Cameras present a unique challenge in the backcountry or on an adventure. They’re often heavier, always more expensive, and usually more fragile than any other outdoor gear you’re hauling around (including your phone). That means you need a trustworthy camera bag that carries exceptionally well, is easy to access, protects your gear from drops, falls, and the elements, and is designed well so you can keep everything organized.
That’s a high bar to clear, so the list below of my favorite camera bags for adventure and travel is a long time coming. It’s the result of my work as a photographer over the past 20 years, where I’ve shot assignments in a wide variety of locations—everywhere from the Middle East to the summit of several 14ers across Colorado. As a gear tester for Outside over the past 10-plus years I’ve made a point to get my hands on every camera bag I could in search of the best. Here are my favorite camera bags for photographers on the go.
At a Glance
- Best Photo Backpack: Shimoda Action X50 v2 ($350) with Medium Mirrorless V2 Core Unit ($75)
- Best Photo Sling: Peak Design Outdoor Sling ($90) with X-Small Camera Cube ($50)
- Best Old-School Camera Bag: Mountainsmith Day Lumbar Pack ($105) with Peak Design Camera Cube V2 Size Small ($60)
- Best Lightweight Backpack: F-Stop Loka 37L – Ultra Light ($150) with Slope Medium Interchangeable Camera Unit ($90)
- How to Choose a Camera Bag
- How I Tested
Best Photo Backpack
Shimoda Action X50 v2 with Medium Mirrorless V2 Core Unit
$350 at Shimoda (Pack) $75 at Shimoda (Core unit)
Outside dimensions: 22” x 11.8” x 7.9”
Pros and Cons
⊕ Carries well when loaded down
⊕ Nearly indestructible
⊕ Feature-rich
⊗ Heavy
⊗ Expensive
Designed specifically for backcountry photographers who spend a lot of time outside, the X50 v2 comes with all the features you’ll want while off the grid and trying to lug around a bunch of heavy and expensive cameras and lenses. Most important: The bag carries exceptionally well thanks to an adjustable shoulder harness that you can dial to your exact torso height. That’s matched with a sturdy, padded, and breathable hipbelt that takes most of the weight off your shoulders and makes it possible to carry 30 to 40 pounds of gear for extended periods of time on long trails.
A photographer friend turned me onto Shimoda about five years ago after I spent a miserable day carrying cameras for 15 miles without the right pack and walked away with a sore and tired back. I’ve been a big fan of their carry system ever since and was excited to see them launch the v2 that improved on an already bomber design.
Inside, the bag can carry two mirrorless/DSLR bodies and two pro-quality lenses via the medium camera cube or “core unit.” You can access your cameras two ways: a backpanel that splays open to provide a full view of your gear, or a side zipper that you can reach when you still have the bag slung over one shoulder. The core unit comes with a little padding so nothing will get damaged when you’re bouncing around on skis or a bike, and like all camera cubes, it’s infinitely adjustable so you can carry your exact camera setup. Two padded laptop sleeves each fit up a 16-inch MacBook Pro.
What I love most, however, is the rolltop pocket on top of the X50. Out on the trail, or when you’re chasing skiers in the snow, you have to carry all your outdoor gear in addition to cameras. This pocket is perfect for stashing extra layers, lunch, and anything else you’ll need to spend the day outside. Most other photo bags forget this pocket, forcing you to squeeze jackets, gloves, inReach devices, and more wherever they’ll fit.
Straps on the outside allow you to carry skis, ice axes, and tripods, and the bag also comes standard with a mesh helmet-carry strap, a water bottle holder, and a pocket on the front strap where you can store your phone. A waterproof cover deploys easily when it’s dumping rain or snow and gives you peace of mind that your very expensive cameras and laptop will stay dry—even if you have several hours to go before you’re back at the car.
Unfortunately, all these features come with a bit of a weight penalty—the bag comes in at 4.6 pounds on its own. I can attest to the fact that nearly five pounds makes a difference during a daylong slog and have often wished for a more feathery build. Add on a $425 price tag (with the camera cube included) and you definitely narrow the customer field. But even with those penalties, the X50 v2 is still the best bag, by far, for those of us who have to carry lots of camera weight and outdoor gear for long periods of time.
