In modern times everyone is obsessed with travelling. Capturing your travels is another pastime that plenty of people are now enjoying.
But with all the new camera gear available you’re likely to be packing lenses, stablizers, tripod, selfie sticks and maybe even more than one camera. So how you package and easily carry all your expensive, valuable equipment is obviously going to be a priority.
Camera sling bags are a great way to store your equipment and travel easily whilst on the go. Unlike other camera bags these uniquely designed bags are made for long haul travelling in whatever condition.
It’s important that you look after your camera and gear so investing in a good sling bag before your next trip is a great idea.
So what should you look out for? Well, the first thing we suggest you look at is the practicality of the sling bag. Depending on how much gear you have, how long you plan on travelling for, and how long you’ll have the bag on your person are all valuable questions you should be asking yourself before you buy a bag.
Of course weatherproofing is also something worth considering. Depending on where you plan on travelling you might require a weather resistant bag to make sure your equipment is safe whatever the conditions.
Finally, it’s also important to consider the interior! You want your belongings kept safe and secure. You might also want handy internal pockets to put small belongings such as keys, spare batteries and so on.
In this list we’ll go through some of the best camera sling bags out there right. We’ll go through a wide range of price points, materials and purpose made sling bags so you don’t have to spend hours on google searching for a bag and you can spend more time planning your next trip!
Tenba Solstice 10L Sling Bag
The Tenba Solstice model is the first camera sling bag that we’ve decided to put on our list because we think it covers a lot of the key components that many of you will be looking for.
Its a small, compact, well designed sling bag that is aesthetically pleasing. Its extremely practical with enough room for a full frame camera, up to 3 lenses, tripod or water bottle as well as space for a tablet.
The outer material is of course weather resistant so this bag is great for shooters that want a compact bag with weather sealing and plenty of lenses to pick and choose from. This bag is up to professional standard which is reflected in the above price – but for all that you get we consider it a great deal.
Pros
- Small and compact
- 10 litre storage space
- Only 24 cm long
- Weather sealed
- Aesthetically appealing
- Side pocket for water or tripod
- Front, rear and internal padding
- Internal dividers for your various equipment
- Practical size
- Across the body strap alternative for extra comfort when travelling for long periods of time with the bag
- Added padding for shoulder support and comfort
- Fits a tablet
- Well built and durable
Cons
- Very basic
- Small in size, this bag wouldn’t fit a laptop
Vanguard Alta Rise 43 Sling Bag for DSLR
The Vanguard Alta Rise sling bag is another sling bag that we recommend you take a look at.
This sling bag comes in 6 different sizes, we picked one in the mid range but bare in mind smaller and larger sizes are available as you will see if you check the link.
This mid sized bag that we’ve chosen to put on our list is one of the larger sling bags that you’ll find out there. However this sling bag offers great value for money. Vanguard have really thought about user experience, internal dividers are bright yellow so you’re able to swiftly find your stuff.
On top of the dividers inside the bag there’s also a fully liftable flap on the top of the sling bag that lets you see the entire contents of the bag without having to rummage through the different compartments.
We love this sling and its user friendly design. Pick the correct size for you and your equipment!
Pros
- Comes in 6 different sizes so there’s a match for everyone
- Extremely good value for money
- Internal compartments
- External straps
- Extendable pocket
- Waist support strap for added support
- Extra padding on the shoulder mount
- Internal compartments are colored yellow to easily found your stuff
- Openable flap on top of the bag is extremely useful
- Really user friendly
- Great design
- Durable and well built
- Large sling bags available
- Great storage size
- Easily accessible
- Fantastic quality
Cons
- Bulky aesthetic
- Shoulder cross strap is thin
Manfrotto Fasttrack-8 PL Sling Bag
If you’re a mirrorless camera user then this sling might just be for you! As mirrorless cameras are typically a lot smaller than regular cameras, this is a great smaller bag for those that opted for the smaller cameras.
This bag is extremely comfy and designed for those that want easy access shooting and high levels of comfortability.
With a built in camera strap that allows you to have your camera out, attached to the bag, and then also easily put away into a safe secure sealed pocket at the side of the bag.
Pros
- Great value for money
- Extreme levels of comfort
- Really smooth and easy to use
- External camera strap for on the go shooting
- Made for travellers
- Perfect for wildlife shooting
- Great for getting action shots
- Quick easy access to your camera
- All-in-one sling bag
- Dedicated lens compartment
- Perfect for on the go snapping
- Durable
- Ergonomic design
- Great for casual use
Cons
- Won’t fit many DSLR sized cameras
- Not much storage space
- Relatively small
- Not good for those that travel a lot
- Expensive for what you get
MindShift Gear PhotoCross 13 Sling Bag (Carbon Gray)
The Mindshift Gear Sling bag is another model that we thought might interest some photographers out there.
We really recommend this bag for those that have lots of gear and need heavy duty weather protection. This particular bag comes fully water and dust resistant and also has an included rain hood for extra protection if the weather gets rough.
This bag has plenty of space, a wide strap and a durable outer shell. The firm base helps support all your accessories whilst external pockets and hooks allow for the easy set up of accessories such as tripods.
Overall this is a great sling bag for those that are outdoors a lot and require lots of space to carry their gear.
Pros
- Great value for money
- Large carrying space
- Rain hood for added protection against the elements
- Fully dust and water resistant
- Wide strap for added support
- Plenty of room for accessories
- Base support to make sure everything stays safe whilst you travel
- Comfortable
- Mounting points for accessories
- Tripod will easily fit
- Wide bag
- Good for travellers and outdoor snappers
Cons
- Internal dividers are weak and not very useful
- The padding on the strap isn’t sufficient
Tamrac Jazz Photo Sling Bag 76 v2.0 – Compact Bag
The Tamrac Sling Bag is the final sling bag that makes our list. This is the cheapest option that we’ve reviewed on our list and this sling bag is perfect for someone who is looking to use the bag casually.
Weighing in at only 482g this bag is exceptionally light. It’s reasonably sized with plenty of room to fit either a mirrorless or DSLR camera with a regular lens and also a larger lens as well. It’ll also fit a tablet or small laptop.
You’d have difficulty transporting a tripod but there are mesh outer pockets that would easily carry water or other smaller bits that you wanted to take with you on your trip. The removable inside dividers are also a nice added touch that give you plenty of space if you need it.
Pros
- Good value for money
- Great for casual travellers
- Lightweight at only 482grams.
- Compact design
- Removable dividers for added space
- Will easily fit a DSLR or mirrorless camera
- Spaces for two – three lenses
- Will fit a small laptop or tablet
- External space for other bits that you want to bring along such as water
Cons
- No tripod attachment
- Feels cheap
- Not weather sealed
- Strap is thin
- Small internal size
Conclusion
This list has given you an overview of all the best Sling Bag that are designed for cameras. Whether you’re a nature photographer, or just an avid traveller its well worth buying one of these highly portable bags that will help you transport your camera and gear in style, comfort and protected.
