Shoulder Bags

Shoulder bags, commonly also referred to as messenger bags, are one of the most popular types of bags for photographers. Worn cross-body, with a strap slung over one shoulder, a good shoulder bag generally has a fairly slim profile and a top-loading opening for quick access to gear. Like all things in camera gear, it’s a trade-off – backpacks can be carried more comfortably with heavy loads, but shoulder bags make the photographer more agile and much quicker on the draw with their camera.

Shoulder Bags

For this reason, they tend to be popular with urban and street photographers – those who are probably using fairly small and lightweight setups anyway and therefore don’t mind carrying it all on one shoulder. A good shoulder bag is built from lightweight but durable material that’s resistant to ripping and can repel some rainfall.

A shoulder bag specifically designed for photographers or videographers will have a customisable interior with removable, padded velcro dividers. These allow you to shape the space inside the bag around the specific contours of your gear – if you’re carrying, say, a mirrorless camera with a 24-70mm lens attached, and additionally a 50mm lens and an 85mm lens, you can arrange the dividers to give each item its own padded compartment. This prevents them from knocking into each other and potentially getting damaged as you move about.

Shoulder bags will also commonly have a dedicated padded sleeve that fits a laptop or a tablet. If you’re someone who likes to do some image-editing on the go, this is immensely useful to have. An important thing to check before you buy, though, is the size of the sleeve, especially if you’re using a large laptop like a MacBook Pro – make sure the bag can accommodate it.

Most bags will also have a number of small pockets and compartments that are useful for keeping important and easy-to-lose items like memory cards, batteries and other essentials like a passport.

Depending on the type and size of bag you buy, there may also be a set of external straps to attach a tripod. Some also offer pull-out rain covers to add an extra layer of protection from inclement weather, or an additional zip underneath the top flap for an extra layer of security from opportunistic thieves.

As we mentioned, shoulder bags are generally favoured by those using lighter setups, but this isn’t always the case. There are shoulder bags available that can carry multiple pro DSLRs with battery grips attached, and spare lenses to boot. It’s up to you how much weight you feel comfortable carrying on one shoulder. Though bear in mind that modern bags tend to have padded, adjustable straps, often with a non-slip pad, and this makes them more comfortable than you might expect.