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Landscape photography can take a toll on your equipment.
Think about it...those backcountry roads can wreak havoc on your tires. The trails wear out our Timberland hiking boots. Outdoors is full of things that are amazing to look at and photograph that can become hazardous to optics and electronics in a heartbeat.
Wind, water, sand, dirt, leaves, animals - all those things we love about imaging for landscape photography can ruin our precious cameras if we’re not careful.
It’s Easy To Be Careful
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he sand, wind, or rain aren’t the real culprits in regards to the hazards of landscape photography, it’s us being careless. Good news for photographers is that we have outstanding options for keeping our photographic gear safe and dry.
A major consideration for me in choosing a workable camera bag is how easy I can access my gear while in the field. A hard waterproof case with foam inserts will protect photographic gear from almost anything, but it’s not convenient for using while actually shooting.
A soft camera bag is very convenient to use but it may not protect the gear inside from unintentional impacts or drops. And ever-ready cases, those fitted cases we saw on cameras used by tourists all the time in years past, are not popular options anymore. As a matter of fact, I haven’t seen anyone use one on a DSLR or mirrorless ever, probably mostly because of rear view screens.
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Sling Packs Are an Awesome Option
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I have become a huge fan of sling packs as camera bags. They combine the best aspects of a backpack and an over-the-shoulder bag. You can pile a large amount of equipment in a sling pack and carry it without causing shoulder pain.
And unlike a backpack, you can easily get your camera out of the bag without having to take off the pack. You slide the sling pack around into a position where you can reach into it and grab your stuff. It doesn’t get much easier than that!
Three Excellent Choices
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Hazard 4Hazard 4® is the manufacturer of a great series of outdoor gear that works very well for photographers. Their sling packs meet the criteria for extreme use protection just like their tactical equipment with which they made their reputation.
Designed with photographers in mind, the Hazard 4® sling packs will protect your gear in the wilds of nature or the wilds of urban settings while allowing unencumbered access to your cameras or other gear.
There are other brands of really good sling packs, and even Hazard 4® makes several styles of sling packs and other bags and cases. But I’m going to limit my list to just three. They represent what makes Hazard 4® tactical and photographic equipment so good. While other bags and packs are good, theHazard 4® sling packs take rugged protection to the next level.
Recommended Landscape Photography Reading:
- The Landscape Photography Book: The Step-by-Step Techniques You Need to Capture Breathtaking Landscape Photos Like the Pros
- National Geographic Greatest Landscapes: Stunning Photographs That Inspire and Astonish
- The Art, Science, and Craft of Great Landscape Photography
Bandoleer™ - Small Sling Pack
Going out on your landscape or cityscape photoshoot with just a single camera and one or two lenses, the Bandoleer™ is a small size sling pack that offers superb protection. It has a hard molded shell and numerous HardPoint™ mounting points for carrying extra items like lights, pouches, and so forth.
You strap it on with the patent-pending auto-shift ambidextrous shoulder strap that allows for ambidextrous placement. The zippers and pockets can also be accessed from either side. Us lefties don’t have to struggle any longer!
Inside is padded material and military modular webbing that holds your gear still and keeps it safe from damage. The various pockets and cubbies keep your small kit neatly organized so grabbing what you need is that much easier.
Learn more about the Hazard 4® Bandoleer™.
Photo-Recon™ - Medium Size Sling Pack
Photo-Recon™ is part of the Evac™ series of bags from Hazard 4® that is designed for quick access and ultimate protection whether travelling in a crowded subway or an ATV or a helicopter.
It has a slim design that makes it easy to maneuver in and out of vehicles or while trekking through narrow spots on a hiking trail or in a crowd.
The bag is comfortable to carry on your shoulder even with a full load of gear. In use, the Photo-Recon™ can be rotated to the chest for effortless access, and all pockets are designed to face the user in this mode on either the right or left side for a truly ambidextrous capability.
Inside are padded, moveable dividers that hug your gear and protect it from harm. On the exterior you’ll find compression straps for bringing your tripod along with you.
Regardless of how much gear you have in the bag, you can expect a supremely comfortable carrying experience thanks to the generously padded back with air circulation pad array and the 3-D padded shoulder strap that prevents the strap from digging into your shoulder.
If you have a medium-sized kit and need a bag that can go anywhere and do anything, this is it!
Learn more about the Hazard 4® Photo-Recon™.
Plan-B Hard™ - Large Sling Pack
Also part of the Evac™ series from Hazard 4®, the Plan-B Hard™ sling pack holds just about all you would need photographically for a full day of landscape photography.
Though large enough to hold a huge amount of camera equipment, the Plan-B Hard™ sling pack has a slim design to make carrying it out into the field less of a hassle while not sacrificing any ruggedness and durability.
As with all of the Hazard 4® sling packs, the Plan-B Hard™ uses the best materials for rugged, wet, dirty, bumpy use. Military modular webbing (MOLLE), Hardpoint® external mounting points, YKK® zippers, and Cordura® 1000D nylon complete the package for these military and tactical grade camera sling packs.
The interior space offers a photo divider system for your camera, lenses, batteries, drone, and more. In fact, there are five removable padded dividers so you can customize the carrying space.
This pack also offers the patented roto-locking buckle that keeps the bag securely on your back. And, as always, Hazard 4® has implemented a molded breathable back pad to reduce sweat and maintain comfort.
Learn more about the Hazard 4® Plan-B Hard™.
It’s a Tough Job
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Landscape, urban, sports, wildlife, and wedding photography can put an amazing amount of wear and tear and physical strain on both you and your camera gear. Keeping your equipment safe, dry, and unbroken while still allowing unfettered access makes a rugged sling pack an excellent choice for carrying your camera.
Hazard 4® is one of my personal favorite brands for camera protection. They also make all sorts of other awesome gear for outdoor use. Be careful visiting their website, it’s dangerous to see so much good stuff at reasonable prices all in one place!
The Great Outdoors, whether natural or urban or somewhere in between, is full of great images just waiting for you to capture them. Make sure your gear survives the trek and that you can keep coming back for more.
Learn More:
- Rugged Camera Bags for Your 2020 Photography Adventures
- Top Software and Gear Updates That Rocked 2019