The Best Camera Bags of 2019, from Backpacks to Messenger Bags

Photographers, whether hobbyists or professionals, often spend more money on camera gear than they care to admit. Protecting that investment is likewise of utmost importance, and a good camera bag will help you safely transport your camera, lenses, flashes, and other accessories from location to location — but the best camera bags will do it in style. You’re a photographer, after all, and the last thing you want to do — other than risk damaging your equipment — is to show up to a shoot looking like image doesn’t matter. Of course, not all of us have time to shine our shoes, tame our manes, or tighten our ties, but we can, at the very least, reach for one of these stylish yet very functional camera bags.

ONA Bowery

No camera bag brand is as synonymous with style as ONA. The Bowery is one of their smaller options, a messenger bag that holds a camera and a couple of lenses. ONA offers it in various finishes, and has made multiple special editions over the years. The base canvas model starts at $169, is weather-resistant, and features leather and brass accents. Prices go up from there for the full leather version and other options. The bowery’s front buckle can be easily released with a hidden clasp, providing the best of form and function, and the shoulder strap can be completely removed if you’d rather use the bag as an insert.

The Bowery lives at the starting point of the ONA line. If you’re looking for something larger, you may want to try the Brixton.

Domke F-5XB

Domke is to camera bags what Levi’s is to jeans. For decades, photographers turned to Domke to keep their gear secure, and the brand is still used by photojournalists the world over. Starting at $59, the F-5XB shoulder bag presents an affordable entry point into the Domke family, complete with that retro styling taken straight from the 1970s. Perfect for small, mirrorless systems, the F-5XB comfortably fits a camera body and two lenses, and is available in a variety of colors and editions (including the Fujifilm X Series collaboration shown above). Of course, it’s far from the only option in Domke’s catalog; check out the original F-2 shoulder bag if you require more capacity.

Kelly Moore Woodstock 2.0

The original goal of Kelly Moore Bag was to make a camera bag that didn’t look stupid by adding fashion to functionality. At the time, few camera bags bothered to do this and the Kelly Moore brand exploded, particularly with women photographers. The Woodstock 2.0 is a stylish backpack that’s small enough to be carried by hand with built-in grab handle. Its chic, minimalist exterior hides a deceptively technical interior, with 19 compartments in all including three clear pockets that let you see what’s where. The camera insert holds a DSLR or mirrorless body with lens attached, plus one to two additional lenses. Padded all around, it will keep your gear safe without drawing attention to it (other than the occasional “Hey, nice bag!” comment, we imagine).

Kelly Moore now offers many different styles for both men and women, as well as a number of camera straps and personal accessories.

Peak Design Everyday Messenger Bag V2

The original — and award-winning — Every Messenger Bag was a popular choice for photographers. But like all good things, Peak Design saw the need to make it even better. Welcome the Everyday Messenger Bag V2. Easy to access with one hand and an adjustable expansion of 6 liters (that’s a DSLR and two lenses in photography language), the latest version will undoubtedly continue to be popular with the roaming photographer. Alongside keeping your photography gear safe and secure (it has a 100% weatherproof recycled 400D shell) the bag also allows for a 13-inch laptop or tablet to be stored inside it. There’s also plenty of “stash pockets” to store SD Cards, batteries, and even business cards.

The v2 will continue the trend of Peak Designs’ commitment to making quality products. You’ll look stylish, your gear will be safe, and with the padded shoulder straps, you can explore in complete comfort.

Wandrd Prvke 21

When we reviewed the Wandrd Prvke (pronounced “provoke”), we found it to be one of the most versatile camera backpacks we had ever tested. With its weatherproof tarpaulin exterior and expandable roll top, it can carry all manner of gear and personal items in just about any weather conditions. It’s also quite stylish and is available in black, green, or blue (pictured above). The base bag retails for just $184, but the photography bundle pushes that up to $264 and includes accessory straps, a padded waist belt, a separate rain cover, and the removable camera cube that organizes the main compartment for a camera body and several lenses.

MindShift Rotation180 Horizon 34L

If your notion of style is less Coach and more Columbia, the MindShift Gear Rotation180 Horizon may be just for you. Of all the backpacks on this list, this is by far the most unique. MindShift Gear is a division of Think Tank Photo, so the brand has a lot of experience behind it. The Rotation180 Horizon combines a quick-access belt system into a camera backpack. Packed inside the bottom of the bag is a dedicated compartment that can house a DSLR and up to three lenses. This compartment locks into place inside the backpack, but with the quick lift of a magnetic connector, you can swing the compartment around from your back, granting instant access to your gear without needing to take off the pack. Above the rotating belt pack, you’re given a generous amount of storage space for clothing, food, chargers, tablets, and more. For photographers who enjoy back-country hikes, it doesn’t get any better than this.

Mission Workshop Radian and Capsule

If streetwear is more your style and you want a backpack that can serve as both a camera bag and travel pack, Los Angeles-based Mission Workshop has a setup that fits the bill. Mission Workshop’s Radian roll-top backpack paired with its Capsule camera insert makes for a solid setup that gets the job done without looking like a camera bag. The massive, 42-liter bag somehow manages to still look stealth when you carry it about town. It offers a dedicated side-access laptop pocket on the rear of the bag and is compatible with Mission Workshop’s rail accessory system, which lets you slide on different pocket modules to fit your needs.

It comes in three colors — gray, black, and black camouflage for stealth, stealthier, and stealthiest — and is constructed of two-layer weatherproof material to ensure your bag and gear stay dry even if you get caught in a rainstorm. The Capsule camera insert is designed to slip right into the main compartment of the bag, but also has its own zippered lid and grab handle if you want to carry it on its own. It can hold up to two camera bodies and three or four lenses depending on your setup. The Radian and The Capsule retail for $585 and $130, respectively (our kitted-out review unit came to over $800). While that might seem like a lot, all Mission Workshop gear is made entirely in the United States and features a lifetime warranty. If you’re looking for something a little smaller, check out the Rhake.

Peak Design Everyday Backpack V2

Yes, it’s a second option from Peak Design, but we couldn’t resist. The new version of the beloved Everyday Backpack features the same styling language as the Messenger V2, but for your back. Available in both 20 and 30-liter capacities, the Everyday Backpack V2 uses unique internal dividers that can be rearranged in myriad ways to accommodate a breadth of different cameras and lenses. New for V2 is a waterproof exterior fabric made from 100% recycled materials, larger laptop sleeves (even the 20-liter bag can now hold a 15-inch laptop), more comfortable shoulder straps, stronger zippers, and more internal pockets for organizing your cables and accessories.

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