If you were to line up your camera equipment on a table, easy to see and evaluate, the first thought you’d be hit with would probably be pride at how far you’ve come as a photographer. Several lenses, maybe a go-to camera body and a second model for back-up, the collection of glass and electronics might fill the table.
Completing this display, we recommend placing a good camera bag right in the middle, ready to safely stow your gear, ready for your next assignment. Not to put too fine a point on it, that bag is your on-the-move lifeline. It doesn’t just carry your gear—it protects your investment and helps you stay organized under pressure.
Before taking a dive into the best camera bags review below, remember that this equipment collection is made of glass and delicate electro-mechanical components. They’re finely configured and easy to damage. One of our lead reviewers came from a different walk-of-life, that of a Nikon camera technician, and he has many horror stories about equipment damage; they’re easy to break and expensive to fix seems to be the main takeaway.
Stylish and lined with cushioned slots, plenty of pockets for cables, memory card and accessories, the best camera bags are unsung heroes, transporting, safeguarding and organizing your gear.
Peak Design Everyday Backpack
The Peak Design Everyday Backpack is available in 5 attractive colors, so style isn’t going to be an issue. We chose the 20L charcoal for our review, pleased at how well the broad shoulder and sternum straps delivered comfort and support. Not all of our staffers are young and strong, so this thoughtful design feature received a thankful smile or two.
Inside the minimalist form factor, three strengthened Flexfold dividers configure to suit different gear outlays. They felt rugged yet soft enough to securely hug our expensive optics. Switching to the side of the Everyday Backpack, two all-weather UltraZips guard the interior, adding side access to the top pocket access flap, which uses a reliable four-rung MagLatch system.
The camera bag snugly stored our gear, no rolling around of expensive parts was experienced, and no tiny kit pieces sank to the bottom to confound a shoot setup technician later in the day. With the side zips closed and the MagLatch hardware snapped down, the weatherproof shell defied rain and the occasional knocks that are part-and-parcel of a busy photographers’ daily activities.
Available in either 20L or 30L capacity, with snug pockets for a shoot editing laptop included, plus a leather-stitched carrying strap and exterior side pocket, the streamlined Everyday Backpack oozes style and functionality.
Billingham Hadley Pro 2020 Camera Bag
If the outsides of the Billingham Hadley Pro 2020 Camera Bag are anything to go by, accentuated with vintage leather and large stitching, the insides surely must pack a punch, too. The two strengthened buckle straps, again sporting broad stitching, unfastened smoothly, revealing an interior that formed into multiple slots, courtesy of two vertical closed-cell dividers and two horizontal flap dividers, again made out of cushioned closed-cell foam.
The comprehensive protection offered by the foam protection doesn’t seem to stop the camera bag from expanding to contain larger lenses and camera bodies. One reviewer was quick to point out how the top flap yielded and expanded upwards to accommodate larger gear. Swinging the bag around so that the front dump pockets could be inspected, they quickly opened to accept a couple of spare batteries and cables, too.
Outfitted with a rear weatherproof zip and quick-release studs above the broad buckled flap straps, the craftsmanship used to manufacture this blended canvas and leather camera bag is solid on the outside and protective on the interior, and although the top flap looks like its design is aesthetically oriented, it actually sculpts itself precisely to the bag upper lip, assuring all-weather functionality.
Available in 8 canvas and leather designs, the 6L Hadley Pro 2020 is large enough to accept most DSLRs and mirrorless camera bodies, plus all associated cables and a couple of wide angle zoom lenses. It’s the perfect match for the urban photographer on the go, someone who has an eye for design as well as gear safety. A comfortable, wide shoulder strap is included.
Tenba Axis Tactical 24L Backpack
Moving back up the capacity line, if scalability is your prime concern, check out this backpack from Tenba; it’s entirely capable of stowing away 8 lenses. The Tenba Axis Tactical 24L camera bag is a medium-capacity backpack for outdoor photographers. As such, it only comes in two colors, a night-blending black and a terrain-concealing camo pattern. This alone sets its tone as an all-terrain product, something used for landscape shoots or taking zoom stills of wild animals from a distance.
