The Greatest Digicam Backpacks of 2025

How We Examined Digicam Backpacks

Our Testing Grounds and Course of

With a long time of expertise behind the lens, GearJunkie’s rabble of creatives is not any stranger to flashy pictures trinkets — they usually know the significance of maintaining that treasured glass protected and sound in any surroundings.

A very good digital camera backpack is the inspiration of a profitable shoot. It retains 1000’s of {dollars} of heavy, fragile gear cocooned in soft compartments and is the distinction between getting that excellent shot or endlessly fumbling round whereas the solar sinks under the horizon.

For that motive, our workforce doesn’t take our testing frivolously. We rummaged round on-line boards, bugged our professional photog contacts, and scoured the tables at gear reveals to slender in on the best possible roundup of digital camera backpacks in the marketplace. Relaxation assured — this record represents the crème de la crème of those area of interest packs.

These backpacks wound their manner alongside cobblestone streets in Europe, bounced throughout the dusty African savannah, slowly plodded up limitless Sierra switchbacks in California, and had been totally abused within the Colorado backcountry. We clocked some severe distance and time with every mannequin and would really feel assured recommending any one among them on your varied pictures ventures.

Our Knowledgeable Testers

Senior Editor Chris Carter and GearJunkie contributor Kendra Smith joined forces to spearhead this information. Taking up 10 completely different digital camera backpacks on shoots and adventures all around the world, they reviewed this contemporary inventory of packs over a year-long testing interval earlier than selecting the record above. In 2024, journey photographer Eric Phillips took over this information and examined 5 new backpacks. Some backpacks he’s been utilizing for a couple of years, whereas he examined others for six months. Eric is most recognized for his pictures that seize compelling landscapes, human exploration, and out of doors trade information. His out of doors pictures have been featured in native and nationwide publications, together with 5280 Journal, REI Co-op Journal, SNEWS, Elevation Outdoor Journal, and Journey Professional Journal. By his expertise, he has discovered what makes an important digital camera backpack, and his essential testing is vital to the suggestions on this information. Should you desire a bag or sling-style digital camera bag to guard your treasured cargo, take a look at our information to the Greatest Digicam Luggage.

Purchaser’s Information: The best way to Select the Greatest Digicam Backpack

When contemplating the proper digital camera backpack on your private or skilled pursuits, it’s necessary to consider location, distance, accessibility, and capability. Further concerns are supplies and capability, consolation, and worth. Issues like climate, sturdiness, physique sort, and price range may even come into play when making the most effective private selection in a digital camera bag.

How Will You Use It?

Should you’re an outside fanatic, it’s your decision a easy hip pack to hold your digital camera and different necessities, whereas knowledgeable photographer will want a pack with substantial weight capability together with storage and good padding for defense. In any case, pondering by way of when and the place you’ll use your digital camera backpack will assist information your buy. Under are a couple of good inquiries to ask your self earlier than making your buy.

• Is that this for skilled or private use?
• Do I want a day by day digital camera pack or does this have a selected use corresponding to journey, climbing, or commuting? 
• What number of cameras, lenses, and equipment are crucial to suit into the digital camera backpack?
• What’s my consolation degree with weight?
• How accessible do I want my digital camera to be in my bag?
• Do I want a pc insert? How giant is my pc or pill?

It’s price noting that the entire packs we listed above serve the area of interest objective of transporting and defending delicate digital camera gear. Should you’re on the hunt for different backpack classes, be sure you take a look at our complete overview on absolutely the greatest backpacking backpacks, or our streamlined roundup of the greatest daypacks for on a regular basis use. All of those packs is also transformed to DIY digital camera backpacks with the inclusion of some nifty digital camera cubes — however it certain is sweet to have an all-in-one package deal.

Location

As each photographer is aware of, location is all the things, and with that comes climate, lighting, and terrain. These points will inform among the most necessary components your digital camera pack must be ready for — and hopefully assist slender down your choices. 

Primarily based on location, a standard accent to many photographers is the tripod. Most digital camera backpacks have clips to carry a tripod however this very a lot will depend on the dimensions and weight of the journey, so look out for the specs of the pack and your tripod when contemplating how necessary a tripod holder is to your digital camera backpack. 

If there’s a greater threat of inclement climate, you’ll want to search for waterproofing or water resistant supplies on the material, zippers, or a rain cowl. One other main aspect to contemplate is filth and dirt. On the very least, good digital camera backpacks preserve filth from getting inside your pack, so take a look at the supplies part under for extra info.

