Need to Carry More Gear? Check Out These Stylish Camera Backpacks

Camera backpacks offer great levels of comfort while being able to carry, and protect all of your gear,

Messenger bags are adored by many thanks to their gorgeous looks, and their ability to carry the essentials. But they can become a little uncomfortable to carry. They place quite a bit of stress on one side of the body. Camera backpacks, on the other hand, can be lugged around for hours as they disperse the weight of your gear across your entire upper body. There are more options available when it comes to sizes and the amount of equipment they can carry. Need small camera backpacks that can hold the essentials while offering unmatched comfort? You can find backpacks like that. Need a bigger bag that can carry multiple camera bodies, numerous lenses, strobes, accessories, and more? You can find those too. Camera backpacks never used to be the most stylish bags around, but that too has changed. If you need a new camera bag and want to see what camera backpacks are out there, click past the break.

Tenba Cooper DSLR Backpack

Here are the pros and cons from our full review:

Pros

• Solidly built
• Very comfortable
• We adore the exterior material
• Keeps your gear well separated
• Feels great on your back
• Despite the lack of pockets, you can still keep things pretty well organized

Cons

• The thick material is bound to make your back sweat when you go on a hike or through the subways.
• The divider system separating the top of the bag and the bottom of the bag can come apart easily
• Getting into the bottom of the bag can be a chore sometimes.
• No straps for the waist or the chest
• No side pockets? Really Tenba?
• The top compartment can’t hold a small monolight. Tenba’s DNA backpack can though, thankfully.
• Why is there no tripod socket?

Buy now: $211.90

Billingham Rucksack 35

Here are the pros and cons from our full review:

Pros

• Solid build quality
• Layers of protection
• Good looks
• Comfortable
• Balance in the design
• Weatherproof

Cons

• Removable divider system when needed
• The smallest little hook strap
• We wish the adjustment straps tucked into themselves instead of flailing about

Buy now: $402.49

ONA Camps Bay

Here are the pros and cons from our full review:

Pros

• Classic styling that doesn’t scream “I’m a camera bag”
• Plenty of space for lenses, camera bodies, and more
• The waxed canvas is beautiful and so are the leather accents

Cons

• The straps, while padded, could use a little extra, especially if you plan on really stuffing this bag to the gills
• No weather sealing

Buy now: $390.09

Pro Tip: Bags, just like anything else, need to be taken care of make if we want them to last any significant amount of time. Leather bags and waxed canvas bags are incredibly durable, but they do need to be maintained. If you buy a waxed canvas or leather backpack, make sure you take care of it by re-applying canvas wax and leather rain repellant every six months or so. Your bag will last a lot longer if you do.

Shimoda Explore 40 Backpack

Here are the pros and cons from our full review:

Pros

• If you need to take everything with you, this is the bag you need
• Tons of weather sealing
• There are pockets and storage spaces everywhere
• Extreme levels of customization
• One of the most comfortable backpacks we’ve ever tested

Cons

• Honestly, it’s overkill for most photographers

Buy now: $279.95

Vanguard Havana 48 Blue Backpack

Here are the pros and cons from our full review:

Pros

• Great build quality
• Weather sealed
• Incredibly comfortable
• Can comfortably carry a tripod on the side
• Quick enough access to your gear without a ton of steps
• Lots of space for storage
• Even when there is a laptop in here, the bag is comfortable

Cons

• Why the hell did you make this blue nylon and not blue canvas, Vanguard? Come on!

Buy now: $89.99

The Tenba Solstice 24L

Here are the pros and cons from our full review:

Pros

• Lots of storage space for all manner of gear including a 13-inch laptop
• Expandable side pockets for oversized water bottles and tripods
• Adjustable padded dividers make it easy to reconfigure the bag based on your needs
• Rear opening door to your camera and lenses provides an extra layer of security
• Breathable mesh on the back of the bag helps keep you dry
• Water-resistant material keeps your gear safe in a light shower
• Included weatherproof cover will protect the bag and your gear in heavy downpours
• Soft-touch material is easy to wipe clean after a long hike

Cons

• Side waist straps are not removable
• Padding on the shoulder straps is a little too thin
• The clasp on the waist strap is not sturdy enough to instill confidence when swinging the bag around to your front to access the rear door
• Although adjustable, the chest strap sits in an awkward position even at its lowest setting

Buy now: $170

Pro Tip: One of the great things about camera backpacks is that they generally offer a lot more space to carry accessories than messenger bags do. While you can carry whatever you want, we always recommend that photographers should keep their camera bags stocked up with items like a basic cleaning kit, some weatherproof camera, and lens covers, and some spare SD cards. Keeping these items in your bag will help keep you ready for whatever might come your way while you’re out and about. 

Tenba DNA 15 Backpack

Here are the pros and cons from our full review:

Pros

• Solid build quality
• Weather sealing
• Roll-top design lets you accommodate a lot of clothing, gear, etc.
• Can become very compact
• Straps that go around your chest and waist
• Survives the snow
• Stores away well in an airplane’s travel compartments overhead

Cons

• Sometimes the zippers can be finicky

Buy now: $199.95

Portage Supply Kenora Backpack

Here are the pros and cons from our full review:

Pros

• Rugged and well built
• Nothing feels cheap
• Weather sealed
• Quick access on the side
• When putting a tripod on the side, it doesn’t feel like it’s going to throw your back off
• Lots and lots of pockets
• Really affordable

Cons

• You really need to take your time to figure out the interior configuration.
• The strap adjusters sort of just sit there and stay long. We wish there was a way to make them compact and out of the way

Buy now: $79