Best Photo Sling
Peak Design Outdoor Sling with X-Small Camera Cube
$90 at Peak Design (Sling) $50 at Peak Design (Cube)
Outside dimensions: 13.58″ x 8.46″ x 4.13″
Pros and Cons
⊕ Doesn’t scream “camera bag”
⊕ Great on a bike
⊕ Light
⊗ Doesn’t come with a camera cube included
If you’re just carrying one camera and one lens and want to move fast, this is your bag. It’s big enough to fit a mirrorless/DSLR and a smaller lens like a 35mm f1.4, but is even better suited to smaller cameras like the Sony A7CII or the splurge-worthy Leica Q3 43. You’ll need to buy a Peak Design Camera Cube as well ($50, not included), but the bag and cube work perfectly together and create a snug and protective spot for your pricey camera.
I like the Photo Sling for when I’m trying to move fast and follow athletes, either on bike or on foot. I’ve ridden with it and loved how easily I can bring it around from my back to my chest, unzip it, and access the camera, all with only one hand. I also appreciated how snug it fit to my back while chasing my daughter around a cross-country meet.
The bag weighs a feathery .74 pounds but is still feature-rich, with a quick-adjust shoulder strap that can be worked with one hand, several internal pockets that hold a large phone, keys, camera cards, and other knickknacks, and a burly 210-denier ripstop nylon exterior that comes with a PFAS-free water resistance treatment and is matched with weatherproof zippers. The bag is not water tight, but it effectively shrugs off light rain and snow.
Two elastic and adjustable gear cords at the bottom of the pack hold a small tripod, a jacket, or a water bottle so that you can bring the accessories you need to stay out for several hours of shooting.
Best Old-School Camera Bag
Mountainsmith Day Lumbar Pack with Peak Design Camera Cube V2 Size Small
$105 at Mountainsmith (Pack) $60 at Peak Design (Cube)
Outside dimensions: 13” x 12” x 6”
Pros and Cons
⊕ Bombproof
⊕ Sits well on your hips and your stomach
⊕ Well featured
⊗ The top zipper doesn’t splay open wide enough
Next time you’re at an event where there’s a pack of photojournalists—a football game, ribbon cutting, graduation—look at what bag those photographers are using. I bet you’ll spot at least one Mountainsmith Lumbar Pack in the crowd that shows the patina of hundreds of assignments and years of abuse.
The Lumbar Pack is not an actual camera bag, but it became a thing with photojournalists (photographers who work at newspapers and magazines) some 20 or so years ago. Back then, the camera bag market was much smaller—there weren’t many options if you didn’t want to haul around a full backpack.
By combining a camera cube with the Lumbar Pack, you have a bag that’s big enough to carry a body and at least two lenses, can swing around to your stomach for easy access, comes with a comfy shoulder strap, and is stacked with important accessories like two huge pockets on the sides for things like a water bottle, extra layer, or reporter notebooks.
I realized the Mountainsmith Lumbar Pack was a great camera bag all the way back in 2005, when I was a photo intern at a paper in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and was trying to copy all the staff photographers who already had one. I found that it was the perfect grab-and-go option for running from assignment to assignment. One ding: If I’m trying to wrench a camera out in just a few seconds, a wider opening on the zippered top would be nice.
Today, several companies make a number of well-designed photo bags that are a similar size, but I’m still a fan of this old-school favorite because it’s such a proven workhorse. It’s made from 420-denier ripstop nylon and comes with bombproof YKK zippers, making it burly enough to survive years of hard abuse. I’ve had several Lumbar Packs over the years, but my current one, which I’ve had for more than five years, barely looks like it’s broken in.
Best Lightweight Backpack
F-Stop Loka 37L – Ultra Light with Slope Medium Interchangeable Camera Unit
$150 at F-Stop (Pack) $90 at Amazon (Camera unit)
Outside dimensions: 22” x 12.5” x 11”
Pros and Cons
⊕ Light
⊕ Sleek design
⊗ Not as comfortable for heavy loads
⊗ Flashy colorway
When you’re trying to climb 5,000 feet of vert or hike 20 miles with camera gear on your back, every pound matters. And at just 2.7 pounds, the Loka is light yet packed with features and comfortable to carry even when loaded down with electronics.
Like the Shimoda bag, the Loka is big enough to haul two mirrorless/DSLR bodies and two pro-quality lenses. You access your gear through a back panel that splays open, or you can pull the entire camera cube insert out through the top zip pocket. An external pocket on the front and two on the sides will hold a water bottle, a small rain jacket, and other daily items. An internal sleeve stores a large laptop, but it’s not padded, so you’ll need to cover your computer with its own protection.
