The Best Camera Bags for Every Type of Photographer

There are so many camera bags out there, in all different shapes and sizes, ranging from purely utilitarian to haute couture in terms of fashion and toll. How exercise yous pick the i (or two, or three, or iv) that's right for yous?

There are two big questions to reply to get started. One, how much gear do you lot want to carry? Two, what kind of bag suits your needs? There all types, ranging from backpacks to sling numberless to rolling hard cases. You'll want a different bag for a hike than you will for a cross-state flying (especially if you need to gate check your gear).

To assistance you store for a camera bag, we checked out a variety from well-respected brands including Domke, Jo Totes, Lowepro, Manfrotto, Mind Shift Gear, Ona, Pinnacle Pattern, Pelican, and Think Tank Photograph. Read on for our advice on how to notice the camera bag that's right for you, or skip directly to a listing of our favorites.

The Basics: What to Look for in a Bag

Before you starting time shopping for a bag, recall about how much gear you lot want it to hold. Huge bags that carry your entire kit are great to pack in your car for a location shoot, but nosotros wouldn't desire to lug everything nosotros ain on a long, outdoor trek.

Consider the type of camera you use, and how big your lenses are. If y'all typically shoot with a full-frame SLR kit and f/ii.8 zooms, you'll need a larger pocketbook to pack the basics than someone who uses a mirrorless camera and a few small primes. Most bag companies prove images of numberless loaded upwards with gear on the spider web to help yous store without trekking to a store.

And don't forget most the accessories. If you carry lighting equipment, tripods, and microphones, you'll desire to make sure your pocketbook can accommodate them—as long every bit your ancillary equipment isn't large to the point where it requires its own case. On-camera strobes will fit nicely into a bag along with your camera, but a dedicated monolight and stand up are going to need their ain case. If you need to edit images on the go, call up to pick a bag with infinite for your laptop.

You'll also want a bag that'due south congenital to stand the test of fourth dimension and to protect your gear. Waterproof exteriors are a must—some bags include a pelting cover for monsoon-level protection—as are padded dividers to keep equipment in place and forbid damage from bumps and drops. Pretty much whatsoever name make camera pocketbook is going to deliver solid protection from the elements and the bumps and grinds of daily life.

Camera bags also differentiate themselves from more general-use backpacks and messenger bags by way of modular divider systems. Typically the dividers attach via velcro, so you can move them around to best fit what you've got packed. For difficult cases, pick-and-pluck foam is also an option, although it's best used for gear configs that don't often change as once the foam is plucked, it'due south not going to be unplucked.

On Your Dorsum: Backpacks

We see backpacks as the near versatile option for carrying your photo gear. They're available in multiple sizes, and then you tin go ane that'south proficient for a big kit or a huge one. Plus, carrying weight on your back, with two straps supporting it, is more comfy than a pocketbook with only i strap, peculiarly if information technology's fully loaded.

Most backpacks will fit under an airplane seat, so yous don't have to worry about a surprise gate check when the overhead storage is full. They also tend to include storage pockets for laptops, some other plus for travel. And nearly photo backpacks have an external mount for a tripod, and then you don't accept to carry it separately.

The downside is that you demand to remove the pack and ready it down in social club to go at your equipment. Some bags open at the outsides, and others at the underside, the portion of the purse that's normally against your dorsum. If you lot're an outdoor photographer who needs to gear up a bag downward on a dirt path or log to get at your gear the latter is a plus, equally it will stop dirt from getting on the the part of the bag that'due south up against your back.

In this category there are a few standouts that nosotros recommend. If you shoot with an SLR, nosotros like the Remember Tank Streetwalker Harddrive v2.0 ($229.75). It'south spacious, and so you can load it upward with a lot of gear, and deep enough for a gripped SLR, but not puffy to the point that it won't slide under an airplane seat. There'due south a rear pocket for a laptop up to 15 inches in size, a few exterior compartments, and three interior zippered pouches that can fit chargers and the like. The tripod holder isn't our favorite, as the legs hang down below the base of the bag, making information technology a bit of a chore to sit down to take a residue without removing the pack. But at that place'southward enough interior room to fit a folding travel tripod.

Photographers with mirrorless kits or without a lot of big lenses should look at the Lowepro One thousand-Trekker BP 150. Lowepro has been making photographic camera bags for what seems like forever, and typically delivers a quality bag for not a lot of money, but also without a lot of flair for pattern. The Thou-Trekker is available in basic black and a charcoal grayness design. At $119.95, it's a solid purchase if you've got a more than meaty kit, although the small pack doesn't hold most laptops. Information technology'll handle an iPad easily, but can only stow a 12-inch or smaller notebook.

