Finding the best carry on camera bag!

Spoiler Alert* It was not easy! 
All titles are linked to amazon for further read/purchase.

As a creator we always travel with a bunch of equipment, which most of the time can be via flights. Now, we all know that airlines have their rules on baggage weight, size and what all not. As a professional photographer myself I had to go on quest to find my perfect carry on camera bag.

WHY?

Firstly, you need ask yourself, "why do I need a camera bag?". I know a lot of minimal creators who just use 1 or 2 shooting gear to create content and that may fit in any bag instead of a dedicated camera bag. So it will help you narrow down your search as to which camera bag to look for as starters as there are 100s of them. 
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In my case, I was initially using the bag that was given free with my Nikon D750 (Lowepro Tahoe BP150 as seen below) 

Lowepro Tahoe BP150

Pros:

• Great for beginners
• Compact
• Light weight

Cons:

• Cannot fit large laptops
• Too small for large kits
• No hard shell protection 

This bag could fit in my Nikon D750 Body with 2 Prime Lenses, some accessories, chargers and Macbook Air 13". The moment I bought my 24-70m f2.8, things were no longer the same and the drone came along the way sooner than later. So I asked myself why I need another bag? Number one:

• I needed more space
• Must be travel friendly
• Strong and Durable

This is how I started my first quest (around mid 2019) on finding the best solid camera travel bag that could fit in all my gear. 

Luckily, this one was easy as there are many option for backpack versions. I watched a couple of videos which convinced me to get the...

Lowepro ProTactic 350 AW 

Pros:

• Extremely durable
• Back support and padding
• Side camera access
• Great depth and space
• Weather proof
• Quick side camera access

Cons:

• Honestly, this bag has no Cons but read next section for my 2nd "why"

So, it has been a year and a half since I have this bag and all my gear has been the same. I did upgrade to Macbook Pro 16" but that fits in here like a breeze along with:

My Gear

1. Nikon D750
2. Nikkor 24-70mm f2.8
3. Nikkor 50mm 1.8g
4. Nikkor 85mm 1.8g
5. DJI Mavic Pro
6. Wacom Intuos Tablet
7. iPad Pro
8. Hardrives
9. Chargers
10. Power Bank

As you can see this backpack can sometimes weigh 15-20 kgs! Trust me I checked. Running around airports or streets with such a heavy bag can take a toll on your lower back and in my case it did. I do workout whenever I can to keep myself strong for all and such conditions but when the body calls you must listen. Hence it was time for my second quest to finding another bag. This time with wheels, and boy is that difficult. 

The desperate need to get a bag with wheels led me to my first purchase of roller bag which would easily fit in any cabin.

Vanguard Alta Fly 55T Trolley Camera Bag  

Light weight and super smooth 4 wheel bag is was a breeze. I loved the way it felt and looked. But, if you follow me onInstagram you will know how tragic this was for me. 

This bag was too small for someone like me. 

Pros:

• Extremely lightweight
• Smooth wheels
• Can be transformed into a suitcase 
• Carry on friendly for any kind of flights
• Becomes a backpack

Cons:

• Too small for pro kits
• Not deep enough
• No pockets inside
• Laptop sleeve too small (Only 13" Laptops or smaller)

Sadly, this bag could barely fit anything I had. I have 16" Macbook, Pro Body and Pro Kit lens and it could not even fit half of it. Forget the drone or even charging cables. 

After a lot of searching and trying I finally found the perfect well built carry on camera bag.

thinkTank Airport Advantage XT Rolling Carry-On Camera Bag 

Yes, yes and yes! This one made the bar and in fact exceeded my expectations. Looks compact and slim yet so much space I can pack my clothes and some food with my gear (Do not carry Indian curry's they may leak >_<)

Pros:

• Extremely lightweight
• Stable 
• Bottom Handle for easy carry 
• Strong dividers (Removable)
• Plenty of pockets
• Huge Laptop Sleeve and document holder (Front pocket)

Cons:

• Only 2 Wheels
• Most expensive on this list
• No quick side access
• No zip lock for front sleeve which holds your laptop
  
• Cannot become a backpack 

Boscoo is tiny and so is this bag with a lot of space. Enough to trick the airport staff ;)

Source: newshooter.com

Winner

Personally for me, all bag were great but it changed and depend upon the gear and use I had for the bag.
Because I travel a lot via flight it was important I had something that would be spacious but also has wheels and can fit in overhead cabin. My Vanguard choice was a fail but this thinkTank works best for my pro kit and all the 100 other electronics I need to carry in my bag.

​The only downside is that it cannot become a backpack, but hey! that's what I did not want in the first place. 

thinkTank Airport Advantage XT Rolling Carry-On Camera Bag 

Still have questions? Send me a message on Instagram or Facebook. 

Share this with someone who may be looking for that perfect camera bag.