What is the Best Travel Camera Bag?
- All-Around Best Travel Camera Bag
- Best Travel Camera Bag for the City
- Best Travel Camera Bag for Adventure
- Best Travel Camera Bag for Budget Travelers
- Best Travel Camera Bag for Professionals
- More Marvelous Travel Camera Bags
- Holdfast Sightseer Camera and Lens Modular System
- Peak Design 45L Travel Backpack
- Pelican Air 1485
- Shimoda Designs – EXPLORE 40
- Lowepro Photo Sport 200 AW II
photo by GaudiLab via iStock
One of the best things you can do as a photographer is invest in a high-quality travel camera bag. It will give you some much-needed peace of mind when traveling, and at the end of the day, a good bag can often mean the difference between a functioning camera and a damaged one.
Important things to keep in mind when shopping for a new travel camera bag are size, material, how you carry them, and how protective they are.
Now, what is the best travel camera bag? The exact answer to that question depends on you and your needs, but here are a few terrific options to help you start your search!
Table of Contents
All-Around Best Travel Camera Bag
The Holdfast Sightseer Backpack is a truly one-of-a-kind travel camera bag perfect for wherever the road may take you.
Constructed out of Waxed Canvas, American Bison, or Bridle Leather and lined with a beautiful Aztec flannel fleece, this backpack is designed not only to protect your gear but to make you look good while doing it.
Thanks to removable velcro dividers, the spacious camera compartment is completely customizable and can be arranged specifically to meet your needs.
The main compartment also features a separate top section ideal for holding items like food or a jacket. Additionally, there’s a built-in sleeve that can fit up to a 15” laptop or tablet and a zippered pocket where you can safely store small and delicate items.
Another fantastic travel feature you’re sure to love is the integrated camera slider. It allows you to conveniently and comfortably keep your camera outside the pack and ready to shoot at all times.
My favorite characteristic, though, and what makes this without a doubt the best camera bag for travel, is the compatibility with Holdfast’s other amazing products.
For example, the entire line of Sightseer pouches can be attached directly to the backpack whenever you want easier access to specific items or need to carry more gear.
No other bag on the market today can match the comfort, durability, protectiveness, and stylish design of the Holdfast Sightseer backpack! So, if you’re looking for the overall best travel camera bag, look no further!
Best Travel Camera Bag for the City
Peak DesignPeak Design is one of the most innovative and forward-thinking photography companies in the world, and their excellent line-up of camera bags confirms that. While all their bags are incredible, the one I want to highlight here is the Peak Design Everyday Sling.
It comes in three different sizes: 3 liters, 6 liters, and 10 liters. The 3-liter bag is designed to hold a mirrorless camera with an attached lens, the 6-liter bag is for DSLRs, and the 10-liter bag works for both while also providing plenty of additional space for lenses and gear.
It’s an extremely portable and lightweight bag that's comfortable to wear and comes in three stylish colors: black, ash, and midnight. Furthermore, the cross-body strap has a quick-adjust feature that can be tightened when doing vigorous activities like walking or biking and loosened when you need to get in and out of the bag.
Another great travel feature is that the dividers can be completely removed if needed, which transforms the bag into a spacious and useful day or computer bag whenever you want to leave the camera behind. If you mainly travel to cities, this is the best travel camera bag for you!
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Best Travel Camera Bag for Adventure
Are you an adventure lover who travels more to the mountains than to cities? If that’s a resounding yes, the Lowepro Flipside Trek BP 350 is certainly the best travel camera bag for you.
It’s an extraordinarily comfy 15-liter backpack built to be worn for extended periods of time when hiking, walking, skiing, or biking. It uses patented ActiveZone suspension technology, along with a vented back panel and a sturdy hip belt, to distribute the weight evenly and ensure maximum comfort even when doing extreme sports.
Inside the pack, you’ll find a large camera compartment that is accessed via the back of the bag, as well as a separate top section for storing all your other outdoor essentials. This design lets you best maximize the space while simultaneously keeping everything organized and protected.
The coolest thing about this camera bag for travel, though, is that you can access the camera compartment without removing the backpack entirely. With the hip belt securely fastened, spin the bag to your front and it will balance perfectly at waist level and give you instant access to everything inside. This is super useful when you need to change lenses quickly and don’t have a lot of time.
Best Travel Camera Bag for Budget Travelers
If you’re on a budget and are looking for a lightweight bag to protect your camera, the Manfrotto Holster XS Plus is the perfect small camera bag for travel. This holster bag has a unique compact design, is made out of durable water repellent nylon, and holds way more than you would think.
The main compartment is made for small mirrorless cameras like the Sony Alpha A6000 or A6500 and fits the camera with an attached lens. In the same space, you’ll notice there’s a separate pocket for storing spare memory cards.
What makes it stand out from other travel holster bags, though, is the separate lens pouch at the bottom of the bag. It allows you to safely carry an extra lens when traveling and gives you more freedom as a photographer. An example of two great travel lenses you could fit in this bag are the Sony Vario-Tessar TE 16-70mm F4 and the Sony 35mm F1.8.
Additional things you will love about this small camera bag for travel are the reverse opening which provides easy access, the detachable shoulder strap, and the two large side pockets. This is for sure the best travel camera bag if you are on a budget and looking for a steal.
Best Travel Camera Bag for Professionals
The Lowepro Pro Trekker RLX 450 AW II is built for professionals with large kits, and it’s an unrivaled DSLR camera bag for travel.
It can hold a camera with an attached lens, another camera body, 4-5 additional lenses, a laptop or tablet, a professional tripod, and incredibly still has space for more accessories. With adjustable dividers and tons of pockets, you have the ability to create the perfect setup for you and your gear.
As a convertible bag, it has comfortable padded shoulder straps, which allow it to be worn as a backpack, but it also has wheels and can be rolled like a suitcase. This versatility is unbelievably useful and means you can travel comfortably through the airport but also reach the most remote destinations with the same bag.
When traveling by plane, the shoulder straps and waist belt can be tucked away into the bag, and it will meet all carry-on requirements. A few more perks of this DSLR camera bag for travel include a built-in AW cover, water bottle pockets, and lots of exterior straps for attaching gear.
More Marvelous Travel Camera Bags
photo by Dusan Ilic via iStock
I’ve shared some fantastic options with you so far, but if you want to continue researching, here are some more of the best travel camera bags money can buy:
