Travel camera bags

Take less equipment? Just how much equipment are planning on taking?

So your current bag is not comfortable if you wear it in front? I think any cross-body messenger-type bag can work, and the less that it looks like a camera bag, the better. The general-purpose day bag that I carry is similar to this size but a little fatter. When choosing your equipment, consider that you'll carry it all day, and might be away from your hotel for up to 12 hours on some days.

How much equipment the OP is planning to take is none of our concern. He wants advice on a camera bag.

I use the Lowepro Slingback. It has a removable compartment that fits my large DSLR and one lens. I can also fit a wide angle lens in it's own hard case separately in the bag. It has a sleeve for an iPad and room to fit a light jacket or other stuff. Even has a water bottle slot. You can sling so that it rests on your back or in front. Very nice bag. You can even take the removable compartment out and use it as a big bag for carrying groceries, etc.

Depends what you mean by security. Pacsafe has slash resistant bags. They have stainless mesh in the fabric, stainless cable in the straps. For example: Pacsafe Metrosafe. I'm wary of the slash resistant straps. Seems like a good way to be near a knife hacking robber for way longer than I want. Could also get pulled off one's feet in the process.

Tenba makes inserts for those who want to Bring Your Own Bag, which explains the BYOB # name. They come in 4 sizes. Mine goes in a bag that bears zero resemblance to something designed to hold photo gear.

Since this is a new interest for me, I will not be taking a large amount of equipment. I have a mirrorless SLR, which is smaller than regular SLRs, and one small telephoto lens. I want a bag that will fit those items, as well as have room for other items we will need treking out each day (e.g. jacket, snacks, money/ID), but do not want to take around an enormous bag.

Alaskadiver, the bag you mentioned sounds like it could work great. What is the model that you have?

Also, after I posted my original question, I did a little more research and found some safety travel camera bags that might work as well from Pacsafe. I was looking at the Camsafe V9, and Camsafe V16. The bags have all the safety features of regular safety bags, such as hidden, locking, or hard to reach zippers. Has anyone ever had any experience with these bags?

Hi,

The Passport Sling III. I'm headed to Spain for 3 weeks in May and taking only a carry on backpack (the Tortuga Backpack) and this bag. It's expandable via a side zipper so you can make it about 30% bigger if you need to use it as a larger bag. I like it. It's not too big even for me as a 5'4 female.

I looked at the Packsafe bags but decided they were overkill. The RFID blocking stuff is nonsense. You don't need it. Knife slashing isn't that common and if you are in an area that is that high risk, I would think twice about carrying any bag with valuables. I say that as someone with the skill to take down and restrain just about anyone who grabs my bag.

Hi,

I am going to check out the Passport sling. I had looked at a couple other Lowepro camera bags and liked their style and functionality, but it wasn't exactly what I wanted (lacking a bit of space for personal items), and I was concerned about traveling with a backpack that had easy access. I'm a 5'1" female, so you can see why I would need something smaller than my entire body. Thanks!

As a side note, I am going to Spain as well, and Portugal in September (Alaska in May). Im not sure if you can private message on this site, but I would love to hear where you went and how you liked it. We are only at the beginning stages of our trip planning, and aren't sure exactly which places to visit. Im sure Ill post questions about that on this site a little later.

sorry, just read that you are carrying a mirrorless. most should really be small enough that you can stow them in your regular bag. my note about carrying lenses still applies, tho! there are some great lenses out there that should be sufficient. not sure what you have but something that's a 24-70 equivalent has a great range and unless you really need the zoom should be more than enough.

you might want to reconsider whether you need a new bag at all. do you want to have a camera bag with you when you are out sightseeing? personally i would not carry additional lenses with me while out and about for fun. just so much room for catastrophe there (i travel with my small kids so my lifestyle is riskier). :-)

i don't use a camera bag other than as a carryon when i am in transit. i keep it in my rolling suitcase and then take it out when i check my bag. when i am sightseeing, i keep my camera on my body, but i am used to taking pictures for work so maybe it's just the training. this type of sling strap (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1062255-REG/blackrapid_rs16sc1o_bl_63_cross_shot_sling_camera.html
) is infinitely more comfortable than a regular neck strap and makes it easy to grab your camera fast. it hangs by your side when you're walking so looks a little less obvious than carrying one around your neck.

do you want to have a camera bag with you when you are out sightseeing?

Great question that should be answered first. A bag during transit, or out shooting, or for both purposes?

Haven't figured out how to take a photo with the camera in a bag, I carry it on my shoulder.

For both purposes, but I do not want a giant bag. Just something to safely house my camera, maybe one extra lens, and have a small amount of room for personal items, such as wallet, sunscreen, snacks, etc. A bag with easy access to my camera would be great as well.

This is the Kelly Moore bag I took for a solo trip to Sweden: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=88x5YqreDTI It looks like a purse. Out and about I usually only carry a body and one lens, but there is plenty of room for more as you can see. This was also my underseat bag, but I did actually not check my carry-on on the way over so I didn't have to add a change of clothes and chargers or I would have needed another small bag. After the initial flight, I used a recycle grocery bag, which was more than enough for my other items. I'm off carrying all my belongings on board. Anyway, I digressed, this was a great bag. I never felt like it looked like a camera bag. It was so easy to slip my DSLR camera in and out. Your mirrorless should be a breeze. The only change I might make is for them to add a small zipped interior pocket, but this is by no means necessary. I'll use this bag again (in fact, I have) as it was a perfect size for me...I don't like large day bags. Wray

Wray, I checked out the Kelly Moore bag, and looks like a great bag. Do you know of stores that carry these bags, or is it direct order only? Reason being, I was leaning toward a sling back pack type bag, thinking this would be the easiest to tour with on vacation, but I would like to "try it on" to see if the Kelly bag would work as well.

Also just found another Kelly Moore bag that might be Perfect! The Luna bag could work (except while hiking), but it's difficult to tell the size, in relation to how it would fit on me.

Hi there - if you're worried about theft, you might consider something my husband did with his expensive SLR... but it wasn't pretty.

He carried it on a strap on his shoulder, and to deter thieves he put small pieces of duct tape over the non functioning parts so it looked really beat up. No one would ever want to steal or try and sell such a busted camera!

When not in use we just threw it in my regular backpack. As long as you keep the lens covered, the rest of the camera is very durable (I didn't believe him at first but he used to be a professional photographer, so at least he knows better than me). You don't need a specialized camera bag to keep it safe unless you're using super high end, sensitive equipment.

Great to know! Thank you Angella. Your husband sounds very creative:) I was thinking another alternative would be to get a regular bag that suits my needs/wants, and if need be (but obviously it isn't needed), I could just get a padded insert to keep it, and maybe a lens from just rolling around in my bag.