The Curious Case of Camera Backpacks: A Personal Odyssey

On Collecting, Compartmentalising, and the Perils of Storage

There’s a particular moment of dread, subtle yet persistent, that creeps in every time I open the closet. It’s not the looming threat of a moth-eaten jumper or the misplaced lens cap, but the veritable avalanche—nay, the architectural wonder—of camera backpacks that threatens to spill forth and engulf the room. Why, I ask myself with equal parts awe and mild embarrassment, do I own so many camera backpacks? How has this simple quest for the perfect gear carrier become a logistical, spatial, and existential storage problem?

The Allure of the Camera Backpack

It began, as many obsessions do, innocuously. My first camera backpack was an act of practicality—a sturdy vessel, dedicated to safely transporting camera, lens, and a handful of memory cards. But with each new photographic pursuit came the realisation that one backpack could never rule them all.

• The Everyday Carry: Compact, comfortable, and just big enough for a mirrorless camera and a prime lens, this bag is perfect for spontaneous jaunts and casual strolls.
• The Adventure Behemoth: Weatherproof and cavernous, equipped with enough compartments for drones, tripods, snacks, and a change of socks. Essential for the long hike or the unpredictable trek.
• The Urban Sleek: Minimalist, stylish, and indistinguishable from a regular rucksack—ideal for shooting in the city without drawing attention.
• The Retro Classic: Leather straps, waxed canvas, and a healthy dose of nostalgia. Less practical, eternally photogenic, mostly reserved for coffee shop outings and Instagram photoshoots.
• The Travel Transformer: Modular and expandable, this one morphs to fit overhead bins or squeeze under train seats, with secret pockets for passports and power banks.

How Did It Come to This?

The logic was always sound, at first: every scenario, every shoot, every meteorological possibility warranted a unique solution. What if it rains? What if I need to pack a telephoto lens and three flashes? What if I want to blend in, look professional, or simply try something new? Each question justified another purchase. Soon, the collection grew, quietly multiplying until it became a hydra of zippers, straps, and padded inserts.

When Practicality Meets Storage Reality

Now, the storage crisis. Camera backpacks, unlike camera bodies or lenses, are not stackable. They don’t nest neatly like Russian dolls. No, they sprawl, each claiming its own awkward footprint. The top shelf sags under their weight. The wardrobe groans. Under-bed storage is no longer reserved for shoes or winter coats, but for that rarely-used, but “absolutely necessary” 55L bag meant for that one time I considered a week-long trek through Patagonia.

The Unspoken Comfort of Having Choices

Yet, there’s a peculiar comfort in this abundance. Each bag is a vessel of potential, a promise of future journeys and creative projects. Picking the right backpack for the day’s mission feels a little like assembling a team of superheroes—each with their own powers, strengths, and, yes, storage solutions.

Facing the Inevitable

Still, there comes a time to confront the consequences of acquisition. Do I let go of the battered old faithful, or the never-used impulse buy? Will sentimentality win over practicality? Perhaps the answer isn’t to own fewer bags, but to own them with intention—rotating, sharing, perhaps even passing on a few to fellow photographers who are just at the start of their own backpack odyssey.

In the meantime, I’ll keep wrestling with zippers and shelves, marvelling at the paradox: in the search for the perfect way to carry less, I’ve ended up carrying more. And maybe, just maybe, that’s part of the journey too.

Left to Right Compagnon Element 30L, Wandrd Stratus Photo 18L, EVOC stage capture 16L, Tenba Fulton 16L, Wandrd Prvke 30L V4.

On the floor is the K+F concept 30L Pro backpack and not quite visible is a B+W waterproof hardcase, oh and in the garage, I have a Thule Covert 32L backpack too!

Madness!