The 10 Best Camera Bags for EDC in 2021
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When photography gear is a part of your everyday carry, it can be hard to choose a good camera bag. Because you have to balance carrying your daily essentials with your expensive optics, it can be easy to overcompensate and opt for lots of padding which makes for an ungainly and bulky uncomfortable carry when you’re on the go. There’s also way too many DSLR camera bags that make it obvious you’re hauling a load of expensive photography equipment, making you a prime target for pickpocketing or theft. The best camera bag can fulfill your needs both in terms of where you’re going to go and what you’re going to carry. To help you out in your search we’ve put together a list of our 10 favorite camera bags for travel and EDC to safely haul your camera gear in style.
Think Tank Retrospective 5 V2.0 Camera Bag
PurchaseKey Features
DWR-coated
YKK zippers
Dedicated tablet pocket
Specifications
Dimensions
10 x 8.5 x 6 inches
Weight
2 lbs
Materials
300D/210D nylon and twill ripstop
With the Retrospective 5, Think Tank evokes the low-profile canvas bag origins of carrying photographic gear around in safety, but with modern quality of life upgrades that make it well suited for small mirrorless or DSLR carry. For example: there’s a dedicated slot for a 9" tablet, and a luggage handle passthrough for ease of use when you’re on the go. The canvas construction can help keep out light rain, but for bigger downpours Think Tank includes a seam-sealed rain cover.
Lowepro Flipside Trek BP 350 AW Backpack
PurchaseKey Features
Rear-only secure and separate access for camera gear
Small tablet/laptop pocket
ActiveZone suspension for all-day comfort
Specifications
Dimensions
20 x 11 x 7.8 inches
Weight
3.08 lbs
Materials
Water-resistant ripstop nylon (included rain cover as well)
The Lowepro Flipside Trek BP 350 AW is built for outdoor use so you can carry the gear you need but also the camera equipment you use to memorialize your adventures in safety. And it’s able to do this while keeping both sets of gear separate, with the camera gear in a secure rear-only compartment. There’s enough room to fit a standard DSLR and attached lens as well as extras, and the rear access makes for a good choice when you’re trying to avoid people unzipping your bag and taking your stuff without you knowing.
WANDRD PRVKE 21L Camera Backpack
PurchaseKey Features
21L capacity
Roll-top design keeps out the rain, and it also allows extra storage when needed
Dedicated photo insert
Specifications
Dimensions
17 x 11 x 6.5 inches
Weight
3.4 lbs
Materials
Wateproof Tarpaulin and Robic 1680 D Ballistic nylon, YKK zippers
The PRVKE is a highly water-resistant roll-top bag that’s great for everyday carry and especially for photographers because it works with WANDRD’s special camera insert to organize multiple mirrorless bodies and lenses. The bag is TSA-friendly as well, meeting carry on side requirements and allowing for easy access to the dedicated laptop/tablet pocket and easy removal of electronics for speedy movement through security checkpoints. With easy side access you can get to your camera quickly so you won’t miss a shot when you need it, but its sleek and minimal design lets you run low-profile even in places unknown.
Hazard 4 Grayman Pillbox Camera Backpack
PurchaseKey Features
Anchor points for external tiedown
Internal laptop and camera gear organizer
MOLLE webbing inside for customizability
Specifications
Dimensions
19.6 x 12.2 x 3.7 inches (29.5L)
Weight
5.07 lbs
Materials
Thermoformed nylon shell
Hazard 4’s prowess with thermoformed nylon construction and design makes their bags well-suited for electronics and camera carry, and their Greyman Pillbox is one of their best bags for that use. It allows for secure storage of multiple camera bodies and lenses, segmented from the rest of your gear. There’s space for at least a 15" editing laptop in a dedicated pocket, and there’s tons of organization space for small items and stationery when you’re on the go. And while this bag has a tactical heritage, it doesn’t scream it for the world to see.
Vanguard VEO GO46M BK Mirrorless Camera Bag
PurchaseKey Features
15" laptop space
Rear access
Tripod holder on side
Specifications
Dimensions
18.5 x 11.3 x 5.5 inches
Weight
2.2 lbs
Materials
Water-resistant nylon
The VEO GO 46M backpack features a slim design that works well as an office bag and camera gear holder, and there’s dedicated side pockets if you need to carry a small tripod as well. The back and harness are well-padded for long-term carry, and there’s dedicated space for up to a 15" laptop for your editing and business purposes. The top lid design looks stylish, but it also helps keep water out of your bag in light rain as well.
