All right, so you’ve got a shiny new vlogging camera to get you started. You also know that internal mics suck, so you picked up a nice dedicated microphone. More importantly, you have all the videography fundamentals down and are now much more confident behind the camera. There’s a perfectly crafted itinerary on your back pocket waiting to get ticked off one by one.
You’re just about ready to hop on a plane, hit record and share your journey with the world. One of the most important things about a bag that you don’t think about is what can you bring on a plane and travel with?
We’ll cover the perfect camera bag for your hand carry / personal item, your carry-on, and your check-in bag.
But before you fly around the globe and publish your very first vlog on YouTube, you might want to stop for a minute and think about how you’re going to carry all that gear with you. Because trust me, your old hiking backpack won’t cut it.
When you’re out there getting soaked under monsoon downpours, or battling your way across torrents of heavy foot traffic in the busiest cities, you’ll want to invest in a proper camera bag.
The best camera bags will have ample space for all your gear, inserts and compartments to hold everything safe and snug, and enough weatherproofing to keep your thousand dollar lenses from becoming expensive paperweight. Obviously, they should look cool, too.
Lucky for you, we’ve done all the leg work and rounded up the best camera bags that’ll safely house all your gear on your travels!
Let’s start with my personal fave, because it’s one of the best value backpacks because it’s protective, and it gets the job done. It’s the Mosiso featured in my guide to the Best Hardshell Backpacks.
Peak Design Everyday Backpack v2 – A backpack that doesn’t scream camera bag
Camera bags are a frequent target for theft so first on the list is something that isn’t too far off from a regular daypack. The Peak Design Everyday Backpack v2 masterfully blends the look of a traditional college backpack and all the compartments and features you’d want from a serious camera bag. It’s got a recognizable style that’ll fit right in every urban setting.
The second iteration of this hugely popular camera bag introduces a ton of upgrades, including an increased laptop compartment capacity (up to 15” laptops for the 20L version), a whole host of extra internal pockets, and an updated Maglatch hardware.
For the uninitiated, Peak Design’s Maglatch system lets you enjoy an incredibly fast top access, thanks to a clever locking system made up of high quality latches and magnets. It also allows you to securely close up and adjust the top flap at different points to accommodate more stuff. The Everyday Backpack v2 also features side access zips and a weatherproofed shell for better protection against the elements.
It’s tough and roomy, even allowing you to fit everything from your mirrorless system to a bigger full-frame DSLR, a 70-200mm lens and another piece of glass if you wanted. No wonder Marques Brownlee has used the older v1 in the past and now daily drives a special edition Peak Design Everyday Backpack v2 for quite some time.
WANDRD PRVKE – Beautiful camera bag with a “secret” rolled compartment for additional storage
If you were looking for a camera bag that’ll comfortably let you wander outside the city and into somewhere more adventurous, give the all-new WANDRD PRVKE a good hard look. The improved PRVKE features near submergible weather protection, a newly added luggage handle pass-through and mini organization pockets, while still keeping a nice and clean (some would say hipster-ish) design that’ll keep fashion–conscious creatives happy.
One standout feature is the super convenient rolltop compartment that’ll give you about 5 liters of extra storage. Another one that a lot of photographers and vloggers might appreciate is the quickdraw side access feature that’ll get you rolling as soon as you need to.
WANDRD claims that you can fit a camera body, 3 lenses, a flash, a drone, a laptop along with every bit of accessory you’ll ever need inside its many organizational pockets, as you’ll soon see. Tech YouTuber and vlogger Sara Dietschy (rhymes with peachy) seems to be really happy with the WANDRD PRVKE, and has packed everything she needed for work in just one trusty travel bag.
Here’s every piece of gear she brought for the trip. Spoiler alert: she’s packing an A7III, a BMPCC6K along with a few lenses plus an audio kit.
NOMATIC McKinnon Camera Pack
Now what if you want something bigger. What if you’re doing a multi-day assignment overseas and not comfortable about leaving some of your lenses behind? Then you’ll need a camera pack that’ll haul most of what you have at home across the Atlantic while looking oh so sleek and stealthy. Enter the NOMATIC x Peter McKinnon Camera Pack.
The name on the backpack isn’t just for show. Peter really did collaborate with NOMATIC to come up with a do-it-all travel camera bag that’ll exactly fit all of his requirements. The McKinnon Camera Pack will let you fit 32 litres worth of gear inside its extremely durable and completely waterproof shell — enough to fit an entire photo/video system. It also has a neat, extra 7-litre expansion feature if you need more storage.
