What is the best camera backpack???
This is a question that was being asked in a photography group I follow and if there is one thing I have learned with all my hiking with camera gear is what my ideal backpack would look like. As far as I know there isn’t a perfect one out there but a girl can always dream right? (if there is a perfect one out there someone please let me know)
I use the Dakine Mission camera backpack. I have had it for over 10 years and it is still going strong. There is a part of me that really wants it to fall apart so I have an excuse to get a new one but at the same time I love my bag and I have definitely got my moneys worth out of it. I would highly recommend a Dakine but I’m not even sure they are still making camera backpacks. You can still buy a similar bag but without the camera block in it if you wanted to go that route, but instead of recommending a specific bag I thought I would just share what I would look for if I was buying a new one.
So here are the top 7 things I look for when looking at camera backpacks…
1. I want the main camera compartment to only be accessible from the back. You may think I am crazy for this one because that means you have to take your giant, heavy backpack off in order to get to your camera equipment but it also means that when you are walking down the street no one can slip your bag open and take your camera on you. My Dakine camera backpack is set up this way and to be honest it has never bothered me to have to take my bag off. Sure there are moments when I get lazy and choose not to take a photo if everything is packed away but for the most part after nearly 10 years I hardly notice it.
2. A water bottle pocket is definitely at the top of the list. Again, may sound silly, but trust me having a spot for your water where you don’t have to worry about it getting your camera wet is nice and a bonus is if it is within reach while you have your backpack on (P.S. mine is, so bonus marks to Dakine for that)
3.Having chest and waist straps are huge. The chest strap keeps your backpack close to your body which is good when hiking and the waist strap eases a bit of the weight on your shoulders. So having both those straps is SUPER important to me.
4.Having pockets on the waist strap is always a nice bonus. I love having my phone within reach to grab an Instagram story or to check in, plus having a spot for extra memory cards on the go is a plus and those pockets on the waist strap would be the perfect spot. My camera backpack is missing this and it is one thing I always wish it had.
5. A pocket for all the bits and bobs. My backpack does have a front pocket I can throw those extras in but it doesn’t hold a lot nor does it hold bulky items because it is flat down the front. Plus it is quite long and things have a tendency to disappear in there…like I am pretty sure there is a spoon at the bottom of that pocket that has been there for three years forever lost in the dark hole that is the front pocket. The kind of pocket I am taking about is one that is on the top of your backpack it is not super deep but big enough for all the little extras.
6. Having a spot for a tripod on the front or bottom….basically anywhere but the side of your backpack. My tripod sits on the front of my bag and I am happy with that though I do have to say the weight of it will pull me back if I need my balance. I do not have the lightest tripod so that is always a factor. I have never tried carrying it on the bottom so I can’t say what that is like for sure but what I do know is that if you have to carry your tripod on the side it is very uncomfortable and really throws the weight on your backpack off. Not fun when you are carrying it around for hours. 7.Last but not least is a spot for your laptop. I bought my backpack long before I ever thought I would be carrying around my laptop along with my camera equipment. There is absolutely no room for it in my bag, which usually results in more bags when on the go. Not an ideal situation. Having a spot for my laptop is huge to me and if I ever get a new bag it is something I will look for.
So those are some of the most important things to look for in a camera backpack to me. I doubt there is a bag out there that has everything and though my backpack doesn’t have all seven of those things I mentioned and it still does me well. What do you look for in a camera backpack, do you have a favourite brand or style?
