I’m working on making a drone backpack for short trips in places where expensive gear could get wrecked. I got the idea from hiking trails that go through water or up boulders to reach waterfalls. My main goal is to make it waterproof, somewhat drop-resistant, small, light, and comfy. Would anyone here be into something like this? What would you expect to pay? Appreciate any feedback, thanks!
Would the drone launch straight from the backpack?
Jamie said:
Would the drone launch straight from the backpack?
I thought about having a pocket you can reach while wearing it to grab the drone quickly. Launching directly from the backpack would be awesome, but it seems really tricky to pull off.
My DJI bag turns into a backpack. Might be cheaper to just buy one. I got mine used on eBay for $40.
Remi said:
My DJI bag turns into a backpack. Might be cheaper to just buy one. I got mine used on eBay for $40.
Buying one is definitely cheaper, but I want to design one myself for people like me who need more protection. I’m trying to see if others would want a backpack that keeps gear safe in rough environments.
Depends on how big your drone is. Mine’s smaller than my remote, so most backpacks work. I’d love a good travel case, though… maybe one with straps to carry on my back. Now I kinda want a drone backpack too.
I use a DSLR bag for my Mini 3. The LowePro Slingshot 202 with adjustable velcro slots works great, but there are probably a bunch of similar bags out there.
Are these national parks you’re talking about? And by expensive gear, do you mean drones? I doubt anyone would buy this unless you’re offering to shoot the footage too.
Hari said:
Are these national parks you’re talking about? And by expensive gear, do you mean drones? I doubt anyone would buy this unless you’re offering to shoot the footage too.
Lol nah, I just meant places where people would be nervous bringing a drone because it’s easy to break it — like hiking through a canyon with lots of water. By expensive gear, I mostly mean drones and cameras. I’m trying to design a backpack that really protects that kind of stuff in those kinds of spots.
@River
Oh, I totally misread that — thought you were asking what people would pay for footage. My bad, bedtime brain kicking in.
For backpacks, I’d suggest the Lowepro Protactic 450 or the Shimoda Action V2 30. They’re not waterproof, but they’re tough and handle impacts pretty well. Waterproof adds a premium, though… maybe someone else here knows more. If you have a Fly More bag, they fit into backpacks pretty easily, but it’s another layer to unzip.
Drone backpacks might be too niche, mate. Most people I know just use regular camera backpacks with padded, adjustable pockets. Mine was £50 and has a rain cover — holds about £5k worth of gear.
If you’re thinking premium, check out PGY Tech or the Peter McKinnon Gomatic series. Those are top quality and built for rough trips. Competing with them could be tough since they’re mass-produced.