When selecting your digital camera backpack, think about the complete vary of situations and environments you intend on capturing in. This may largely decide the capability, supplies, and total organizational options of the pack which can be greatest on your wants.

Distance

Realizing how far you want to journey together with your digital camera backpack will assist inform how sturdy your pack must be and the way a lot weight you’re keen or capable of carry for that distance.

Usually, thicker supplies with double-stitching within the seams and straps will assist your pack handle regular put on. Ripstop and different sturdy supplies assist with intensive put on for elevated or long-term use. It’s necessary to notice how a lot or little house that your pack permits in comparison with your gear. Satirically, the tighter your gear matches into your pack, the higher, as additional room permits your gear to get knocked round whereas touring. Both get the proper match or discover methods to make that house tighter.

Should you’re carrying your pack longer distances with substantial weight, you’ll positively wish to think about selecting a backpack with waist and chest straps to steadiness the burden distribution of your gear. A very good long-distance pack additionally has substantial padding across the partitions of the entrance, again, and facet of the backpack in addition to the inside separators.

We narrowed in on the Second Strohl Mountain Mild pack as our heavy hauler of selection for lengthy backpacking journeys. We additionally love the Peak Design Out of doors Backpack 45L for climbing and adventuring. Packs like these permit you to safely carry a full digital camera loadout along with a fundamental backpacking package for multiday journey within the backcountry.

Flying With Digicam Backpacks

Inevitably, you’re going to must cross some large ponds throughout your filmmaking/pictures exploits — which could be an understandably disconcerting expertise. Not everybody — TSA *cough cough* — understands simply how fragile and costly this glass can get. Horror tales abound of digital camera gear getting ruined in transit between nations.

Carry-On

Your greatest line of protection in opposition to these woes is to hold your entire dear gear in both your carry-on, utilizing a backpack just like the Lowepro Professional Trekker RLX 450 AW II, or your private merchandise. You may then stash extra sturdy gear like a tripod, mounts, or a cumbersome digital camera cage in your checked luggage.

Our favourite combo for schlepping gear for even reasonably difficult shoots overseas is to fit a big digital camera dice, corresponding to PD’s Medium or Giant Digicam Dice V2, right into a hard-sided carry-on just like the one above, and fill it with any assortment of lenses, mics, or delicate filters. We then pack our dear digital camera our bodies and among the costlier lenses in a smaller private item-sized digital camera backpack — like PD’s On a regular basis Zip 20L or the Tenba DNA 16.

This streamlined combo has allowed us to haul an absurd quantity of movie gear all around the world for all the things from easy photograph gigs, to difficult multi-month worldwide video initiatives. By no means as soon as have we needed to put something fragile in a checked bag. Although this does make our private objects fairly heavy, it’s a worth we’re keen to pay for peace of thoughts.

Checking Luggage

Checked luggage get chucked haphazardly round whereas loading and unloading onto planes, and we’d somewhat not fear one bit a couple of cracked lens or damaged physique. With that stated, we’d nonetheless advocate buying gear insurance coverage earlier than going wherever too wild.

In case your digital camera loadout is just too huge on your private baggage, you’ll be able to splurge on one thing just like the bombproof 1615 Air Case from Pelican to examine delicate gear — however this will get dear quick.

We lately had been capable of shove a number of digital camera our bodies, a slew of cumbersome lenses, digital camera cages, gimbals, mics, screens, and all method of awkward-shaped tech equipment into this carry-on/private merchandise combo and journey stress-free to Africa for a months-long video undertaking in brutal situations.

The a number of entry factors of PD’s On a regular basis Zip, and simply accessible group of the digital camera pod in our carry-on, allowed us to rapidly reveal our suspect movie gear to prying airport safety eyes with out having to spill all of our private contents on the bottom at checkpoints. A cherished element.

When touring internationally, it’s protected to imagine that costly digital camera gear can be scrutinized whereas going by way of airport safety. It’s due to this fact greatest to have all the things as simply accessible as potential if/when your bag will get pulled apart to be rummaged by way of.

It’s additionally useful to have an itemized record readily available of what digital camera gear you’re bringing into the nation, and its tough financial worth — as we’ve been requested for this on a number of events whereas touring overseas. Having to scroll by way of your current Amazon purchases to wrangle this information collectively final minute whereas people wait impatiently behind you is lower than enjoyable.

Pods/Digicam Cubes

Digicam pods/cubes are one other necessary characteristic to contemplate, and could be immensely useful when flying or road-tripping round — as talked about above. Pods, or “digital camera cubes” could make many alternative backpacks into digital camera backpacks, and are smaller inserts that match inside a bigger pack. They typically have foam dividers for cameras and lenses, and differ in sizes.

