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5 Camera Bags Under $100 That We Truly Adore (We Think You Will Too)

Brett Day
No Comments
03/30/2020
3 Mins read
Chris Gampat The Phoblographer Portage Supply Kenora 4th Gen backpack review product images 12

Last Updated on 03/31/2020 by Mark Beckenbach

These camera bags will blow your mind. Then, you’ll see the price, and you simply won’t believe what you can get for under $100!

Unfortunately, the adage ‘you only get what you pay for’ is still around and believed by many, but honestly, in most cases, this simply isn’t true anymore. We have seen affordable cameras that are feature-packed and that are strong performers that cost little compared to cameras of yesteryear, and we have seen the same with camera lenses too. You simply do not have to spend crazy money to get quality products now. Fortunately, this also applies to camera bags. We hunted down some of the most affordable camera bags on the market and put them through our real-world tests, and we discovered some real gems! After the break, we will share with you five camera bags that cost less than $100 that will honestly blow your mind.

We’re not lying when we say that you don’t have to spend a fortune to get great camera bags. We put all of the camera bags below through our usual tough real-world tests, and they graduated with honors, sir! The camera bags listed below are very well made, and they use wonderful materials. They’re weather sealed or weatherproofed, they all provide tons of material for padding and protecting your gear, and they all cost less than $100; some way below that even, and we could hardly find any faults with them. If you want a real bargain, check out these camera bags.

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 did you make this blue nylon and not blue canvas, Vanguard?

Buy now: $59.99

Manfrotto Manhattan 3-Way Shoulder Bag Changer 20

camera bags

Here are the pros and cons from our full review:

Pros

  • It’s a tote shoulder bag, a military map case style messenger bag, and a backpack all in one
  • It’s very functional
  • Extremely solid build quality

Cons

  • Not the most fashionable bag, but its functions put this issue to rest quickly
  • The flaps on the sides never quite fold flat

Buy now: $99.99

Tarion M-02

camera bags

Here are the pros and cons from our full review:

Pros

  • Security
  • Weather sealing
  • Good quality zippers
  • A fair amount of pockets
  • Holds its shape well
  • Pretty comfortable, but I wish it had straps to go around your waist and not just the top area
  • An INCREDIBLY ATTRACTIVE PRICE POINT!

Cons

  • Not the most stylish bag ever
  • We wish that it had quick access via a side pocket zipper

Buy now: $59.89

Pro Tip: I’m always asked what should be kept in camera bags in terms of accessories, and I always give the same answers. I believe that you should always keep a basic cleaning kit with you so that you can care for your gear while you are out and about. You should also always have some weatherproof camera and lens covers in your bag just in case you get hit by some unexpected weather. Spare SD cards are also a must as they do fail from time to time. The camera bags we have featured here have plenty of pockets and compartments for accessories, so put them to good use. 

Portage Supply Kenora Backpack (4th Generation)

camera bags

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 quite long

Buy now: $69

Portage Supply Mariner Messenger Bag

camera bags

Here are the pros and cons from our full review:

Pros

  • Weatherproof
  • Canvas and leather
  • It’s beautiful
  • Heavy duty
  • Pockets exactly where I need them
  • The laptop sleeve is closer to the front and so it keeps the balance of the bag when placed down on the ground
  • The strap that makes it function like a suitcase is wonderful and removable
  • This is the most comfortable strap that we’ve ever used on a messenger bag

Cons

  • We wish that it had side pockets that were a bit more expandable.

Buy now: $59

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