Quintin Lake is an architectural and fine art photographer based in the UK. In between commercial assignments, he often sets out on photographic expeditions to remote or lesser known locations, including the Arctic, Southeast Asia, and South America. Years of travel have taught him a thing or two about camera bags.

In this guest blog post, Quintin shares his best tips straight from the field.

For many travel photographers, choosing how to carry your gear is harder than choosing your camera system. Because while camera systems can be relatively flexible, no one bag is waterproof, lightweight, carry-on compliant, and can carry a week of food plus other gear.

The following tips are from trial-and-error in travels to over 70 countries. They’re aimed at photographers who prefer to work alone, walk, use public transport, travel as cheaply as possible, and don’t have an army of assistants.

Tip 1: Don’t carry it

If you don’t need a bag, or an extra lens, don’t take it. Just don’t. This may limit you technically, on occasion, but in most situations you’ll compensate for it with your increased creative energy and focus. Galen Rowell, an inspiring gear minimalist, said: “Only where vehicles, pack animals, porters, or assistants can carry my gear do I ever consider taking all of it. Otherwise, you’ll find me as I started out in the sixties – carrying one simple camera or none at all. That’s how I continue to make many of my all-time favorite pictures.”

Tip 2: Use a sling

Why use a sling? They don’t get in the way, they’re more comfortable to carry all day, they don’t make you look as much like a tourist, and they let you to be discreet, should you wish, by covering much of the camera with your arm.

Tip 3: Don’t buy a travel camera bag 

Instead of buying a bag dedicated for camera travel, I suggest using padded camera inserts (such as Mountainsmith’s Kit Cube). Place these in regular backpacks, shoulder packs, and wheeled luggage. It’s more flexible, but more importantly, much lighter.

Camping and trekking backpacks are far more comfortable, offer more space, and are a better value than most camera bags. If you prefer wheeled luggage, use your existing roll-on, or buy one to fit your existing photo bags or inserts. Wheeled camera bags completely miss the mark by being crazy expensive, extra pounds, and no space for clothes or other travel necessities.

Tip 4: Choose your tripod length carefully

Your tripod, with the head removed, should be less than 45cm (~18 inches) so you can take in your carry-on luggage. If you’re worried about stabilization with a small or lighter tripod, you can hang weight from the center column. Even the very light models from the premium brands work great using this technique.

Tip 5: Fly with adventure racing backpacks

With carry-on weight limits for some airlines as low as 8KG (~18 lbs.),  it’s always a challenge to fit your camera, lenses, and laptop in one bag. Adventure racing backpacks are designed for mountain runners – those by Terra Nova weigh around 300g (~2/3 lb.) or less and a padded insert will be around 250g (1/2 lb.) so you can make it under the weight limit.

Tip 6: Check-in your less fragile gear 

If I need a lot of gear, I’ll check-in a bag with my tripod, clamps, strobes, and non-essential chargers, along with my clothes. Wherever possible I’ll only travel with a carry-on that’s under 8KG (~18 lbs.).

Quintin also put together four “case studies” from his travels to show how he managed to still travel light, even in the wildest of conditions. Check what he learned and his major travel takeaways here.

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