Best Camera Bags to Protect Your Camera Equipment

Thus, it's important to protect them whilst in use and stored at home. With numerous options to choose from, we’re looking at high-quality protective gear for everyone. Let’s take a look at the best camera bags to keep your valuable equipment secure and safe at all times. From amateurs to professionals, everyone can benefit from having a camera bag to carry, store, and protect their prized photography gear.

Perhaps to this point in life you've been content with your camera's neck strap to hold it while out and about. Or maybe you even allow it to sit in the open air at home while not in use. No matter your habits, the best camera bags are a step up from potentially damaging and hazardous practices. By investing in one of these, you minimize the chances of putting out additional money to replace your equipment. Still not convinced? Here's what you need to know about the best camera bags:

Investing in a high-quality camera bag helps to protect your equipment so you can use it for life. When it comes to choosing the right one for you, one size doesn’t fit all. Therefore, it’s worth considering what equipment you’d like to store and where you’ll be taking the bag. For example, if you’re a regular traveller, you may wish to invest in a rolling bag with wheels.

Keep your camera equipment in an easy-to-find location so you can quickly change a lens to obtain the perfect shot. Perhaps you wish to place your camera on a tripod instead. The best camera bags come with handy interior and exterior pockets to keep everything handy when you need it in a rush. Not to mention, they’re specifically designed with padding and from premium quality to keep everything in place.

For as many types of photographers and types of photography that exist, there as equally as many of the best camera bags on the market. Regardless of your style, you'll find that the best camera bags come in all sorts of designs. For this reason, we've broken down the most common types below.

A traditional shoulder bag is perfect for most people because you can carry it around and easily access everything in it. Shoulder bags tend to be smaller and more compact than other designs which makes it lighter and more comfortable to hold. This style is better suited if you don’t carry a lot of equipment around with you.

Holster bags are the smallest styles of the best camera bags and keep things simple. Compact, slim and light, holster bags are ideal for travelers. This is because you can quickly retrieve your camera in a hasty moment. They also feature a built-in weather cover for protection in rain, snow and strong winds.

Backpacks are well suited if you’re climbing uphill, as they balance healthily on your back compared to a holster or shoulder bag. There’s also plenty more room and padding within these, allowing you to safely store a large tripod. Backpacks usually come with additional features such as Velcro, studded pockets, and zips to give you plenty of options to store small and large accessories.

Messenger bags can be confusing to buy, because there are so many options of them. They are your best option to keep a low profile if you’re storing expensive equipment and things such as a laptop or tablet. They also tend to provide additional space for a water bottle while travelling. Designed with functionality in mind, you can carry a messenger bag daily to match your style effortlessly.

Similarly, just as you'll find many styles of bags, you'll notice that these come in several types of materials. Dependent upon your location's weather conditions and the durability needed, you'll want to choose between the fabrics below.

Canvas is an excellent material to make a bag waterproof. It also helps to give your bag an old-school style and design which other people will admire. Many of the best camera bags are made from canvas and often handmade for a personal design. These types of camera bags tend to be soft, but strong, making them an ideal purchase if you have heavy/large equipment.

Leather camera bags ensure your camera and accessories are protected from water and other weather conditions. As leather is sturdy and long-lasting, bags made from it are usually more expensive. However, it is worth the investment because they last a long time. In fact, leather camera bags get better with age.

Synthetic bags are often cheaper than the above and come in a variety of styles and shapes. They are quick and easy to personalise with prints and patterns. This material isn’t as sturdy as the above options, so tend to be used for smaller, on-the-go camera bags.  

When choosing a camera bag, it’s important that it suits your equipment, comfort and lifestyle. Not everyone wants the same bag, so we’ve provided a selection of the best for all tastes and weather conditions.  

This 550 Original Khaki Trim is one of the best camera bags suited for medium or large format kits. The soft-weave waterproof canvas print is pleasant to look at, and works exceptionally well against the brown straps. We love the adjustable shoulder sling with SP20 shoulder pad to make it easy and comfortable to carry around.

Even still, what we like most about this camera bag is the numerous pockets on all sides. As a result, this is an ideal solution if you’re a photographer who carries lots of equipment and small pieces. The closed-cell foam padded interior keeps your camera protected and safe in all conditions. This makes it suitable for travelling. With the added benefit of multiple straps and buckles, your camera and equipment won’t roam around inside and things won’t fall or break off either.