A staffer, someone notorious for his skeptical view on website specs, took it upon himself to load up the Axis Tactical with all of his outdoor photography equipment. Both of his mirrorless camera bodies fit snugly in the main compartment, followed by six lenses. He figured there was room for one more, but the combined weight of all of the gear might have been too much for his back.
No problem, the three access zippers, weatherproof of course, allowed him to shuffle around a few lenses so that everything was balanced and well-nestled. One in the rear, one in the side, and one up top, the easy-pull zippers prevented awkward fighting against unwieldy kit. Cameras and lenses are the best, well designed and optically superior in every way, but they do sometimes seem to have a will of their own when extracting them from a camera bag.
Simplifying organizational concerns, the interior of the Axis Tactical includes various MOLLE webbing pouches and slip pockets, having taken a lesson from military-spec backpack technology. Pouches and wallet-sized pockets store memory cards and batteries, adapters and filters quickly and efficiently, yet there’s no fumbling to extract them and pick up a shoot that has continued long into the late evening.
The backpack has a hidden pocket for an Airtag capsule, in the event of theft, and it features enhanced carrying comfort in the form of a high-airflow harness and dual sternum straps, for those long hikes to reach a coveted landscape viewpoint, of course.
Thinktank Airport Navigator Camera Bag
Spare a thought for the always under pressure wedding photographer or event coordinator. This professional is dealing with upset brides and fussy mothers, working hard to take the perfect couple portrait and ceremony shots. The Thinktank Airport Navigator is a premium-build camera bag on rollers. It also features the classic airport-style telescoping handle, so we could roll it over to the other end of our studio without getting a cramp in our backs.
An airport wasn’t handy, but our rough-coated studio floor made up for this shortcoming. Staffers were worried about tiny floor imperfections causing shock damage to stored camera bodies and lenses, but the bag has an excellent build, plus the rollers are highly durable. On impulse, we packed it with gear. Camera bodies were quickly retrieved using the top zipper, then the desired lens came out without fuss when the front zipper was used.
By the way, using that front zipper, the grid-like bag divider system was clearly doing an excellent job of cushioning our pride-and-joy, our 70-200mm Nikkor lens. Two flashes and a large DSLR camera body were also secured, cushioned by the camera bag with very little effort. On its widest side, the bag is 29.53” in length, so the mass of metal and glass could add up to quite a back-breaking weight. That’s when the rollers and telescoping handle came to the rescue; both of these features were plainly backed by premium materials.
Color options aren’t listed, so we assume that there’s only the plain gray. Even so, the fabric and frame are tough and durable, the capacity is big enough to store a wide array of wedding gear, and there’s even enough pocket space to store a 15” Macbook, too.
TILOPA 50L DuraDiamond Camera Bag
With its modular build qualities, the TILOPA 50L DuraDiamond camera bag makes off-trail photography fun again. Camera inserts vary from purely functional to downright extravagant, altering in size and capacity to match the bundle. We elected for the Elite Bundle, a two-pack camera insert ensemble that includes a handy rain cover. Ideal for soggy mountain hikes, the rain cover goes along with the shallow small camera insert and Pro Large Insert to round off the feature set on this roomy 50L camera bag.
Taking lunch on a short trail, our own adventuring review team took the TILOPA DuraDiamond for a spin. The weather-resistant nylon shrugged off occasional snags on trail branches, and the durable aluminum fittings refused to bow under the pressure of an irate carrying arm, which was the theme of the day as impatient hikers suffered under the heat.
For enthusiasts of all things organizational, a convenient panel of pockets and transparent pouches made cable and memory card storage a cinch. Credit cards and other small items were safely stowed away in here, providing peace of mind while we focused on our landscape shoot on a rocky outcropping. The real test, though, was in how well the camera bag handled our gear.