When you’re carrying that much gear, you’ll want all the support you can get. Thankfully, the McKinnon Camera Pack also has the comfort side covered. It’s got an innovative internal suspension system, tensioners, waist and chest straps to help take some of that strain off your back. More headline features include side access zips, 15” laptop pocket, a dedicated clothing compartment, and a fully customizable main compartment thanks to the included folding dividers.
I’d love to hear Peter talk about his bag as much as you do, but having him do a run down of his own product might be a little on the nose. Instead, let’s have a look at what YouTuber/director Daniel Schiffer has to say about this awesome backpack after a few weeks of real world use.
Billingham Hadley Pro 2020
Here’s a bag that doubles down on looks but doesn’t compromise on utility. The Billingham Hadley Pro 2020 sports a classic, messenger-style camera bag design that is almost as timeless as a Leica M3. And if I’m being honest, it’s the best-looking camera bag on this list.
Leather underside and straps. Brass fixings. Three-layer waterproof canvas. Made in England. Need I say more? The newer Hadley is stylish and comfortable, and will look good on you whether you’re covering a wedding ceremony professionally or casually shooting street photography.
It’s large enough to store most mirrorless bodies or DSLRs (without battery grips), plus two to three medium sized zooms and primes, and a 13” laptop. But if you’re getting a camera bag like the Hadley, you’re most likely shooting a mirrorless system anyway, in which case it’ll be the perfect bag for content creators and vloggers on the go. For more flexibility, the Hadley Pro 2020 also features removable dividers and adjustable padding if you don’t feel like taking your camera for the day for some reason.
If you can live without travelling with every single lens you own or you’re shooting with smaller camera and lens systems, I don’t think there’s a better looking and more comfortable camera bag option than the Billingham Hadley Pro 2020.
Kai W, who’s been running around Hong Kong with Billingham bags way back in the early DigitalRev days a decade ago, conveniently has an awesome hands-on overview of the Billingham Hadley Pro 2020 for you to check out.
Lowepro Pro Runner RL x450 AW II – The Perfect Carry-On Camera Bag for Travel
Now let’s put on our big person pants and wrap things up with the Lowepro Pro Runner RL x450 AW II. This awesome roller bag and backpack hybrid has enough room to fit pretty much every piece of gear you own — it’s a serious camera bag for the most hardcore of professionals. And it’s perfect to carry-on for your next flight.
Personally, for I prefer a hard case though. The Pelican 1510 is a good alternative, but just keep in mind you won’t be able to store as much.
Lowepro says you can fit pro DSLRs (with a battery grip), up to 6 lenses, drones, audio gear and speedlights. You also get three laptop sleeves so you can bring your iPad and Wacom tablet along with your work computer. That much gear won’t be a lot of fun to strap around your back for hours on end, and that’s where the x450’s main selling point comes through. It has a clever telescopic handle and built-in wheels that’ll let you tow it around airports and city streets. The best part is, Lowepro made sure their Pro Runner line, including the 450, is carry-on compatible!
The shoulder straps can be hidden and taken out quite easily, they just slide in and out of the dedicated pocket, latches on a D-ring and you’re ready to go. For the heaviest of rainstorms and other common travelling professional woes, the x450 also features an awesome weather cover for extra protection.
Content creator and photographer Lizzie Pierce says the Lowepro Pro Runner RL x450 AW II is a personal favorite. Here’s how much gear she packs into the roller-backpack hybrid, which amazingly includes three mirrorless bodies, a 100-400mm telephoto along with a bunch of other workhorse lenses.
Neewer Trolley Roller Bag – The Perfect Camera Bag to Check-In
Most airlines have a limit of 62″ for bags (total L+W+H), and some bags are 62″ but they fail to include the wheels, thus you will be overcharged. An example of this is the Godox CB-06 Roller Bag, the specifications are exactly 62″, but that’s for the bag only (not including the wheels).
Thus the camera bag you want to check-in is the Neewer Trolley Roller Bag. It measures at a total of 54″, and you can add 3″ for the wheels and still be under the checked-in bag limit. If you’re traveling for a gig, this is a great bag to carry light stands and other equipment that isn’t fragile. For your delicate equipment like your cameras, I’d carry it on in your Pelican case or similar.
What’s your favorite camera bag? Comment below!