Top Photography Travel Bags
- Shimoda Designs – EXPLORE 40
- Lowepro Tactic 450 AW II Camera Backpack
- Peak Design Everyday Sling Bag
photo by lindsay_imagery via iStock
Photography travel bags come in all shapes and sizes and it can be almost impossible to decide which one is the best for you! No worries, that’s why this article is here!
The first thing you need to decide is how much space you need. Once you’ve figured that out, it’s time to start researching bags!
Are you a hobbyist who travels with a camera and a spare lens? A small backpack, holster case, or messenger bag might work great for you.
Or, are you a professional traveling with multiple cameras and a ton of super expensive photography equipment? If that’s the case you will probably want to opt for a larger and more protective bag like a roller case, sturdy duffel bag, or hard case.
Are you somewhere in between, don’t stress there are amazing bags for you too! Let’s take a deeper look at some of the top photography travel bags and see if any of them fit what you are looking for.
Top Photography Travel Bags: Backpack
The Peak Design 45L Travel Backpack is the newest bag from one of the most innovative photography companies in the world. It was designed with the knowledge that “no two trips are the same,” and it’s one of the most versatile photography travel bags ever created!
It expands and collapses to meet your exact needs as a traveler, converting from a sleek 35L bag that meets all carry-on requirements, to a more robust 45L bag that safely stores tons of gear! The shoulder straps and hip belt can even be tucked away in order for the backpack to be as compact as possible when needed.
Internally, the main compartment is fully customizable thanks to a zippered mesh sleeve that can be arranged however you prefer, and you can access the bag through zippers at the top, front, rear, and sides of the pack.
If all that wasn’t enough, the pack's shell is made out of weatherproof 100% recycled 400D nylon. Who wouldn’t want this fabulous eco-friendly backpack?! There’s no doubt in my mind this is the best photography travel backpack on the market today!
Top Photography Travel Bags: Roller Bag
The Manfrotto Pro Light Reloader Switch-55 is the top travel photography bag for those of you who want a bag with wheels! This bag was designed for professionals, by the professionals at Manfrotto.
It’s one of the most spacious photography travel bags I’ve come across, and comes with 14 adjustable spacers so you can perfectly customize it according to your kit. It easily stores two camera bodies and four or five lenses, with plenty of space leftover for extra gear.
One of the coolest features of this photography roller bag is the fact that it has the ability to transform into a backpack when needed! From the airport to the beach, this photography travel bag can go anywhere!
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Top Photography Travel Bags: Messenger Bag
The Lowepro ProTactic MG 160 AW II is a fantastic photography travel bag for those who want quick and easy access to their camera gear. This messenger bag can be worn one of three ways, and fits all the photography essentials you need when out shooting.
If you like exploring cities by foot or by bike, this is the photography travel bag for you! It can be secured with a stabilizing strap when biking in order to keep everything nice and snug, but at the same time it’s still super easy to get in and out of whenever you want to stop and snap a quick photo or video.
It’s small enough to be carried on an airplane as additional handheld luggage, or it can be packed into a larger checked bag when flying. There's lots of padding inside the bag so if you do decide to pack it into another bag, all of your gear will be fully protected even if it’s a bumpy flight.
Top Photography Travel Bags: Duffel Bag
The WANDRD Hexad Carryall Travel Duffel Bag is one of the best photography travel bags in circulation if you love the ease of traveling with a duffel bag. While technically it’s not a bag made specifically for photography, it turns into one with the help of WANDRD’s camera cubes (or any other camera cubes for that matter!).
With the camera cubes, you can choose to dedicate as much or as little space as you need for your photography gear, while using the rest of this huge bag to pack all your other travel essentials. The padded laptop sleeve at the top of the bag is also a terrific feature.
I absolutely love this photography travel bag because we all know that 100% of the time we aren’t traveling for photography, and there are times when we inevitably need to leave the camera behind. In that situation, you can remove the camera cubes and have a giant space to throw in whatever you may be bringing on a given trip!
Top Photography Travel Bags: Holster Bag
The MindShift Gear OutBound Holster 20 is unquestionably my favorite holster photography travel bag! Unlike many small camera bags, this bag is incredibly diverse and can be mounted in five different locations: front, shoulder, chest, key, and belt. It can even easily be attached to a backpack using the included straps!
The OutBound Holster 20 is built to house a camera with a standard lens attached, as well as one additional zoom lens, or two prime lenses. If you like traveling light, this is an excellent choice!
Furthermore, it has an expandable front pocket, it stands on its own, and it has a built-in raincover.
Top Photography Travel Bags: Hard Case
If total protection is what you desire most, the Pelican Air 1485 is the best photography travel case! If you are traveling with super expensive cameras and lenses, such as cinema equipment, I would always recommend using one of these when traveling.
It comes with foam inside which you can cut to perfectly fit your gear and make sure it never budges. On top of that, it’s constructed out of heavy-duty plastic that can handle the roughest and most extreme situations.
Just in case you needed more convincing, it’s also dust and shock resistant and has an automatic “bleed valve” which ensures the air pressure inside the case is never out of balance.
More Top Photography Travel Bags
photo by brytta via iStock
If you still aren’t sold on any of those top photography travel bags, check out these additional amazing bags:
