The Best Camera Bags, Straps, Inserts, and Backpacks

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  Photograph: Moment

  The Best Overall

  Moment Rugged Camera Sling

  Moment's Rugged Sling is aimed at street photographers with a modular organization system, and weather-proof fabric made from recycled sails (technically its recycled polyester fiber and film, made by Northsail). There's a large zippered front pocket that makes it easy to get to your gear, and the "winged" rear padding design makes it super comfortable on your back. The best part is the ingenious magnetic clip system, which works very well. It's also worth noting that I found the 10L version perfect for carting around a drone.

• Photograph: ONA

  Runner Up

  ONA The Bowery

  I've owned this bag (the black waxed-canvas version) for more than six years, and it remains in great shape. It's attractive and perfect for short outings that span several hours, with plenty of padding and a divider to keep your gear protected—though you'll only be able to fit a camera with a lens attached and an additional lens. There's a pouch on the back I've used to stow a Nintendo Switch or a Kindle, I shove my cables, batteries, and SD cards in the pouch on the front. The two side pockets are too tight to fit anything bigger than a pen or a microfiber cloth.

  One perk? You can quickly detach the strap to turn the Bowery into a camera cube for a bigger backpack.

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• Photograph: Peak Design

  A Slim, Durable Bag

  Peak Design Everyday Sling 10L

  The Everyday Sling has long been one of my (Jess) personal favorites for everyday carry or heading out for a day of shooting. It comes with flexible dividers you can adjust or remove depending on how much organization or storage space you need. The 10-liter version has room for a 13-inch MacBook Pro, a charger, and my FujiFilm X-Pro 2 camera. If you need room for additional lenses or a larger camera body, you might want to forego the MacBook; it can get a little tight in there.

  $150 at Peak Design

• Photograph: Domke

  A Roomy and Discreet Messenger

  Domke F-832 Shoulder Bag

  This is the bag I used to cover the 2014 December march on Washington DC (Domke bags are also the official camera bag of the White House News Photographer Association). Fair warning: The padding at the bottom isn't thick, and the included inserts are flimsily attached via a single line of velcro on the bag's interior. But I still like this bag because it's so roomy. Back when my photo kit consisted of my camera and a single extra battery, I was able to toss spare clothes, a laptop, and toiletries into this thing without needing to think much about organizing anything. It helps that the waxed canvas exterior doesn't immediately scream camera bag, too.

• Photograph: Moment

  Best Everyday Backpack

  Moment MTW Backpack

  Moment's MTW Backpack is a great little everyday bag. The compartment that houses the camera (and the optional MTW Camera Insert) is quickly accessible from the side without needing to take the pack off, though go for the 21-liter size instead of the 17L if you have a lot of gear. Even the smaller 17L bag's back compartment can hold a 16-inch laptop in a padded sleeve, the stretchy side pouch can carry a mini tripod or a thick water bottle, and the front-most zippered pocket is great for storing smaller items like chargers, cables, and batteries.

  It's easy to secure the MTW insert to the bag so it doesn't move around, but it does make the entire thing quite puffy. On a short trip where I only needed my camera and not much other gear, I took out the insert, packed two days worth of clothes, and shoved my camera in the middle of my clothes for padding. The ease of removing the insert makes it a great backpack and a great everyday camera bag. It's made of recycled Kodra fabric with a double-layer waterproof coating.

• Photograph: Prvke

  A More Luxurious Backpack

  Wandrd Prvke

  After years of searching for a camera bag that is as functional as it is stylish, I stumbled upon the Prvke (pronounced "provoke") a couple years ago. It's the closest a camera bag has ever come to perfection—and comes in a gorgeous green and blue! You choose between 21 liters or 31 liters—I opted for the latter. It fits everything I need to shoot a video on the go, including a tripod (which you can secure with a buckle). With the side access pocket, grabbing the camera is a snappy affair, but you'll need to take the bag off to unzip the main compartment. There's a laptop sleeve big enough to house a 16-inch MacBook plus another spot for a tablet, and there are lots of other zippered pockets and pouches to store other gear—and six attachment points so you can strap in just about anything else. Just make sure to buy the Photography Bundle so you get the Essential Camera Cube bundled in.

