6 Best Shoulder Camera Bags for Travel

When it comes to traveling, most folks want to travel light – with minimal inconvenience. But, if you have a bulky camera bag, the odds are that it will be difficult to carry and stow around. That’s why you’ll need a should camera bag to hold your camera and a couple of lenses.

Best Shoulder Camera Bags for Travel

Shoulder camera bags are easy to carry. You just need to drape the strap over your shoulders, and that’s about it. Or, you can wear them across your chest to ensure it doesn’t slip off your sholders easily.

So if you want to upgrade your camera bag, here are the best shoulder camera bags for travel. Let’s check them out. But first,

1. Bagsmart Compact Camera Bag

The Bagsmart Compact Camera Bag is a bang-for-a-buck deal. As suggestive of its name, it’s compact and can house several things. It can hold a full-frame DSLR camera with an attached lens and have room for additional lenses. Of course, it also depends on the build of your lens and the size. Apart from that, it has a mesh pocket and a couple of pockets on the sides. It also comes with a dedicated rain cover.

The best part of the rain cover is the dedicated D-loops on the sides, which let you keep a strap to carry it across your shoulders even when it’s raining. The pockets are sizeable and can easily hold SD cards, extra batteries, cables, etc. And since you can also keep cash in the side pockets, you can double this bag as your wallet.

The main compartment comes with two padded dividers. And like most camera bags, the dividers can be moved around to suit your needs. Moreover, the open design allows full access to the main compartment. The bag’s material is thick and protects the content inside. Lastly, the shoulder strap has decent padding for its price.

2. Peak Design Everyday Sling 3L

The Peak Design Everyday Sling 3L is a little smaller than the one above and works a compact camera bag for certain shoots. The highlight of this bag is its weatherproof exterior and the external carry straps. Also, you can customize the padded dividers inside as per your needs.

The Everyday Sling 3L is of a decent size, and if your camera has a big build, you may want to check the dimensions again. It works for compact cameras like mirrorless ones that have a fixed lense or a slimmer body.

The exterior of the bag is made of a weatherproof material and you don’t have worry if you get caught in a sudden shower. The aluminum in the straps make them durable. Besides, those straps are easy to adjust, and several users have backed this claim in their reviews.

The Everyday Sling 3L lacks in the pocket department. The exterior pockets are small and can hold only tiny things. The absence of a top-down opening makes it a tad difficult to access the camera quickly.

3. Moment 10L Camera Sling Bag

The Moment 10L Camera Sling Bag combines the best qualities of the above two camera bags. It’s compact and comes with a slew of pockets. Plus, the bigger dimensions allows holding more than just your camera and lenses. Even this bag is made of weatherproof material and can protect the insides from the rain water.

However, the feature that sets it aside from its counterparts is its material. The material is heavy-duty and protects against occasional bumps. Compared to the one above, it has a greater carry capacity and comes with two movable dividers. Interestingly, it features a dedicated pocket to accommodate your tablet, just in case you want to review your shots on the go. The top-open design ensures easy access to your cameras and lenses.

The Moment 10L is a versatile bag, and the carrying capacity means you can keep some clothing when traveling. However, the bag feels a little bulky, especially when hung from your shoulders.

4. Compagnon Element Sling 15

The Compagnon’s Element Sling 15 is more than your average shoulder camera bag. If you want an all-in-one bag for camera gear while traveling. It has a roll-top to store your clothing. There’s a dedicated compartment at the front to keep smaller items like batteries, chargers, and SD card holders, among others. Also, the bag is sturdy and comes with a handle at the top so that you can even drag it along.

Like the one above, this one is a little bigger than average shoulder camera bags. At the same time, it’s also a little expensive. But the good news is that the solid construction and clever design make up for the price difference. Interestingly, it comes with a secret pocket at the bottom.

The main camera compartment is adequate to hold your camera with an attached lens and a few secondary lenses. And yes, you can move the dividers around. The best part about the Compagnon’s Element Sling 15 is its zippers, buckles, and holders. For instance, the roll top comes with a Fidlock V-Buckle.

Aside from the above, there are several pockets, and the bag’s material is rugged enough to stand up to the elements. Plus, the shoulder strap is comfortable and wide. And yes, it comes with a rain cover.

5. Domke F-2 Classic Waxwear Camera Case

If you do not like the cavernous size of the above-shoulder camera bag, you can have a peek at the Domke F-2 Classic Waxwear. It is a low-profile bag and has no frills like secret pockets. However, it can hold plenty of gear, and Chris Upton from Chris Upton Photography argues that they were able to fit two Fuji X bodies with lenses, two lenses, flash, lens hoods, Lee Seven5 filter kit, cloths, and SD cards, among others. Woah, right?

The material is not as rugged as some of its counterparts above. and has a waxed exterior. The company ships a bottle of wax for reproofing as well.

Apart from the primary compartment, the two pockets on the sides help carry camera accessories. The Domke F-2 Classic Waxwear camera bag ships with 4 compartment divider and the placement can be customized as per your choice.

Did You Know: Jim Domke introduced camera shooter bags in 1976.

6. Tenba DNA 16 Pro

Last but not least, we have the Tenba DNA 16 Pro. It is the one for you if you like a compact camera bag with plenty of storage space. Not only can you carry your camera accessories, but you can also carry a small laptop or tablet (or both). It comes with a compartment at the top, a lined compartment on the inside, and pockets on the sides. The fabric is water-repellent.

Like the Element Sling 15, the buckles are a tad unconventional, and you’ll have to slide the buckles to open. At the same time, the padding inside the primary compartment is removable. That means you can adjust and organize your camera gear efficiently.

The Tenba DNA 16 Pro is expensive and bulky for a shoulder bag. But if you want maximum protection for your camera gear, this one fits the bill perfectly.

Smile!

Traveling for shoots means you will want to carry maximum equipment with minimal hassles, and the above-camera shoulder bags are the way to go.

If it’s just a camera and a few lenses, the ones from Bagsmart and Peak Design will fit your bill perfectly. Plus, they are affordable. But if you want to give maximum protection to your camera gear and want tons of storage space, you can’t go wrong with the Element Sling 15 or the Tenba DNA 16 Pro.

Last updated on 17 August, 2022

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