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One of my least favourite items for lugging around whilst birding for the day on foot is a tripod (unfortunately though, a scope is not as much use without it!). I love my tripod for seawatching, vis-migging, estuary watching, anything that involves being static for long periods, but I loathe it after 10 hours on foot up and down the gullies on my coastal patch. I've tried all sorts of alternatives, from just carrying my scope slung over my shoulder, a combination with a very light tripod to using the scope with a monopod. However, when that moment comes and you need your scope for that distant wader, shrike or chat, nothing quite compares to looking through a scope supported by the three sturdy legs of a tripod. Fence-posts are good for propping up your scope, as is a slightly swaying monopod, but I've finally come to appreciate that to get the most out of my day necessitates a combination of scope and tripod slung over one shoulder and the resulting backache! It's often occurred to me that there must be a better way but I was never sure what a better way would be. Thankfully, Scopac ("the original tripod carrier system" so claim the manufacturers) appears to offer a solution to my backache and whinging! When the parcel containing the review product was delivered to my door I must admit I didn't really hold out much hope. There have been all sorts of gimmicky things claiming to offer a better way of carrying this and that for birders, but none really seem to have worked, some make the users look very silly indeed, and very few seem to have caught on. I was sceptical to say the least. Ah well, enough of my scepticism, onto the field test. Opening up the package, what lay before me was, in effect, a miniature backpack. This lightweight material (400 g) combines with your tripod (and scope) and acts as an easy way to carry this weighty and cumbersome collection of equipment around (or so it is claimed) in a comfortable fashion. It comes in a single size fits all, but, apparently, can be made to measure. Once assembled, what results is scope and tripod transported 'rucksack style' on your back.
I hate gadgety, fiddly things that have to be just 'so' to work, so for starters I can say that even for a 'fiddlyphobe' such as myself, the Scopac is amazingly easy to combine with your tripod. A neat set of very simple-to-follow instructions comes with the product and even I was able to work it all out within a matter of seconds! The instructions are also available on the Scopac website. So, what of Scopac in field conditions? Well, after several field trials I've found it to be very good indeed. By carrying your scope and tripod as a rucksack it spreads the weight and it doesn't feel as though you're carrying much at all (especially in comparison to carrying everything on one shoulder). I tried mine with the legs of my tripod down and with them up. You can use it with them down, ensuring that you're ready for action when that distant raptor pops into view, but to be truthful it's not a very practical way of carrying your tripod and scope, and Scopac really comes into its own for carrying your kit with the legs up, as nothing gets in the way, as it were. Agreed, if your tripod and scope are over your shoulder it will be quicker to set yourself up in 'scoping mode', but Scopac maybe only takes an extra 20 seconds or so to set up from being on your back to functional. Scopac can be removed in a matter of seconds if need be (as quickly as you would remove a rucksack), plus it's a much more comfortable way of spending a day in the field! Scopac has been designed by birders for birders, and that shows. I'd recommend this product to anyone who, like me, has never been able to get along with lugging their tripod and scope around for hours on end. There's also a lightweight version, Scopac Lite, which weighs just under 300 grams and has a mesh to keep your back cool. Perhaps aimed at birders on overseas trips, it would be equally useful in UK conditions, plus there are equipment straps on the base of the pack where you can securely hang water bottles, lens caps, and such like. Another option is a Digipac, an accessory which fits onto Scopac and into which you can put your digiscoping equipment, small notebook, or even a sandwich! It fits easily and is secured by Velcro to ensure that it's not moving about as you walk. The Digipac will fit onto both Scopac and Scopac Lite. The basic Scopac costs �59 and is available in black or green. Scopac Lite costs �47.50. Accessories include the Digipac at �15. Although not cheap, the finish is good and even though I've only had mine for a couple of weeks it has stood up to the stresses and strains of time in the field. The material appears to be of a good quality, so it is to be expected that this is a product that will survive the rigours that most birders will put it through. To find out more, visit the Scopac website.
The information in this article was believed correct at the time of writing. BirdGuides Ltd accepts no responsibility for errors, or for any consequences of acting on information in the article. The opinions expressed are those of the author(s) and are not necessarily shared by BirdGuides Ltd. |
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