  The expandable rolltop has come in handy on several occasions, offering an additional 5 liters of space, and I love that the magnetic handles stick together even after nearly two years of daily use. It barely looks the worse for wear, too. The waterproof tarpaulin and Robic 1680-denier ballistic nylon has held up extremely well.

• Photograph: Mission Workshop

  Best Backpack for Traveling

  Mission Workshop Integer

  This cavernous 24L bag fits all the camera gear you need for a pro shoot in far flung locales. For those of us with more modest travel plans—remember travel plans?—it'll hold an SLR body, several lenses, and all your clothes for a weekend trip without breaking a sweat. You can even attach your tripod to the side for quick access. 

  My (Scott) favorite parts of this bag are the durable construction (it's made of a high tenacity yarn that's both strong and lightweight) and the variety of ways to get at your gear. There are three ways into the Integer: through a large zippered front panel, a quick-access side panel, or the expandable roll-top. Removable, re-configurable dividers let you customize the layout to fit your gear, and the stylish design looks great whether you're walking around town or on the white sands of an exotic location shoot.

  $485 at Mission Workshop

• Photograph: Wandrd

  A Backpack for Hiking

  Wandrd Fernweh

  I haven't gone camping or backpacking this year, but I did use Wandrd's new Fernweh to transport a computer monitor from my partner's office back home via a bicycle. When our offices needed to be cleared out this summer, it was my bag of choice to carry all the remaining items I had at my desk, including a full-size keyboard, several phone-sized boxes, and an ... unopened bottle of wine from Christmas. This 50-liter bag is so spacious it can fit all your important photo gear in the removable camera cube plus anything else you need to bring on a hiking trip. My favorite part? The back padding, straps, and waist straps are thick and soft, making it incredibly comfortable to wear.

  The many compartments, straps, and zippers can get very confusing fast, but take it out on a trip once or twice and you'll get the hang of it. The quickdraw access on the side lets you grab your camera at a moment's notice, and there's also a water bladder routing so you can parch your thirst without needing to reach for a bottle.

• Photograph: Lo & Sons

  A Discreet Yet Fashionable Bag

  Lo & Sons Claremont Crossbody

  This is my (Jess) kind of camera bag. It doesn’t draw attention to itself. It’s stylish, but doesn’t scream camera bag. It’s slick and round where most camera bags are boxy and technical. Claremont doesn't sacrifice functionality in pursuit of a more elevated style, either. It has numerous internal pockets for memory cards, batteries, and snacks. It’s roomy enough for a mirrorless and a couple lenses plus additional everyday essentials.

  $368 at Lo & Sons
• Photograph: Billingham

  A Stylish Carry-All

  Billingham Hadley Pro 2020

  Billingham bags have something of a reputation among photographers. They’re renowned for their durability, understated style, and lifetime warranties. As a camera bag, it’s not as fully-featured as some of the others on this list, but it’s great for the basics and serves double duty as a solid travel bag. Its weather resistant finish and timeless style make it one of my favorite everyday bags.

• Photograph: Wotancraft

  A Stylish Leather Bag

  Wotancraft Ryker

  This is the bag I've used most during the pandemic. I haven't had to carry a ton of gear, just my mirrorless camera, a few filters, and two to three smartphones (I review phones!). 

  This bag is beautiful. The pebble-grain cowhide leather is supple and soft—and after months of use, it still looks pristine. The flap stays shut thanks to magnets, but open it up and it's hard to stop touching the maroon microfiber underside. The bag's largest compartment has a velcro lining, so you can adjust the placement of the dividers, and the padding on all sides (especially the bottom) is really thick.

