Camera backpacks need to tick a lot of boxes: they have to provide comfortable carrying, along with quick access to your gear and suitable protection for a variety of equipment. Our Buyer’s Guide for the Best Camera Backpacks covers a range of situations, from urban to outdoor photography and different user needs, whether you just require the basics for a few hours of city snapping or have to haul a host of gear along with enough personal supplies to last several days in the wilderness.
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f-stop Kenti
The Kenti combines a roll-top main compartment with side access to a customizable camera compartment so you can keep your camera gear and other carry items separate. However, if you need more space the pack’s internal dividers can be removed, making it a versatile pack for a range of uses. A compartment in the back panel is designed to house a hydration bladder and there’s a range of pockets for keeping smaller items organized.
f-stop Loka UL
The Loka UL is designed for photographers who want a protective but lightweight bag for carrying their camera gear plus a few essential items. The weight of the pack comes in at 1.02 kg or 2.25 lbs. An internal pocket can accommodate a 13-inch laptop or hydration bladder and front and top pockets store items such as a jacket, wallet, phone and other quick-access items needed on the go. Access to the camera equipment is through the back panel.
Poler Excursion Pack
The Excursion Pack features two exterior pockets, lash downs on the base of the pack for a tripod or jacket and external webbing for attaching extra items as needed. If you need to carry tech, the pack has an internal padded laptop sleeve, while the front panel zips down almost to the base of the pack for easy access to the main compartment. Poler have designed the Excursion Insert specifically for the Excursion Pack and (at the time of writing this, at least) you can snag the insert for free when buying the pack through their site. If you want to know more about the pack, see our road test of the Poler Excursion Pack here.
Burton F-Stop Camera Backpack
Burton are all about boarding so it should be no surprise that you can attach a snowboard to this pack. Alternatively, slot in a tripod instead or use the straps for attaching other items such as a jacket. There’s no shortage of internal or external pockets for keeping everything in its right place, including a handy insulated pocket, and the internal camera compartment has adjustable padded dividers to suit different gear setups. The camera compartment also has a convenient detachable cover to help keep your equipment protected without needing to zip the bag up, so you can access it quickly as needed. The pack’s adjustable harness also comes in useful for accommodating different users’ torso lengths. Check out our road test for more details.
Incase DSLR Pro Pack
The sleek city-friendly styling of this pack isn’t going to attract unnecessary attention and alert people to its contents, a feature photographers are sure to appreciate when hauling expensive equipment. The external pockets are useful for quick-access items such as cables, chargers and EDC, while internal padded sections for a laptop and iPad will keep your tech protected. Camera gear is accessed through the back of the pack by unzipping the back panel clamshell-style, along with top access for your most frequently used gear.
Kata 3N1 22 DL
Sometimes you want quick access, other times you favor load carrying capabilities. This bag offers both. In sling format you can quickly access your camera from the side of the bag by swinging it to your front. If you need to carry your gear for a fair distance, convert the bag to backpack mode for better load stabilization. If you aren’t already aware, Kata Bags has merged with Manfrotto so you’ll see a lot of similarities between this Kata sling backpack and Manfrotto’s Tri Backpack.
Manfrotto Pro Light Bumblebee-220 PL (MB PL-B-220) Backpack
Plenty of pocketing, modular dividers, external tripod attachment, a dedicated laptop compartment, a rain cover, stowaway shoulder straps and a choice of full access to the main compartment or half access to the top or bottom of the contents while keeping the other half unexposed – the Bumblebee is buzzing with convenient features all packed in a sleekly stylish design.
MindShift Gear rotation180° Panorama
Having to take your pack off to access your camera equipment is far from ideal – more often than not, that awesome shot opportunity is long gone by the time you’ve got your gear. MindShift Gear’s rotation180° Panorama prioritizes quick access through a nifty rotating design that enables you to swing the beltpack out from the main body of the pack in order to access the contents quickly, without needing to take the pack off. Check out our drive by for more details.
Clik Elite Tropfen
If you don’t need to carry a lot of gear, the Tropfen from Clik Elite is one to consider. This daypack-sized bag suits urban environments, with a quilted section for an iPad and a quick-access pocket for small items such as a phone and wallet. Access to the camera is via the back of the pack where a dedicated compartment can hold a standard SLR with medium zoom lens and flash. The pack also includes a tip-out tripod holder and a rain cover.
ILE Ultimate Photographers Bag-MKIII
Inside Line Equipment’s Ultimate Photographers Bag-MKIII merges everyday carry with camera carry, featuring a dedicated weatherproof camera compartment with adjustable dividers, a quick-access front pocket for items such as cables or chargers and a rolltop main section for clothing, food and other personal items. A padded section on the back is large enough for a 17-inch laptop, while tripods and light stands can be carried using the side compression straps and pockets, and external webbing allows additional gear to be attached as needed.
Filson Photographer’s Backpack
If you need a camera backpack that doesn’t advertise the fact you’re carrying expensive camera equipment, Filson’s Photographer’s Backpack is a suitably understated choice. Padded construction and internal dividers keep your gear safe and the zip to the pack’s padded top section and laptop sleeve is concealed to help dissuade opportunistic thieves.
Dakine Reload 30L
The front panel of the Reload 30L can be laid out flat to give easy access to the camera gear in the main compartment, with a range of internal and external zipped pockets for keeping small items in order. The pack’s padded laptop section accommodates 17-inch laptops, while the front and side straps can be used for tripod carry – or strap a snowboard on the front and a tripod on the side if you’re planning to shoot sweet shots in the snow.
Naneu Adventure K5 v2 80L Hiking Camera Pack
Heading off on an extended trip where you need enough personal supplies to last a few days, along with your camera equipment? This is a versatile hiking pack that contains a removable camera pod which can be positioned in front of the user’s chest for quick access to gear by attaching it to the shoulder harness. The camera pod can also be utilized separately as a small camera pack when the hiking pack isn’t required, while the pack’s camera compartment can be used to divide the pack into separate sections if desired for organizing gear when the camera pod isn’t in use.
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