7 Rugged But Very Comfortable Camera Bags For Outdoor Photographers

These camera bags will let your slog your gear around in comfort while you look for that perfect landscape composition.

Part of the fun of landscape photography is wandering around in the great outdoors while you look for the perfect shot, or while you hike to your destination. One thing that’s not so fun, however, is lugging your gear around in bags that are uncomfortable. That’s right, not all cameras bags are made equal, and some are far better suited for photographers who travel along dusty trails or up rocky mountains. Not only is comfort important, but keeping your cameras, lenses, and accessories safe is too. In this roundup, we will take a quick look at camera bags that are ideal for those who plan on trekking around this spring (and beyond) to find those perfect locations for landscape photography.

The camera bags we have listed below are all perfect for photographers who like to hit the trails in search of their next great composition. All of the camera bags are rugged, well made, and offer resistance against the elements. They are all comfortable to carry around for long periods and will provide lots of support for your back and shoulders. You can also cram a large amount of gear into these camera bags. If you’re a landscape photographer and you are looking at new camera bags, check out the bags listed below.

WANDRD PRVKE Pack Camera Backpack 31L

Here are the pros and cons from our full review:

Pros

• A surprisingly comfortable backpack, can pack loads of gear and help you organize it with ease
• Loads of pockets help with the organization
• The passport pocket is incredibly smart
• Expandability to work like a RuckSack lets you store loads of clothing, toiletries, etc. almost as if it’s a whole nother backpack inside the PRVKE pack
• Decent enough amount of padding
• Tripod holder straps that work very well
• Fairly quick access to gear
• Stylish enough
• Pretty low profile despite its giant, boxy appearance
• Even at its most packed, it’s TSA approved
• The integrated camera sling strap is excellent for those who go on hikes.
• New dividers

Cons

• You only have quick access to maybe two pieces of your kit at most.
• Tote handles are supposed to be magnetic, and barely hold together magnetically
• Complicated to set up at first

Buy now: $204

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 could be a tad bit thicker
• 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

Buy now: $170

Shimoda Explore 40 Backpack

Here are the pros and cons from our full review:

Pros

• Excellent build quality
• Can be configured exactly how you want it
• The weather sealing is great
• Incredibly large and can carry an extreme amount of gear
• The lumbar support and well-padded straps make this bag very comfortable

Cons

• Not at all a bag for a city dweller
• Can take a while to get the bag configured how you want it

Buy now: $279.95

Pro Tip: There are beautiful landscapes everywhere we look, but capturing the beauty of them in one shot can be a considerable challenge if you aren’t well versed with your camera and accessories. Before you head on your adventure, invest in yourself, and learn the skills, you’ll need to be able to capture stunning landscapes no matter where you go. This landscape photography course will teach you all you need to know and will give some good refreshers for those who may already partake in the genre. Go through this course, and you’ll be capturing beautiful landscapes in no time.

WANDRD HEXAD Access Duffel

Here are the pros and cons from our full review:

Pros

• Excellent build quality
• Probably the most comfortable backpack straps we’ve ever used
• Weatherproof construction keeps your clothes and gear dry during inclement weather
• Easily tucks into overhead compartments (or under seats if you’ve got the leg room) for photographers who fly often
• Highly customizable, especially when configured with WANDRD’s own camera cubes
• The clamshell design of the duffel allows the top and bottom halves to lay flat when opened, making packing less of a chore

Cons

• The zipper joining the two halves of the duffel together was pretty hard to zip up around the corners when the duffel isn’t fully packed
• Can get really heavy and unwieldy if you pack the duffel to the brim
• WANDRD’s divider system genuinely need a revamp to improve their stability

Buy now: $224

Buy now – storage cubes: $33.97

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: $194.95

Vanguard Alta Sky 510 Backpack

Here are the pros and cons from our full review:

Pros

• Quite a lot of room – plenty of movable dividers that allow for a full redesign of the entire interior space allowing for a 1, 2 or 3 compartment design
• Can easily hold a 15in laptop
• 1-2 Drones carried internally or externally
• Hiking strap system with shoulder adjustments and waist belt
• Quality look and feel – exterior material rejects rain and sand easily
• Well priced for bags in the same range and category
• Side door access can handle 1Dx MKII / D5 sized cameras with 70-200 style lenses attached
• Solid, heavy-duty, brightly colored interior and exterior padding that rejects heavy impacts with ease

Cons

• Heavy – not meant for overhead airplane bins – without gear, it weighs almost 7lbs
• Lack of small pockets and storage areas
• The shoulder strap width and padding felt inadequate for full gear loadout weight
• Waist belt cannot be removed
• Zippers for the laptop and backdoor flaps are hard to access – zippers do not have rain flaps over them

Buy now: $269.97

Pro Tip: There’s nothing better than being out in nature and taking in all of the glory that surrounds you. One thing for sure, though, is that your gear is going to get dirty quickly. You can make sure you are prepared to clean your gear while you’re out and about by keeping a basic lens and camera cleaning kit in your camera bag. Before you take your shot, make sure the front element of your lens is clean. If it’s not, wipe it down with a soft microfiber cloth so annoying dust spots won’t show up in your image. This cleaning kit is all you need to take care of your equipment while out in the field. 

Tenba Shootout 16L DSLR Backpack

Here are the pros and cons from our full review:

Pros

• Comfortable
• Lots of low profile pockets
• We could carry most of the gear we needed
• Small enough to come with you in a busy subway while not taking up a lot of room
• Weather sealed
• Lots of great dividers
• Pockets are in comfortable spots to reach and use, but you’ll need to take the backpack off every time you want to use the bag

Cons

• We wish it could accommodate a 13-inch laptop, but we understand why it can’t
• If you put a tripod in the side, it becomes unbalanced unless you have something equally as heavy in the other side pocket.
• Not that attractive

Buy now: $199.95