If yous've got a bigger laptop and a mirrorless kit, await back to Think Tank and check out the Urban Approach 15. It holds a xv-inch laptop, a photographic camera body, and a couple lenses and accessories. The tripod pouch is on the side, and while it's restricted to smaller sets of legs, nosotros like the placement. At $169.75, information technology's a bit more than expensive than the M-Trekker, but if you've got a larger laptop it'southward totally worth it. We personally use the Urban Approach a lot. It's the backpack we about often choose for travel, both cross-country and day trips. There are a few things we're not fans of—information technology only has one zippered pouch outside and 2 inside, and they are all adequately tight and small-scale. But overall, information technology'due south an excellent backpack for photographers who don't need to travel with a lens bigger than your average 70-200mm zoom.

Nosotros looked at a few other backpacks that are worth your consideration. Manfrotto, a brand known for its tripods, is owned past the same company that makes Lowepro bags. Its Bumblebee series of packs can concur a lot of gear, including telephoto glass and gripped SLRs.

There's also the Pinnacle Design Everyday Backpack, available in 2 sizes, which has an interesting design with height and side access and innovative dividers that fold into different shapes to better arrange gear of different sizes. It'south a little too free-course inside for our tastes, but in that location are many photographers who absolutely swear by Superlative'south production line.

At Your Side: Messenger Bags

Hop on any commuter train and you're sure to see a lot of folks carrying messenger numberless to and from work. This style of bag has a unmarried strap, typically worn cross-torso, and a compartment that opens on the top. The messenger style is a great choice for urban street photographers and for event photographers who need quick admission to equipment for lens and bombardment swaps.

Peak Design's Everyday Messenger is one of the most popular, and stylish, numberless of this blazon. Information technology uses the aforementioned folding dividers as Height's backpack, just the more confined design of the interior means that your gear doesn't have as much room to move around. Information technology'southward available in iii colors (ash, charcoal, and tan) and two sizes—one that holds a 13-inch laptop and another for 15-inch models.

Moving from modern to archetype, the Domke F-803 is a longtime favorite. A soft canvas exterior, available in brown, green, or tan, and padded interior dividers provide plenty room for an SLR and a couple of lenses or accessories. Only unlike some other bags the F-803 is purely for cameras—there'south no laptop compartment.

Our everyday messenger bag is the Think Tank Signature 13 . It sports a fabric exterior, bachelor in slate gray or olive green, with leather straps and metal buckles. It'south big enough to hold a xiii-inch laptop forth with a full-frame camera and a couple of zoom lenses. We especially like the zippered peak and front end pouch with a cell telephone pocket that'southward big enough for a phablet. At $279.75 (or $249.75 for the smaller Signature 10) it's a pricey choice, just one that'southward made quite well.

Packing Low-cal: Small Bags

There are times when you want to carry a modest kit. There are a couple of options for smaller loads, including sized-downward shoulder numberless and sling packs, and single-strap backpacks that can slide around your body to give y'all access to your equipment without having to remove the pack from your person.

Our favorite single-camera handbag, sized for mirrorless bodies and smaller zooms or prime lenses, is the Domke F-5XB ($82.99 and upwardly). Information technology holds a total-frame or crop-sensor mirrorless camera with a curt zoom or prime number lens fastened, with enough spare room for 1 more lens or a wink.

Moving upwards just a niggling bit in size, the Mirrorless Mover from Think Tank is available in a few dissimilar sizes, merely the largest, the 30i, ($69.75) holds merely a little chip more than than the F-5XB. It's got room for a smaller total-frame SLR (upwardly to Nikon D850 size) and a lens or two, too equally an iPad. It's nonetheless quite small, merely is a fine pick for photographers who use a larger camera and desire to get out with a unmarried or dual-lens kit.

If a sling bag sounds more than appealing, nosotros tried out a couple that nosotros liked. The Tiptop Blueprint Everyday Sling is available in 5L ($99.95) and 10L ($149.95) sizes, in a black or gray finish. The 5L can hold a full-frame SLR with an attached zoom or prime, or a mirrorless photographic camera with a smaller zoom attached and a prime or two. You get a bit more than wiggle room with the larger 10L—you can stow a camera with a 70-200mm zoom attached, and there's also room for an iPad.

