Rugged Camera Bags for Your 2021 Photography Adventures
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Hey there, all you adventurous types of photographers! Do you need a new camera bag?
There are all kinds of bags on the market for photographers that need a go-anywhere, do-anything rig. But not all camera bags are made alike - especially those that claim to have the durability you need to stand up to your active photography pursuits.
With that in mind, you’ll be interested in these extremely rugged and useful camera bags for 2021.
Who Needs a Super Tough Camera Bag?
Photo by Alif Ngoylung on Unsplash
A lot of photographers could use a very rugged and secure way to transport their equipment. Obviously, a nature or wildlife photographer would benefit, but so would other types of photographers. A wedding or event photographer can find themselves needing their equipment protected, as could an architectural or real estate photographer.
An event photographer often finds themselves in situations that could damage gear in the blink of an eye. Being jostled and dropping your gear bag, or having it trampled on, is a nightmarish occurrence to even think about, but it happens more than you might think.
Taking pictures outside has hazards, too. You could be hiking over ice, rocks, and boulders in the wilderness, or you could be walking on asphalt, concrete, or gravel inside city limits. Indoors can be dangerous to your gear, from tile floors to wood and metal furniture to windows and doors, all of which have the potential to damage camera gear if impacted.
Really, any photographer that regularly needs to bring valuable equipment to a jobsite or photoshoot will want to consider how to protect their equipment from damage. Here are some choices for the best hard-core camera bags for adventurous photographers.
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Hazard 4® Camera Bags
Hazard 4® is a company headquartered in Southern California that makes and markets a fantastic line of bags, apparel, and other accessories for a wide variety of uses.
They make dive watches good to 300 meters, holster systems for firearms used by law enforcement and military, and luggage that could be dropped from a moving vehicle with no adverse effect to what’s inside.
If a company like this were to tackle photographic gear, it would be something useful, practical, and tough. Well, they have. Hazard 4® has an impressive line of camera accessories and bags that fit into the company line up.
Let’s examine three different styles of hardcore camera bags and discover which type will cover your own camera transport requirements.
Blastwall™ Sling Pack
The Blastwall™ Sling-Pack is a hybrid style camera bag with features of a hard shell case and a sling.
Exterior dimensions are 19.7” long by 12.2” wide by 7.5” deep, and interior capacity is 1800 cubic inches. Construction is molded foam, padding, and CoduraTM nylon. Protection is all around the bag - 360 degrees of rugged walls and padding.
Other aspects of the bag’s construction include military modular webbing (MOLLE) in the straps and on the sides of the bag, YKK® zippers that are smooth, rugged, and resistant to wear and the elements, and soft, fuzzy tricot inside to baby your gear. Reinforced stitching adds strength and durability.
The sling method of carrying is supplemented by a wide waist belt for extra comfort, because camera gear can get heavy. The patented locking roto-buckle is used on the straps and their patented photo-D-ring allows you to mount and carry extra equipment externally.
Along the exterior of the hard shell are patented Hardpoint® mounting points for additional accessories you may want to carry in the field.
The interior is separated into three areas - one side of the case is a spot for pens, memory cards, maps, and a small tablet. On the other side is a space for a laptop computer or large tablet. The main area uses modular dividers so you can configure it to your needs.
Photojournalists, travel photographers, and real estate pros can make good use of this style of rugged camera bags. It can hold quite a bit of full frame mirrorless equipment, camera and lenses, as well as mobile devices used by photographers. Smaller to medium size drones will fit, as well.
If you are on the go and ease of access is a must, this is a great camera bag for you.
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PillboxTM Day Pack
With the same dimensions as the BlastwallTM Sling Pack, the PillboxTM is designed as a daypack backpack.
Backpack straps allow the photographer to carry more weight comfortably than other styles of strapping. This makes this rugged camera bag a nice option for photographers shooting with heavier gear such as professional or prosumer DSLRs or videographers using high-end video cameras.
The same construction details of the BlastwallTM apply to this hardcore camera bag. The patented HardPointTM mounting points are also included, which lets you carry a lot of extra gear that may not need padded protection. Favorites of active photographers are the patented locking roto-buckle used on the straps and the patented photo-D-ring for attaching extra equipment.
Wildlife and sports photographers will get a lot of use out of a bag like this, as will pros transporting their gear through busy and crowded locales that are prone to theft or accidents.
AirstrikeTM Carry On Camera Bag
Around the same size, but with a different purpose in mind, the AirstrikeTM carry on style camera bag is perfect for photographers who regularly travel via the airlines.
The dimensions are designed to fit into a standard overhead luggage compartment in commercial airliners and yet still accommodate a large amount of camera gear. For easier movement through airports, train stations, and hotel aisles, the AirstrikeTM has roller wheels and an extendable handle.
One of the other changes to this bag is a larger administration panel. It’s on one side of the bag, so you can pack a larger laptop or books and other things.
The main compartment is ample size for professional camera gear and large lenses. It uses the same patented locking roto-buckle on the straps, patented photo-D-ring, and patented Hardpoint® mounting points for additional gear.
Construction materials are the same as the other two hordcore camera bags we discovered, making this roller bag great for travel and leisure photographers or any other photographer who regularly uses airlines and other forms of public transportation.
Best Camera Bags for 2021
If you want a heavy duty, very capable, hardcore camera bag that exudes rugged dependabilty, it’s hard to find any better choices of rugged camera bags for protecting your gear while keeping it easy to access than those outlined above.
I’ve personally used Hazard 4® bags and can attest to the quality of the construction, the functionality of their design, and the high level of functionality that these bags offer.
If I’m headed into an extreme situation like harsh weather as I’m photographing landscapes, there is no company I trust more to protect my gear than Hazard 4®!
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