First, be looking out for pods which can be and usually are not included. Many packs at the moment are providing pods as an add-on to create a extra personalized bag that may double as a digital camera backpack or common pack. The add-on choices permit you to select what dimension of pods you want. In any case, attempt to visualize the place your gear can be positioned within the pods, what number of you want, and find out how to customise them to your wants.

A few of our favourite digital camera cubes are Peak Design’s Digicam Dice V2s and Lowepro’s GearUP Professional Digicam Containers. We’ve been utilizing the small and medium PD cubes to make our common carry-ons into full-fledged digital camera rollers, and the GearUP Containers for carrying a great deal of heavy our bodies and lenses on backpacking journeys.

The flexibility to slip them out and in of any backpack makes these shoo-ins for almost any journey we’ve gone on throughout this testing interval. The PD cubes additionally work seamlessly with all Peak Design luggage — corresponding to their smooth Journey Duffels — and could be securely clipped into attachment loops inside the bag.

We love with the ability to retailer a physique and one or two lenses in LP’s GearUP Containers, and slide them vertically into our backpacking backpack for fast, multidirectional entry to our digital camera mid-trek. The GearUPs have a big zippered opening on the entrance to entry all the things once you pull it out of your pack, or you’ll be able to open a smaller door on the highest to slip the digital camera out when the pod is slotted vertically, nestled amongst your gear (see above). Should you aren’t utilizing a devoted digital camera backpacking backpack — like Second’s Strohl Mountain Mild pack — this could be a nice answer for the trail-trotting inventive.

Digicam cubes can be used so as to add extra gear storage to digital camera backpacks. Typically occasions, the included digital camera compartment of digital camera backpacks simply isn’t sufficient, and cubes could be added to non-public gear sections of the pack to securely retailer extra delicate gear.

Accessibility

A very powerful characteristic we search for in a digital camera backpack is its fast entry to gear. Producers should steadiness the necessity to defend fragile gear whereas making certain you’ll be able to swiftly seize your digital camera for that excellent shot.

Multidirectional zippers, varied entry factors, and strategically positioned Velcro dividers all support on this advanced course of. Maybe our favourite accessibility format could be present in PD’s On a regular basis Zip 20L. The pack options high and twin facet entry by way of a single 270-degree wrap-around zipper, with 4 completely different zippers to open whichever compartment of the pack you want.

Handles on all sides of the pack permit you to rip it round with ease to rapidly entry every section, and the rotating shoulder straps allow you to drop the pack onto one shoulder and rip it open with out plopping it on the bottom.

When choosing a digital camera backpack, take into consideration your entry wants—fast entry or transportation. Search for options like high and facet entry, digital camera clip loops, and a facet door entry for straightforward digital camera retrieval with out eradicating the pack.

A very good digital camera pack usually incorporates a zipper that extends to offer a full view of your gear when the pack lies flat. A clamshell design permits the bag to open fully for straightforward visibility. The situation of the digital camera compartment varies: zippers could be positioned close to the again, entrance, or sides. Some customers desire added safety at the price of accessibility, whereas others go for simpler entry from the again or outer zipper, relying on their wants.

Tripod-Holder

Each good digital camera backpack can have a tripod holder. If the bag you’re contemplating has one, it’s normally positioned on the outside of the pack. Many packs use a pocket that normally acts as a bottle holder to assist the underside of the tripod, with a strap close to the highest of the pack to safe it.

Capability

Most traditional digital camera luggage are round 20-30 L. That is loads of room for digital camera gear, a laptop computer or pill, and different necessities. The Deuter Jaypack 34+ comes with a spread of dividers that enable for limitless customization choices and sufficient room to suit a telephoto lens, and even a drone.

Should you exit on longer multiday journeys, choose for a bigger pack — 50 to 60 L is perhaps a great dimension. On this capability vary, we particularly love the Shimoda Motion X50 V2, which carries nicely and has added options. Discover a padded digital camera dice so you’ll be able to pack your digital camera and lenses safely within the pack should you don’t plan on getting one with built-in digital camera storage.

Sturdiness

So far as pack sturdiness goes, double-stitched straps and high-denier (thicker) supplies will assist your bag stand up to customary put on and tear. For maintaining your gear protected, the extra padded the backpack, the safer your gear can be.

Additionally, the extra comfortable the compartment design is, the higher. Additional house leaves room for gear to jostle round whether or not you’re operating by way of the airport, driving your cruiser to the park, or steering a dust bike to an overlook for sundown.