  There isn't much in the way of organizing your smaller items, but you get three roomy pockets that can fit a Nintendo Switch, a Kindle, and a 10-inch iPad (respectively). There's even a spot on the back you can use as a sleeve to connect it to a roller suitcase. Everything else on this messenger screams exquisite, from the YKK Metaluxe zippers to the latex-padded strap that sits comfortably on my shoulder.

  $429 at Wotancraft

• Photograph: Moment 

  Have You Considered a Camera Insert (Cube)?

  You May Not Need a Camera Bag

  If you already own bags that you like, consider using a packing cube (also called an "insert") instead. All you need to do is put your gear into the cube and insert it into an existing bag. They're padded well to protect the jewels of your toolkit. While they're designed for bags made by their respective manufacturers, you can measure your current bag to make sure they'll fit. It's one of the cheaper ways to tote around your gear without needing to shell out on a new bag.

  • ★Top Pick—Peak Design Camera Cube ($50): Peak Design's cubes come in small, medium, or large sizes. I tried the small and it was enough to carry my mirrorless camera, two lenses, and an array of small items like batteries, card readers, mics, as well as filters. You get several thick dividers that keep your gear apart, and the velcro inner lining means you can customize placement. There's also a floating pocket you can attach to store smaller tchotchkes. The exterior is made of 100 percent recycled nylon, and it's weatherproof. There are various loops on the outside that let you keep it securely in place on backpacks that support such a system.

  • Moment MTW Camera Insert for $100: Moment's insert is one of the smallest I've used, but it's thin and won't take up a lot of room in your bag. Its frame is very stiff, and there's still a decent amount of padding. I really like how the interior is bright red, making it super easy to see what's inside if it's dark. You only get two dividers but they have stretchy pockets so you can keep smaller items in them. On the exterior, there are aluminum anchors to keep it secure, though it's best used with Moment's own backpacks.

  • Wandrd Essential Camera Cube for $59: This cube is better for backpacks with some sort of side access. It's made of 420-denier Robic nylon and has a weather-resistant coating. You get five thick dividers you can customize via the velcro lining to fit around your equipment, and three straps to keep everything held down. Mini and Pro sizes are available and each also has other "Plus" or "Deep" variants if you need more room. Wandrd's website has a nice size guide that shows what each can fit. 

• Photograph: Peak Design

  A Camera Strap May Also Work

  Strap Up

  If you're only carrying around your camera, you can skip the camera bag, but I strongly encourage you to use a strap. It's a safe way to keep your camera secure to your body so if it fumbles through your fingers it won't hit the ground. But ditch the strap from your camera manufacturer, though. These alternatives are better.

  • ★Top Pick—Peak Design Leash for $40: This is the best camera strap I (Julian) have used. Attach one side of the Leash to where you usually attach a camera strap, but then stick the other end to the bottom tripod mount via the included anchor mount. This allows the camera to droop lens-down on your body, meaning the grip is the first thing you'll grab when reaching for it. It doesn't feel awkward, and the seatbelt-style strap swiftly glides across any outfit.

  • Simplr M1 for $42: Simplr's M1 strap is another great strap, and the best one I (Scott) have used. It has everything I want and nothing I don't. It doesn't scream "I'm a photographer," and it doesn't have many bells and whistles, but it's extremely well made. I've had mine four years, three of them living on the road, using it daily, and it still looks like it did the day I got it.

  • Wandrd Wrist Strap for $29: This wrist strap takes seconds to take on or off, and it automatically fastens if you drop your camera. The recycled soft-touch nylon isn't rough on the wrist, and the Hypalon loop can carry up to 75 pounds.

  • Peak Design Capture Clip for $70: OK this isn't a strap and it requires a backpack, but it's one of my favorite ways to carry a camera when I'm covering an event. Attach the clip to your backpack's shoulder strap, and attach the anchor to the bottom of your camera. Then just slide this anchor onto the Capture clip and voilà, your camera is now securely resting on your strap, no hands or strap needed. Push a button to quickly slide it out. I've used this system at major tradeshows like CES and MWC and it makes it super easy to snap photos without constantly digging inside my backpack for my camera.