The Loka is not as feature-rich as the Shimoda pack (no roll top for example), and the harness system is not quite as robust, but I’ve carried 30 pounds in the Loka for an entire day and never had any major problems. You can strap skis on the Loka, but I’d be hesitant to carry a full load of cameras plus outdoor gear because the harness is not designed for an extra heavy load. I’ve come to think of the Loka as a bag that I use for big day trips that don’t last more than 12 hours. If I’m traveling or on a multi-day trip, I reach for the Shimoda.
Style-wise, I’m a fan of the clean lines on the Loka because there aren’t many straps or doodads that will get stuck on trees or ripped off if I’m trying to squeeze through a slot canyon. But the baby blue straps are annoying out in public and scream “look at me,” which is not something I want when traveling with cameras.
How to Choose a Camera Bag
Don’t put the cart before the horse when it comes to camera bags. And by that I mean: Don’t buy a camera bag until you’ve figured out your ideal camera setup. Do you need two mirrorless cameras so that you can easily switch between a wide-angle and zoom lens during high-octane shoots? Do you only use one mirrorless camera and a 24-70mm lens? Are you a Leica fan? Once you’ve determined what gear you’ll haul most often, then you can get the bag.
Camera Backpacks vs. Smaller Camera Bags vs. Camera Slings
If you want to haul two cameras, look for bigger bags, like the offerings from Shimoda and F-stop. The companies also make larger bags that fit three cameras or a giant 300mm f/2.8 lens.
If you just have one mirrorless camera and a couple lenses, you may still want to shop for a backpack because it will always carry better than a sling or waist pack, and mirrorless cameras and lenses get heavy, quick. There are smaller 20- and 30-liter options from Shimoda and F-Stop that are well-liked by many photographers. If you’re just shooting with a Leica, or a smaller camera, then you don’t need a fully-featured backpack and will be fine with a sling.
If you can afford it, I would recommend that all mirrorless/DSLR shooters get a sling or hip bag in addition to a backpack. There are going to be instances where you just want to haul one camera and one lens so that you can move as quickly as possible, and these smaller bags will be much less cumbersome and easier to access on the go.
What to Look for in a Camera Bag
Start by choosing a bag that’s the right size for your current setup plus a little extra space, so you can haul a few more lenses or bodies when you invest in new gear. Next, look at how the bag is designed for access. Some bags, like a hip pack, allow for access on the go but won’t carry as much gear as a backpack. Most backpacks have to come off your body if you want to really dig through your gear. An included camera cube is nice but not a dealbreaker, as you can always add your own.
Extra pockets are more important than you think because your bag has to carry more than just cameras. If you’re going out for long periods of time, you’ll need a bag that comfortably carries water, food, extra layers, and a first-aid kit. Even bags that are just meant for a quick assignment need well-thought-out pockets because you’ll still need access to water, snacks, and your everyday carry.
If you plan to shoot photos in remote places where it rains or snows a lot, make sure the bag comes with a waterproof cover. Larger backpacks like the Shimoda come with a rainfly that’s easy to deploy and covers the entire bag, so you can hike out in a total downpour and be confident that $10,000 worth of gear won’t get ruined.
How I Tested
Camera people tend to be gear geeks. We love dialing in our setup and chasing down the newest and best thing that will help us capture a stunning image. That means it’s easy to also be obsessed with camera bags. If we’re going to spend lots of time figuring out what cameras to use, we’ll gladly spend a similar amount of time figuring out how to carry everything around.
I’ve probably touched, tested, and trashed well over 40 camera bags to find the ideal setup over the past two decades. Testing highlights include several trips to the Middle East where I was loaded down with cameras and audio gear, events like Overland Expo West in Flagstaff, Arizona, where I walked 20 miles chasing down a gallery of the most creative rigs, many days in the Sangre de Cristo mountains north of Santa Fe, New Mexico, where I took cameras backpacking and skiing, and long bike rides around Albuquerque where I was constantly trying to find the best way to carry a camera on a bike.
After testing so many different bags, engineering has become my number one priority. Is it obvious that the company built the bag with a real photographer in mind, and can I tell that the designers wanted to find smart and helpful ways to allow photographers to carry their gear—no matter the terrain? Is the bag designed so that it will carry anything comfortably? This usually comes down to a great harness that can handle weight, durable materials that can take a beating, an easy-to-access main compartment, and accessory straps and pockets that will carry extra gear.
If a bag didn’t meet my needs, it immediately got rejected. That’s a privilege I have as a gear tester, but also a commitment to the work of testing. I knew the camera bags were constantly evolving as photography exploded in popularity and I wanted to work through the pile in order to find the bags that worked best for those of us who love to travel and explore.
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