Chrome Industries Niko Camera Sling 2.0
PurchaseKey Features
Back-panel full zip entry
Adjustable cross-body strap
Can be used as a hip bag, with quick release
Specifications
Dimensions
11 x 7.25 x 7 inches (5L)
Weight
1.6 lbs
Materials
Tarp outer shell, soft tricot interior liner
The Niko Camera Sling 2.0 offers secure, low-profile camera carry close to your body designed around rapid movement in an urban environment. The padded interior fits a standard DSLR or mirrorless camera body and two lenses. If you’re a film photographer you can use the organization spaces to carry rolls as well. There’s a rear zip pocket for thin items like documents and small electronics, and the adjustable cross-body strap allows for comfortable wear all day.
Peak Design Everyday Backpack Zip Camera Bag
PurchaseKey Features
DWR-impregnated exterior shell
FlexFold dividers for easy customization
Theft-deterrent UltraZip zipper design
Specifications
Dimensions
16.53 x 10.23 x 7.87 in (15L)
Weight
2.51 lbs
Materials
100% recycled weatherproof nylon
If you’re looking for a low-profile camera backpack for the urban environment, the Peak Design Everyday Backpack Zip 15L is your best bet. Its minimal design doesn’t scream “there’s expensive camera gear inside“ but it still looks nice and sleek enough to match your style. With its wrap-around Ultra-Zip construction, you can gain full access to the interior of the bag with ease, and the design also facilitates quick side access when you need it as well. Peak Design stands by the workmanship of their bags with a lifetime warranty, and with its padded design, plethora of internal organization options, and DWR-impregnated 100% recycled shell, the Everyday Backpack Zip is ready to take on any challenge you face with it by your side.
Ape Case Envoy AC520G
PurchaseKey Features
Removable high-visibility padded photo compartment
"Unconstructed" design fits against your body
Adjustable padded shoulder strap for comfort
Specifications
Dimensions
9.5 x 6 x 7 inches
Weight
12.8 ounces
Materials
Ripstop nylon
The Ape Case Envoy features an “unconstructed” messenger style that fits the form of your body well as you carry it over your shoulder, but has enough foam padding to ensure that the expensive camera gear you place inside of it makes it through the rough and tumble of daily life. The interior is high-visibility yellow so you can easily identify the gear you put inside, and the top centered zipper allows for easy access to take photos at a moment’s notice. When you’re not using the bag to carry camera gear, the padded interior is removable, and you can place other EDC essentials inside instead.
Tenba Toolbox 6 Photo Insert Bag
PurchaseKey Features
Space for multiple cameras and lenses
Turns any bag you like into a camera bag
Separate your camera gear from the rest of your carry
Specifications
Dimensions
8.75 x 6.25 x 2.76 inches
Weight
8 ounces
Materials
Padded nylon
If you already have a bag that you like, you can opt to carry a photo gear insert inside of it to turn it into a safe place to carry your expensive optical equipment, like the Tenba Toolbox 6. It’s a rigid, padded zippered photo insert with foam protection and dividers with enough space for multiple camera bodies and extra lenses. The carry handle allows for easy pull-out access from the bag you place this in, and it allows you to keep your camera gear separate from the rest of your EDC as you go about your day.
Crumpler Snap Camera Bag
PurchaseKey Features
Detachable and adjustable shoulder strap
Can be used as a bag within a bag for larger systems
Elastic band secures its small size, can be expanded when needed
Specifications
Dimensions
7.8 x 6.3 x 4.1 inches (1.14L)
Weight
0.31 lbs
Materials
Chicken Tex 210T Ripstop nylon
There’s a tendency to carry too much camera gear sometimes as a photographer. If you’re looking for much more minimal carry and a bag that lets you do that without compromising the safety of your gear from the bumps and scrapes of everyday carry, check out the Crumpler Snap Camera bag. It’s small, literally rollable design lets you carry light when you need to but also size up when you need it, and it’s padded to keep your gear safe whether you’re just carrying a small compact film or digital camera or a somewhat larger mirrorless rig.
Header photo courtesy of Set.
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