This original design holds vast amounts of camera gear. Specifically, it fits medium or large formats with a maximum size of 35mm. You can comfortably fit batteries, lenses, flash, film and more without squashing everything together. The two zippered pockets with press stud fastenings gives you peace of mind that everything is safe. The additional protection of the large rain flap and buckle fastening completes the overall look whilst considering practicality at the core of its design. 

This 335-camera bag is adjustable to suit the amount of equipment you have and your lifestyle. One of the most recent and best camera bags this year, it allows the main zip to tuck out of the way when opened. Double pullers enable this to happen and make it easier and more comfortable to navigate. This is an ideal camera bag if your equipment is particularly heavy, or you’re looking for a sturdy material.

The Delta sling is designed to prevent the bag tipping and it also reduces any rolling motion as you walk around. All of these bags feature a loop fixing system, so you can attach tripod straps or a back harness on the outside for easy access. Specifically designed to fit the Delta Sling, the Delta Pocket provides extra storage space on the bag. The twin press-stud fastening helps for finger space so you don’t have to press all of your contents within the bag.

This is one of the best camera bags and favourites for serious photographers. People all over the world have purchased this and been incredibly impressed with how long it lasts. It helps to create a simple life by keeping your equipment out of sight of others, whilst giving you faith that it’ll look after your belongings for you. The zipper can remain open and is protected with the main flap. The simple straight zipper path allows a long, trouble-free day. The SP15 shoulder pad offers a comfortable hands-free carry, and the 8-15 and 9-18 Superflex are included with every purchase.

The Super Pro 13 is an ideal solution for photographers who are often on the move and travelling around the world. It can easily carry digital SLRs, multiple lenses, camera accessories and a laptop with a 15” screen. The patented double lens-bridge divider system cradles cameras with lenses attached to keep them ready for action. There’s no need to separate accessories from your camera.

The total coverage top offers triple protection against the bag’s elements with Velcro closures for quick access. Consequently, it’s an ideal solution for busy photographers who need access to different lenses quickly. The easy squeeze quick-release buckles are excellent for security purposes and a zipper closer is the best feature of this camera bag for protection against serious weather conditions.

With two slide pockets, everything is quick to access. For example, if your camera runs out of batteries or you need to switch memory cards or lenses, the camera bag allows that to happen. The two zip-drop pockets at the front feature internal paraphernalia pockets and an internal zippered mesh accessory pocket as a personalised touch. We also like the straps beneath the pockets which allow it to hold a tripod, whilst the piggy-back pocket enables the bag to slip over a handle of a rolling luggage. We could imagine taking this camera bag around the world. The biocurve shoulder strap keeps it stable on your shoulder or on a surface.

This is one of the best camera bags for storage space. With room for a camera, two to three lenses, small personal items, and a 13-inch laptop, there’s plenty of space for your essentials. However, compared to the above option, it’s not too big and doesn’t come with many additional pockets. This isn’t necessarily a bad feature, as it makes it lighter to carry. Weighing only eight pounds, it’s functional, light and comfortable to hold across your shoulders in your hand, depending on your preference.

The handcrafted full-grain leather is soft and luxurious to feel and exceptionally stunning to look at. This ONA product is committed to producing excellent quality, design and craftsmanship. The Italian-tanned leather is functional and attractive. Made with a light wax finish that develops a rich colour and texture with time, this camera bag actually gets better with age.

At the core of this camera bag is the design to make your life easier and help you enjoy shooting. With side weather flaps, your gear is always protected, making it a suitable choice if you spend a lot of time outdoors. We love that it features practical options, such as adaptable storage space to store your camera, two to three lenses and small items. As a result, you don’t need to carry an additional bag for your keys, phone and other accessories. 

This is another of the best camera bags for different reasons to the above options. Unlike other products we’ve looked at, this is watertight, crushproof, and sand and dust proof. As a result, it’s an ideal solution if you work outdoors more than indoors, or in unclean environments. You can happily place this camera bag on the floor without worrying about water or snow seeping through the materials. 

Unlike some of the other best camera bags on the market which feature buckles, Velcro, and zips, this product features latches for easy opening and closing. The manual purge is more reliable and functional if you don’t like unzipping or buckling. These cases are built strong to last a long time, so you probably won’t need to make another purchase after this one. Although they’re strong and sturdy, they’re lighter than competitive products. The super-strong rubber-coated handles makes it comfortable to carry around, and prevents it from slipping out of your hand in wet conditions.