Search for a pack that has padding that surrounds the principle compartment, not simply on the separators. Should you are typically additional exhausting in your gear, some luggage have hardshell liners for additional affect safety.

Waterproofing/Climate-Resistance

It’s necessary to know the distinction between waterproofing, water resistant, and the way lengthy these supplies final. If you wish to be ready for any climate, positively search for a backpack that’s waterproof with waterproof zippers.

Waterproof luggage are nice for minor publicity to liquids and in between throwing on an extra rain cowl or rain jacket. They’ll finally turn into saturated if there may be substantial water so be sure you think about a recreation plan should you’re out and about throughout wet or snowy seasons. In any case, you’ll be able to all the time plan to maneuver your digital camera backpack beneath a rain jacket for protection on the transfer.

Should you are inclined to shoot in wet climate, search for a pack that comes with a rain fly. Many packs stash these in a small pocket on the outside for fast deployment.

Be cautious of packs which can be marketed as waterproof. Even when the bag’s materials is waterproof, the zippers normally aren’t. So, whereas a water-resistant exterior might repel rain, humidity, mist, or splash motion from the underside of the canoe, there’s an opportunity that it may well seep in by way of the zippers and get your digital camera moist.

Consolation

Digicam backpacks can get heavy quick. Should you’re planning to pack a number of cameras, lenses, and equipment alongside together with your laptop computer, it’s necessary to contemplate how a lot weight is bearable on your physique and discover a backpack that distributes weight evenly.

Many backpacks, just like the Peak Design Out of doors Backpack 45L and Shimoda Motion X50 V2, embody chest and hip straps. Actually nice packs add padding to all of the straps with changes to suit your physique. Look out for these options and think about spending a little bit additional should you’re somebody who typically carries heavy gear.

One other factor to contemplate is how heavy the backpack is earlier than you place your gear in. It’s a tough steadiness as additional consolation and padding normally result in extra weight whereas ultralight gear could be flimsy and fewer prone to distribute weight evenly. There are packs that do an important job of balancing each consolation and safety with good padding and weight distribution to assist offset the discomfort.

Shoulder Pads & Hip Belts

Some digital camera packs put these two necessary consolation qualities on the again burner, which is a bummer as a result of a loaded pack of electronics is a good load to hold round! Ideally, the shoulder pads are breathable, ergonomic, and well-cushioned.

Likewise, the again panel ought to have cushion, assist, and hopefully breathability by way of a mesh materials and airway channels between the pads.

Hip belts which can be constructed of a easy strap will assist safe the load from swinging round however is not going to assist the load off the shoulders and higher again. They’re additionally not the coziest to snap on.

Cushioned hip belts assist to guard the hips from rubbing and carry a portion of the pack weight, relieving the higher again; plus, they’re typically extra comfy. For people with again or neck ache or accidents, be sure you search for enough pads in your digital camera pack.

Classes of Digicam Backpacks

Totally different digital camera backpacks serve completely different creatives’ wants. Whether or not you gravitate to easy day or wedding ceremony shoots, or ceaselessly end up filming technical expeditions lasting for months, there’s a pack on the market together with your identify on it. We’ve damaged down a few of our favourite digital camera backpacks into three predominant classes. Most of those packs are featured above, whereas some now we have reviewed in earlier years.

• Informal: Common use round city, non-professional gear however nonetheless offers good protection
• Technical: Nice for skilled gear for the lengthy haul with elevated padding, waterproofing, and assist straps to assist extra weight when touring.
• Backpacking: Packs with bigger volumes — used greatest for 2-3-day journeys climbing over varied terrain, and even normal touring.

Value & Worth

Digicam backpacks differ dramatically in worth and options. Usually, the extra you wish to carry (e.g., a number of digital camera our bodies or lenses), the pricer the backpack turns into. Nevertheless, dimension isn’t the one issue that issues. Climate resistance, sturdiness, and the extent of digital camera safety may affect worth.

Whether or not for private or skilled use, be ready to spend a little bit additional on a great backpack. Digicam backpacks differ dramatically in worth and options. Usually, the extra you wish to carry (e.g., a number of digital camera our bodies or lenses), the pricer the backpack turns into. Nevertheless, dimension isn’t the one issue that issues. Climate resistance, sturdiness, and the extent of digital camera safety may affect worth.