It has a spacious interior, is super durable, and the 50L capacity adapted to our needs without complaint. The latter feature was achieved by leaving the upper camera insert behind. That left plenty of free space for two camera bodies and our long telephoto lens, brought out for the day to satisfy our urge to flex our landscape shooting skills. This camera bag is spacious, for sure.
Available in anthracite black, cypress green, or magma red, the DuraDiamond is outfitted with strong woven-in zippers, and it’s reinforced with a lightweight aluminum frame, all the better to manipulate unwieldy loads. Internally, the inserts use a special algae-based foam to cushion lenses and cameras alike. Filled to overflowing ,there was still enough outer pocket space left to carry a large water bottle or a travel tripod.
Wandrd Rogue Sling 9L Camera Bag
The Wandrd Rogue Sling range varies in capacity from 3L to 9L. We deliberated for a bit before eventually opting for the Wandrd Rogue Sling 9L. This is the Sedona Orange variant, and there are four other canvas tones available, including pure black and Yuma Tan. Three grab handles and a comfy shoulder strap make easy work of carrying, taking muscle fatigue and back pain out of the equation.
Volunteers stepped forward for the usability evaluation section of this camera bag review. The successful candidate chose to sling the bag over a shoulder, but it could just as easily have slid over a hip with nary a complaint from the our tester of the day. Points of interest included fast camera access from the top or a front panel, the fact that it can accommodate a 16” laptop, and the even more impressive fact that it seems covered in tightly meshed zippers. Inside, outside, zippers and storage compartments abound.
Internal dividers in the Wandrd Rogue Sling are removable, a fact that makes sense in the smaller 3L and 6L capacity products. For the 9L variant, which also comes in an attractive uyuni purple, the tenacious ballistic nylon expanded to easily encompass larger lenses and camera bodies, providing cushioned gear comfort no matter the environment or carrying style.
In summary, this camera bag felt like an adaptable urban beast, complete with toughened material design and airmesh back panel. Pushed to the limit, the camera bag switched from basic water bottle carrying functionality to full-out travel tripod conveying.
Notes on Selecting a Camera Bag for Your Gear
Even if you’re rocking a single camera, a compact Nikon Z 30 and an accompanying Nikkor Z 24-200mm VR, for example, Don’t get stuck without one of our best camera bags. You’ll end up throwing yourself off balance while attempting to navigate a rough patch and taking a tumble. Buy a smaller camera bag like the Wandrd Rogue Sling 9L. If your kit is small enough, you can opt instead for a 3L or 6L bag variant. As long as your camera and lens are protected and your arms are free to aid you in getting around, that’s the point.
Still in the hiking mood, and you’ve got a travel tripod and a bottle of water to add to the equipment list? Then one of the backpacks reviewed at the top of this article would be right up your alley. You’re perhaps camping or covering a mountain biking event, or you’re heading to a popular off-the-beaten-track tourist destination that’ll take half the day to reach. The Tenba Axis Tactical 24L Backpack will neatly organize your equipment with military-like efficiency, keeping you relatively refreshed when you arrive at your final destination.
Weatherproofing is a big plus in any of these camera bags, with the addition of smoothly meshing zippers removing any potential weak link in the weather-resistance chain. Wedding photographers are mostly immune to that danger, but there’s always the chance of a heavy storm washing out an outdoor event, so even these urbane professionals should consider investing in a weatherproof camera bag. The rolling Thinktank Airport Navigator fits the bill nicely by virtue of its included rain cover.
A sudden downpour can occur at any outdoor event, and having a bag that protects your gear from the elements is invaluable. Other important selling points, in no particular order, are capacity, organizational flexibility, carrying straps and handles, multiple entry points, and the presence of extra pockets and pouches, be they internally built-in or externally fitted as tailored canvas/nylon pockets or net meshing.
Lastly, consider the aesthetics of the bag. While functionality is essential, a bag that fits your personal style is pretty important, too. Options like the Billingham Hadley Pro 2020 combine classic design with modern features, appealing to photographers who have an eye for style and class.