Your shiny new DSLR or mirrorless camera is going to have its golden hours in your hands, capturing life's little moments, the stunning scenery of your adventures, or letting you make some cash snapping the photos that others can't. But when the shutter is closed, the power is off, and the lens cap is on, the last place you need your hefty photographic investment is left hanging around your neck. Even if your camera is built to handle harsh environments, you'll be doing it a disservice by not keeping it in a camera bag when you're not shooting.
A great camera bag isn't just going to keep your camera safe, but it can even help you be a more effective photographer. The best camera bags give you easy access to your gear, so you can get it out and get shooting quickly. They also neatly organize the storage for all your other camera essentials. No more rifling through a duffle bag to find your 50mm prime lens or for an extra battery that has sunk to the bottom of your pack. Handy compartments make your camera gear more organized, better protected, and easier to access. So, forget about keeping your camera dangling by a strap or jammed in a traditional backpack, and keep it safe instead. These camera bags will protect and organize your camera equipment, so you can focus on getting the shot.
TL;DR – These are the Best Camera Bags
- Peak Design Everyday Messenger 13L V2V
- AmazonBasics Backpack
- Wandrd Prvke Lite
- Ona Brixton Bag
- Peak Design Everyday Backpack 20L V2
- Moment 10L Camera Sling Bag
- Wandrd Duo Daypack
- Brevite Jumper
- LowePro ProTactic 450 AW II
- Nomatic McKinnon Camera Pack
1. Peak Design Everyday Messenger 13L v2
Best Camera Bag
A great camera bag needs to protect and organize your gear while also keeping it all readily accessible. You should be able to change out lenses quickly without worrying about dropping dust covers or worse – dropping lenses. So, when it comes to a bag that's ready for your camera gear, the Peak Design Everyday Messenger 13L V2 is a top option.
The messenger bag style lets you throw it behind your back when you're on the move between shooting locations, but it can just as easily live at your hip when you are in the thick of it. Magnetic latching hardware makes accessing gear in the bag easy to do with one hand, and FlexFold dividers will let you organize your equipment. There's also room to hold up to a 15-inch laptop, so you can bring your editing equipment with you. And, with a weatherproof exterior and zippers, the bag can keep your gear safe from the elements.
2. AmazonBasics Backpack
Best Budget Camera Bag
Some camera bags get so fancy and robust that they can cost as much as you might be spending on your lenses and other kit accessories. If you just need something that’ll keep a few pieces of kit protected and organized while you’re on the move, the AmazonBasics Backpack has you covered. This bag costs under $70, and Amazon is even throwing in a 25-to-60-inch tripod with its own small carrying sleeve. An elastic cord on the outside of the backpack can let you carry that tripod without having to sacrifice interior space, too.
The backpack itself is ready for your camera equipment. It’s not just some basic backpack. It actually includes an assortment of removable organizers that help you keep lenses in order and safe from bumping into one another. It also has two zippered pockets inside, a large outside zippered pocket, and side pockets. It is a pretty compact backpack, though, so don’t plan on fitting a larger laptop into it, though you may have some luck with smaller ultrabooks.
3. Wandrd Prvke Lite
Best Compact Camera Bag
The Wandrd Prvke Lite knows how to keep it tight. A big bag can be great when you've got a lot of gear, but it may not be your favorite on a day you're traveling a little lighter. The Wandrd Prvke Lite starts compact, but also offers a degree of expandability that gives you more flexibility.
The main 11-liter compartment of the Wandrd Prvke Lite can hold a decent bit of kit with room for a camera (lens attached) and several more lenses, batteries, and a charger. It's also got a large laptop sleeve. If you need more space, the roll-top closure can be left open for another 5L of space. The side also has space for a water bottle or tripod in a pocket that stays flush to the bag while empty. You can also attach gear to the bottom of the bag with accessory straps. Naturally, the bag comes with a ton of organization options for all of this gear, and it protects it all with cushions and water-resistant materials.
4. Ona Brixton Bag
Best Leather Camera Bag
For the more style-conscious among you, the Ona offers camera protection wrapped in high-quality leather. It’s one of the more compact bags on our list, but still big enough to hold a DSLR, three lenses, plus accessories.
There’s space for a 13-inch laptop, while the rear open slip pocket will take a 10-inch tablet. It will, however, get quite heavy should you max out all that space. A bag for the photographer who wants to be photographed, but not a great choice if you plan to be out in the rain.
A little out of your price range? A bit bigger than you need. Ona’s Bowery bag still exhibits plenty of style.
5. Peak Design Everyday Backpack 20L V2
Best Camera Backpack
If you prefer to keep our camera gear stored on your back, then you'll want the Peak Design Everyday Backpack 20L V2. This backpack has plenty of room for camera gear without getting overly bulky, and it includes FlexFold dividers you can use to compartmentalize your different pieces of kit. The top flap of this backpack gives you easy access to your gear, and can expand the backpack an extra three liters. Meanwhile, side zippers will let you go straight to whatever's packed at the bottom of your backpack without having to dig through everything else.