It’s also worth noting that these camera cases are the strongest molded protection cases in the world. Consequently, this product is more suited for those looking for a strong case they can be rough with when in a rush, rather than focusing on the design and interior pockets. With padlock holes, you can add another layer of security if necessary, though, the option is all yours.

This Orca OR-14 Video Camera Trolley Bag is an alternative product to what we’ve talked about above. Though it looks like a suitcase, it offers the same easy transportation features, making it an ideal choice if you’re consistently on the go on your feet. It also comes with a padded shoulder strap, so you can adjust the bag to accommodate your mood or lifestyle. Our favourite feature is the integrated trolley system to offer a comfortable and light transportation route wherever you are in the world.

Another nice touch is the internal LED lighting to help you search for your belongings no matter how dark it is outside. Unlike some of the other best camera bags on the market, the Orca product includes a securing bungee system. Also, it comes with aluminium and honeycomb frames for 360-degree ultimate protection no matter where you are in the world. As a result, you can move around quickly without worrying about your equipment remaining protected.

By looking at this bag, you can recognise that there’s plenty of storage space for your camera and accessories. It comes with a special top trap, covered with zippered mesh, to give you the option for extra storage space and additional protection. You can use this top bag for essentials you need to access quickly. However, you won’t see the layers of foam and EVA on the interior of the camera bag to keep your equipment protected and safe at all times. 

This Think Tank Airport TakeOff Rolling bag offers integrated backpack straps with comfortable shoulder harness and back panel padding. As one of the best camera bags, it holds up to 400m with two standard bodies and other assorted lenses. Depending on the accessories you add to this camera bag, it weighs between 8.7 and 9.7lbs (3.9-4.4kg). This is one of the lightest camera bags, making it comfortable and easy to carry around anywhere.

The lightly padded pocket fits a laptop in a sleeve or slim case, and there’s additional dedicated space for other devices. The large front pocket fits up to a 17” laptop and a 10” tablet, which also gives you the option to use it as a carry-on case on airplanes. As a result, it’s an ideal camera bag for business use too. Well-built and secure, you can easily add several lenses, mg charger, flashes and camera to the interior and exterior pockets, as well as some other small items.

Sometimes, you can only take a rolling camera bag so far as the floor conditions worsen. Thankfully, the Think Tank Airport bag enables you to quickly convert it from a rolling bag to a carry-on case. You can easily hide the back straps when they’re not in use to keep the camera bag looking tidy and stylish whenever you like. Many customers like that the backpack straps make it easier to lug around when it comes to stairs. It’s also an ideal solution for anyone who struggles carrying anything heavy or large, or has back problems.

This timeless camera bag is one of the most premium editions which incorporates fashion into its design. The piece features Italian bovine leather, ensuring it lasts for many years to come. Handmade in Europe, it’s a premium nickel colour hardware is chic and classy. Stylish from the inside out, it features beautiful patterned fabrics on the interior which you can’t appreciate on the picture above.The detachable shoulder strap and optimal size makes it completely versatile and comfortable for every occasion.

Most importantly, the bag can hold a DSLR camera with lens’ attached, as well as two-three additional lenses and accessories. It holds up to 7lb (3kg) of weight. Specifically, this includes small accessories like camera batteries, cell phone, keys, wallet, and a tablet, or small laptop. Although some of the best camera bags can hold more products than this, we love that this has an elegant and feminine appearance so it closely resembles a handbag.

The camera bag features one internal and one external zipper pocket. The leather shoulder strap is detachable and adjustable to accommodate your style and comfort. Don’t be fooled by its angelic appearance, though, as the bottom hardware on the bag enables it to securely stand upright when you’re busy with other tasks. With padding all around the main body of the bag, it gives it a superior protection for your valuable goods. The built-in padded section on the interior makes it suitable to store an iPad or tablet, and a soft cloth is included to keep everything pristine.

We hope you enjoyed reading about the best camera bags on the market. Each one is unique and offers something a little different from the next in line. Ensure you pick one based off of your equipment size and weight, and any additional accessories you carry around.

What camera bag do you currently use, or do you know any additional products we haven’t included above? If so, share your thoughts in the comments to continue this conversation.

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