see also:

• overnight ultralight bushwalking shelters and equipment

• Aarn bodypacks are designed to distribute weight equally on front and back and to have most of that weight born by the hips thereby making hiking more ergonomic and better for your spine
• they generally come in Long or Short models, the average male probably fits into the Long models best
• Aarn make 2 styles of front packs for photographers although these do not fit on some backpacks, notably they do not fit on the “Magic” models nor the Flow-Mo Friend
  • Aarn photo Balance Pockets regular
    • can be converted into a day pack
    • holds SLR cameras (up to L: 20 cm, W:15 cm, H:12 cm) + 3 lenses (Max. length: 26 cm)
    • perhaps the best option for Micro Four Thirds system as it will just fit an OM-D E-M1 with Olympus mZD 40-150mm f/2.8 pro lens with MC14 attached without being as bulky as the pro model.
    • one of the 2 bottom pockets will fit either:
      • Olympus E-M5 with grip and small lens (eg. Olympus m.ZD 12mm f/2.0 lens)
      • 2 medium lenses such as Olympus m.ZD 75mm f/1.8 lens and Olympus mZD 12-40mm f/2.8 Pro weatherproof lens
      • 2 medium flashes (eg. FL600R) or 1 pro flash (eg. FL50R)
    • 684g for pair
    • http://www.backpackinglight.com.au/store/aarn-photo-balance-pockets-%28regular%29/dp/5108
  • Aarn photo Balance Pockets professional
    • designed for pro SLR bodies and pro lenses but is a touch too bulky for my liking, but of you own dSLRs then you are going to need this one instead of the regular one
    • holds cameras (up to L: 30 cm, W:18 cm, H:16 cm) + lenses (Max. length: 30 cm)
    • can be converted into a day pack
    • 754g for pair
    • http://www.backpackinglight.com.au/store/aarn-photo-balance-pockets-%28professional%29/dp/2320
  • Balance Pockets have the following features:
    • http://www.aarnpacks.com/#!balance-pockets-racks-bags/cy1y
    • http://www.aarnpacks.com/#!pivoting-balance-pockets/csr5
    • waterproof liners
    • external pockets for water bottles
    • naturally hang away from the body at the top to improve ventilation
      • they should not touch your body - if they touch your chest or your tummy, custom bend the frames to produce a ventilation gap
    • all weight is transferred to the front of hipbelt
    • pull the shoulder straps forward and away from your body at the sides of your chest
    • don't restrict your vision of feet because you can see your feet in the gap between the pockets
    • act as front flotation devices if swept off your feet crossing rivers helping you to stay face up
      • before before crossing the river unclip the chest straps from the X-configuration and reclip the Balance pockets together at the top, with the sternum straps undone
    • do need to be pivoted to the back of the upper arm for vertical rock climbs
    • after long treks, there have been reports of the internal strut working its way out needing some repairs