The Best Camera Backpacks for Hiking, Adventure, and Travel

As a photographer, we end up spending long days on our feet, moving around, and carrying lots of heavy gear. Especially as an adventure elopement photographer, it’s super important to have something that is comfortable for a full day of hiking and activity. If you’re looking for the best camera backpack recommendations, there are a few key points to search for:

WEIGHT + WEIGHT DISTRIBUTION
The pack needs to carry weight evenly, as camera gear is heavy and you may be carrying a lot more along with your gear. It should include:

• Wide shoulder straps with a front clip to distribute weight
• Hip belt support (a lot of times these are removable if you want)

SIZE + COMFORT
You need to be comfortable moving around in it through all weather conditions. Consider the airflow, durability of the pack and how heavy it will be when it’s packed full.

CAMERA SUPPORT + PROTECTION
You likely are carrying around thousands of dollars worth of gear, so it’s important that it is properly supported. Your bag needs to be big enough to carry all of the camera gear you use and properly protect it, but you may also want it to be carry-on size for traveling photographers. You’ll also need easy access to your camera gear while you are on the move.

Now keep in mind, every body is different, so there are different packs that work well for each photographer and their shooting habits, adventure levels, and environment. When I was searching for a camera bag that was comfortable for a 12+ hour elopement day, I asked hundreds of other adventure photographers what their recommendations were. Here were the most recommended camera bags categorized by level of adventure:

(For reference, I typically carry 2 camera bodies, 3-4 lenses, a 15” laptop, chargers, extra batteries + SD cards, a small elopement emergency kit, a rain cover, a water bottle, snacks and an extra jacket. This is what’s in my backpack while I travel, and I take the laptop out while I am out shooting. You can find all of my camera gear recommendations on my Amazon Storefront.)

Best Camera Backpacks for Hiking (hiking backpack paired with a camera cube insert):

MYSTERY RANCH COULEE

This is the bag that I use for all of my adventures, personal or elopements. It is by far the most comfortable backpack I’ve worn, and the weight distribution is great for a full day adventure even if it never comes off your back. I pair it with the F-Stop Camera Cube insert, and the only downside that I have is that it doesn’t have the easiest access to switching out gear. It also does not have a strap across the back to easily sit on top of a suitcase while traveling, which is a minor inconvenience (and most hiking backpacks don’t).

OSPREY SKIMMER HYDRATION PACK

This is one of the most commonly recommended packs I see for adventurers. It is top rated for a hydration pack and everyday use for hikers and outdoor adventures, and can be rigged to use as a camera bag by inserting a camera cube and adding a harness (I’ve linked a tutorial below).

CAMERA CUBE INSERTS

Make sure that if you are ordering an insert, it will fit in your backpack! Both companies below have various sizes, so double check your backpack measurements before ordering. (I tend to overestimate the space in the backpack, and first ordered a cube that was only 1 inch smaller in width than my Mystery Ranch Coulee– needless to say that I had to exchange for the next size down and opted for a little extra space around my cube to fit one less lens.)

Here is one from F-Stop and one from Peak Design, both are great quality to protect your gear in your backpack.

Best Camera Backpacks for Traveling:

WANDRD PRVKE

This pack comes in 3 different sizes (21 Liter, 31 Liter, and 41 Liter). It has tons of different pockets and access points, and is designed for adventure photographers. I have this backpack, and it is probably the most comfortable camerabackpack for a day on the move. However, I typically only use it on wedding days or short sessions where I am setting it down throughout the day. I do not wear it for hiking elopements and more adventurous activities, because I find that the straps are not as comfortable as my hiking backpack.

F-STOP LOTUS

The Lotus bag has great reviews for a camera backpack that is outfitted for adventures. It has a lot of space for camera gear, and many built in pockets and access for easy travel as well.

ATLAS ATHLETE

The Atlas pack came highly recommended for its great weight distribution while adventuring. It has built-in camera organization, but doesn’t have as much space to fit in a ton of gear if you carry a lot. It is best fit for day trips and if you shoot with less gear.

Best Camera Backpacks for Everyday Use:

PEAK DESIGN EVERYDAY BACKPACK

This backpack also came highly recommended, and has over 1,000 reviews for an average of 4.8 stars. It has easy side access for camera gear and is designed for travel, but is lacking in the design for any intense adventures. This would be better suited for everyday use or wedding days where you are not carrying your gear with you throughout the day.

BREVITE THE RUNNER

This came highly recommended by a lot of urban photographers and short-term sessions (not for hikers or intense adventure photography). It is a smaller design, and has a modern, clean look to the bag. The Runner could be great for a travel carry on or everyday use if you are not carrying a ton of extra gear.

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Long story short, there are a ton of options on the market for quality camera backpacks, but the best is going to depend on your style of shooting and the intensity of your adventures. Because I often do long and difficult hikes, I personally opted for a pack built for hiking + backpacking and made it best fit my use with additional camera gear and rigging it to be an adjustable harness.

If you opt for a hiking backpack outfitted for your camera gear, Adventure Instead has a great free tutorial on rigging your backpack to make it into a dual camera harness, so you can shoot and carry your cameras comfortably on a hike. You can get the tutorial here.

To make sure that your pack will be suited for your own adventures, the best thing you can do is just explore with it! Play with the camera gear you want to fit in, and practice carrying it on your hikes or throughout your day for fun to get used to the weight. The best bag is going to be a comfortable one, so if you have to return and exchange, that’s okay! Don’t sacrifice your comfort when there are so many ways to customize your pack.

Start with what kind of bag you’ll use (intense adventures, day hikes, urban or everyday gear), and then break down your options from there. So when you’re searching for camera backpack recommendations, I hope this helped!