Price range

The price range class ranges from as little as $30 to round $100. Right here, you’ll find backpacks just like the CADeN Digicam Backpack ($36), a real barebones digital camera bag. At this tier, the luggage are manufactured from questionable cloth that lacks waterproofing, they usually might lack padding and ergonomic assist. These luggage typically are much less comfy and maintain much less gear than different choices, nevertheless, these price range luggage would be the proper selection for you relying on the best way you utilize them. The CADen has sufficient padding to correctly defend your gear, however it lacks assist for heavier hundreds. Whereas these packs might not save your again, they’re simpler in your pockets.

Mid-Tier

These digital camera luggage vary from $150 – $250, and most digital camera backpacks fall into this vary. The standouts on this tier are the Lowepro ProTactic 450 AW II ($220) and the Tenba DNA 16 ($230). At this degree, backpacks have extra options like laptop computer pockets and waist straps. They usually even have extra ergonomic and comfy designs. These luggage are well worth the worth leap as they’re considerably higher for day by day use. At this worth level, the backpacks are nonetheless on the smaller facet, so should you’re searching for a top quality bag that may maintain a variety of gear, then it’s best to take a look at the premium luggage.

Premium

Premium luggage begin at $300 and go upward, with the costliest in our information within the $500 vary. Right here the backpacks include essentially the most options like additional padding, waterproofing, and the flexibility to carry a number of digital camera our bodies and lenses. Should you plan on doing large days within the mountains, these will save your again from discomfort. A digital camera bag crammed with a drone, a number of our bodies and lenses, and even a gimbal, could be price 1000’s of {dollars}. It’s greatest to guard that funding with a high-quality backpack defending your treasured digital camera gear from climate, shocks, and drops. The standouts on this class are the Peak Design Out of doors Backpack 45L ($330) and the Shimoda Motion X50 V2 ($350) for his or her means to securely carry a spread of cameras and out of doors gear in all climate situations whereas your again will get the assist it must haul all that weight round.

Steadily Requested Questions

Safety, group, weight, entry, gear match, and luxury are the important thing elements of fine digital camera luggage. Search for a bag with a padded inside, loads of inner and exterior pockets for maintaining your small, easy-to-lose equipment helpful, and a well-designed harness system that distributes the pack weight nicely.

Search for a pack that lets you seize the digital camera on the fly because of a seamless facet entry level.

Each digital camera bag has a padded compartment that’s designed to maintain your digital camera protected from bumps and scratches. One of the best ways so that you can preserve your digital camera protected in your pack is to pack it appropriately.

Additionally, know that your common digital camera pack shouldn’t be bombproof. Use widespread sense together with your bag: Keep away from throwing your bag round, sitting on it, or piling different luggage on high of it, and your digital camera must be protected.

Whereas digital camera backpacks are constructed with sturdy, typically water resistant materials, notice that zippers usually are not usually waterproof. Remember that moisture, humidity, splashes, setting it in puddles, touring by way of pouring rain or snow, or a spilled water bottle have the potential to achieve your gear.

Take note of your environment once you journey, too. Should you’re abroad or in a crowded bus or prepare station or at an airport, think about using a lock in your pack. Not all digital camera pack zippers are appropriate with TSA locks.

The TSA permits luggage with cameras, tripods, and lenses in the event that they match within the overhead bin or beneath your seat. Drones are allowed by way of checkpoints. However particular person airways’ guidelines might differ. Examine together with your particular airline to see in case your drone is allowed in your carry-on.

Quick reply: no. Should you really feel like risking it, you’ll be able to preserve your digital camera in an everyday bag. However the probability that your digital camera can be broken is elevated. And should you’re connected to your bag, you’ll be able to all the time purchase a padded digital camera dice, put your digital camera in it, after which place it within the bag.

That stated, a digital camera bag is not going to solely be safer on your digital camera however may even preserve all of your peripherals organized, permitting you to entry all the things you want once you want it.

Like a painter or graphic artist, each photographer is barely distinctive with their method, instruments, and the way they carry and function their gear outdoors or indoors on a movie mission. Usually, a couple of issues that professionals will carry embody a number of reminiscence playing cards, batteries, a lens wipe, a tripod, plus, in fact, their digital camera and a few lenses tailor-made to the photographs that they take note of for that vacation spot.

Typically they’ll additionally convey an additional digital camera, reflector, or mild meter, however it actually will depend on how fast, quick, and light-weight they should journey and what their goal or contracted undertaking entails.

Similar to another piece of drugs, it’s necessary to offer routine TLC to your bag. Clear the outside and inside in accordance with the product tag, and reapply water repellent too. Make sure that the zippers are well-lubricated and clear.

Restore and patch any tears or deep scratches. Additionally, be sure you air out the inside pockets and digital camera cubes, as storing your gear in a dry, clear house is necessary.