going to be carried any distance, a wide waist belt is good on any sort of pack.

I think I can get in the air pretty fast on a bush trail, just practice I guess getting used to whatever system you use.
Once the hardshell of the DroneGuard is opened, I can be flying in 5 mins.

I guess no solution is going to work for everyone. If the DroneGuard works for you, it's brilliant but for me, it's not close to a solution and here's why.....

The idea of lugging all that stuff, sounds horrific to me no matter how comfortable and $300+, ouch!

I never plan to fly in full sun either, but when travelling you sometimes don't have much choice. So for example on a recent trip to Alaska, we took a trip from Skagway to the Yukon with some stunning scenery. Problem is it's difficult or impossible to get to fly in Canada and so all drone filming has to be on the few stops along the way, where you get a maximum of 10mins.... in full sun, with white snow everywhere. Deployment and packing away has to be rapid and 5 mins in such circumstances isn't going to work... and neither is flying without a full sun shade.

With my backpack, I can deploy in literally 30 secs, don't need to look for shade and can see even the smallest thing on my screen due to the built in optics (you didn't mention that so I assume you don't use or need glasses)

Then there's the problem of travelling on a plane. I can't afford my drone backpack, ie. DroneGuard taking up all of my hand luggage and so that alone kills it. When I had a Phantom, I had no choice and it was a real pain.... but now I have options. Since the majority of my backpack folds flat into my hold luggage, I made custom boxes to pack the expensive bits (drone and controller) in my hand luggage without much of a problem.

Before making my backpack, I used to use an Amazon Basics Backpack with custom boxes/foam https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B002VPE1WK/ref=pe_3187911_185740111_TE_item?th=1 and it worked well in protecting and transporting but took too long to deploy. There's a lot to do to deploy...
i) remove drone from packaging
ii) carefully remove drone gimball guard and switch drone on
iii) remove controller from packaging, remove stick guard and switch on
iv) attach some kind of screen holder
v) fix screen into holder
vi) find cable and connect to screen and controller

I couldn't do that easily in 5 mins despite doing it a lot, not least because there's seldom anywhere convenient to carry out except the floor. (Kneeling down, bent over). I even made my own screen holder bracket that remained connected to the controller with my screen in the backpack, which cut down on deployment time. It still took close to 5 mins to do the rest... which is why I unwillingly took to making the backpack.

I've now bought a Mini 3 Pro and just finished a different custom backpack for it. It's much smaller, less complicated, far more robust (made from ballistic nylon) and can even be packed inside my hand luggage if necessary (note still prefer to disassemble and pack flat). The main components also can be used as boxes for the controller and the drone itself.

I should add that both backpacks do have a wide waist belt connection, although I seldom feel the need to connect and so most of the time there in a pocket somewhere.

Perhaps the biggest thing about these homemade backpacks though is the cost. It's basically cardboard, glue, some paint, stick on vinyl and outer material. I estimate material costs at $25 max. In fairness they wouldn't be easy for someone to replicate on their own even if I made detailed instructions (and they could avoid all the mistakes and pitfalls I fell into). I've become pretty adept at using cardboard and had to do so without youtube help (can't find many "how to's" on cardboard box making... and I've focus on making frames/boxes that are strong, stay as one but can be pulled apart to fold flat. That's been a heck of a journey that I probably wouldn't have ever done if I'd known how long and difficult the journey was. (Perhaps I should have filmed some the techniques, mistakes and lessons for youtube along the way)

Sorry for the rant, just thought context of my circumstances might help understand and help others.

spsphotos · Sep 26, 2022

...OR....get a Mini 3 Pro with an RC controller. I can deploy it in less than a minute and that time is just for the bootup of the drone and controller. I use the stock bag from the More kit. I wear glasses (progressives) and have no issue seeing the screen. As for traveling, the drone bag fits nicely into a cheap $30 Amazon bag I got a few years ago when I went to Sydney.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B06XZTZ7GB/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Yes, I know, you probably don't want to buy another drone, but it's worth it if you are traveling. You might consider a DroneMask for sun problems.

