Your camera bag is a home – a shelter for your most precious gear items. Choosing the right one for you depends on the accessories you wish to carry. Every bag, however, should be able to battle the roughest weather, give you quick in-and-out access, carry your laptop and be travel ready when you are.
Here are some of our favorite bags from 2013:
Rarely do you need to walk through rivers or carry your camera bag to the summit of a snowy mountain, but if you do, the aquapac is the bag for you. It’s the Chuck Norris of basic SLR camera bags – rugged, mysterious and intimidating reliable. Sure, it doesn’t provide the luxury housing that you’ll find in the bags below, but if your primary concern is packing light and keeping your gear dry, this is the perfect bag.
When it comes to travel bags, no one does it better than the team over at ThinkTank. This particular roller-bag holds 2 DSLRs and several lenses, flashes or transmitters. It can fit into the overhead compartment of any plane and still has room for your monopod or tripod and a few personal items as well. Also, if you don’t want to roll it around, just tuck in the handles and pull out the straps to carry it like a traditional backpack. Great bag.
First of all, it’s basically a fanny pack – you know you want one. Perfect for the beginner with minimal gear, this pack can hold a standard DSLR with a zoom lens attached and two additional lenses or flashes. It also has room for your memory cards and all the miscellaneous items you need to carry for your day to day life. With its lid style top and shoulder strap, you can get to your gear quickly while on the move.
You get what you pay for and more with this Hama bag. Made of a rubber material, this bag is extremely durable and water repellent. The bag compartments are divided into two segments that allow you to store two DSLRs with attached lens and 11 additional lenses or flashes! Similar to the Lowepro Outback, it has plenty of pockets for miscellaneous gear and even comes with a water bottle holder. It’s equipped with padded straps for added comfort so you can carry it around all day.
National Geographic Earth Explorer Large Rucksack
Ok, so this one is not essential, but if you are an enthusiast, you can’t help but love this bag. This thing can carry just about anything; gear, cards, cables, laptops with plenty of room left over for clothes and personal items. The side pouches are perfect for tripods or water bottles. The main compartment can be accessed from two different points, making it really easy to get to your gear.
First of all, its a beautiful, comfortable bag that blends in while roaming and shooting on city streets. It can fit a standard DSLR an iPad (or 11’’ computer) and an additional lens with a little more room to spare.
