How to Keep Your Photography Gear Safe When Traveling
I don't know about you, but I love to travel.
What I don't love, though, is worrying about my gear when I'm on the road.
Over the years I've learned a few ways that make traveling with photography gear an easier and less worrisome task.
Here's a few of my favorite tips for doing just that.
Do an Inventory of Everything You Take
I know that doing an inventory of your gear falls squarely into the "that's incredibly boring" category, but it's a necessary step.
Why?
Well, for starters, if you have a lot of gear, an inventory will help ensure you don't forget something along the way. You'd be surprised how a pancake lens can hide in plain sight in a hotel room...
What's more, by photographing every bit of gear you have and writing down the serial numbers, you have a means of identifying gear as yours should you lose it, or God forbid it gets stolen.
Print out your inventory list and leave a copy at home with a friend or family member and take a copy of it with you as well.
That list could prove the difference-maker when it comes to identifying and claiming lost or stolen gear.
Editor's Tip: Don't always trust in-room safes at your hotel. If need be, visit the front desk and ask that your gear be put in the main safe.
Take Less Gear
Another great way to ensure you keep your gear safe and sound is to simply take less stuff.
After all, the less gear you have to keep track of, the lesser the likelihood that something gets lost or stolen.
I know it can be hard to thin the herd of gear before a trip, though.
What I've found helpful is to focus on gear that can serve multiple purposes while saving space.
For example, when I travel, I take my Sony a6300, a 50mm lens, and a 24-70mm lens.
The a6300 body is small and compact, saving me tons of space that my Nikon D850 body would take up in my bag.
The 50mm lens is also small and compact, yet versatile, so I can tackle anything from indoor architecture shots in dim lighting to landscapes at Golden Hour.
And, of course, a 24-70mm zoom gives me the flexibility of focal length that's so important when you travel and photograph different subjects.
Not only does this basic kit serve me well on my travels, but it's less weight for me to carry around, too. It's a win-win!
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Invest in a Quality Camera Bag
Aside from the obvious benefit that a camera bag provides in the organization department - keeping all your gear in its own little cubby or pocket - there's another feature of camera bags that's vitally important - safety.
And there's two parts to this safety issue.
First, a camera bag offers your gear the padding needed to prevent damage in transit.
Whether your bag is in the overhead compartment on a plane or on your back as you make your way through busy streets, having a fully padded bag with fully padded interior compartments gives you the peace of mind that your gear will make it to your destination in one piece.
The second part of this safety issue is that with a bag that doesn't scream "camera bag," you're less likely to fall victim to thieves.
There are tons of awesome bags available today that fit the bill for safety on both fronts.
But for me, Vanguard's bags are at the top of the list.
Take the Havana 41 Backpack by Vanguard as a perfect example.
It looks like any regular backpack, so people walking by would have no idea that you have thousands of dollars of photography gear inside.
Speaking of the inside, this thing is loaded for bear with features you'll appreciate.
That includes room for a camera with a lens attached, 1-2 additional lenses, a flash, and a 13-inch laptop with room to spare.
The removable padded insert keeps your gear safe and organized, and when you take an outing without your gear, you can simply remove the insert and use the bag as a normal backpack.
It's easy to carry, too.
The Havana 41 has padded shoulder straps, a padded back, and a padded harness.
You can carry a small tripod on the exterior of the bag, if needed, and if it starts to rain - no worry. It has an integrated total coverage rain cover.
In other words, a bag like this is one of the best investments you can make for traveling with your gear.
It'll keep your gear safe while keeping you comfortable. What more can you ask for?