LoudThunder · Sep 26, 2022

spsphotos said:
I use the stock bag from the More kit. I wear glasses (progressives) and have no issue seeing the screen.

I fly my Mini 2 using one of two different Android Galaxy Tablets, I also use progressive glasses, but my sunglasses are polarized as are the screens on the tablets, if I tilt the tablets just a little bit, they start blacking out and if I hold them in portrait mode (vertical), they black out completely. So if I want to use sun glasses, I have to use cheapie, non-polarized ones…

Dzr · Sep 26, 2022

spsphotos said:
...OR....get a Mini 3 Pro with an RC controller. I can deploy it in less than a minute and that time is just for the bootup of the drone and controller. I use the stock bag from the More kit. I wear glasses (progressives) and have no issue seeing the screen. As for traveling, the drone bag fits nicely into a cheap $30 Amazon bag I got a few years ago when I went to Sydney.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B06XZTZ7GB/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Yes, I know, you probably don't want to buy another drone, but it's worth it if you are traveling. You might consider a DroneMask for sun problems.

Err.. I have a Mini Pro with RC controller and in bright sunlight there isn't a chance of being able to see the important text on the screen. The nit on the RC controller is good at 700 but it's nowhere near the 1,000 nits of the pro controller and even that's a struggle in the brightest sun. (take a look at youtube and see how many people have crashed or lost their drones due to not being able to see their screen in bright sun - and that's ignoring all those who just got crap footage but didn't crash).

Progressive glasses are great apart from I only need glasses to read (close things) which means putting on glasses to see the screen and taking them off to look at the drone.

Dronemask? LOL... apart from not being legal without a spotter then, try using the screen when it's inside the dronemask!

spsphotos · Sep 26, 2022

Dzr said:
Err.. I have a Mini Pro with RC controller and in bright sunlight there isn't a chance of being able to see the important text on the screen. The nit on the RC controller is good at 700 but it's nowhere near the 1,000 nits of the pro controller and even that's a struggle in the brightest sun. (take a look at youtube and see how many people have crashed or lost their drones due to not being able to see their screen in bright sun - and that's ignoring all those who just got crap footage but didn't crash).

Progressive glasses are great apart from I only need glasses to read (close things) which means putting on glasses to see the screen and taking them off to look at the drone.

Dronemask? LOL... apart from not being legal without a spotter then, try using the screen when it's inside the dronemask!

Even the RC Pro at 1000nit is not all that fantastic in bright sunlight. All those who crashed or got crap footage are noobs IMHO. Not saying there is any perfect solution. Depends on individual needs.

I use the STARTRC shade (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B4WP9R94?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details) and it works well enough. I did make a couple hacks to it. One was the two tabs that hold the bottom on. I cut slots in them so they slid over the screws and added a couple rubber washers. Make putting on and taking off much quicker. The other was I shaved a tad off the middle of the upper part so you could swipe down easier. But overall very satisfied...can put in on in like 10 secs.

And I did mention that you would need a VO for DroneMask, so not for everyone.

Dzr · Sep 26, 2022

spsphotos said:
Even the RC Pro at 1000nit is not all that fantastic in bright sunlight. All those who crashed or got crap footage are noobs IMHO. Not saying there is any perfect solution. Depends on individual needs.

I use the STARTRC shade (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B4WP9R94?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details) and it works well enough. I did make a couple hacks to it. One was the two tabs that hold the bottom on. I cut slots in them so they slid over the screws and added a couple rubber washers. Make putting on and taking off much quicker. The other was I shaved a tad off the middle of the upper part so you could swipe down easier. But overall very satisfied...can put in on in like 10 secs.

And I did mention that you would need a VO for DroneMask, so not for everyone.

Glad it works for you but I tried a number of similar sunshades before starting on my own. Initially, my own were just encompassing in ever increasing measures. In fairness, many of them were okay in ever increasing bright light but they all failed in direct bright sunlight, and since I can never be sure when droning is going to require operating in direct bright sunlight... (by failed I mean I couldn't easily and quickly read the small text on the screen even with my glasses on)

I concluded that in bright sunlight the only solution for me was total enclosure.