Your camera gear is protected in this backpack as well, as it uses a DWR-impregnated 400D nylon for most of its construction and 900D nylon for the bottom, helping keep water away from your equipment. Carry straps on the outside of the backpack will let you bring even more stuff with you without needing to cram it in next to your gear. And, there are plenty of comfort features to make this a good companion on long, adventurous days of shooting.
6. Moment 10L Camera Sling Bag
Best Camera Sling Bag
Backpacks are great and all, but if you're serious about shooting, it can be helpful to have easier access to all your camera gear while you're on the move. The Moment 10L is a sling back built for the job. It's designed for easy top-down access to all of your gear, and you can use it just as easily slung on either side of your body.
The Moment 10L will help you organize and access your gear just as much as it'll help you protect it all. The bag is designed with a waterproof material and water-resistant zippers, keeping the elements out. Padding will also let your gear stay safe, so you don't have to worry about the bag bouncing around on your hip or the occasional bump.
7. Wandrd Duo Daypack
Best Camera Laptop Backpack
The Wandrd Duo daypack looks like a fairly typical backpack from the outside, but once you pop it open, you'll see just how cleverly it was designed for the on-the-go photographer. This backpack offers up 20 liters of storage space that's split up into a host of pockets and sleeves to store your most vital camera gear.
At the base, you'll get a long compartment that can hold a hefty DSLR camera as well as a long zoom lens or two. Additional pockets above that can hold more lenses or a flash. There are also sidewall pockets to hold even more gear. Topping it off, there's a laptop sleeve that can fit even a 16-inch MacBook Pro. All that's wrapped inside of a weather-resistant shell to keep your gear safe between shoots.
8. Brevite Jumper
Best Convertible Camera Bag
Some of us want a solid bag to take all our camera gear out on excursions but only need it from time to time. In that case, the Brevite Jumper provides a bag that’s just as ready to hold all our camera kit as it is to ditch the camera gear and serve as a general daypack.
The Brevite Jumper is a straightforward enough 18L backpack with room for a solid selection of gear. It can hold a full-frame DSLR camera, a number of lenses (including that big honker of a 300mm you might have for extreme zoom), a 15-inch laptop, and some other general items you might need throughout the day. It features removable dividers to keep gear separated and organized, and a front flap provides easy access to your kit. When you don’t need the camera gear, you can remove the dividers and just have a larger space inside. All your gear will be protected by the 600D polyester exterior which is water-resistant against light rain.
9. LowePro ProTactic 450 AW II
Best High-Capacity Camera Bag
Casual photogs may be able to get away with a small pack, and you might want a light bag for a day of shooting. But, if you're straying far from home base and have a lot of kit you need to take with you, then you'll want the LowePro ProTactic 450 AW II. That may be a mouthful of a name, but the product will give you a bag-full of gear. It's also built with protective padding all around as well as a weather cover, ensuring that gear is safe inside.
The backpack is designed with sleeves and compartments galore as well as modular dividers you can use to customize the space inside for the gear you need. The backpack can readily fit two thick camera bodies and a handful of lenses while the smaller pockets will readily store your filters, lens cleaning tools, and memory card. This bag also has room for a 15-inch laptop inside. That's all just what you can put inside. The back features a molle system like you'd find on military-style backpacks, letting you attach any number of items or pouches to the exterior of the bag.
10. Nomatic McKinnon Camera Pack
Best Camera Bag for Travel
If you’re doing some serious travelling, a small camera bag might not cut it. So, when you’ve got to bring a bunch of gear with you on a long trip, the Nomatic McKinnon Camera Pack should be your pick. This bag goes big with a 35-liter capacity that can stretch to 42 liters using a special expansion area ideal for packing extra clothes.
Inside, the Nomatic McKinnon Camera Pack has a special compartment for all your camera gear with dividers to help keep everything organized. There’s also a handy side opening that lets you get your camera into and out of the bag without having to fully open it. There’s a similar laptop pocket as well that can fit up to 15-inch models. Making the whole package that much more convenient for travel, it’s built with sturdy aluminum stays for structural integrity, a luggage handle pass through to attach it to a rolling suitcase, and a water resistant outer material.
Camera bags: What should you look for?
Backpacks: Camera bags come in all sorts of shapes and sizes. Backpacks aren’t as good for easy access, but they often provide better protection. They’re also often more spacious than messenger and shoulder bags, and distribute weight across two shoulders, making them a better choice for bigger excursions.
Messenger/shoulder bags: These bags have just one strap, which means all the weight is put on one shoulder. The benefit here is access: it’s easier to grab your camera and accessories in a flash, making them perfect for the type of photography where time is of the essence. However, they’re not as good for big outdoor trips where you’re carrying a lot of gear.
How many compartments do you need? When browsing camera bags you’ll see details of dimensions and the number of compartments. How much space you need comes down to how much gear you have and how you plan to travel. You may only have one camera, but if you like to carry around a lot of lenses, make sure the bag can hold them all. Some bags also come with modular compartments, so you can rearrange according to your needs.
Hugh Langley is a tech journalist who’s fascinated by wearables, health tech, the smart home, and more. You can find him tweeting (often nonsense) over at @hughlangley.
