baggage

Alright. i need a new backpack - the straps are coming off of my current edition. i recently got a new camera, and it fills the majority of my current main compartment, anyway. i REALLY want to be able to store the camera with the lens attached, to facilitate quick shots - it's awkward having to fumble around in one's bag, make everyone wait or recreate a scene rather than grab my camera out and just take a picture. i also want to be able to carry around all of the papers and books that i currently do, as well as food and other sundry items. i don't want it to be solely a camera bag, which makes bag hacks (the use of inserts to convert a bag to one that carries a camera) really all that practical; for all intents and purposes, i currently am using a camera bag to recreate this in my own backpack.

So i've put some research into new bag acquisition. Crumpler is a brand based out of Australia, and they sell a bag (the Enthusiast) with a compartment on the bottom where you can store a fully assembled camera. The full volume of the bag, however, is only 10L, which is relatively small. Plus, it's not waterproof and the compartment always has the risk of opening up due to it's position.

i like the design of Timbuk2's Ram conversion backpack/messenger bag; i could just use my current set-up, and the side-opening compartment is a decent approximation of how i'd like the bag to open. The volume is 20L, which is pretty awesome. Plus, i'm curious about messenger bags?

Any votes?