Whether you’re heading out on an overnight excursion or across the world to an exciting new destination, you want to be able to travel comfortably with all your essential camera gear. Professional or hobbyist, it’s important to have that camera gear well protected in a bag that’s easy to carry, efficiently designed for holding your camera and accessories, and designed with the convenience to have at the ready so you don’t miss the opportunity to capture that chance of a lifetime photo. The best photography backpack for traveling will have all of these characteristics.
While they all offer the convenience of straps for easy carrying, travel photography backpacks vary in size, shape, design, and features. For example, some have built in waterproof covers, extra pockets for laptop, places for tripod, or even sections for clothing. And though they all have an area with separators that allow you to neatly pack and protect camera body(s) and lens(es), these spaces vary greatly in what gear they best accommodate.
Below is a review of six of the most popular photography backpacks that receive the highest ratings from actual photographer users. These cover a range of styles and prices. Among these you’re sure to find the best photography backpack for traveling for you, based on your unique travel and handling needs for your camera equipment.
Acuvar DSLR Camera Backpack with Rain Cover
The least expensive pick on our list, this travel camera backpack from Acuvar delivers top value for the budget minded travel photographer. This compact pack has everything a photographer or videographer needs to carry the essentials, and includes a rain cover for protecting your gear from that unexpected downpour.
This bag is made of a durable nylon and polyester blend. The interior has padded foam separators that can be rearranged as you like for maximum protection of each of your pieces of equipment. The pack is designed to hold and protect 2 camera bodies, 3-4 lenses, filters, flash, and other accessories. Extra interior and exterior zipper compartments let you organize storage of batteries, charger, cards, and more. An exterior strap and compartment assembly is ideal for carrying a travel tripod. About $27.
Standout Feature
This bag has a built in detachable rain cover that’s hidden away in a pocket at the bottom of the pack.
Lowepro Flipside Pro DSLR Camera Backpack Series
Lowepro has long been a leading innovator in camera bag technology, so it’s no surprise the LowePro Flipside Pro DSLR Camera Backpack series tops the list in overall quality, durability, and usability. And those shooting sports or wildlife with a 500mm lens will especially appreciate the new 500 AW edition in this series.
Every attention has been paid in the construction of this bag to deliver the utmost comfort and top performance. Contoured shoulder straps and a padded waist strap help distribute weight evenly. The spacious, fully padded camera compartment has protective dividers that can be customized to fit your gear and a back end tripod mount system secures your bag to the exterior for easy access, but hides away neatly when not in use. Plus there are lots of interior and exterior compartments for organized storage of smaller items.
The Flipside comes in different sizes and models to suit your packing needs.
The 500 AW is the largest and most robust of these, designed for the serious sports, adventure or wildlife photographer. It can fit a pro DSLR with grip and up to 500mm attached lens, 1-2 extra camera bodies, 2-4 extra lenses, flash, tripod, tablet, and other accessories. This bag has a waterproof cover hidden away and easy to put on if the weather changes on you. About $145.
Those with slightly less gear may prefer the internationally acclaimed Flipside 400 AW. This is designed to fit a pro DSLR with up to a 300mm lens attached, a second camera body, 4-6 extra lenses, flash, tripod, and multiple accessories. A raincover is concealed and accessible whenever you need it to protect your gear from the wet. About $100.
The Flipside 200 and 300 models offer the same top quality as those above, but in a more compact and lightweight package that still fit your pro DSLR with lens attached, extra lenses, and more. Currently selling for about $60 and $75 respectively.
Standout Feature
Gear is accessed on the body-side of the bag, not the outside like traditional backpacks. This allows easy access and provides extra security to your gear while wearing the pack.
YAAGLE Oxford DSLR Camera Bag Backpack
This multi-functional travel camera bag backpack from YAAGLE helps you carry more than just your camera gear. The bottom half of the bag has an anti-shock padded camera partition system with four adjustable and removable pieces. These allow you to store your camera body and lenses separate from other belongings.
The top half of the bag is a spacious compartment for holding clothing or other travel items. And the separate computer area can accommodate a laptop up to 15 inches.
An external strap system lets you easily attach a tripod or monopod, back pockets are great for batteries, cards, and other quick access items, and the side pocket is perfect for a water bottle to keep you hydrated on those long days out shooting.
Available in gray, black, or army green. About $65.
Standout Feature
Only half of the backpack is a camera bag, leaving ample packing space for jacket, gloves, lunch, or other items.
Kattee Canvas DSLR Camera Backpack
Made of a rugged canvas with genuine cowhide leather straps and trim, this photographer’s backpack from Kattee is notable for its military rucksack style. Like getting two bags in one, dual access compartments separate photo or video gear protected in the bottom part from clothing and other items packed into the top part.
The modest bottom camera storage area is equipped with a removable and configurable padded separator system that can handle a camera body, 1-2 lenses, and a flash or filters. External pouches are useful for storing additional items. And a rain cover is zipped in at the bottom and available to protect your gear when needed. About $60.
Standout Feature
Dual compartment design allows packing clothing and other items as well as basic camera gear.
Case Logic SLR Camera and Laptop Backpack
For over 30 years Case Logic has been leading the charge in smart cases and storage solutions for all types of electronics gear. This SLR Camera/Laptop Backpack is an extremely popular offering in their camera backpack lineup particularly because of the well padded separate laptop compartment that can fit up to 17 inch laptop.
Chock full of padded dividers, this bag is fully configurable with the ease of velcro to fit and secure your camera with attached lens, extra lenses, extra camera body, plus remote flash, chargers, or other gear. Padded interior pockets provide ample organization and storage for extra cards, filters, and batteries. And the top part of the zippered lid is lined with memory foam for added protective padding at the top of the bag.
Exterior pockets are great for mobile phone, extra point and shoot camera, glasses, or other quick access items. Front organization pockets are perfect for things like notebooks, pens, and cables, and the side flashing straps for carrying a tripod or monopod.
A fast action top zipper provides quick access to your camera (even with a long zoom lens attached) from the top portion of case, without the hassle of having to open the entire pack. Currently about $85.
Standout Feature
A unique hammock system suspends your camera with attached lens above the bottom of the case, providing the ultimate in protection from impact.
Portage Camera and Laptop Backpack for Travel
Head out in style with this camera and laptop travel backpack from Portage. Everything about this bag speaks luxury, from the premium water resistant soft waxed canvas exterior, to the GearSilk soft and smooth interior lining, to the fully padded leather base providing impact protection to your gear and enabling the bag to stand up at rest without tipping.
A padded laptop compartment securely stores your laptop, surface, or tablet up to 15 inches. The bottom 2/3rds of the bag open into a camera gear area with customizable dividers for holding camera, lenses, and other gear. The top 1/3 of the bag is separate for storage of clothing, snacks, or other personal items. Side pouches and straps can hold tripod, and together with easy access front zippered compartment provide a myriad of organization options.
Currently around $130.
Standout Feature
From the exterior, this pack looks more like a high-end tote or messenger bag than a camera bag. The large top carry handle slides over most rolling suitcase handles for easy handling en-route.