Form Meets Function With These Beautiful Camera Bags
I’ve been getting more and more questions about where photographers should start to travel this year, and I for one cannot be more excited for my first photography trip.
However, with photography trips come tricky problems, one of which is learning how to travel with camera gear on a plane. Traveling with photography gear is a lot harder than you may think, at least without the right equipment. This is exactly why I tried to find some beautiful camera bags for your next trip that are as functional as they are aesthetic.
I think I did a pretty good job with the five bags I found. If you’re planning on traveling with photography gear in 2021, then you need to check them out.
Holdfast Roamographer Leather Camera Bag
Air travel with photography equipment is stressful. The first reason this is stressful is that you have to make sure that you are traveling with photography gear in tow. If you choose a camera bag that is too large, then it may have to travel under the plane.
Since we all know luggage gets really beat up in cargo, you want to avoid this at all costs. It’s one of the reasons I recommend the Holdfast Roamographer Leather Camera Bag. It is small enough to work easily as a carry on, while being large enough to fit all of your camera gear you could need for a longer trip.
This bag comes in two sizes, the small and the regular. If you own a mirrorless camera, then you can opt for the smaller size, which measures 14.5” x 9” x 8”. However, if you own a DSLR, then you should opt for the larger size, which measures 18” x 14” x 10”. Both of these should work fine as a carry on.
Every Holdfast leather bag comes with a lifetime guarantee, which means that this could be the last camera bag you ever have to purchase. It is made out of American Bison leather, which means it only gets better with age. This bag comes in two colors, dark chocolate or brown, and has a very vintage aesthetic.
You can purchase it in small for $610 or in regular for $725.
Gillis London Trafalgar Leather Camera Bag
Traveling with photography gear no longer has to be stressful, especially if you buy the Gillis London Trafalgar Leather Camera Bag for short weekend trips.
Now, this camera bag is smaller than the Holdfast Roamographer, so you shouldn’t expect to fit as much in it. It measures 11” x 8” x 5”, which makes it perfect to carry your camera and a single lens. For this reason, I think it works beautifully for day trips or for short weekend trips. It also works really well if you are a cheap traveller, like me, who would rather buy a plane ticket without any overhead storage. It will fit very easily under the seat in front of you.
The Gillis London Trafalgar Leather Camera Bag is $280, and will make traveling with photography gear a breeze.
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Kelly Moore Bag Kelly Boy 2.0
One of my favorite tips for flying with camera gear is to make your bag look as nondescript as possible. While I do have some camera bags on this list that clearly look like camera bags, like the Oberwerth bag below, I don’t personally own any camera bags that couldn’t be mistaken for regular luggage. If I’m carrying over $5,000 of gear, I don’t want anyone else knowing that.
This is why I love the Kelly Moore Bag Kelly Boy 2.0. It makes traveling with photography gear simple because it looks like it probably holds some clothing and toiletries.
It’s also large enough to hold your DSLR, along with 2 or 3 lenses, a 13” laptop, and a flash. It is made of leather, so it only gets better with age.
The Kelly Moore Bag Kelly Boy 2.0 is available on B&H for $360.
Oberwerth 158 Bag
I know that I said whenever you’re traveling with photography gear you should make it look like you aren’t...and I stand by this, but the Oberwerth 158 Bag is so sleek I had to include it.
Now, it goes without saying that I won’t be traveling with photography gear internationally with this Oberwerth bag, since it looks so expensive, but if you’re a photographer who does a lot of domestic traveling with photography gear, this bag could be perfect for you.
The Oberwerth 158 Bag is made out of a reddish leather. Oberwerth specifically makes camera bags for Leica. This one looks like a vintage bag. It measures 10” x 8” x 4” and can carry a DSLR, 1-2 lenses, and an iPad Mini or a smartphone.
It is currently on B&H for $650.
Barber Shop Medium Messenger Bob Cut Camera Bag
The final bag that I recommend for traveling with photography gear is the Barber Shop Medium Messenger Bag.
This messenger bag has a similar vintage look to the rest of the bags on this list. It is also made out of leather and can carry a DSLR, along with 2-3 lenses and a 13” laptop. One unique feature on this bag is the fact that it comes with twin leather top handles or a shoulder strap, so it’s super simple to haul around an airport.
The Barber Shop Medium Messenger Bag measures 14” x 10” x 5” and is available on B&H for $600.
