The Best Camera Bag I’ve Ever Bought…

This week I'm testing out my favourite camera bags, and they're all slings. Good for your back, and good for your photography too I think...

Bags featured:

Peak Design Sling (6l)
Bellroy Venture Sling (10l)
Gomatic x Peter McKinnon Sling
Compagnon Element Sling (7l)
Wotancraft Pilot (7l)

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MUSIC:

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[robertkluck]

Hi. I wanted to say thank you for the help, training, making me feel welcome, and making the Arctic trip a reality for me! I appreciate the time you took, the helpful suggestions, and the camaraderie.

Thank you!

[lims-karen]

My first sling was a WANDRD Rogue 6L and I'm absolutely sold on it. Sturdy, weatherproof and expandable for a tripod, jacket or waterbottle. I even started using it as my go-to bag without a camera if I don't have to carry a laptop.
Plus I look like a cool hipster.

[Catsandcamera]

I don't like that the Antarctic workshop page doesn't have any information about price. I mean, don't get me wrong, I DEFINITELY can't afford it, but I wanna know HOW poor I am compared to the trip

[paulbarnard]

I switched to a Peak Design 6ltr sling in January and haven’t looked back. It was the only camera bag I took for a three week trip to Australia. It comfortably held a Sony A1, 20-70f4, 70-200f4, 2x teleconverter, two spare batteries and some cleaning cloths. I also strapped a Peak Design travel tripod to the bottom. It’s changed my whole photography life. Oh and it’s black

[TheArtofKAS]

Once again, James comes out with a video that is appropriate for the dilemma I have in my life right now.

My zipper broke one one of my camera bags and I decided to look into getting a sling bag on top of getting a full camera bag. Thanks for the recommendations and a glimpse into my future if I keep going down this road🤣🤣🫠

[danielhenzphotography]

I actually love my 10L peak design sling bag, because it is my daily bag for work and I love to take my camera everywhere, even for work. And there is still room for more without being a large backpack

[thisiswilson]

I found a Tenba in a local camera shop here in town, it was on sale for $20 and by far is the most well-thought out product I own in any category. It's the old version of the Tenba DNA messenger bag, I imagine the closest version is the DNA 9. It's so clever.

[GS-vbzn]

I've been using a Wotancraft for over a year now. I've had a Peak Design, LowePro, Bellroy and many other camera bags and the Wotancraft simply crushes them. It's more durable, velcro dividers let me configure the way I like, the magnetic clasp is a joy and its price makes it an incredible value.

[TimStahmer]

I’m now on my fourth Peak Design sling and have loved all of them. The 6L is for day shoots and holds everything I need. I Don’t carry a tripod because I also dislike and rarely use them, but I can strap my coat to the bottom if I need to.

I also have a 10L sling which is my airplane bag for longer trips. It will hold my Fuji XT5 along with a couple of zooms, one or two small primes, and lots of assorted pieces. Both are far more comfortable than the backpacks and messenger-style bags I’ve had over the years. And, like James, I also appreciate that the smaller size forces me to make choices in the gear I take.

[leanderhoefler]

I became a big fan of the Billingham sling bags. Yes they have a very distinctive look - either you like it or not. And they are absurdly expansive.
But I have tried 3 of the bags on your list and still find the Billingham bags to be the most practical and also most comfortable for me.

[florencequinn]

Thanks for a good and concise comparison. I have owned a PD 3l sling for over a year now and I love it. Most of the time my camera is out and I use the bag for other stuff or an extra lens. It does have its limits due to size and was looking around for something slightly bigger. My main criteria was to hold a camera (maybe a spare lens), bits and bobs and most importantly a water bottle. That turned out to be a challenge, I only found one that had a dedicated water bottle slot: the Wander Rogue 6l. Looks like a good bag all in all but I am a woman with a small frame and the bag is very bulky. Ended up ordering another PD in 6l. I can actually fit a 21cm tall water bottle standing up in the bag and not worry about it spilling. Works well and with the camera out of the bag I still have space for an extra lens, and a light jacket.

[Just_Kev_]

Wotancraft Pilot 7L is my favvvv sling. I have their 18L backpack as well. They were the perfect combo for travel.

[eric-g-rose]

With the changing photo market it must be hard to come up with interesting things that grabs peoples attention. A video on how the landscape is changing and how that impacts vloggers such as yourself would be interesting to me at least.

[iShellfishFur]

Don't forget the Domke F-2!! I love that bag!!

[bernym]

I must have bought a dozen different type camera bags. Now I use a waterproof roll top ruck sack with a small padded camera case to hold my M43 camera and 4 filters. I carry additional lenses in padded neoprene lens pouches and stuff my travel tripod down one side. The pouches are all lens labeled so easy to pull out. Most convenient system I have tried.

[shawn.hickman]

I love the Wotancraft Pilot 7L for it's functionality and style. Doesn't look like a "techie" bag. I've been using the Billingham Hadley Pro Small for the past few months and it's probably my favorite camera sling. Great size, style, and functionality...and the front pockets have actual usable depth to them, unlike a lot of other camera slings.

[sharvo]

I remember that transition from bikes and backpacks slogging up and down the peaks to the dapper grey sling bag and grey jacket. I still haven't quite recovered.

[martydemille]

I have the Temba DNA 11. They have smaller versions I believe a nine and a six along with bigger versions 13 and 16. The design is so useful I’m very happy with them. They have a removable insert which makes them very versatile.

[jpodmatt]

I got the Peter McKinnon/Nomatic sling earlier this year. I HATED it at first, but quickly realized it was because I was trying to cram my backpack into it. Once I stopped doing that I fell in love. It's also taught me that I can accomplish 90% of my photography needs with one lens and a filter or two.

[GaryIrving-xo]

My perfect bags for my Canon VT and VT Deluxe rangefinder cameras are the Domke F803
Ruggedwear bags. Perfection.
For my Nikon F and Nikomat FTN I enjoy two leather Ona Prince Street bags. Ive been photographing for over 50 years and have owned countless bags. These are my favorites.