MindShift also has a sling in the form of its PhotoCross x ($114.99) and 13 ($129.99). Both are waterproof, mount a travel tripod externally, and tin agree an SLR with a lens attached and one or two (in the case of the 13) spare lenses. The PhotoCross 10 has a pocket for a ten-inch tablet, and the 13 fits a xiii-inch laptop.

Rolling Tough: Hard Cases and Luggage

If you demand to travel with a lot of gear—more than you tin slip into a backpack that counts as a personal item for air travel—recall about luggage. Rolling cases make it easier to movement gear through the airport and from location shoot to location shoot.

We like the behave-on friendly Lowepro Pro Roller x100 AW. It tin can stow a ton of gear, including a laptop, and has wheels and a handle to brand navigating the path from the curb through security and to your gate pleasant. About importantly, information technology has a removable interior compartment that will come up in handy for full flights. You should avoid checking your camera gear if at all possible, but sometimes overhead storage on flying is filled up earlier you're able to board. The interior tin slide under a seat, so you don't have to leave your photographic camera and lenses in the care of luggage handlers in the event of a forced gate check.

If you practise need to bank check or ship, invest in a hard case. Pelican is the first and last name yous should think of when information technology comes to tough, waterproof cases for photo and video equipment. The Pelican 1535 Air ($187.50 and up) is sized for bear-on and the 1615 Air ($255 and upwards) is larger, merely meets checked luggage requirements. Either can be outfitted with choice-and-pluck foam, dividers, or custom foam. You'll want to make sure that your equipment doesn't have any room to move around in the case before shipping it or trusting it to baggage handlers, but these bags will keep your stuff rubber while it'south in transit.

Bags for Women: Female person-Friendly Designs

Most photographic camera bags are designed to be unisex, with designs that are fairly utilitarian. But there are some companies out at that place that make numberless specifically for female photographers, keeping both the differences in body blazon and stylistic preference in mind.

Johansen and Kelly Moore both brand a range of bags designed for female photogs. Bags are bachelor in various styles, ranging from Kelly Moore'south Pilot haversack ($299), with enough space for a pro SLR, a few lenses, and a 15-inch laptop, to its pocket-size Riverdale ($79), a vegan bag that's better sized for mirrorless kits and tin can be had in blackness, red, white, or yellow.

The Jo Totes line from Johansen has a similarly broad range. The Gracie ($119), available in black, mint dark-green (seen higher up), dark purple, or tan, looks like a handbag, only has padded dividers inside to protect cameras and lenses, and gives you the option of carrying with handles or a strap.

We also like ( also from Jo) the Harbourside ($199), a messenger bag that you lot can get in black or navy blueish. Information technology'southward spacious enough for a pro wedding kit, complete with laptop storage, and certainly looks good enough to employ while photographing formal events.

Hipster Catnip: Loftier Price, High Fashion Bags

A good bag can easily set you dorsum a couple hundred bucks, but you can spend more than—a lot more than—if you want a premium bag. You lot'll typically spend more on quality leather, just the await and experience of the Ona Leather Brixton ($439) make the indulgence seem worth it. You tin get it in black, nighttime chocolate-brown, or low-cal chocolate-brown. The bag holds an SLR or mirrorless photographic camera, a few lenses, and a 13-inch laptop. If yous like its design, but aren't a fan of the price tag or leather in general, a nylon version is bachelor for $289.

For bigger jobs, the Holdfast Roamographer, bachelor in large ($725) or small ($560), is another leather affair, this one made from bison. It'due south a beautiful bag, regardless of whether you opt for the lighter or darker brown stain. The smaller version is ideal for mirrorless kits, or not-gripped SLRs with smaller lenses, while the larger 1 tin hold bigger cameras and longer glass.

If you're more than of a backpacker, Ona also has a premium option, finished in the same quality leather as its Brixton bag. The $499 Leather Hudson holds an SLR, a few lenses, and a thirteen-inch laptop. Information technology's available in black, besides as lite brown and dark brown finishes.

Get the Handbag That'due south Right for You

There are so many bags out there, you're sure to detect the one that'southward perfect for yous. But it might take some searching. Nosotros've highlighted some bags from brands we similar and trust in this piece—so if you notice another bag y'all similar from 1 of these companies, feel safe that information technology's a quality product. Of grade, we weren't able to endeavour out every bag that'south out in that location. If we missed your favorite, let us know in the comments.

And if you like one of the bags in the story, yous can find them for the lowest price through the post-obit links: