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Gear Transport

As with most photographers I have struggled with finding the best ways to carry gear. The fact of the matter is there is just no perfect way to carry all the gear I want comfortably and at the same time have easy access to it. I have, however, managed through trial and error to find some solutions that work well for me. I do have a few commercially made camera bags but I have found that, in some cases, making my own has turned out to be a better option.

The North Face Borealis Backpack –
This is probably my favorite for when I am not traveling with a lot of gear or long lenses. This pack is very comfortable and convenient with lots of zippers and pockets for other non-photography gear. Backpacks are also great because they help keep my hands free. I often sling it over one shoulder when I want to take it on and off for quick for access to my gear. In order to make it camera gear friendly, I found a padded camera insert made by G-raphy on Amazon for less than $20. It measures 12.5”(L) x 8.5” (H) x 4.5” (W) and fits in this backpack just like it was made for it. The nice thing is that I still have room in this pack for a small laptop, camera accessories, and a few more things. I like this solution better than a dedicated camera backpack because it is more comfortable than any I have ever tried. It also looks like an ordinary backpack rather than a camera pack so no one necessarily knows what’s inside.

The North Face Borealis Backpack with Gitzo Traveler Tripod
The North Face Borealis Backpack with G-raphy Padded Insert

Messenger Bag –
There is not a whole lot of need to go expensive here as there are a lot of good bags without a fancy logo on Amazon that cost well under $100. Many are even under $50 like the one I found on Amazon in the image on the right. It is a simple waxed canvas 15″ messenger bag, looks great, and does not give any indication that it is a camera bag. This size is perfect for the same G-raphy padded camera insert that I use with The North Face Borealis pack. I have found, however, that this bag works even better when I don’t use the insert at all. It may sound like a recipe for some banged up camera gear, but with a few padded cloths, things really work just fine. Gear access is easy and I find that there is much more usable space without the foam insert.

Side pockets hold all my extra camera accessories and an internal divider can also hold a laptop. Things can get a little tight with the laptop but for getting somewhere with a minimalist setup, this works well. There are dedicated camera messenger bags out there but they are usually much more expensive and generally bulkier with all the extra padding.

Domke F-2 Original Shoulder Bag –
I have had this bag for a long time and it is still going strong. It carries well and holds more gear than either the backpack or messenger bag solutions. I can easily fit four lenses and a camera with a lens attached in this bag. The downside is that it cannot carry a laptop or a whole lot of other non-photo related gear. It also looks like a camera bag so everyone pretty much knows what’s likely to be inside. For that reason I don’t usually use it in crowded areas or for international travel.

Gura Gear Kiboku 22L –
This is a great camera gear backpack for carrying long lenses and lots of other gear. It pretty much holds about anything I could ever need and yet still fits on airplanes. It has dual separate zippered compartments so I don’t have to unzip one big huge flap to to get to my gear. Gura Gear also did a great thing by making the foam padding thinner than on other typical packs. This increases the available interior volume making this a more efficient bag than others of comparable size. I don’t feel the thinner foam meaningfully compromises protection. If I was hard enough on this bag to break something, I don’t think a little extra padding would make a whole lot of difference.

As far as carry comfort goes, this bag is pretty good. It is certainly not for hiking but is just fine for getting around airports, train stations, and the like. 

Deuter Freerider 30L –
Most dedicated photo backpacks are not all that comfortable for extended carry or hiking any great distances. The F-Stop packs come close but are still pretty bulky and expensive, especially once you add the internal carry units (ICUs). Backpacks designed specifically for hiking are generally going to be a lot more comfortable. One pack that I found and really like is the Deuter Freerider Pro 30. It is designed mainly for snow boarders but has a lot of features that I really like.

First, it opens from the shoulder strap side rather than the more common back side. That way when setting the pack down, the straps and pack access is upwards rather than on the ground in the mud or snow. Second, it has a fairly rigid design that holds its shape when open. The main compartment turns out to be a perfect fit for the padded divider sets from either the Pelican 1485 or 1450 cases. The Pelican 1485 is larger to hold more equipment but takes up almost the entire compartment. The Pelican 1450 divider set is about 3″ shorter, leaving some room for other things. I found aftermarket divider sets on Amazon for about half the price as those from Pelican.

There is also an outer compartment that easily holds a laptop, outerwear, or whatever else I need. The pack also has many external lash points, making it easy to strap on a tripod or other gear. While it does not carry as much gear as the Gura Gear Kiboku 22L, it is definitely a more comfortable pack for longer hauls. Importantly, it also carry-on friendly for air travel.

Deuter Freerider Pro 30 with Pelican 1485 Padded Divider Set
Pelican 1485 Padded Divider Set

Pelican Cases –
When traveling off-road in the dusty back country, hard cases like Pelican cases are the best way to go. My favorite for all-around use is the Pelican 1535 Air. It is sized well for a couple of camera bodies and a variety of lenses. The lid can be fitted with mesh pocket inserts to carry a lot of loose things like filter, batteries, spare memory cards, etc. It also rolls, making it easy to transport on smooth surfaces. It is also carry-on compliant for most major airlines. I also have a number of other Pelican cases that I use for gear storage or occasional transport depending on need.

There are a lot of other ways to carry gear, but as of now these solutions do pretty well for me. I definitely like to have options from which I can pick and choose from depending on what I am doing.